Weekly Digest
Week of April 20 – 24
COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS
On April 21 and 22, the Commission held an executive session.
The open meeting previously scheduled for April 23 was cancelled.
ENFORCEMENT
The Commission made public one closed case and two Statements of Reasons, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.
MUR 6678
COMPLAINANT: Michael Weinstein
RESPONDENTS: Mindgeek S.A.R.L. f.k.a. Manwin Licensing International S.A.R.L.; Mindgeek USA Incorporated f.k.a. Manwin USA, Inc.; Fabian Thylmann; Andrew Link; Froytal Services Limited; No on Government Waste/No on Measure B – Major Funding by Manwin USA
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Manwin Licensing International S.A.R.L, its subsidiary Manwin USA, Inc. and Manwin USA, Inc.’s corporate officers, Thylmann and Link, made an impermissible $150,000 foreign national donation to a California local ballot measure committee, No on Government Waste/No on Measure B – Major Funding by Manwin USA (Ballot Measure Committee). The complaint alleged further that Froytal Services Limited is a foreign national that impermissibly donated $75,000 to the Ballot Measure Committee.
DISPOSITION: The Commission closed the file. On April 23, Chair Ann M. Ravel and Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub issued Statements of Reasons.
ADMINISTRATIVE FINES
The Commission made public four campaign finance enforcement matters that were resolved through its Administrative Fines (AF) program, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.
AF 2853 – Friends of Terry Adams and Robert D. Tuke, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,090.
AF 2876 – Jeff Jones for Senate and Jeff Jones, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $550.
AF 2906 – Al Green for Congress and William A. Lawson, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $17,297.
AF 2907 – Carlos Curbelo Congress and Paul Kilgore, in his official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $3,220.
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
The Commission made public one campaign finance enforcement matter that was resolved through its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Enforcement Query System.
ADR 738 – Many Individual Conservatives Helping Elect Leaders Everywhere (MICHELEPAC) and Nancy H. Watkins, in her official capacity as treasurer. The respondent agreed to (1) certify that a representative participated in an FEC conference, (2) develop and certify implementation of a compliance operations manual that includes internal controls consistent with the Commission’s Internal Controls and Political Committees advisory document and the Best Practices for Committee Management, and (3) pay a civil penalty of $4,000.
AUDITS AND COMMISSIONERS’ STATEMENT OF REASONS
Final Audit Report of the Commission on the Kentucky State Democratic Central Executive Committee. On April 20, the Commission issued the Final Audit Report of the Commission on the Kentucky State Democratic Central Executive Committee, covering campaign finance activity between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012. The Commission approved a finding related to recordkeeping for employees totaling $820,979, paid with an allocation of federal and nonfederal funds. The report also addresses an additional issue regarding recordkeeping for employees paid exclusively with non-federal funds totaling $12,283. Chair Ann M. Ravel and Commissioners Steven T. Walther and Ellen L. Weintraub issued a Statement of Reasons.
LITIGATION
FEC v. Craig for U.S. Senate, et al. (Case 14-5297). On April 23, the Appellants filed a Reply Brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Holmes, et al. v. FEC (Case 1:14-cv-01243-RMC). On April 20, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued an Opinion and Order denying plaintiffs’ Motion for Order Regarding Certification and ordering that summary judgment be entered in favor of the Commission. On April 24, the plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
FEC v. O’Donnell, et al. (Case 1:15-cv-00017-LPS). On April 17, the defendants filed an Answer and Counterclaims in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
Stop Reckless Economic Instability caused by Democrats, et al. v. FEC (Case 1:14-cv-00397-AJT-IDD). On April 22, Plaintiffs and Plaintiff-Intervenor American Future PAC filed a Notice of Appeal in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Van Hollen v. FEC (Case 15-5017). On April 21, Appellant Hispanic Leadership Fund filed a First Corrected Opening Brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
OUTREACH
On April 24, Chair Ravel discussed the role of independent commissions and the differences between the FEC and the California Fair Political Practices Commission at the Supreme Court of California in San Francisco, CA.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS
April 20: April Monthly Reports were due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2015 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website.
PRESS RELEASES
District Court Issues Opinion and Order in Holmes, et al. v. FEC (issued April 21)
UPCOMING COMMISSION MEETINGS AND HEARINGS
May 19: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.
May 21: The Commission is scheduled to hold an open meeting.
Meeting dates are subject to change. Please contact the Press Office the week of the scheduled meeting for confirmation.
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 12: Chair Ravel will host a Public Forum on Women in Politics to begin an open discussion with scholars, social scientists, political practitioners and the public on the significant under-representation of women in politics at all levels of government. The event is free and open to the public. If you would like to attend the forum in person or participate via webcast, or if you are unable to attend but would like to submit written comments, please email CommissionerRavel@fec.gov. The event''''s website will have updates on the event and information about participating online.
UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
April 29: Webinar for Trade Association PACs. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.
May 13: Webinar for Party Committees. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.
June 3: Webinar for Campaign Committees. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.
UPCOMING REPORTING DUE DATES
May 20: May Monthly Reports are due. For more information on monthly reporting dates, refer to the 2015 Monthly Reporting page of the Commission website.
OTHER RESOURCES
The 2015 edition of the Combined Federal State Disclosure and Election Directory is available in the Public Records section of the 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 2015 edition of the Federal Election Campaign Finance Laws is available on the Commission website and in print. The compilation contains all federal campaign finance laws (including a conversion table showing the recent changes from Title 2 U.S.C. to Title 52 U.S.C.). To order a copy at no charge, contact the Commission''''s Information Division at (800) 424-9530 (press 6, when prompted) or email info@fec.gov.
The 2014 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.
The 2014 Legislative Recommendations are available on the Commission’s website.
The 2014 edition of the Federal Election Commission Campaign Guide for Congressional Candidates and Committees is available on the Commission’s website.
The August 2013 edition of the Federal Election Commission Campaign Guide for Political Party Committees is available on the Commission’s website.
The Official 2012 Presidential General Election Results are available in the Library section of the website. This listing was compiled from the official election results published by state election offices.
The Commission has published the 2015 Record Index page. An index to previously published Record news articles is available on the Commission website. The Record news page is available in the Publications section of the Commission website. Sign up to receive email notification when new articles are posted.
The FEC Annual Reports from 1975-2006 are available on the website. Beginning in 2007, the Commission consolidated its Annual Report with its Performance and Accountability Report (PAR) to provide a single account of the agency’s activities for each fiscal year.
Instructional videos are available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/FECTube?feature=watch. These videos are also available on the Commission’s E-Learning resources page at http://www.fec.gov/info/elearning.shtml.
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