Week of January 25 – January 29, 2016

Commission meetings and hearings

• The open meeting previously scheduled for January 26 was cancelled.
• The executive session previously scheduled for January 28 was cancelled.

Enforcement

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

MUR 6748

• COMPLAINANT: Daniel G. Hempey
• RESPONDENTS: Hanabusa for Hawaii and George S. Yamamoto, in his official capacity as treasurer; Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America; and Christopher Raymond
• SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Hanabusa for Hawaii and George S. Yamamoto, in his official capacity as treasurer (the Committee), or Hanabusa impermissibly coordinated communications with the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), and thus received a prohibited in-kind corporate contribution from PhRMA, and that the Committee solicited or directed funds from PhRMA. Colleen Hanabusa was a 2010 candidate for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District.
• DISPOSITION: The Commission found no reason to believe that PhRMA made or the Committee received a prohibited in-kind corporate contribution through a coordinated communication because PhRMA apparently did not pay for any communications supporting Hanabusa, and therefore there were no communications to be coordinated. The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the allegation that the Committee or Hanabusa solicited or directed funds from PhRMA. The Commission observed that it remained unclear whether any solicitation of a PhRMA representative occurred or whether the alleged request or direction at issue involved permissible independent activity, and in any event PhRMA apparently never made any contribution or expenditure to benefit the Committee.

MUR 6964

• COMPLAINANT: FEC-Initiated
• RESPONDENTS: Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans for Congress PAC and Kieran Lalor, in his official capacity as treasurer
• SUBJECT: In the normal course of exercising its supervisory responsibilities, the Commission initiated proceedings to determine whether Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans for Congress PAC and Lalor, in his official capacity as treasurer (the Committee), failed to accurately disclose receipts and disbursements on its 2012 Post-General Report.
• DISPOSITION: The Commission entered into a conciliation agreement providing for the Committee to pay a civil penalty of $5,850.

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 777

Massachusetts Republican Party and Brent J. Andersen, in his official capacity as treasurer. The respondent agreed to (1) certify that the Committee performed reconciliation of the Committee’s accounts for each required FEC report and (2) pay a civil penalty of $4,500.

Litigation

• Libertarian National Committee, Inc. v. FEC (Case 1:16-cv-00121-BAH). On January 25, the Libertarian National Committee, Inc. filed a Complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Outreach

• On January 27, Commissioner Ann M. Ravel discussed the role of the Commission and the presidential elections with James Waterson from Buzzfeed UK in a meeting coordinated through the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program.
• On January 27, Commissioner Ravel discussed the structure, processes and financing of political campaigns, and the role of the Commission with Brazilian political leaders participating in the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program.
• On January 27, Deputy Press Officer Christian J. Hilland and Paul C. Clark of the Office of the Chief Information Officer discussed the Commission''''s disclosure systems with a group of journalists from the Regional Reporters Association.

Upcoming Commission meetings and hearings

• February 11: The Commission is scheduled to hold an open meeting.
• February 23: The Commission is scheduled to hold an executive session.

Meeting dates are subject to change. Please contact the Press Office the week of the scheduled meeting for confirmation.

Upcoming educational programs

• February 24, 2016: Webinar for Political Party Committees. Additional information is available on the Educational Outreach page of the Commission website.

Upcoming reporting due dates

• January 31, 2016: Year-End Reports are due. For information on general election reporting dates, refer to the 2016 Reporting Dates page of the Commission website.

Additional research materials

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