FEC holds audit hearing, approves Audit Division recommendation memorandum

WASHINGTON – The Federal Election Commission today held an audit hearing and an open meeting, where it approved an Audit Division recommendation memorandum. The Commission had previously approved by tally vote an advisory opinion that was on the open meeting agenda.

Draft Final Audit Report on the Grassroots Victory PAC. The Commission held a hearing to discuss the Draft Final Audit Report of the Audit Division on the Grassroots Victory PAC, covering campaign finance activity between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018. The draft report contains a finding of Misstatement of Financial Activity – Increased Activity.

Audit Division Recommendation Memorandum on the Mississippi Republican Party. At its open meeting, the Commission approved an Audit Division Recommendation Memorandum on the Mississippi Republican Party, covering campaign finance activity between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016. The Commission approved findings relating to misstatement of financial activity and the reporting of debts and obligations. The Commission was unable to agree by four votes to include a third proposed finding: “Reporting of Apparent Independent Expenditures."

Advisory Opinion Request 2020-06 (Escobar). On January 22, the Commission approved by tally vote an advisory opinion in response to a request from Veronica Escobar, a member of Congress, and her principal campaign committee, asking whether campaign funds may be used to pay for wiring and lighting costs necessary to install home security measures recommended by the House Sergeant at Arms. The Commission concluded that the proposed use of campaign funds is permissible under the Federal Election Campaign Act and Commission regulations and would not constitute a prohibited conversion of campaign funds to personal use.