MUR #7996

RESPONDENTS: Pat Dowell for Congress; Dowell, Patricia; Citizens for Pat Dowell; Lacy, Mattie

COMPLAINANT: Whitehead, Terrance

SUBJECT: Reporting; Soft Money

DISPOSITION: The Commission decided by a vote of 4-0 to take the following actions in MUR 7996:1. Accept the signed Conciliation Agreement, as recommended in the Memorandum to the Commission dated February 20, 2025.2. Approve the appropriate letter.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 decided by a vote of 5-0 to approve the Conciliation Agreement, as recommended in the Memorandum to the Commission dated July 23, 2024.
The Commission failed by a vote of 2-4 to:a. Find reason to believe that Patricia Dowell, Pat Dowell for Congress and Mattie Lacy in her official capacity as treasurer, and Citizens for Pat Dowell violated 52 U.S.C. § 30125(e)(1)(A) and 11 C.F.R. §§ 110.3(d) and 300.61 by spending and receiving State Committee funds not subject to the limitations, prohibitions and reporting requirements of the Act in connection with a federal election.b. Find reason to believe that Pat Dowell for Congress and Mattie Lacy in her official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(a) by failing to report in-kind contributions.c. Find reason to believe that Pat Dowell for Congress and Mattie Lacy in her official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(b) by failing to report disbursements.d. Enter into conciliation with Patricia Dowell, Pat Dowell for Congress and Mattie Lacy in her official capacity as treasurer, and Citizens for Pat Dowell prior to a finding of probable cause to believe.e. Approve the Conciliation Agreement, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated December 13, 2022.f. Approve the Factual and Legal Analysis, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated December 13, 2022.g. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission failed by a vote of 2-4 to:a. Find reason to believe that Patricia Dowell, Pat Dowell for Congress and Mattie Lacy in her official capacity as treasurer, and Citizens for Pat Dowell violated 52 U.S.C. § 30125(e)(1)(A) and 11 C.F.R. §§ 110.3(d) and 300.61 by spending and receiving State Committee funds not subject to the limitations, prohibitions and reporting requirements of the Act in connection with a federal election.b. Find reason to believe that Pat Dowell for Congress and Mattie Lacy in her official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(a) by failing to report in-kind contributions.c. Find reason to believe that Pat Dowell for Congress and Mattie Lacy in her official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(b) by failing to report disbursements.d. Enter into conciliation with Patricia Dowell, Pat Dowell for Congress and Mattie Lacy in her official capacity as treasurer, and Citizens for Pat Dowell prior to a finding of probable cause to believe.e. Direct the Office of General Counsel to revise the conciliation agreement consistent with the edits to the Factual and Legal Analysis circulated by Commissioner Broussard’s Office.f. Approve the Factual and Legal Analysis, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated December 13, 2022, subject to the edits last circulated by Commissioner Broussard’s Office on July 8, 2024 at 3:57 p.m.g. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 6-0 to:a. Find reason to believe that Patricia Dowell, Pat Dowell for Congress and Mattie Lacy in her official capacity as treasurer, and Citizens for Pat Dowell violated 52 U.S.C. § 30125(e)(1)(A) and 11 C.F.R. §§ 110.3(d) and 300.61 by spending and receiving State Committee funds not subject to the limitations, prohibitions and reporting requirements of the Act in connection with a federal election.b. Find reason to believe that Pat Dowell for Congress and Mattie Lacy in her official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(a) by failing to report in-kind contributions.c. Find reason to believe that Pat Dowell for Congress and Mattie Lacy in her official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(b) by failing to report disbursements.d. Enter into conciliation with Patricia Dowell, Pat Dowell for Congress and Mattie Lacy in her official capacity as treasurer, and Citizens for Pat Dowell prior to a finding of probable cause to believe.e. Approve the Factual and Legal Analysis, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated December 13, 2022, subject to the edits last circulated by Chairman Cooksey’s Office on June 24, 2024 at 12:55 p.m.f. Direct the Office of General Counsel to draft a proposed conciliation agreement consistent with the edits to the Factual and Legal Analysis circulated by Chairman Cooksey’s Office and to circulated the proposed conciliation agreement for Commission approval.g. Approve the appropriate letters.