Category Archives: campaign finance

Today’s Must-Read: “How Trump Consultants Exploited the Facebook Data of Millions”

March 17, 2018, 2:20 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: As the upstart voter-profiling company Cambridge Analytica prepared to wade into the 2014 American midterm elections, it had a problem. The firm had secured a $15 million investment from Robert Mercer, the wealthy Republican donor, and wooed his… Continue reading

“NRA lawyer said to have had concerns about group’s ties to Russia”

March 16, 2018, 9:10 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

McClatchy: Congressional investigators are examining information that a longtime attorney for the National Rifle Association had concerns about the group’s ties to Russia and its possible involvement in channeling Russian funds into the 2016 elections to help Donald Trump, two… Continue reading

“Elected Officials, Secret Cash”

March 15, 2018, 8:24 amcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Brennan Center: At least two presidents, seven governors and several prominent mayors – from both major parties – have established nonprofits that allow them to raise unlimited, anonymous funds for political spending after election day. In recent years, the risk… Continue reading

“GOP’s new tax law encourages campaign donor secrecy”

March 15, 2018, 8:22 amcampaign finance, lobbying, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Ellen Aprill oped in the Hill: As a result of these changes, estimates of the percentage of taxpayers who will itemize has fallen to somewhere between 5 percent and 10 percent. The vast majority of taxpayers will benefit more from… Continue reading

“Approval Of Tempe Ballot Measure Could Set Up Showdown With State”

March 14, 2018, 5:53 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

KJZZ: Tempe voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 403, which amends the City Charter to “require the disclosure of the origins of major contributions used to influence city elections.” That goes against a bill in the state Legislature that prohibits Arizona cities… Continue reading

“Despite pledge to ‘drain the swamp,’ Trump has shown little interest in beefing up the Federal Election Commission”

March 14, 2018, 9:05 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

WaPo: More than a year into his presidency, President Trump has shown little interest in beefing up the Federal Election Commission, the agency that could serve as a key player in his avowed agenda to reduce the influence of moneyed… Continue reading

“A super PAC has raised millions to mobilize black voters. Does it matter that its funders are white?”

March 12, 2018, 9:19 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Very interesting CPI report.

“The Consequences of Citizens United: What Do the Lawyers Say?”

March 12, 2018, 9:11 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Ann Southworth has posted this fascinating draft on SSRN (forthcoming, Chicago-Kent Law Review). Here is the abstract: Drawing on confidential interviews with thirty-one lawyers who participated in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission as counsel for parties and amici, this… Continue reading

“Trump lawyer’s payment to porn star draws comparisons to John Edwards case”

March 9, 2018, 6:46 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Politico: The key legal question is whether the $130,000 was intended to advance Trump’s chances in the election. If it was, it should not have been routed through a corporation and might amount to an illegally large campaign contribution. If… Continue reading

“Payment to Stormy Daniels could be election law violation, say experts”

March 9, 2018, 6:33 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NBC News reports: The case of the president, the payment and the porn star has raised questions that merit a federal criminal inquiry, some experts believe. “There is enough here that warrants investigation,” said Richard Hasen, an election law expert… Continue reading

“Stormy Daniels Lawsuit Opens Door to Further Trouble for Trump”

March 8, 2018, 8:19 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: Mr. Cohen has said that he “facilitated” the payment with his own money and was not reimbursed by Mr. Trump’s company or campaign, and that the payment was “not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone.” But… Continue reading

“Election Panel Moves Toward Online Ad Disclosure Compromise”

March 8, 2018, 7:48 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: Federal Election Commission members said today they were close to reaching a deal to advance new disclosure rules for online political advertisements. The commission postponed a vote on new rules to give them more time to draft a… Continue reading

“Criminal Investigation Sought into Sanders Campaign for Collusion During a Federal Election With a Foreign Entity”

March 8, 2018, 10:12 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Veritas: Project Veritas Action Fund has requested a criminal investigation by the US Department of Justice into the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign to determine if the Sanders campaign and the Australian Labor Party conspired to “defraud the U.S. government”… Continue reading

“Venturing Into the Swamp, Trump Dines With Major Donors”

March 8, 2018, 9:52 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: President Trump dined at the ornate Georgetown home of a prominent Washington lawyer on Wednesday night with wealthy donors who are expected to play crucial roles in financing his re-election campaign. The dinner was the latest in a series… Continue reading