MUR #7291

RESPONDENTS: DNC Services Corp / Democratic National Committee; Fusion GPS; HILLARY FOR AMERICA; Jones, Elizabeth; McGregor, Virginia

COMPLAINANTS: Campaign Legal Center; Kelley, Catherine Hinckley

SUBJECT: Committees-Presidential; Disbursements; Foreign Nationals; Reporting

DISPOSITION: The Commission decided by a vote of 6-0 to take the following actions in MURs 7291 and 7449: 1. Dismiss the allegation that Christopher Steele violated 52 U.S.C. § 30121 and 11 C.F.R. § 110.20(b), (f) (g), and (i). 2. Dismiss the allegation that Marc Elias and Perkins Coie LLP and Hillary for America and Elizabeth Jones in her official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30121 and 11 C.F.R. § 110.20(b) and (h)(1). 3. Dismiss the allegation that Fusion GPS violated 52 U.S.C. § 30121 and 11 C.F.R. § 110.20. 4. Approve the appropriate letters. 5. Close the files.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-2 to take the following actions in MURs 7291 and 7449: 1. Accept the conciliation agreement with DNC Services Corporation/Democratic National Committee and Virginia McGregor in her official capacity as treasurer, as recommended in the Memorandum to the Commission dated February 17, 2022. 2. Accept the conciliation agreement with Hillary for America and Elizabeth Jones in her official capacity as treasurer, as recommended in the Memorandum to the Commission dated February 17, 2022. 3. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-2 to find probable cause to believe that Hillary for America and Elizabeth Jones in her official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(5)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(b)(4)(i) by failing to report the proper purpose of the funds HFA paid to Perkins Coie for opposition research performed by Fusion GPS.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-2 to take the following actions in MURs 7291 and 7449: 1. Approve the Conciliation Agreement, as recommended by the Office of General Counsel dated December 15, 2021. 2. Approve the appropriate letter.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-2 to find probable cause to believe that DNC Services Corporation/Democratic National Committee and Virginia McGregor in her official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(5)(A) and (b)(6)(B)(v) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(b)(3)(i) by failing to report the proper purpose of the funds the DNC paid to Perkins Coie for opposition research performed by Fusion GPS.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-2 to take the following actions in MURs 7291 and 7449: 1. Approve the Conciliation Agreement, as recommended by the Office of General Counsel dated December 15, 2021. 2. Approve the appropriate letter.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-2 to: 1. Authorize pre-probable cause conciliation with DNC Services Corporation/Democratic National Committee and Virginia McGregor in her official capacity as treasurer and approve the conciliation agreement, as recommended in the Second General Counsel’s Report dated June 24, 2021. 2. Authorize pre-probable cause conciliation with Hillary for America and Elizabeth Jones in her official capacity as treasurer and approve the conciliation agreement, as recommended in the Second General Counsel’s Report dated June 24, 2021. 3. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 5-1 to approve the Orders to Submit Written Answers and Subpoenas to Produce Documents directed to DNC Services Corp./Democratic National Committee and William Q. Derrough in his official capacity as treasurer, Hillary for America, Inc. and Elizabeth Jones in her official capacity as treasurer, and Fusion GPS, as recommended in the Memorandum from the Acting General Counsel dated June 30, 2020.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-0 to: a. Find reason to believe that Hillary for America, Inc. and Elizabeth Jones in her official capacity as treasurer and DNC Services Corp./Democratic National Committee and William Q. Derrough in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(5)(A) and (b)(6)(B)(v) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(b)(3)(i) and (b)(4)(i) by misreporting the purpose of funds paid to Fusion GPS through Perkins Coie LLP. b. Dismiss the allegations that Marc Elias and Perkins Coie LLP violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(5)(A). c. Take no action at this time related to the allegations that Christopher Steele violated 52 U.S.C. § 30121 and 11 C.F.R. § 110.20(b), (f), (g), and (i). d. Take no action at this time as to the allegations that Marc Elias and Perkins Coie LLP and Hillary for America, Inc. and Elizabeth Jones in her official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30121 and 11 C.F.R. § 110.20(b) and (h)(1). e. Take no action at this time as to the allegations that Fusion GPS violated 52 U.S.C. § 30121 and 11 C.F.R. § 110.20. f. Approve the Factual and Legal Analyses, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated April 10, 2019, as last circulated by i. Vice Chairman Petersen’s Office on July 21, 2019 with respect to the DNC Services Corp./Democratic National Committee and William Q. Derrough in his official capacity as treasurer, and by ii. Chair Weintraub’s Office on July 22, 2019 with respect to Perkins Coie LLP, Marc Elias, and Hillary for America, Inc. and Elizabeth Jones in her official capacity as treasurer. g. Authorize compulsory process. h. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission failed by a vote of 2-2 to: a. Find reason to believe that Hillary for America, Inc. and Elizabeth Jones in her official capacity as treasurer and DNC Services Corp./Democratic National Committee and William Q. Derrough in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(5)(A) by misreporting the payee of funds paid to Fusion GPS through Perkins Coie LLP. b. Find reason to believe that Hillary for America, Inc. and Elizabeth Jones in her official capacity as treasurer and DNC Services Corp./Democratic National Committee and William Q. Derrough in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(5)(A) and (b)(6)(B)(v) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(b)(3)(i) and (b)(4)(i) by misreporting the purpose of funds paid to Fusion GPS through Perkins Coie LLP.