Week of January 17-21, 2022

Commission meetings and hearings

No open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.

Enforcement

The Commission made public eight closed cases, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.

MUR 7584

COMPLAINANT: Gary Hirschkron
RESPONDENTS: M Financial Holdings Incorporated (M Financial); and M Political Advocacy Committee (MPAC)
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that M Financial and MPAC violated the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act), and Commission regulations when M Financial improperly deducted $6,000 from the Incentive Compensation Plan (ICP) account of Hirschkron in order to fund a contribution to MPAC. The complaint further alleged that M Financial and MPAC improperly deducted compensation from other individuals with ICP accounts at M Financial.
DISPOSITION: The Commission found no reason to believe the Respondents violated the Act. The Commission observed that the available information suggested that (1) MPAC is not a federal political committee registered with the Commission and did not accept contributions from Hirschkron, and (2) M Financial, not MPAC, received the contribution from Hirschkron’s ICP award as part of a decision approved by M Financial’s Board of Directors to assess each ICP member group a flat fee of $6,000 in order to fund 2019 advocacy efforts.

MUR 7593

COMPLAINANT: Michael Edelman
RESPONDENT: Fox News Network, LLC (Fox News)
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Fox News made a prohibited in-kind corporate contribution to then-United States Senate candidate Josh Hawley when Sean Hannity and Jeanine Pirro, two employees of and talk show hosts on Fox News, endorsed Hawley’s candidacy at a campaign rally on behalf of Fox News. Hawley was a 2018 candidate for Missouri’s Senate seat.
DISPOSITION: The Commission dismissed the allegations. The Commission observed that the available information supported the conclusion that Hannity and Pirro were acting in their personal capacities, not as agents of Fox News.

MUR 7640

COMPLAINANT: Political Law PLLC
RESPONDENTS: Christine O’Donnell; and Friends of Christine O’Donnell and Christopher M. Marston, in his official capacity as treasurer (the Committee)
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that O’Donnell and the Committee intended to convert campaign assets, specifically contributor lists, to personal use.
DISPOSITION: The Commission found no reason to believe O’Donnell and the Committee were about to convert campaign assets to personal use. Chairman Allen Dickerson and Commissioners Sean J. Cooksey and James E. “Trey” Trainor, III issued a Statement of Reasons.

MURs 7689 and 7794

COMPLAINANTS: David Losey; and Andrew B. Sandler
RESPONDENTS: Amanda Adkins; and Amanda Adkins for Congress and Robert Phillips III, in his official capacity as treasurer
SUBJECT: The complaints alleged that Adkins, a 2020 candidate for Kansas’s 3rd Congressional District, failed to timely file a Statement of Candidacy and that the Committee received contribution checks that it failed to deposit within 10 days as required.
DISPOSITION: The Commission dismissed the allegation concerning the timing of Adkins’s filing of the Statement of Candidacy, consistent with Commission precedent in similar matters, and it dismissed the allegation concerning the timing of the Committee’s check deposits, observing that it was not aware of any information that would support the allegation.

MUR 7748

COMPLAINANT: Brian Coletta
RESPONDENT: To Elect Jenny Marshall and Jennifer Marshall, in her official capacity as treasurer (the Committee); Jennifer Marshall; and Jeffrey Marshall
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that the Committee failed to file three 2018 campaign finance disclosure reports with the Commission, and in so doing did not report all of its contributions, expenditures, and debts along with purpose or street address information for disbursements to campaign staff. The complaint also alleged that the Committee failed to respond to Requests for Additional Information issued by the Commission, did not timely file its Statement of Organization, and converted certain campaign funds to personal use.
DISPOSITION: The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the complaint. The Commission observed the relatively modest amounts at issue concerning the reporting and personal use allegations, and noted that the Committee’s failure to file its reports has been addressed through the agency’s Administrative Fine Program. The Commission reminded the Committee to take steps to ensure compliance with the reporting requirements for the filing of its missing disclosure reports.

MUR 7650

COMPLAINANT: Cheryl A. Melton
RESPONDENT: Donald J. Trump for President and Bradley Crate, as treasurer
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that that an internet search for “donate joe biden” provided a link to donate to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.
DISPOSITION: The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the matter. The Commission observed the speculative nature of the allegations in the complaint.

MUR 7922

COMPLAINANT: FEC-Initiated
RESPONDENT: Bryan Williams
SUBJECT: In the normal course of exercising its supervisory responsibilities, the Commission initiated proceedings to determine whether there was reason to believe Williams knowingly and willfully (1) failed to keep an account of disbursements made from the funds of the Kern County Republican Central Committee (the Committee), for which he served as treasurer, (2) failed to file accurate reports with the Commission, and (3) commingled the Committee’s funds with his personal funds.
DISPOSITION: The Commission entered into a conciliation agreement providing for Williams to pay a civil penalty of $20,528.

Administrative Fines

The Commission made public 87 closed cases, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Administrative Fine search system.

AF 4106 American Composites Manufacturers Association Political Action Committee and John Schweitzer, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $351.

AF 4107 Amsted Industries Incorporated PAC and Tristan Paige Lopez, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4108 Anthony Clark 2020 and Anthony Clark, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4109 Aquino4Congress and Sihar Aquino, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $199.

AF 4110 Armitage for Congress and Christopher Armitage, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4111 Art Robinson for Congress and Art Robinson, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $40.

AF 4112 Badrun for Congress and Heidi R. Gliboff, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4113 Bentivolio for Congress and Kerry Bentivolio, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4114 Bill Engelbrecht for Congress and Charles William Engelbrecht, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $132.

AF 4115 Blair for Congress 2020 and Blair Walsingham, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $422.

AF 4117 Brad Barron for US Senate and Jill M. Barron, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $6,735.

AF 4118 Brigid for South Jersey and Brigid Callahan Harrison, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $351.

AF 4119 Bronx United and Rush Perez, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4120 Campaign for a Conservative Majority and William Hartford, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $422.

AF 4121 Campaign to Elect Antoine Pierce and Alice Woods, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4122 Campaign to Support the President and Matt Tunstall, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $438.

AF 4123 Champion for Congress and Michael Zugheri, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4124 Christine Mann for Congress and Mari Ramirez, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4125 Citizens for Jade Simmons and Jade Simmons, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $178.

AF 4126 Committee to Elect Frank Mials Scurlock for President and Dwight Thompson, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4127 Committee to Elect HP and Dounia Metouri, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $21,888.

AF 4128 Committee to Elect Joe Walz and Erika Andrea Walz, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4129 Committee to Elect Mauro Garza for US Congress and Iris Elizabeth Castillo, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $2,850.

AF 4130 Committee to Elect Mel Gagarin and Aleda Gagarin, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $274.

AF 4132 Committee to Elect Shelia Bryant and Ava Wellons, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $422.

AF 4133 Covert for Congress and Joseph Iaco, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4134 David Kim for Congress, Financial Freedom, Love & Justice for All and Steven Chun, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $422.

AF 4135 District 1199C Nat’l Union of Hospital & Health Care Employees Political Action Fund and Salima Pace, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $704.

AF 4136 Doug Shreffler Democrat and the Next President of the United States I and Doug Leray Shreffler, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $5,237.

AF 4137 Dr Jay for Congress, Inc. and James C. Thomas, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4138 Eastern Washington Voters and Bryan E. Burke, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $438.

AF 4139 Emily Robinson for Congress and Emily Robinson, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $8,418.

AF 4140 Eugene Yu for Congress and Eugene Yu, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4141 Friends for Mike Webb and Mike Webb, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $9,727.

AF 4142 Friends of Agatha and Herb Stephens, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4143 Friends of Clint Koble and Office of Treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $351.

AF 4144 Friends of Russell Cirincione and Russell Cirincione, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4145 Friends of Vangie Williams and Latifa Garrison, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4146 George Mitris for Congress and Thomas Costa, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $6,735.

AF 4147 Georgians for Ted Terry and Kendra-Sue Derby, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4148 Howard Steele for Congress and Andrea Lester, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $6,061.

AF 4150 Janicek for Senate and Office of Treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4151 JFK Organizers and Andy Tarradath, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,267.

AF 4152 Jimmy Rodriguez for Congress and Jimmy Rodriguez, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $14,966.

AF 4153 Jineea for Congress and Anita Meador, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $10,288.

AF 4154 John Eaves for Congress and John Henry Eaves, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $438.

AF 4155 Jon Hollis 4 Congress and Jon Hollis, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4156 Jonathan Jenkins for Senate Committee and Office of Treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $44,895.

AF 4157 Joshua Collins Campaign Committee and Joshua Collins, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $5,051.

AF 4158 Kilili for Congress and Ruth T. Sablan, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $136.

AF 4160 King for Congress and Craig Williams, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $351.

AF 4161 Lake for Congress and Constance Saylease Prater-Baker, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4162 Landslide and Kipchoge Spencer, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $422.

AF 4163 Lindsey Boylan for Congress and Lindsey Boylan, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $704.

AF 4164 Lisa Song Sutton for Congress and Belen Clark, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4165 LV Strong and Christopher Nicholas, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $21.

AF 4166 Marco for Congress and Isabel Solano, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4167 Miles V Rahimi for Congress and Miles V Rahimi, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $351.

AF 4168 Narenjamesmdforussenate and Heath Martin, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4169 Nate McMurray for Congress and Catherine M. Campbell, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,267.

AF 4170 National Action Committee (NACPAC) and Mark Vogel, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $351.

AF 4171 New Republican PAC and Gentry Collins, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $5,933.

AF 4172 For the Many Action and Jonathan Bix, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $4,783.

AF 4173 Patriots for American Leadership and Eddie Shivers, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $4,106.

AF 4174 Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 74 Political Action Committee and Michael Hackendorn, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $438.

AF 4175 Pony Up for Vermin Supreme and Clayton Hunt, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $704.

AF 4176 Reba for Congress and Bryon Fredrick McComb, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $13,468.

AF 4178 Rob Anderson for Louisiana and Robert Jon Anderson, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $4,041.

AF 4179 Robert Deming for Congress and Robert Deming, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4180 Ronda Kennedy for Congress 2022 and Michael Warren Kennedy, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $438.

AF 4182 Salvemos a Puerto Rico and Joseph Fuentes, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $30.

AF 4183 Sarah Gad 2020 and Benjamin Nawrocki, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $6,546.

AF 4184 Shaniyat Chowdhury for Congress and Shaniyat Chowdhury, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $4,041.

AF 4185 Stephanie Rimmer for Congress and Jeffrey Stanlis, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,267.

AF 4187 Support American Leaders PAC and Matthew Nelson Tunstall, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $17,770.

AF 4188 Sutton for Congress and Justin Lee Farrell, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $351.

AF 4189 The 9 and Jeremy Shaw, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $2,863.

AF 4190 The Committee to Elect Lisa Ring, LLC and Jessica Neeley, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4191 The People for Rush Darwish and Bentley Patterson, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4192 The Surety & Fidelity Association of America Political Action Committee and Dalton Defendis, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $351.

AF 4193 Thomas Gilmer for Congress and Thomas Gilmer, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $704.

AF 4194 Together We Thrive and Christopher Zullo, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $6,735.

AF 4195 Tucker for Congress and Shiva Kalipersad, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,267.

AF 4196 United American Veterans PAC and Bryan James Monville, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $704.

AF 4197 We Believe We Vote and Kent Clausen, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $351.

AF 4198 WFP IE Committee and Mike Boland, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $12,250.

AF 4199 Women Vote Smart and Amy S. Kremer, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $8,418.

Litigation

End Citizens United PAC v. FEC (21-2128). On January 18, Plaintiff filed a Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Opposition to New Republican PAC’s Corrected Motion to Dismiss. Intervenor-Defendant New Republican PAC filed a Combined Response in Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment or, in the Alternative, Summary Judgment and Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment, as well as a supporting Memorandum of Points and Authorities.

FEC v. LatPAC, et al. (Case No. 21-6095) On January 12, the Clerk of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered Default against the Defendants.

Ted Cruz for Senate, et al. v. FEC (Case No. 21-12) On January 19, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in the case, which arose from the Commission’s appeal of the June 3, 2021 ruling by a three-judge panel of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia that section 304 of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), which limits the use of post-election contributions to repay candidate loans, is unconstitutional.

Outreach

On January 19, the Commission hosted FECFile and reporting webinars for PACs and party committees.

On January 20, Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub discussed campaign finance and the role of the Commission with an administrative law class at the Cardozo School of Law in New York.

On January 21-22, Commissioner Shana M. Broussard was the keynote speaker for the University of North Carolina School of Law's First Amendment Law Review's Symposium in Chapel Hill, NC.

Commissioner statements

On January 21, Vice Chair Steven T. Walther announced that he will be stepping down. Chairman Allen Dickerson issued a Statement.

Press releases

Statement from Vice Chair Steven T. Walther (issued January 21)

Upcoming Commission meetings

January 25, 2022: The Commission is scheduled to meet in executive session.

January 27, 2022: The Commission is scheduled to hold an open meeting.

Upcoming educational programs

February 8-9, 2022: The Commission will host a Virtual Conference. This conference was previously scheduled to be held in San Diego, CA, but will now be held virtually.

For more information on upcoming training opportunities, see the Commission’s Trainings page.

Upcoming reporting due dates

January 31, 2022: Year-end Reports are due. For more information, see the 2022 Quarterly and Monthly Reporting schedules.

Status of agency operations

See the Commission’s statement on the status of agency operations, updated on April 15, 2021. At this stage, most agency staff remain in telework status and the Commission’s office remains closed to visitors. See also the agency’s Workplace Safety Plan, dated May 6, 2021.

Updated Campaign Guide

The Commission recently updated its Campaign Guide for Congressional Candidates and Committees. The new Guide, which replaces the 2014 edition, provides an overall summary of the federal campaign finance laws that apply to candidates for the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate and their campaign committees.

Additional research materials

Contribution Limits. In addition to the current limits, the Commission has posted an archive of contribution limits that were in effect going back to the 1975-1976 election cycles.

2020 Presidential General Election Results and Federal Elections 2018: Election Results for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are available. The data was compiled from the official vote totals published by state election offices.

FEC Notify: Want to be notified by email when campaign finance reports are received by the agency? Sign up here.

Additional research materials about the agency, campaign finance information, and election results are available through the Library section of the Commission website.

The Combined Federal State Disclosure and Election Directory is available. This publication identifies the federal and state agencies responsible for the disclosure of campaign finances, lobbying, personal finances, public financing, candidates on the ballot, election results, spending on state initiatives and other financial filings.

The Presidential Election Campaign Fund Tax Checkoff Chart provides information on balance of the Fund, monthly deposits into the Fund reported by the Department of the Treasury, payments from the Fund as certified by the FEC, and participation rates of taxpayers as reported by the Internal Revenue Service. For more information on the Presidential Public Funding Program, see the Public Funding of Presidential Elections page.

The FEC Record is available as a continuously updated online news source.

Other election-related resources

Videos on protecting U.S. elections. The FBI’s Protected Voices initiative provides videos designed to help political campaigns protect themselves from foreign influence. The 2019 videos offer guidance on ransomware, business email compromise, supply chain, social media literacy, and foreign influence operations. Other videos, released in 2018, include cyber hygiene topics such as social engineering, patching, router hardening, and app and browser safety.

Join the FEC on Twitter and YouTube

Follow @FEC on Twitter to receive the latest information on agency updates, news releases, and weekly activity. Subscribe to our YouTube channel, FECTube: FECConnect on Demand, to watch instructional videos that have been designed to help candidates and committees comply with federal campaign finance laws. Note that the FEC is not currently available through other social media platforms. The use of the agency’s logo, name, and likeness on other media has not been authorized by the FEC.