Sixth Circuit Unanimously Rejects Challenge to Kentucky Lobbyist/Campaign Contribution Rules
See the opinion in Schickel v. Moellman here. Some rejections were on standing grounds and some on the merits.
Category Archives: campaign finance
“Loopholes Allow Foreign Adversaries to Legally Interfere in U.S. Elections”
Fred Wertheimer for Just Security.
“Buckley 2.0: How Would The Buckley Court Decide Buckley Today?”
Miriam Galston has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract:
If you read Supreme Court campaign finance cases, you will be struck by the disconnect between the lofty rhetoric used to justify the constitutional protections afforded political speech… Continue reading
“Congressional leadership PACs continue to subsidize lavish lifestyles”
Release:
A new report today released by Issue One and Campaign Legal Center (CLC) shows that instead of doling out funds to political allies, members of Congress routinely use leadership PAC funds to pay for expensive meals, rounds of… Continue reading
“Watchdog Group Files Complaint Over Donation to Trump Super PAC by Canadian Billionaire’s Company”
NYT:
A campaign finance watchdog group filed a complaint on Tuesday against a Canadian billionaire alleging that he violated a federal ban on contributions by foreigners when his United States-based company donated $1.75 million last year to a political… Continue reading
“Prosecutors: Michael Cohen campaign finance probe is active”
AP:
Prosecutors aren’t quite finished investigating campaign finance violations by President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer.U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III agreed Tuesday to keep search warrant materials related to the investigation of Michael Cohen under seal until… Continue reading
In Important Step and In Rare Bipartisan Fashion, Federal Election Commission Unanimously Approves Measure to Provide Free or Reduced-Cost Cybersecurity Protection for American Campaigns [Subject to Disclosure of, and Limits on Sources of Funding for Effort (That Part’s Not Unanimous)]
This is very good news. You can find the advisory opinion here. It is unanimous, except the Republican commissioners would not have imposed the disclosure requirements or source limitations.
From Chair Weintraub’s letter:
Under the unusual and exigent circumstances… Continue reading
“‘This was a steal’: Campaign real estate deal that ‘thrilled’ Trump could be illegal”
Washington Examiner:
President Trump was “thrilled” that his campaign acquired Northern Virginia office space at “bargain basement” rates, a campaign official told the Washington Examiner in an interview in the plush 14th floor offices overlooking the Potomac River from… Continue reading
D.C. Circuit, Sitting En Banc, Upholds Federal Campaign Contribution Limits Applied to Bequests to Libertarian Party, with 3 Judges Partially Dissenting
Read the opinion in Libertarian National Committee v. FEC. Judge Tatel’s majority opinion begins:
When Joseph Shaber passed away he left over $235,000 to the Libertarian National Committee (LNC). This case is about when and how the LNC can… Continue reading
Canadian Billionaire May Have Violated Foreign Contribution Ban Via Domestic Subsidiary
NYT:
And Zekelman Industries made political donations in the United States — skirting or possibly violating a ban on contributions by foreigners — including $1.75 million last year to a group supporting President Trump…..Federal Election Commission rules prohibit any… Continue reading
“New Washington campaign-finance law targets ‘gray money’ PACs”
Seattle Times:
For example, Conscience of the Progressives is actually funded by conservatives and last year sent election mailers to aid Republicans in swing-district legislative races. It is funded almost wholly by another PAC named Send A Message, whose… Continue reading
Social Media Pollution Could Be Worse in 2020 Election
Jim Rutenberg NYT column:
The rules now in place just don’t match up with how certain groups influence voters via the internet. Thanks to savvy lobbying by tech companies, online election campaign speech remains almost entirely unregulated.The platforms won … Continue reading
“U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Let Businesses Donate to Candidates”
Bloomberg:
The U.S. Supreme Court declined an opportunity to give businesses broader rights to contribute money to political candidates and causes.The justices, without comment Monday, refused to question a Massachusetts law that bars for-profit corporations from making campaign donations.
“9th Circuit rejects challenge to foreign-donation ban”
Politico:
A federal appeals court has rejected a legal challenge to Congress’ ban on most foreign nationals donating to state and local election campaigns.The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ban Thursday, saying that a “summary” Supreme Court… Continue reading