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Federal Election Commission | United States of America

MUR #7894R

Georgia Republican Party, Inc.

Summary

RESPONDENTS: Georgia Republican Party, Inc.; Engelbrecht, Catherine; McClain, Laurie L.; Shafer, David J.; True the Vote, Inc.

COMPLAINANTS: Common Cause Georgia; Dennis, Treaunna C.

SUBJECT: Reporting

DISPOSITION: The Commission decided by a vote of 4-1 to take the following actions in MUR 7894R:1. Accept the conciliation agreement with the Georgia Republican Party, Inc., and Laurie L. McClain in her official capacity as treasurer; as recommended in the Memorandum to the Commission dated June 3, 2024.2. Approve the appropriate letters.3. Close the file effective 30 days from the date the certification of this vote is signed (or on the next business day after the 30th day, if the 30th day falls on a weekend or holiday).
The Commission failed by a vote of 3-2 to take the following actions in MUR 7894R:1. Authorize the use of compulsory process.2. Approve the subpoena, as recommended in the Memorandum to the Commission dated December 11, 2023.3. Waive the requirement to submit an investigation plan pursuant to Directive 74.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-1 to:Approve the Factual and Legal Analysis, as recommended in the Memorandum to the Commission dated October 27, 2023.
The Commission failed by a vote of 3-2 to:a. Approve the Conciliation Agreement, as recommended in the Memorandum to the Commission dated October 27, 2023, ...REDACTED...b. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-1 to:a. Approve the Conciliation Agreement, as recommended in the Memorandum to the Commission dated October 27, 2023.b. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 5-0 to:Direct the Office of General Counsel to prioritize the drafting of the conciliation agreement and draft Factual and Legal Analysis in this matter for circulation to the Commission by Friday, October 27, 2023.
The Commission failed by a vote of 2-3 to:Rescind the vote by which the Commission approved the motion to find reason to believe that the Georgia Republican Party, Inc. and Joseph Brannan in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(a) and (b) by failing to report receipts and disbursements to the Commission.
The Commission decided by a vote of 5-0 to:Direct the Office of the Commission Secretary to amend the vote certification to substitute Laurie L. McClain in her official capacity as treasurer of the Georgia Republican Party, Inc. for purposes of the reason to believe vote certified on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-1 to:Direct the Office of General Counsel to prepare a draft conciliation agreement for the Georgia Republican Party, Inc. and Laurie L. McClain in her official capacity as treasurer ...REDACTD...
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-1 to:Direct the Office of General Counsel to prepare a draft Factual and Legal Analysis reflecting the Commission’s finding of Reason to Believe in this matter, and further reflecting the opinion of the district court in Common Cause Georgia v. Federal Election Commission, No. 22-3067 (D.D.C.)
The Commission failed by a vote of 2-3 to:a. Find reason to believe that True the Vote, Inc. violated 52 U.S.C. § 30118(a) and 11 C.F.R. § 114.2(b) by making prohibited in-kind corporate contributions.b. Find reason to believe that Catherine Engelbrecht violated 52 U.S.C. § 30118(a) and 11 C.F.R. § 114.2(e) by consenting to the making of prohibited in-kind corporate contributions.c. Find reason to believe that the Georgia Republican Party, Inc. and Laurie L. McClain in her official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30118(a) and 11 C.F.R. § 114.2(d) by knowingly accepting prohibited in-kind corporate contributions.d. Find reason to believe that the Georgia Republican Party, Inc. and Laurie L. McClain in her official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(a) and (b) by failing to report receipts and disbursements to the Commission.e. Take no action at this time as to the allegation that David Shafer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30118(a) and 11 C.F.R. § 114.2(d) by knowingly accepting prohibited in-kind corporate contributions.f. Approve the Factual and Legal Analyses, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated December 9, 2021, subject to the edits circulated by Commissioner Weintraub’s Office on Thursday, August 4, 2022, at 5:24 p.m.g. Authorize compulsory process.h. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-1 to:Find reason to believe that the Georgia Republican Party, Inc. and Laurie L. McClain in her official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(a) and (b) by failing to report receipts and disbursements to the Commission.

Disposition

Disposition Penalty Respondent Citation
Conciliation: Pre Probable Cause $14,500.00 McClain, Laurie L. 52 U.S.C. §30104(b)
11 CFR 104.3(a) and (b)
Georgia Republican Party, Inc. 52 U.S.C. §30104(b)
11 CFR 104.3(a) and (b)
Dismissed-Other Shafer, David J. 52 U.S.C. §30104(b)
11 CFR 104.3(a) and (b)
True the Vote, Inc. 52 U.S.C. §30104(b)
11 CFR 104.3(a) and (b)
Engelbrecht, Catherine 52 U.S.C. §30104(b)
11 CFR 104.3(a) and (b)

Documents

Type Date Document
Conciliation and Settlement Agreements 07/29/2024 Georgia Republican Party, Inc. and Laurie L. McClain in her official capacity as treasurer 1 MB
Complaint, Responses, Designation of Counsel and Extensions of Time 11/07/2023 Designation of Counsel from Georgia Republican Party, Inc. 1 MB
09/29/2023 Order 665 KB
General Counsel Reports, Briefs, Notifications and Responses 07/29/2024 Notification to Common Cause Georgia 1 MB
07/29/2024 Notification to Campaign Legal Center Action 1 MB
06/03/2024 Recommendation to Accept Pre-Probable Cause Conciliation Agreement 853 KB
12/11/2023 Recommendation to Authorize Limited Investigations 1 MB
11/03/2023 Notification with Factual and Legal Analysis to Georgia Republican Party, Inc. 969 KB
10/27/2023 Proposed Factual and Legal Analysis and Conciliation Agreement 1 MB
08/04/2022 Factual and Legal Analyses 1 MB
Certifications 06/25/2024 Georgia Republican Party, Inc. and Laurie L. McClain in her official capacity as treasurer: Recommendation to Accept Pre-Probable Cause Conciliation Agreement 677 KB
01/23/2024 Georgia Republican Party (Recommendation to Authorize Limited Investigation) 676 KB
11/01/2023 Georgia Republican Party, Inc. (Proposed Factual and Legal Analysis and Conciliation Agreement) 697 KB
10/19/2023 True the Vote, Inc.; Catherine Engelbrecht; Georgia Republican Party, Inc. and Laurie L. McClain in her official capacity as treasurer; David Shafer 818 KB
10/17/2023 True the Vote, Inc.; Catherine Engelbrecht; Georgia Republican Party, Inc. and Joseph Brannan in his official capacity as treasurer; David Shafer 689 KB
Civil Penalties, Disgorgements, Other Payments and Letters of Compliance 02/04/2025 Georgia Republican Party 1 MB
Statement of Reasons 07/23/2024 Vice Chair Ellen L. Weintraub and Commissioner Shana M. Broussard 878 KB

Participants

Relationship Name
Primary respondent Georgia Republican Party, Inc.
Previous respondent Engelbrecht, Catherine
McClain, Laurie L.
Shafer, David J.
True the Vote, Inc.
Complainant Common Cause Georgia
Dennis, Treaunna C.
Respondent's counsel Backer, Dan
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