MUR #8055

RESPONDENTS: Laxalt for Senate; Laxalt, Adam; Morning in Nevada PAC; Phillips, Cameron

COMPLAINANTS: End Citizens United; Bogden, Amanda

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

DISPOSITION: The Commission failed by a vote of 2-4 to:a. Find reason to believe that Morning in Nevada PAC made excessive in-kind contributions in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 30116(a) and 11 C.F.R. § 110.1(b)(1) in connection with the 7th Annual Basque Fry.b. Find reason to believe that Adam Laxalt and Laxalt for Senate and Cameron Phillips in his official capacity as treasurer knowingly accepted excessive in-kind contributions in violation of 52 U.S.C. §§ 30116(f) and 30125(e)(1)(A) and 11 C.F.R. §§ 110.9 and 300.61 in connection with the 7th Annual Basque Fry.c. Find reason to believe that Laxalt for Senate and Cameron Phillips in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30140(b) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(a) by failing to report in-kind contributions from Morning in Nevada PAC.d. Take no action at this time regarding the allegation that Adam Laxalt and Morning in Nevada PAC violated 52 U.S.C. §30125(e)(1)(B) and 11 C.F.R. § 300.62 by soliciting, receiving, directing, or spending funds that are not subject to the limitations and prohibitions of the Act in connection with a nonfederal election.e. Take no action at this time regarding the allegation that Morning in Nevada PAC violated 52 U.S.C. § 30125(e)(1)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 300.16 by soliciting, receiving, directing, or spending funds that are not subject to the Act in connection with a federal election.f. Dismiss the allegation that Morning in Nevada PAC made excessive in-kind contributions in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 30116(a) and 11 C.F.R. § 110.1(b)(1) in connection with the 6th Annual Basque Fry.g. Dismiss the allegation that Adam Laxalt and Laxalt for Senate and Cameron Phillips in his official capacity as treasurer accepted knowingly excessive in-kind contributions in violation of 52 U.S.C. §§ 30116(f) and 30125(e)(1)(A) and 11 C.F.R. §§ 110.9 and 300.61 in connection with the 6th Annual Basque Fry.h. Direct the Office of General Counsel to circulate an Investigative Plan pursuant to Directive 74 following the receipt of a response to the Reason-to-Believe letter or in the event it appears no response will be made.i. Approve the Factual and Legal Analysis, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated June 11, 2024, subject to the edit circulated by Commissioner Broussard’s Office on July 9, 2024 at 10:44 a.m.j. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-2 to:a. Dismiss the allegation that Morning in Nevada PAC made excessive in-kind contributions in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 30116(a) in connection with the 6th and 7th Basque Fry events.b. Dismiss the allegation that Adam Laxalt and Laxalt for Senate and Cameron Phillips in his official capacity as treasurer accepted excessive in-kind contributions in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 30116(a) in connection with the 6th and 7th Basque Fry events.c. Dismiss the allegation that Adam Laxalt and Morning in Nevada PAC violated 11 C.F.R. § 300.62 by soliciting, receiving, directing, or spending funds that are not subject to the limitations and prohibitions of the Act in connection with a nonfederal election.d. Dismiss the allegation that Adam Laxalt and Morning in Nevada PAC violated 52 U.S.C. § 30125(e) and 11 C.F.R. § 300.61 by soliciting, receiving, directing, or spending funds that are not subject to the Act in connection with a federal election.e. Dismiss the allegation that Laxalt for Senate and Cameron Phillips in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30125(e) and 11 C.F.R. § 300.61 by receiving in-kind contributions made with funds not subject to the Act in connection with a federal election.f. Dismiss the allegation that Laxalt for Senate and Cameron Phillips in his 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 from Morning in Nevada PAC.g. Approve the Factual and Legal Analysis, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated June 11, 2024, subject to the edits last circulated by Commissioner Lindenbaum’s Office on July 22, 2024 at 5:31 p.m.h. Approve the appropriate letters.i. 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).