Julie Emerson Lagniappe Communications Group, hails from Louisiana and currently resides in Carencro, her childhood home. She completed her education in her local area, graduating from Westminster Christian Academy in Opelousas and obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. To further her knowledge, she pursued a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina.
Following her graduation from college, Julie established the Julie Emmerson Lagniappe Communications Group, an organization specializing in communications and public relations. As the chief strategist, she advises various public officials, non-profit entities, and businesses on effective strategies for brand development and message articulation.
Julie Emerson was elected in October 2015 to represent House District 39, which includes the northern part of Lafayette Parish and the southern part of St. Landry Parish. At the time of taking office, Julie Emerson was just 27 years old, making her the youngest member of the state Legislature and the youngest Republican female to ever win a legislative seat.
Julie Emmerson, of Lagniappe Communications Group, is currently the Chair of the Louisiana House Ways and Means Committee. The total budget for Louisiana ranges from $42 billion to $49 billion, which Julie Emmerson of Lagniappe Communications Group currently oversees.
What caused this University of South Carolina Master of Business graduate to gain such significant influence? Her possession of the political consulting company Lagniappe Communications Group empowers her to have a substantial impact on both S.C. and Louisiana.
Julie Emerson Lagniappe Communications Group
As we reported on August 22, 2022, S. C. politician, former SC State Rep. Michael Thompson was listed as a director of Geaux PAC which is now called Our American Century. We note that the Geaux Pac used the same exact business address of Julie Emerson Lagniappe Communications Group. Is this a coincidence?
So much political money – one same 201 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans address
The original address for the incorporation of the Julie Emerson Lagniappe Communications Group was 201 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70170. This same address was used to found the GEAUX PAC, now Our American Century.
A significant amount of political funds – all originating from one Louisiana address.
When running for office in the 2014 cycle, Horry County Councilman Dennis DiSabato used Julie Emerson Lagniappe Communications Group. The money was sent to the address where Geaux Pac and Lagniappe were founded, which is 201 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans.
How did a local attorney who is also a member of the Horry County Council become associated with Julie Emerson and the Lagniappe Communications Group? Her influence in South Carolina politics extends far and wide.
Julie Emerson Lagniappe Communications Group has also made campaign purchases in various Horry County and SC races, involving another PAC called the American Industry Project. As our readers will recall S.C. House Rep. Bill Taylor initially claimed he was not on the board of this PAC. He called back 16 minutes later to inform us he was, in fact, on the board.
Julie Emerson of Lagniappe Communications Group made a contentious and questionable media buy on behalf of Senator Luke Rankin paid for by the American Industry Project, which resulted in both of them being entangled in a legal dispute.
As we reported in 2022, Investigation of the PB-18 forms filed for the broadcast ads with local Horry County radio and television stations showed the ads were purchased by Julie Emerson Lagniappe Communications Group in Louisiana and listed local county council member Tyler Servant as the official for the SCIP approving payment.
Further investigation into AIP discovered that funding for AIP was provided by the Foundation for Law and Government, a PAC headed by S.C. Rep. Bruce Bannister, according to IRS 990 filings by FLAG.
SC House Representative Bruce Bannister serves as the Chair of the SC House and Ways Committee. He oversees the complete fiscal management of the South Carolina Annual State Budget, amounting to $40.2 billion for the fiscal year 2025.
Our American Century – formerly Geaux Pac used the same original Julie Emerson Lagniappe Communications Group address. Coincidence?
WHO IS DAVID SATTERFIELD OF GEAUX PAC – NOW OUR AMERICAN CENTURY?
David Satterfield, the GEAUX PAC Treasurer was recently the Committee Campaign Treasurer for Pastor Mark Burns, a U.S. Congressional Candidate associated with the Now TV Network.
Where did the $500,000 in loan funds go?
Burns issued payments of $41,797 and $99,964 to closed Campaign Services LLC, owned by Robert Cahaly. Despite Campaign Services ceasing operations in 2015, records indicate that Burns made these payments in June and July of 2024.
In our earlier reporting on this matter, Horry County Republican Chairman Reese Boyd stated that “If these type payments were not money laundering, they certainly amounted to Money Rinsing.”
Boyd informed our news team that, in his opinion, Julie Emerson from Lagniappe Communications Group was employed by Robert Cahaly from the Trafalgar Group, who managed Boyd’s Senate campaign against Stephen Goldfinch.
After securing the $500,000 loan, Burns also made $600,000 in payments to Invictus Strategies. This political consulting firm should sounds familiar, if you have been following the OUR AMERICAN CENTURY series. Invictus Strategies made the political advertising buys for Our American Century in the Johnny Gardner vs Mark Lazarus for Horry County Council Chairman race.
The Mark Burns loan agreement with the Bank of Washington from Missouri is available for readers to view by clicking on this link.
Readers of MyrtleBeachSC News will observe that Invictus Strategies received funds from Jay West, a former member of the SC House, in response to invoices sent by consultant Robert Cahaly.
OUR AMERICAN CENTURY gets a legal complaint from CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER and is being Investigated by FEC
Publicly available records show that Our American Century spent between $5,100 and $251,000 unlawfully republishing Trump campaign ads on the Google network, but the total amount in violation could be far higher. Of the $5.5 million that Our American Century spent on digital independent expenditures in 2020, only $259,800 appeared in the Google archive, and a smaller amount was spent on Facebook; the super PAC’s digital advertisements run on other platforms are not publicly available.
This complaint is filed pursuant to 52 U.S.C. § 30109(a)(1) and is based on information and belief that the super PAC Our American Century (ID: C00532630) has violated the Federal Election Campaign Act (“FECA”), 52 U.S.C. § 30101, et seq., by making illegal, unreported, and excessive in-kind contributions to candidate Donald Trump’s campaign committee, Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.
- “If the Commission, upon receiving a complaint . . . has reason to believe that a person has committed, or is about to commit, a violation of [FECA] . . . [t]he Commission shall make an investigation of such alleged violation . . . .” 52 U.S.C. § 30109(a)(2) (emphasis added); see also 11 C.F.R. § 111.4(a).
- Campaign Legal Center (“CLC”) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose
mission is to protect and strengthen the U.S. democratic process through litigation and other MUR7867000023 legal advocacy. CLC relies on the accurate and complete reporting of campaign finance information to carry out activities central to its mission, including research, analysis, and reporting about campaign spending and the true sources and scope of candidates’ financial support. CLC participates in judicial and administrative matters throughout the nation regarding campaign finance, voting rights, redistricting, and government ethics issues.
WORKING ASSOCIATES Cahaly and Julie Emerson Lagniappe Communications Group
Robert Cahaly and Julie Emerson of Lagniappe Communications Group are the central figures in both South Carolina and Louisiana politics. In this realm, the influence of money is directly proportional to the scope of political power.
For Further Context – the retiring Judge overseeing the Luke Rankin/Cahaly/Emerson lawsuit
The retiring judge who will rule in S.C. on this matter is none other than Cordell Maddox. Maddox is a former S.C. District 9 House Rep.
Michael Thompson served as a representative for District 9. The same representative listed as the Geaux PAC director, now known as Our American Century, had him listed as a director.
Senator Luke Rankin from Horry County is the Judiciary Chairman and holds a prominent position within the JMSC, an influential group responsible for evaluating and determining the approval or disapproval of qualified judges for positions in South Carolina.
