Week of October 25-29, 2021

Commission meetings and hearings

On October 26 and 28, the Commission met in executive session.

The Commission voted to cancel the open meeting scheduled for October 28.

Advisory Opinions

Supplemental Material Received

Advisory Opinion Request 2021-10 (Retail Benefits, Inc.) On October 25, the Commission received supplemental material from the requester.

Enforcement

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

MUR 7330

COMPLAINANT: American Democracy Legal Fund
RESPONDENTS: Mia Love; Friends of Mia Love and Robert Carlin, in his official capacity as treasurer (the Committee); and Utah Republican Party and Mike Bird, in his official capacity as treasurer (URP)
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Love, a 2016 candidate for Utah’s 4th Congressional District, and the Committee coordinated with URP when URP paid for political mailings on behalf of the Committee during the 2016 election cycle, which resulted in the Committee accepting excessive contributions from URP. The complaint further alleged that neither URP nor the Committee properly reported the excessive contributions, and that URP did not report debt to a vendor.
DISPOSITION: The Commission closed the file. Vice Chair Allen Dickerson and Commissioners Sean J. Cooksey and James E. “Trey” Trainor III issued a Statement of Reasons.

MUR 7605

COMPLAINANT: Larry Price
RESPONDENTS: Chad E. Price; and Judson Hill for Congress and Chris D. Clayton, in his official capacity as treasurer (the Committee)
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Price made a $2,700 contribution in the name of his mentally disabled adult sister to the Committee in connection with a 2017 Special Election for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District, in which Hill was a candidate.
DISPOSITION: The Commission closed the file. Chair Shana M. Broussard and Commissioners Steven T. Walther and Ellen L. Weintraub issued a Statement of Reasons.

MUR 7832

COMPLAINANT: Anna Paulina Luna for Congress
RESPONDENT: Twitter, Inc. (Twitter)
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that Twitter made prohibited in-kind contributions to the primary and general election opponents of Anna Paulina Luna, a 2020 candidate for Florida’s 13th Congressional District, because it granted “verification,” a process used to evaluate the authenticity of certain accounts, to the opposing candidates but denied verification to Luna’s account. The complaint alleged that verification is a thing of value because verified accounts reach more users and have higher click-through rates for their fundraising links.
DISPOSITION: The Commission found no reason to believe that Twitter violated the Act by making prohibited corporate in-kind contributions through its process of granting or declining verification and closed the file. Chair Broussard, Vice Chair Dickerson, and Commissioners Trainor, Walther, and Weintraub issued a Statement of Reasons. Vice Chair Dickerson and Commissioner Trainor also issued a separate Statement of Reasons.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

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

ADR 1027

COMPLAINANT: FEC-Initiated
RESPONDENT: Stronger Foundations, Inc. and Andrew Dipalma, in official capacity as treasurer (the Committee)
SUBJECT: In the normal course of exercising its supervisory responsibilities, the Commission initiated proceedings to determine whether there was reason to believe that the Committee failed to timely file one 48-Hour Report to support four independent expenditures, totaling $121,074, and one 24-Hour Report to support one independent expenditure, totaling $10,500, disclosed on its 2020 July Quarterly Report.
DISPOSITION: The Committee agreed to 1) certify that a representative participated in an FEC training program; 2) develop and certify implementation of a compliance operations manual which include internal controls and a process to track receipt of and response to communications with the Commission; and 3) pay a civil penalty of $6,800.

Administrative Fines

The Commission made public 81 closed cases, as follows. For more information, see the case documents in the Administrative Fine search system.

AF 3956 Armitage for Congress and Christopher Armitage, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $5,176.

AF 3958 Beth for Indiana and Beth Henderson, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $347.

AF 3959 Bill Engelbrecht for Congress and Charles William Engelbrecht, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,252.

AF 3960 Bobby for Iowa and Nancy Snyder, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 3961 Brigid for South Jersey and Brigid Callahan Harrison, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $3,994.

AF 3963 Chris Fink for Congress and Guy Sansone, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $5,176.

AF 3964 Committee to Elect Frank Mials Scurlock for President and Dwight Thompson, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 3965 Committee to Elect HP and Dounia Metouri, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $16,640.

AF 3966 Committee to Elect Robert Marshall and Robert Marshall, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 3967 Covert for Congress and Joseph Iaco, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 3968 Cristina for Texas and David Sanchez, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $347.

AF 3969 Dr Jay for Congress, Inc. and James C. Thomas, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 3970 Eugene Yu for Congress and Eric Yu, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 3972 Friends of Clint Koble and Office of Treasurer, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $347.

AF 3973 Friends of Ed Cohen and America and Nina Tirona, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 3974 Friends of Russell Cirincione and Russell Cirincione, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $696.

AF 3975 Friends of Vangie Williams and Latifa Garrison, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,252.

AF 3976 Funk for Congress and Joel David Funk, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $172.

AF 3977 Georgians for Ted Terry and Kendra-Sue Derby, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 3978 Graham Boyd for Congress and Deborah Boyd O'Neal, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 3979 Howard Steele for Congress and Andrea Lester, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $3,994.

AF 3980 Jaimie Kulikowski for Congress and Jaimie Kulikowski, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $417.

AF 3982 Jimmy Rodriguez for Congress and Jimmy Rodriguez, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $14,791.

AF 3983 Jineea for Congress and Anita Meador, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $8,135.

AF 3984 John Eaves for Congress and John Henry Eaves, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $696.

AF 3985 Jonathan Jenkins for Senate Committee and Office of Treasurer, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $31,059.

AF 3986 Karl Gentles for Congress and Carla Gentles, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,252.

AF 3987 Kimberly for Iowa and Kimberly Graham, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $185.

AF 3988 Kina for Congress and Kina Collins, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 3989 Lindsey Boylan for Congress and Lindsey Boylan, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $6,656.

AF 3990 Mason for Minnesota and Nicholas Leonard Mason, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,252.

AF 3991 Mathys for Congress and Eli Calles, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 3992 Pade for Congress and Emily Wohlford, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $696.

AF 3993 Pony Up for Vermin Supreme and Clayton Hunt, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $696.

AF 3994 Reba for Congress and Bryon Fredrick McComb, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $13,311.

AF 3995 Reeder for Congress and Mary Jo Schettler, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 3996 Robert Deming for Congress and Robert Deming, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 3997 Sarah Gad 2020 and Benjamin Nawrocki, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $5,176.

AF 3998 Scanlan for Congress and Aaron Scanlan, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $347.

AF 3999 Shaniyat Chowdhury for Congress and Shaniyat Chowdhury, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $347.

AF 4000 Stephanie Rimmer for Congress and Jeffrey Stanlis, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $417.

AF 4001 Steve Schiffman for Congress 2020 and Larry Earl Garner, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4002 Sutton for Congress and Justin Lee Farrell, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4003 Terri Hill for Congress and David Charon, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $35.

AF 4004 The People for Rush Darwish and Bentley Patterson, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4005 Thomas Gilmer for Congress and Thomas Gilmer, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $696.

AF 4006 Tucker for Congress and Shiva Kalipersad, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,252.

AF 4007 Wes Lambert for Congress and Douglas Wesley Lambert, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4013 Agricultural Retailers Association Political Action Committee (sic) and Timothy Edwin, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $217.

AF 4014 American Society of Plastic Surgeons Plastypac and Bob C. Basu, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $834.

AF 4016 Farmers’ Rice Cooperative Fund and Bill Tanimoto, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $834.

AF 4017 Health Justice for All and Eric Feigl-Ding, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4018 International Union of Operating Engineers Local #302 Voluntary Political Fund and Daren Konopaski, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,947.

AF 4019 IUPAT District Council 82 PAC and Kenneth J. Gorman, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $230.

AF 4020 Jackson Lewis P.C. Political Action Committee and Andrew Charwat, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $696.

AF 4021 Madison PAC; The (sic) and Brian J. Ahern, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,252.

AF 4022 Madison Project Inc. and Kelly Amorin, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $7,395.

AF 4023 National Thoroughbred Racing Association Political Action Committee/Horse PAC and Amber Florence, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $217.

AF 4024 Tarrant County Republican Victory Fund and Shannon Dubberly, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,252.

AF 4025 Brad Barron for US Senate and Jill M. Barron, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $7,395.

AF 4026 Campaign to Elect Antoine Pierce and Alice Woods, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $834.

AF 4027 Citizens for Jade Simmons and Jade Simmons, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $300.

AF 4028 Committee to Elect Mauro Garza for US Congress and Iris Elizabeth Castillo, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,878.

AF 4029 Emily Robinson for Congress and Emily Robinson, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $7,395.

AF 4030 Janicek for Senate and Mark Thomas Nielsen, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $287.

AF 4031 Rob Anderson for Louisiana and Robert Jon Anderson, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $4,437.

AF 4052 Article 1 Political Action Committee and Rick Galena, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $844.

AF 4053 Calumet PAC and Cynthia Lopez, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $844.

AF 4054 Cruise Lines International Association PAC (CLIA PAC) and Michael McGarry, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $844.

AF 4055 Equifax Inc. Political Action Committee and Paul Zurawski, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,267.

AF 4056 Ice Miller PAC and Renee Cornelius, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,267.

AF 4057 Immigration Reform Fund and Omaira Figueroa, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $704.

AF 4058 Latinos for America First and Moni Casarez, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,970.

AF 4059 Leadership for Enterprise and Opportunity PAC and Louis Schiazza, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,267.

AF 4060 PAC-International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 487 and Scott Singer, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $844.

AF 4061 Solar Energy Industries Association PAC (SolarPAC) and Mike Smith, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $704.

AF 4062 Southeast Cotton Committee (SECC) Southern Cottongrowers Inc/SE Cotton Ginners Assn and David Ruppenicker, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed no civil penalty.

AF 4063 The National Republican Trust PAC and Frederick Peterson, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $1,267.

AF 4064 Veterans for Responsible Leadership and Daniel Barkhuff, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $8,978.

AF 4065 Visual Disobedience Campaign Committee and Philip L. Shemanski, in official capacity as treasurer. The Commission made a final determination and assessed a civil penalty of $844.

Outreach

On October 25, Vice Chair Dickerson spoke with a group of students in the Democracy and Governance graduate program at Georgetown University.

On October 26, Chair Broussard attended the virtual Federal Government Pro Bono Recognition Reception.

On October 27, the Commission hosted a Candidate 101: Getting Started webinar.

Upcoming educational programs

November 3, 2021: The Commission will host an FECConnect On Topic session on registration for PACs and parties.

November 16-17, 2021: The Commission will host a Virtual Conference online via Zoom.

December 8, 2021: The Commission will host a webinar for nonconnected PACs.

For more information on upcoming training opportunities, see the Commission’s Trainings page.

Upcoming Commission meetings

November 9, 2021: The Commission is scheduled to meet in executive session.

November 10, 2021: The Commission is scheduled to meet in executive session.

November 10, 2021: The Commission is scheduled to hold an open meeting.

Upcoming reporting due dates

November 20: November Monthly Reports are due. For more information, see the 2021 Monthly Reporting schedule.

Status of agency operations

See the Commission’s statement on the status of agency operations, updated on April 15, 2021. At this stage, most agency staff remain in telework status and the Commission’s office remains closed to visitors. See also the agency’s Workplace Safety Plan, dated May 6, 2021.

Additional research materials

Contribution Limits. In addition to the current limits, the Commission has posted an archive of contribution limits that were in effect going back to the 1975-1976 election cycles.

2020 Presidential General Election Results and Federal Elections 2018: Election Results for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are available. The data was compiled from the official vote totals published by state election offices.

FEC Notify: Want to be notified by email when campaign finance reports are received by the agency? Sign up here.

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

The Combined Federal State Disclosure and Election Directory is available. 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.

Other election-related resources

Videos on protecting U.S. elections. The FBI’s Protected Voices initiative provides videos designed to help political campaigns protect themselves from foreign influence. The 2019 videos offer guidance on ransomware, business email compromise, supply chain, social media literacy, and foreign influence operations. Other videos, released in 2018, include cyber hygiene topics such as social engineering, patching, router hardening, and app and browser safety.

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 currently. The use of the agency’s logo, name, and likeness on other media has not been authorized by the FEC.