Category Archives: campaign finance

“‘This was a steal’: Campaign real estate deal that ‘thrilled’ Trump could be illegal”

May 21, 2019, 8:43 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

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

May 21, 2019, 7:57 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

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

May 20, 2019, 8:01 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

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”

May 20, 2019, 7:40 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

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

“U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Bid to Let Businesses Donate to Candidates”

May 20, 2019, 7:08 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

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”

May 16, 2019, 9:04 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

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

“Don’t Rebrand Corruption”

May 16, 2019, 10:28 ambribery, campaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy blogs.

“FEC lawyers find evidence of illegal campaign contributions by Boston’s Thornton law firm, but commissioners dismiss complaint anyway”

May 15, 2019, 7:30 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Boston Globe: Lawyers at the Federal Election Commission found that Boston’s Thornton Law firm likely used a phony program to repay partners for political donations, but the case was dismissed after commissioners deadlocked on whether to pursue it.FEC staff lawyers… Continue reading

“Grasswho? Members raised hundreds of thousands, almost none from small donors”

May 15, 2019, 3:12 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Roll Call: Democrats have long touted the importance of raising small amounts of money from a large number of donors as a sign of political strength on the campaign trail and in Congress.But recent campaign finance disclosures show some lawmakers… Continue reading

“Why candidates should embrace public campaign finance system”

May 14, 2019, 7:54 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Paul Smith oped in The Hill.

Breaking: DC Circuit Denies En Banc Consideration in Crew v. FEC Case, Essentially Giving Republican Commissioners Unfettered Ability to Block All Campaign Finance Enforcement Matters with No Judicial Review of the Decision

May 14, 2019, 8:37 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Huge decision not to take the case en banc today. Under the ruling, if the FEC deadlocks (typically along party lines) on an enforcement matter and those blocking enforcement claim “prosecutorial discretion,” there can be no meaningful judicial review of… Continue reading

“Bernie Sanders, a Front-Runner With Financing to Prove It, Struggles to Retain Outsider Status; The candidate who blasted the campaign-finance system as ‘corrupt’ has drawn support from outside groups with few restrictions and undisclosed donors

May 14, 2019, 7:18 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WSJ reports.

“Ex-Fugees rapper charged in campaign finance conspiracy case”

May 11, 2019, 8:23 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

AP: One of the founding members of the 1990s hip-hop group the Fugees has been charged in a campaign finance conspiracy that took place during the 2012 presidential election, the Justice Department said Friday.A four-count indictment accuses Prakazrel “Pras”… Continue reading