FEC approves findings in an Audit Division Recommendation Memorandum

WASHINGTON – At its open meeting today, the Federal Election Commission approved findings in an Audit Division Recommendation Memorandum and discussed findings in a second Memorandum. The Commission also discussed a report detailing the agency’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) activities for Fiscal Year 2017 and a memorandum providing an update on the status of enforcement matters awaiting reason-to-believe consideration by the Commission.

 Audit Division Recommendation Memorandum on the NY Republican Federal Campaign Committee. The Commission approved three findings in an Audit Division Recommendation Memorandum on the NY Republican Federal Campaign Committee, covering activity between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012. The approved findings related to recordkeeping for employees, disclosure of contributors’ employer and occupation information, and recordkeeping for communications. The Commission approved a portion of the Misstatement of Financial Activity finding and directed the Audit Division to include the remainder in the Additional Issues section of the Proposed Final Audit, as well as the reporting of apparent independent expenditures. The Audit Division will prepare the Proposed Final Audit Report within 30 days.

Audit Division Recommendation Memorandum on the Hawaii Democratic Party. The Commission discussed seven findings in an Audit Division Recommendation Memorandum on the Hawaii Democratic Party, covering activity between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012, but held over a vote until the next open meeting. The findings relate to the misstatement of financial activity, receipt of contributions that exceed the allowable limits, receipt of apparent impermissible funds, reporting of debts and obligations, recordkeeping for employees, failure to properly report media-related expenditures, and allocation of expenditures. 

Proposed Final Audit Report on the Freedom’s Defense Fund. Prior to today’s open meeting, the Commission approved four findings in a proposed Final Audit Report on the Freedom’s Defense Fund, covering activity between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012. The approved findings relate to the misstatement of financial activity, disclosure of contributors’ employer and occupation information, reporting of apparent independent expenditures, and recordkeeping for communications. 

Proposed Final Audit Report on the Conservative Majority Fund. Prior to today’s open meeting, the Commission approved five findings in a proposed Final Audit Report on the Conservative Majority Fund, covering activity between July 9, 2012, and December 31, 2012. The approved findings relate to the misstatement of financial activity, disclosure of contributors’ employer and occupation information, reporting of apparent independent expenditures, reporting of debts and obligations, and recordkeeping for communications. 

FY 2017 Annual FOIA Report. The Commission discussed a report detailing the agency’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) activities for Fiscal Year 2017. A copy of the report has been submitted to the Department of Justice’s Office of Information Policy,

 Assessment of Commission Action on Enforcement Matters Awaiting Reason-to-Believe Consideration. The Commission briefly discussed a memorandum providing an update on the status of enforcement matters awaiting reason-to-believe consideration by the Commission, as well as an assessment of recent efforts by the agency to address the backlog of matters, and held over more detailed discussion until the next open meeting.  That discussion is to include consideration of amending Directive 68 to require additional reporting on the status of matters in which a First General Counsel’s Report is pending.