Category Archives: campaign finance

“Cindy Yang helped Chinese tech stars get $50K photos with Trump. Who paid?”

March 21, 2019, 8:05 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Miami Herald: So who paid Trump Victory for their photos?Yang isn’t saying — but she and three associates with an Asian-American political group donated a total of $135,500 to Trump Victory in the weeks leading up to the event.… Continue reading

“Beware of Scam PACs in This Crowded Presidential Field”

March 19, 2019, 2:36 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy blogs.

“DOJ & FEC Complaints Filed for Apparent ‘Straw Donor’ Contributions to Trump Campaign”

March 19, 2019, 10:15 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Release via email: Today, Common Cause filed complaints with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging reason to believe that a Florida businesswoman violated campaign finance laws by enlisting and reimbursing “straw donors” tens of… Continue reading

“How Executives Vote With Their Wallets”

March 19, 2019, 7:29 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NYT Dealbook: So a team of Harvard professors set out to find the political inclinations of top executives — not just the 200 who make up the Business Roundtable, but all the executives of the S&P 1500, a stock… Continue reading

“New Report Surveys Speech-Chilling Statutes Across the Country”

March 19, 2019, 7:25 amcampaign finance, lobbyingRick Hasen

IFS: The Institute for Free Speech today published a first-of-its-kind survey of campaign speech regulations and grassroots lobbying laws that implicate First Amendment freedoms.The survey looks at state laws in twelve distinct policy areas, ranging from electioneering communications statutes… Continue reading

“US Supreme Court denies hearing Ron Paul 2012 aides’ appeal”

March 18, 2019, 12:49 pmcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

AP: The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal of the felony convictions of three top staffers on Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign.Campaign chairman Jesse Benton, campaign manager John Tate and deputy campaign manager Dimitri Kesari were… Continue reading

Arizona: “Republican lawmaker prompts state investigation of Tempe ban on dark money”

March 17, 2019, 4:18 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Arizona Capitol Times reports.

“Is it Time for Corporate Political Spending Disclosure?”

March 17, 2019, 4:15 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Cydney Posner at Harvard Law Review Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation.

NYT Reporting Suggests That Cindy Yang Illegally Funneled Contributions Through Conduits to Reach $50,000 Threshold for Picture with Donald Trump

March 16, 2019, 12:42 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

This story is going to get bigger: The Republican National Committee promised an “evening reception with Donald J. Trump” last March at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla.A contribution of $2,700 toward the president’s re-election would get you in… Continue reading

“Ted Cruz campaign inaccurately reported loans from Goldman Sachs, Citibank loans, FEC says”

March 16, 2019, 11:51 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

“Small-dollar donors could hold the balance in 2020”

March 15, 2019, 8:10 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Kate Ackley for Roll Call.

9th Circuit Panel Struggles with Constitutionality of Federal Ban on Foreign Contributions in State and Local Elections

March 14, 2019, 8:15 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Josh Gerstein for Politico: The federal government’s claim that it has the authority to ban foreigners from voting and donating in state and local elections prompted sharp questioning from a federal appeals court panel this week.Three 9th Circuit judges heard… Continue reading

“DOJ Probes Whether Fugitive Financier Supplied Donation to Trump Re-Election Effort”

March 13, 2019, 10:22 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

WSJ: The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether $100,000 donated to a Trump-related political fundraising committee originated from a fugitive Malaysian businessman alleged to be at the center of a global financial scandal, according to people familiar with… Continue reading

“Election Watchdog Hits Jeb Bush’s Super-PAC With Massive Fine for Taking Money From Foreign Nationals”

March 11, 2019, 3:39 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Mother Jones: The Federal Election Commission has hit Right to Rise USA, the super-PAC that backed Jeb Bush’s 2016 presidential bid, with a record fine for accepting a seven-figure donation from a company owned by Chinese nationals who were in… Continue reading