Montana Democratic Party Complaint Against Ryan Zinke and SOFA

5/24/2018 Montana Democratic Party Complaint Against Ryan Zinke and SOFA

http:///reader/full/montana-democratic-party-complaint-against-ryan-zinke-an

MONT NDEMO R TS

P.O.Box 802Helena MT59624

Tel 4O6-442-952OFax 4O6-442-9534

[email protected]

June30,2014

Mr. LeeGoodmanChairmanFederal Election Commission999EStreet, NWWashington, DC 20463DearMr.Goodman:

Bythis letter, I would like to file aformalcomplaint against RyanZinkeandSpecial Operations forAm ericaPA C( SOFA ). SOFAw as foundedbyRyan Zinkein2012. Ac cording to pressreports1,SOFA wasfounded out of anger that President Obamawas taking credit for themission that killed OsamaBinLaden. However, duringthe2012 election cycle,itappears that SOFA only spent $7,000on independent expendituresopposing Barack Obama. Therestof theover$180,000raisedby SOFA in2012 went tooperatingcosts,including paymentstoZinke'sconsulting firm, Continental DivideInternational,and toBattle Plan Strategies,aconsultingfirmbelongingto Scott Hommel,SOFA'streasurerandZinke'sformerchiefof staff.

While Zinke claimed thatthe hecreated SOFA forGod and country , andpubliclydeclared2thathewouldnottakeapaycheck, these paymentsto his owncompany would seemto suggest otherwise.In2013, SOFA raisedover $1.3million dollars. Ofthat amount over $900,000was raised during thesecondhalfof2013,thesame timethatRyanZinkewas exploringhis run for Congress. Mr. Zinke subsequently filed paperwork w ith the Federal Election

CommissiononOctober24,2013to run for the A t-LargeDistrictfor theHouseofRepresentatives from thestate ofMontana. Inadd ition, accordingto FECreports,Mr.Zinke'sfirm received paymentsforSOFAinearly 2013,aswellas alarge travelreimbursement in August of 2013, a period in which the PAC does no t appear to have

1 GOP Con gressional Candidate Using Campaign Money SchemePioneeredby. . .Stephen Colbert ,Mother Jones November I, 20132SpecialOp erations fo rAmericawebsite,August2, 2012

P ID FORBYTHE MONTANA DEMOCR TS _



beenactivein anycampaigns. Thus, this large travel reimbu rsement begsthequestionastothe relationship to the travel payment and Mr.Zinke s exploration of his candidacy.

According to pressreports3 Mr. Zinke resignedfromSOFA on September 30,2013,merely 2 4 days prior to filing his campaign paperw ork with the FEC. According toa latefiledForm 24 and its2013 Year-End report, SOFA began disseminating advertisingsupportingMr.Zinke s electiononOctober, 22,2013,priorto Mr.Zinke sfilingof hiscampaign's paperwork and a mere 22 daysafter Mr. Zinke's resignationfrom SOFA.

Since September2013,SOFA has reported spending over $200,000 oncommunications advocatingtheelectionof Mr.Zinke. Inaddition, SOFAhasbeensoliciting con tributions specifically for M r.Zinke scampaign. In fact, donors whogavemorethan $50 were beingoffered a Ryan Zinke commemorative coin.In ad dition,in2013,both SOFAandZinke's campaign comm ittee reporthiringthe same individual for purposes of research consulting, during the same m onth. The

Zinke campaign reports paying $1,412.75 to Lester Cooper of Charlottesville,VA onNovem ber 21 of 2013, while SOFA reports paying Coopertwice;$1,000 on August 15 of2013, andagainfor$3,030.45onNovember4 of2013. Thegroups'hiringof the sameindividual just days apa rt would certainly facilitate coordination between the two, and itwould seemveryunlikely that informationCooper gained whileperforming research forone entity did notinformhis actions and decisions while employed by the other. Thiswouldconstitute an illegal coordination if Cooper used his knowledge of SOFA'sintentions to make independent expenditures on Zinke sbehalf during his subsequentemployme nt with Zinke's campaign comm ittee.

Based upontheabove,i tappears asthough SO FA 's actual purposefor the 2014cyclewas to be thededicated SuperPAC for Mr.Zinke s congressional campaign.Althoughthis pheno menon is not unique, what is unique is the factthat SOFA wascreated by M r. Zinke and controlled by him until a mere few days prior to the creation ofhis own campaign com mittee. There fore, it strains credulity for SOFA to argue that ithad spontaneously decided to support Mr. Zin ke's campa ign subsequen t to hisresignation, independentlyfrom Mr.Zinkeand hiscampaign, wheninfact, itbegandisseminating communications supporting his campaign prior to the establishment of Mr.Zinke sowncampaign committee.

Based upontheabove,andinformationan dbelief,I request that the FECthoroughly investigatethe connections between SOFAandRyanZinke scampaigncommittee. I believe a thorough investigation will reveal that Mr. Zinkeleft SOFA with aturn-key independent expenditureoperation tosupporthis campaign andtherefore, allcommunications disseminated by SOFA would result in coordinated communications asdefinedby the Federal Election Commission in 11C.F.R . 109.21(b). In addition, sinceSOFAwasestablishedby Mr.Zinke,i tsstatusas anindependent expenditure onlycommittee that is making communications in support of his candidacy must be called into 3 GOP Congressional CandidateUsing Campaign Money SchemePioneered by...Stephen Colbert ,Mother Jones November1 2013



question. Ultimately,the Commission must determine that SOFA is affiliated with Mr.Zinke s camp aign comm ittee. 11 C.F.R. 100.5(g).The Commission must promptly and aggressively investigate these clearviolationso f federal campaign finance regulations and seek any and all injunctive and

financial penalties permitted by law.

Sincerely

SWORNTO NDSUBSCRIBED beforemethis 6_day of un 2014

No RL L DUNH MNOT RYPUBLICfor thetate ofMontanaResidingatBillings Montanay CommissionExpiresJuly19 2 15

DarlaL.Dunham

ResidingatBillings MontanaYellowstoneCounty

MyCommissionExpires: July 19 2 1



in

O10o

Bowditch DeweyRE Eiv

2 0 I 2 J U N I 5 Ml I I OBV|MDtVtoF E

NY M65P 3EII20DC XBJ29WO

June 14. 2012

Via redKx Tracking A a. 7985IOISSM7tFederal Eleclion CommissionATTN:Statement of Organization999 EStreet, NWWashington.DC 20463

Rt Special Operations for America,Independent ExpenditureCommitteeTo Whom IIMay Concern:

For filing,kindly find the enclosed Statement o f Organization (Form 1) and the enclosedindependent Expenditure Committee Letter (IE-Only Letter . If you have a ny questions, pleasecontact me. Thankyou.Regards,

VincenlDcVito

cc: ChnstophcrHyatt (w/cnclosurcs)

Admiuim Dh>k of TitlmnhU -Cinnmcnmatlh of Mu*rfruMte - Ste)f of Mm V U M I Moor i

*4 fT.CO



SpecialOperations For America336West2nd StreetWhilefeb MT 59937

June 14, 2012

Federal Election Comm ission



rFEC

FORM1STATEMErfT OFORGANIZATION RECEIVED

I1 NAMtOFCOMMTTTEE(hh.0) LJ E*anpto:i WV IVM

fiPEPVm 9PERATIONS FOR AMER|CA

oKlCMINoOmO

AMP CSS^~j pwx Hxkfrv*

L336 West 2nd StreetJ_ l t l.WhitefishI I I I I . 1 1 1 1 J 1

C TY

D i;t:U I I ICOMMITTEE S WEBFAOE ADDRESSWHl)

I (CNcfci

FEC IDEMi-ICATlON NJWBER

4. ISTMS STATEMENT [_ NfcW IN) OH AWEND6O(A)

AIMair.rwfma St a.-ntrrf arxl K at*fres.'yl ity KiotA-ffyi wvt baWif ,s inuo. earrrcrantfcnrpWU

SutimMcn f MM tarrmn mytuhfcci . *i?\* StowwKitInP-HpnNwt rf2U. C.(4J7^AMY 3HAM3 IN KSFOHWAHONSHOULD BEREPORTEDWITHIN 10 DAYS.

0-bUOn>f FgrbflhvMgrmMMMnucc EC/ crkDU 1eftHEUemCcimami TCV TWrtM IIc* 'HH tOXM-MUCI (ftaiHM tOnOOi i . - I I . __J



r nFEC Form1 [RmM



r~tC Form 1jfWjriOaflOOB]

Wit rt or y.-nCorrmRMNinwSPECIAL OPERATIONSFORAMERICA

C. Nam*or AnyConntctadOtytntaOon AJfilMadComniRtM,JointFututralilngHexoeniatlv. orLvMterwilpPACSponKH

I I I M I i i I I I I i I N I II I I I I I I I I I I ' I I I I I I M I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I

wir *** * I ' t I I I I M M I I I I I I I I I I I II I I i I I M M II I i I M I 1 I I I I i 1 I i I I i I I I I I M M M I I i

M I I I i I I I I I I I M I I i I I . I I . . . i l- l . . . IIN ITY SWE ZIP ODE09

Hclabcrurip flconneciedOrganfeafcn[ UttbaiKl Corrtn** PjjsiilFwxIfiiSlT*f*pf**M f~~Lar>htpPACSporwarONJ --I 7. CmkuHanof Rwordi:ktertfy aymm. KldraH(pl-eot rwnbar- ofHUnoQvxlDOMcn trw parson inpouM>onof

C-v-.sindraoordi.

N_ HYATT

PoMnn CfTY STATE ZIP COOE

J4Q6. |-|261, |-|7^ |

B. Trewuror.UItorwnH X) AdcrtuUtKXMnjirtMt -opunol|otth* treasurerat vaQirunM.andthe nwne andaddnMoluponI(n.(|.aniAu-It'iMMiw).

iHYATT: 1 1 ; . 1 I I 1 I J I I ] - L I I J I t ] i 1...Mall03AJCr

STATE ZIP CQOi S f f P r7 . . ) - .. I

'OOOH

u lSl j



r nPEC Form 1 K*.1MQ2t202S -i:]t 4iVinpgntpgVitp

, . , . . . , . , , , . . . ,l,4 th Floor

I |0?1.1Q l-CITY ST TE f COO

Tfttaoi Pos otw IggnarajCffunsej,AyigtantTreasurer, , | T.phorwnut** ^7 , j-|7^7 _[6j>QO [HIIM --rMgei 8. Bwtoof OttMTDpOIW M:t si orofw dpo*ter*mwnicn>eomnfltoadopoib fune*.hsfciMoouna, r nQ ;ativ tsvotiT Oaam ix RialnturB undo,0 Mftm*otB*^x,Mp3*ncuy,tcO

ifli/. . iC TY STATE ZIP CODE

MBTMnlB*ik,Dgpauiay,afc

i/jurgAdam* [ i i i t i i i i i i ' i i i . j . _ i _i : 4 _ _ i t 1 i i i i i i i i ii i l i i i t r i t_j_j...j ; L_l. I I 1 t I ; 1 . 1 i l l l

J L i . . l-l . . .STATE ZIPCODE



M



He'srunning forCongress because America needs him He has earnedoursupportand Ihopevoiwillsupportour effortstohelphim winwithacontributionof 10. ^5. 50. 100. 175, 250. 500.oreven 1.000today.And ifyour contribution is 50 ormore, willsendyou alimited edition Spec ia lOperationsfo rAmer icaRyan Zjnke bronze challengecoinas atokenof our thanks,personalkeepsake.

an dreminderof thevaluesyou and RyanZinkeshare



Image*H960347B43SCHEDULE :ECForm 3X]ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS Use separatescheduledlo>each category ot IheDetailedSummary Pagt>

FOR LINE NUMBER,(check only one)[27 | j28a

P. .GC 391 1 ---n p2 p25 p26 1 28c { 129 | 3CO

Any information cooied tramsuchRooorlsand Statements may nol De sow or usedby any person lor thepurpose Qt solicitingcontributionsor (or commercial purposes, other than usingthpname and addressot anypolitical committee10 solicit contributions Irom suchcommittee.\EOF COMMITTEE |ln Full| SPECIAL OPERATIONSFORAMERICA

FujiName (Last. Fust. Middle Initial)A- LESTER COOPER

2013

City Stale 2ipCodeCHARLOTTESVILLE VA 22901Purpose3 DtsbufsernantRESEARCH CONSULTING.. ij Idlbf .Lie

OttKeSought. HU.IS,.-SenatePresident

State. District.

DisbursementFor.Primary GeneralOlder {specify) y

Caiegory/Type

Transition ID SH21B.21?02

Amount ol Eacfi DisDursement this Period100000

FijiName (Last. First. Middle initialB. LESTER COOPERMailing Address 1111 TIMBER TRAIL DR

Dale olDisbursement

11 4 2 13CyCHARLOTTESVIU E

SlateVA

J-. Code22901

RESEARCH CONSULTING

OTficBSought:

Stale.iost era

District

DisbursementForPnmaryOther

Category/Type

TranuctkxiID . SB21B.21913

Amountol Eacn OiSOursemeniihisPetiod3030.45

ener l



SCHEDULE B (FECForm3)ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS Usa sepaiate schedulers)toreach category ot ..-DetailedSumrmry Page

FOR UNE NUMBER,(check only one|\\ a J20b

PAGE

R127 OF 1519a Hi*o RSI

Any informationcopied trom sucliReports ano Slaiements may nottwsoldor used by any person for thepurposeol solicitingcontributionsor tot commercialpurposes,other than using ttie name and aodress ot any poWicalcommittee lo solicitcontnLutior .i 'ion',S'jchco'ivinutt\E OF COMMITTEE(In Fulll/ ZinkeforCongress

Fun Namu{Last.First. MiddleinitialA.

B.

C.

RobertKearleyMailing Address PO Box4760City Stole ZipCodePurpose of Disbursemenl

Canowate Name Gregory/Type

OtfeeSought House Disbursement For: 2014Senate Primary GeneralPresident Other (specify)

State. Dtsiric .FullNilnii.' (Last F.tst Midate Initial)Payne West InsuranceMa*ngAoaress 200N MontanaAveCity .-..i-. . -J|' Co :cHelena MT 59601-3500PL*poseof DisbursementInsuranceCandidate Name Category/

TypeOfceSough . House Disbursement For: 2014

Senate V Primary GeneralPresioenl Olfier (specify)

State. Dist/icLFun Name {Last. Fst. Middle Irnlial)LesterL CooperMa*ngAod.essmiTknbTraDrCity SlM 2ipCodeChartoctasviBe VA 22901-9010FjpOSC O' UliL'u'StIT't lResearch FeesCandidate Nam. Category/

Type_.r..v .(..in: House Dtsbursement For: 2014

Senate N/ Primary General~] Prssloent :Oltw (speciiy)

Date ol Disbursement

11 16 2 13Amount o(Eacfi DisbursemenltNs Period

1918.74Transactiont BB7D9B1DAB63C4C1ABFE

Dale of Disbursement

11 18 2 13

Amourfl of Eacn Disbursemenl Mus Period289.00

Tran*actlonID :B445048B3DE924FDD8BO

Date ot Disbursement

11 21 2 13

Amountol EactiDisburaemenl this Period1412.75

Transaction10:B6AE21657B16540FA96B

Documents

Montana Democratic Party Complaint Against Ryan Zinke and SOFA