Category Archives: campaign finance

“Donald Trump Jr.’s Free Speech Defense: It’s as bogus as it sounds.”

July 12, 2017, 1:46 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

I have written this piece for Slate. It begins: Get ready for the latest defense for Donald Trump Jr.’s actions: He had a First Amendment right to collude with the Russians to get dirt on Hillary Clinton. This defense, which… Continue reading

“Emails Pose Potential Problem for Trump Jr. After Meeting With Russian Lawyer”

July 11, 2017, 8:28 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Jacob Gershman and Nicole Hong for the WSJ: That Mr. Trump Jr. came away empty-handed may be a mitigating factor, but as a defense, it is limited. Soliciting a foreign campaign contribution can be illegal even if the donation doesn’t… Continue reading

“How Much Legal Trouble is Donald Trump Jr. In?”

July 11, 2017, 5:53 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Joan Biskupic for CNN.

“Donald Trump Jr. and Russia: What the Law Says”

July 11, 2017, 5:50 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Charlie Savage NYT explainer.

In 2004, FEC Voted 5-1 to Find Grover Norquist Contact List Provided to Bush-Cheney Committee Was a “Thing of Value” for Campaign Finance Purposes

July 11, 2017, 2:38 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

More evidence that a Russian government offer to provide opposition research to the Trump campaign would be considered a ‘thing of value” for purposes of the law barring the solicitation of things of value from foreign entities (as Donald Trump… Continue reading

Common Cause Files FEC and DOJ Complaints Against Donald Trump Jr.

July 11, 2017, 11:41 amcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

To read the DOJ complaint filed yesterday, click here. To read the FEC complaint filed yesterday, click here. To view the release online, click here.

In the Trump Jr. Case, Can “Dirt” on Hillary Clinton Be “Anything of Value”?

July 11, 2017, 7:24 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

As I indicated in a blog post the other day, I think the foreign solicitation and coordination claims are credible. The two big questions are knowledge it was a foreign source (now credible if last night’s New York Times … Continue reading

Must-read Bauer: “Open Door to Moscow? New Facts in the Potential Criminal Case of Trump Campaign Coordination with Russia”

July 10, 2017, 8:45 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Following up on my earlier post about whether Trump Jr.’s revelations of the meeting with a Russian operative who was offering dirt on Hillary Clinton could violate the law on soliciting foreign contributions, Bob Bauer has this must-read: Of course,… Continue reading

Did Trump Jr.’s Meeting With Russian Lawyer After Being Promised Damaging Information on Clinton Violate Federal Law Against Soliciting Foreign Contributions?

July 9, 2017, 4:46 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: President Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., was promised damaging information about Hillary Clinton before agreeing to meet with a Kremlin-connected Russian lawyer during the 2016 campaign, according to three advisers to the White House briefed on the meeting… Continue reading

“Law on Foreign Campaign Money Narrow, FEC Analysis Says”

July 7, 2017, 8:44 pmcampaign finance, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: The Federal Election Commission may be severely constrained in what it can or will do to combat foreign influence in U.S. elections, a new analysis posted on the agency’s website suggests. The commissioners have recently grappled with… Continue reading

“Seattle’s campaign-voucher system is good for democracy”

July 7, 2017, 9:48 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Josh Douglas Seattle Times oped.

Single Donor Can Give Almost $1 Million Over Two Years to Republican Joint Fundraising Committee

July 6, 2017, 9:38 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Michael Beckel crunches the numbers. ˚And, to remember, just a few years ago Justice Alito derided talk of million dollar donations bundled by parties as “wild hypotheticals.”

Supreme Court of Texas, in Tea Party Group Case, Upholds Ban on Corporate Campaign Contributions, But Tees Up Issue for SCOTUS

June 30, 2017, 9:53 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

The Supreme Court of Texas has issued this opinion in King Street Patriots v. Texas Democratic Party. But a concurring opinion tees up the issue for U.S. Supreme Court review should it choose to review it: In sum, I concur… Continue reading

“House Bill Would Ax Election Panel, Bar Limits on Money in Politics”

June 29, 2017, 8:58 pmcampaign finance, election administrationRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: Republicans in Congress are supporting provisions in a new House spending bill that would eliminate the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC), restrict the Internal Revenue Service from limiting political activities of tax-exempt organizations and churches, and bar the… Continue reading