Category Archives: campaign finance

Key Part of Indictment Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams is Foreign Conduit Campaign Contributions

September 26, 2024, 2:31 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: Mayor Eric Adams of New York City has been indicted on federal charges of bribery conspiracy, fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. The indictment, brought by the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, was unsealed… Continue reading

“A new mystery firm enters Trump’s orbit, rekindling criticism of his presidential campaign spending”

September 26, 2024, 5:20 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

AP: Launchpad Strategies was incorporated less than a year ago and has since received $15 million from Donald Trump’s election fundraising machine. For what is mostly a mystery. Campaign finance records indicate the limited liability company was hired to provide… Continue reading

“The ‘crypto bros’ are spending big in the 2024 election”

September 25, 2024, 5:06 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

New from Ciara Torres-Spelliscy.

“The Surprising Survival—So Far—of the Corporate Contribution Ban”

September 25, 2024, 4:55 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Richard Briffault has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, Chicago Business Law Review). Here is the abstract: Citizens United notwithstanding, the 117-year-old federal ban on corporate campaign contributions and similar prohibitions in twenty-one states remain on the books and continue… Continue reading

“Ricketts’ Riches: Wealthy governor, billionaire family changed Nebraska elections”

September 20, 2024, 7:18 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Sara Gentzler and Alex Richards report for the Flatland Free Press, with the subhead: “A new Flatwater Free Press analysis shows the breadth of Nebraska campaign giving by Pete Ricketts and his parents, which spiked when he ran for governor… Continue reading

“New Survey Reveals Strong Shareholder Support for Companies to Follow a Code of Conduct for Political Spending”

September 16, 2024, 8:13 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

CLS Blue Sky Blog.

“Elon Musk’s pro-Trump super PAC ramps up swing state operations”

September 15, 2024, 9:18 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WaPo: A super PAC that Elon Musk helped create has ramped up spending on behalf of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in recent weeks, splashing out millions of dollars primarily in swing states. The burst of activity adds to the… Continue reading

Marc Elias Attacks the Pro-Voter Campaign Legal Center for Sticking Up for Campaign Finance Disclosure and Transparency (Because It Filed a Complaint Against a Democratic Super PAC)

September 10, 2024, 2:37 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Really awful. The Campaign Legal Center does excellent, non-partisan work supporting voters’ rights, regardless of party.

“Crosspartisan coalition calls on presidential candidates to embrace transparency, disclose their campaign ‘bundlers'”

September 10, 2024, 6:59 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Release: In an effort spearheaded by Issue One, 13 organizations from across the ideological spectrum are urging Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, and independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to publicly… Continue reading

“Why Trump’s Conviction Can’t Stand; It rests on an intent to violate a state law that is pre-empted by the Federal Election Campaign Act.”

September 9, 2024, 7:44 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

David Rivkin and Elizabeth Price Foley WSJ oped: Mr. Trump was indicted under New York’s law prohibiting falsification of business records, which is a felony only if the accused intended “to commit another crime” via the false record. Judge… Continue reading

“A Deeper Look at the Scope, Impact, and Risks of Company Political Spending”

September 9, 2024, 7:42 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Bruce Freed and Jeanne Hanna: What exactly is the scope and impact of corporate political spending? Much has been written about the risks – legal, reputational and bottom line – faced by companies engaging in this spending. But it… Continue reading

En Banc Sixth Circuit Rejects Challenge to Federal Campaign Finance Rules Limiting Coordinated Spending Between Candidates and Parties, with Strong Hint SCOTUS Will Strike the Limits Down

September 5, 2024, 5:16 pmcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I have been waiting for this issue to get back to the Supreme Court for a while, and this is just the vehicle that could get it there. I don’t expect the Court, if it considers the issue, to uphold… Continue reading

“Despite protestations, prosecution of Donald Trump for violating federal election law well-grounded: Mark R. Brown”

September 4, 2024, 9:16 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Cleveland.com oped: [Brad] Smith’s points are misleading, confusing and often incorrect. The FECA places limits ($2,700 in 2016) on how much individuals may legally contribute to federal campaigns, and Cohen’s payment of $130,000 to Daniels plainly exceeded this limit.… Continue reading

“Federal judge blocks enforcement of new Ohio ban on noncitizen contributions to ballot issue campaigns”

September 2, 2024, 7:50 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Cleveland.com: A federal judge on Saturday blocked key portions of Ohio’s new law restricting lawful permanent residents, visa-holders and others from contributing to statewide ballot issue campaigns. The injunction came one day before the law was to take effect…. Ohio’s … Continue reading

Election Law Blog

The law of politics and the politics of law