MUR #8006

RESPONDENTS: Fry for Congress; City of Hartsville (Hartsville Museum-The Edition); Cole, David; Flanagan, Audrey Hudson; Fry for House; Fry, Russell; Grand Strand Brewing Company, LLC; Palmetto Post

COMPLAINANT: Watson, Don

SUBJECT: Contributions-Limitations; Contributions-Corporations; Reporting; Soft Money

DISPOSITION: The Commission decided by a vote of 6-0 to take the following actions in MUR 8006:1. Find no reason to believe that Russell Fry, Fry for House, and Fry for Congress and David Cole in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30125(e)(1)(A) in connection with Fry for House’s payment for the video titled “PUSHING BACK – A mid-session legislative update from the SC House.”2. Dismiss the allegation that Russell Fry, Fry for House, and Fry for Congress and David Cole in his official capacity as treasurer violated 11 C.F.R. § 110.3(d) in connection with the Fry for House’s payment for the video titled “PUSHING BACK – A mid-session legislative update from the SC House.”3. Dismiss the allegation that Russell Fry, Fry for House, and Fry for Congress and David Cole in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30125(e)(1)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 110.3(d) in connection with the alleged payment by Fry for House for a federal campaign website, signs, banner, campaign logo, and September 22, 2021 YouTube video footage.4. Dismiss the allegation that Fry for Congress and David Cole in his official capacity as treasurer failed to report the costs for the website, signs, banner, campaign logo, and September 22, 2021 YouTube video in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b).5. Find no reason to believe that Grand Strand Brewing LLC made, or that Russell Fry and Fry for Congress and David Cole in his official capacity as treasurer knowingly accepted, a corporate contribution in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 30118(a) in connection with the August 5, 2021 campaign event at Grand Strand Brewing.6. Find no reason to believe that the Hartsville Museum made, or that Russell Fry and Fry for Congress and David Cole in his official capacity as treasurer knowingly accepted, a corporate contribution in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 30118(a) in connection with the February 24, 2022 campaign event at the Edition.7. Find no reason to believe that Fry for Congress and David Cole in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b) by failing to report in-kind corporate contributions from Grand Strand Brewing and the Hartsville Museum, South Carolina.8. Find no reason to believe that Russell Fry and Fry for Congress and David Cole in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b) and 11 C.F.R. § 101.3 by failing to report disbursements for “testing-the-waters” activities.9. Find no reason to believe that the Palmetto Post or Audrey Hudson made, or that Russell Fry and the Fry for Congress and David Cole in his official capacity as treasurer knowingly accepted, excessive contributions in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 30116(a) and (f) in the form of coordinated communications via the Palmetto Posts’ online articles, social media posts, and emails.10. Approve the Factual and Legal Analysis, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report date February 8, 2024, subject to the edits last circulated by Vice Chair Weintraub’s Office on March 25, 2024 at 10:22 a.m.11. Approve the appropriate letters.12. Close the file effective 30 days after the date the certification of this vote is signed (or the next business day after the 30th day, if the 30th day falls on a weekend or holiday).