MUR #7774
Antone for CongressSummary
RESPONDENTS: Antone for Congress; Canal Partners Media, LLC; Lake Point Consulting, LLC; Melton, Dennis; Melton-Meaux, Antone; North Superior Consulting, LLC; WCPA (West Coast Public Affairs)
COMPLAINANTS: Campaign Legal Center; Christ, Margaret
SUBJECT: Committees-Candidate; Disbursements; Reporting
DISPOSITION: The Commission decided by a vote of 4-2 to take the following actions in MUR 7774:
1. Dismiss as a matter of prosecutorial discretion pursuant to Heckler v. Chaney the allegation that Antone for Congress and Dennis Melton in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(5)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(b)(4) by misreporting the payee of funds paid to West Coast Public Affairs.
2. Send the appropriate letters.
3. Close the file.
The Commission failed by a vote of 3-3 to:
a. Find reason to believe that Antone for Congress and Dennis Melton in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(5)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(b)(4) by misreporting the payee of funds paid to Lake Point Consulting LLC, North Superior Consulting LLC, and West Coast Public Affairs.
b. Find reason to believe that Antone for Congress and Dennis Melton in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(5)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(b)(4)(i)(A) by misreporting the purpose of funds paid to Lake Point Consulting LLC and North Superior Consulting LLC.
c. Dismiss the allegations that Antone for Congress and Dennis Melton in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(5)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(b)(4)(i)(A) by misreporting the purpose of funds paid to West Coast Public Affairs.
d. Find no reason to believe that Antone Melton-Meaux, Lake Point Consulting LLC, North Superior Consulting LLC, West Coast Public Affairs, and Canal Partners Media, LLC violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(5)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(b)(4).
e. Approve the Factual and Legal Analyses, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated July 30, 2021.
f. Authorize pre-probable cause conciliation with Antone for Congress and Dennis Melton in his official capacity as treasurer.
g. Approve the proposed conciliation agreement, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated July 30, 2021, . . . REDACTED . . .
h. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-2 to:
Divide the question with respect to Commissioner Cooksey’s motion [see #3 and #4 below] so that recommendation #1 of Commissioner Cooksey’s motion is taken separately from Commissioner Cooksey’s remaining recommendations.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-1 to:
Find reason to believe that Antone for Congress and Dennis Melton in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(5)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(b)(4) by misreporting the payee of funds paid to West Coast Public Affairs.
The Commission decided by a vote of 6-0 to:
a. Dismiss the allegations that Antone for Congress and Dennis Melton in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(4)(i)(A) by misreporting the purpose of funds paid to West Coast Public Affairs.
b. Find no reason to believe that Antone Melton-Meaux, Lake Point Consulting LLC, North Superior Consulting LLC, West Coast Public Affairs, and Canal Partners Media, LLC violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(5)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(b)(4).
c. Approve the Factual and Legal Analyses, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated July 30, 2021, subject to the edits last circulated by Commissioner Cooksey’s Office on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at 8:42 p.m. and further subject to the restoration of the deleted portions discussed at the table.
d. Authorize pre-probable cause conciliation.
e. . . . REDACTED . . .
f. Approve the appropriate letters.
g. Close the file the as to the appropriate respondents for whom the Commission has found no reason to believe.
Disposition
Disposition | Penalty | Respondent | Citation |
---|---|---|---|
Dismissed-Other | Melton, Dennis |
52
U.S.C.
§30104(b)(5)(A)
11 CFR 104.3(b)(4) |
|
Antone for Congress |
52
U.S.C.
§30104(b)(5)(A)
11 CFR 104.3(b)(4) |
||
Dismiss pursuant to prosecutorial discretion | Melton, Dennis |
52
U.S.C.
§30104(b)(5)(A)
11 CFR 104.3(b)(4) |
|
Antone for Congress |
52
U.S.C.
§30104(b)(5)(A)
11 CFR 104.3(b)(4) |
||
No RTB | Canal Partners Media, LLC |
52
U.S.C.
§30104(b)(5)(A)
11 CFR 104.3(b)(4) |
|
North Superior Consulting, LLC |
52
U.S.C.
§30104(b)(5)(A)
11 CFR 104.3(b)(4) |
||
Lake Point Consulting, LLC |
52
U.S.C.
§30104(b)(5)(A)
11 CFR 104.3(b)(4) |
||
Melton-Meaux, Antone |
52
U.S.C.
§30104(b)(5)(A)
11 CFR 104.3(b)(4) |
||
WCPA (West Coast Public Affairs) |
52
U.S.C.
§30104(b)(5)(A)
11 CFR 104.3(b)(4) |
Documents
Participants
Relationship | Name |
---|---|
Primary respondent | Antone for Congress |
Previous respondent | Canal Partners Media, LLC |
Lake Point Consulting, LLC | |
Melton, Dennis | |
Melton-Meaux, Antone | |
North Superior Consulting, LLC | |
WCPA (West Coast Public Affairs) | |
Complainant | Campaign Legal Center |
Christ, Margaret | |
Respondent's counsel | Blank Rome LLP |
DiSantis, Jeffrey J. | |
The DiSantis Law Firm | |
Thomas, Scott E. |