On December 31, 2015, Robert Cahaly, an Anderson, S.C. area political consultant, ceased operations of Campaign Services, a political consulting Limited Liability Corporation located in the state of Georgia.

Political consultant Robert Cahaly operated Campaign Services. Cahaly has “known” affiliations with prominent PACs such as Our American Century, The American Industry Project, and the South Carolina Industry Project.

After closing its operations, Campaign Services received payments totaling $63,179 from three prominent elected officials. A former South Carolina State Representative, Thad Viers, who prior to the company’s closure, made payments to campaign services as well. Viers was later arrested and subsequently imprisoned on charges of money laundering.

Did Horry County Councilman Tyler Servant, S.C. Representative Bill Taylor, and S.C. Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister commit any illegal or criminal acts by making payments to a defunct Georgia company?

Representative Bruce Bannister is a lawyer defending Campaign Services, Tyler Servant, S.C. Representative Bill Taylor, and the American Industry Project in a legal dispute. Yet, among the three, Bannister is the largest client of Campaign Services.

Bannister manages the entire $41 billion annual S.C. state budget.

How do these officials play into the Our American Century larger narrative?

Paul Gable of the Grand Strand Daily writes on June 27, 2022: “Our American Century PAC and Invictus Strategies have even closer ties to the people who were involved in producing the negative ads against [Senate 33 Candidate John] Gallman two years ago, some of whom are named defendants in the defamation lawsuit. Gallman is currently pursuing against the American Industry Project (the PAC used for those ads) and the various players associated with the defamation.

According to the National Association of Broadcasters PB-18 forms filed with the local television stations for the negative ad on [Horry County Council Chairman] Johnny Gardner, Chris Comeaux for Invictus Strategies placed the ad order with Our American Century PAC paying the bill.

Walter Whetsell, a political consultant, served as the consultant for Mark Lazarus, who was the opponent of Gardner. However, Our American Century funded PAC campaign ads.

Gable goes on, “The same Chris Comeaux is listed as the Marketing Director for Brave New Television of Walker, Louisiana on Linked In.

In April 2022, Julie Emerson, on behalf of Invictus Strategies, placed ads for the Mehmet Oz/Dave McCormick Pennsylvania Senate race with WSEE in Erie, Pennsylvania, according to PB-18 forms filed with that station. The same Julie Emerson owns Lagniappe Communications in Louisiana.

Julie Emerson placed the ads defaming Gallman, according to PB-18 forms filed with local stations, with the American Industry Project PAC listed as the payor. Both Emerson and Lagniappe Communications are named defendants in the Gallman lawsuit and both have a longstanding relationship with Comeaux and Brave New Television.

American Industry Project and two of its named officers, Horry County Council member Tyler Servant and S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor, are named defendants in the Gallman lawsuit. American Industry Project was reportedly organized in 2018 to run negative ads against Catherine Templeton when Templeton challenged Henry McMaster for the Republican nomination for governor.

According to information available on OpenSecrets.Org, Our American Century PAC paid Trafalgar Group of Atlanta, GA, owned by Robert Cahaly, a total of $1,001,000 for vendor services in 2020. Cahaly is a named defendant in the Gallman lawsuit.

OpenSecrets.Org shows Our American Century PAC paid Lagniappe Communications $108,000 for vendor services in 2020. As mentioned earlier, Lagniappe Communications and its owner Julie Emerson are both named defendants in the Gallman lawsuit. Just to keep things interesting, Comeaux is named in an ethics violation in Louisiana.

Ironic isn’t it that a guy charged with an ethics violation produces an ad about an ethics violation? The violation was allegedly committed by Citizens for a New Louisiana PAC.

Citizens for a New Louisiana PAC list Comeaux and Hannah Pickle as officers, according to filings with the Louisiana Ethics Administration. The same Hannah Pickle is named as an officer of the Foundation for Law and Government (FLAG) PAC.”

Gable continues: “Which funded the American Industry Project, which was named in the local PB-18 filings as paying for the negative ads against Gallman ordered by Emerson and her Lagniappe Communications.

Another director of FLAG is S.C. Rep. Bruce Bannister who is listed as the attorney representing several of the defendants named in the Gallman lawsuit including Emerson, Tyler Servant, Lagniappe and Cahaly.”

Paul Gables reported on July 13, 2022, “An additional $28,200 was spent between May 4, 2022 and June 23, 2022 for campaign services from Victrix Enterprises, LLC, a company organized on April 11, 2022. The company was organized by former state Rep. Thad Viers, who resigned his S.C. House seat after being arrested for harassment of an ex-girlfriend. Not long thereafter, Viers was indicted, convicted and disbarred as an attorney in a money laundering scheme with a former law client.”

Is it legal or ethical to make payments to a closed corporation?

Campaign Services – this from the Georgia Secretary of State:

No, you generally cannot do business with an LLC [like Campaign Services] that is dissolved in Georgia, as once dissolved, the company is legally considered to be out of business and can only operate to wind up its affairs and liquidate assets; meaning it cannot engage in new business activities. 

Key points to remember: 

• Limited activity after dissolution: A dissolved LLC in Georgia can only perform actions necessary to settle outstanding debts and finalize existing contracts, not enter into new business deals.
• Legal ramifications: Conducting business with a dissolved LLC could expose you to potential legal risks as the company may not be able to fulfill contractual obligations. 
• Criminal: It is generally not considered criminal to do business with a dissolved LLC in Georgia, but it is strongly discouraged as the company is legally defunct and cannot conduct business, meaning any contracts or transactions could be invalid and potentially leave you exposed to legal issues; it’s best to verify the active status of an LLC before entering into any business dealings.

Former State House Representative Thad Viers has also previously made significant contributions to Campaign Services, prior to December 31, 2015. It is worth mentioning that Representative Viers faced legal consequences, including indictment, disbarment, and imprisonment, for his involvement in money laundering.

Campaign Services dissolved

Campaign Services closed Dec. 31, 2015

SC Ways and Means Head, Bruce Bannister pays $41,143.75 after it closed.

Bill Taylor pays $1,197.56 after Campaign Services closed. Note the different address for Campaign Services.

Horry County Councilman Tyler Servant paid $20,839.27 after Campaign Services closed. Note, same company, yet another address.

When Our American Century episodes continue:

Our next article in the series will investigate Invictus Strategies with its ties to Julie Emerson, Chris Comeaux, and Political Consultant Robert Cahaly.

These groups are funded by a handful of donors that include: family members of August Busch III,  Anheuser-Busch, Steve Wynn, known for his involvement in the luxury casino and hotel industry in Las Vegas, and Frank Eshelman, NC pharmaceutical donor, among others.