Week of July 31 – August 4, 2017

Commission meetings and hearings

No Commission open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.

2017 Commission calendar

On August 3, the Commission approved meeting dates for August through December of 2017.

Advisory opinions

Extension of Time Received

Advisory Opinion Request 2017-05 (Great America PAC and Committee to Defend the President)

On July 31, the Commission received an Extension of Time until September 15, 2017 on Advisory Opinion Request 2017-05. The requestor asks several questions with respect to the use of Twitter handles in disclaimers and whether disclaimers are required on Twitter pages.

Requests received

Advisory Opinion Request 2017-09 (Libertarian Association of Massachusetts)

On August 2, the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2017-09 (Libertarian Association of Massachusetts). The requestor asks whether it qualifies as a state party committee of the Libertarian National Party. The Commission will accept written comments on the request during the 10-day period following publication of the request (no later than August 12) and must issue a response no later than 60 days after receipt of the complete request, that is, by September 26.

Advisory Opinion Request 2017-10 (Citizens Against Plutocracy PAC)

On August 3, the Commission made public Advisory Opinion Request 2017-10 (Citizens Against Plutocracy). The requestor, an independent expenditure-only committee, asks whether its proposal to ask candidates to sign a “Contract for American Renewal” would constitute coordination under Commission regulations. The Commission will accept written comments on the request during the 10-day period following publication of the request (no later than August 12) and must issue a response no later than 60 days after receipt of the complete request, that is, by October 2.

Enforcement

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

MUR 7004

• ·COMPLAINANT: Elihu Eli El
  
• ·RESPONDENTS: The 2016 Committee and William Saracino, in his official capacity as treasurer (2016 Committee); John Philip Sousa IV; and Ron Robinson
  
• ·SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that the 2016 Committee, an independent expenditure-only political committee, Sousa and Robinson (1) failed to disclose that they were not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee and (2) misrepresented themselves as acting on behalf of a candidate or candidate’s committee for the purpose of soliciting contributions.
  
• ·DISPOSITION: The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the allegation concerning disclosure that the 2016 Committee was not authorized by a candidate or committee. The Commission observed that while some of the Committee’s emails were missing disclaimers or included only partially adequate disclaimers, there was sufficient information for recipients to understand that the Committee paid for the emails and was not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. The Commission found no reason to believe the respondents misrepresented themselves because the record does not support that conclusion.
  

MUR 7033

• ·COMPLAINANT: Leamond C. Stuart III
  
• ·RESPONDENTS: Michael Robert Crane; and Crane for Congress and J. Matthew Watson, in his official capacity as treasurer (the Committee)
  
• ·SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Crane failed to file a Statement of Candidacy or designate a principal campaign committee despite announcing his candidacy and paying a $5,220 fee for ballot access. Crane was a 2016 primary candidate for Georgia’s 3^rd Congressional District.
  
• ·DISPOSITION: The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the matter in consideration of Commission priorities. The Commission observed that while Crane and the Committee registered in an untimely manner the late filings did not cause the Committee to file an untimely 2016 April Quarterly Report, which was the first due after Crane passed the $5,000 candidate threshold. The Commission sent a letter reminding Crane and the Committee of the requirements concerning timely filings.
  

Audits

• Final Audit Report of the Commission on the Colorado Republican Committee. On July 31, the Commission issued the Final Audit Report of the Commission on the Colorado Republican Committee, covering financial activity between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012. The Commission approved findings related to the misstatement of financial activity, reporting of apparent independent expenditures, recordkeeping for communications, and failure to itemize debts and obligations. The report also addresses additional issues regarding the Audit staff’s recommended finding on misstatement of financial activity of an unreported bank account, which the Commission did not approve by the required four votes.
  

Requests for legal consideration by the Commission

On August 1, the Commission made public its response to a Request for Legal Consideration made on behalf of Friends of Mike Lee.

Educational programs

On August 2, the Commission hosted a Candidate 101 Webinar: Getting Started. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.

Campaign finance reports

On July 31: Mid-Year reports were due. For more information on semiannual reporting dates, refer to the 2017 Semiannual Reporting page of the Commission website.

Upcoming commission meetings and hearings

• ·August 15: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.
  
• ·August 17: The Commission is scheduled to hold an open meeting and executive session.
  
• ·Meeting dates are subject to change. Please contact the Press Office the week of the scheduled meeting for confirmation.
  

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 at this time. The use of the agency’s logo, name, and likeness on other mediums has not been authorized by the FEC.

Upcoming educational programs

August 30-31: Chicago Regional Conference for candidates, parties and separate segregated funds. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.

Upcoming reporting due dates

August 20: August Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2017 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website.

Additional research materials

The Official 2016 Presidential General Election Results are available in the Library section of the website. This listing was compiled from the official vote totals published by state election offices.

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

The 2017 edition of the Combined Federal State Disclosure and Election Directory is available on the new Commission website. 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 FEC Record is available as a continuously-updated online news source.

The 2017 edition of Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations can be downloaded from the website. To order printed copies, call (800) 424-9530 (press 6) or send an email to info@fec.gov.