Category Archives: campaign finance

“How Trump’s fundraising could benefit his post-White House political life”

November 24, 2020, 7:00 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Fredreka Schouten for CNN: But the legal fine print on each shows that a new Trump fundraising arm, Save America, actually will get the first cut of any money that comes in. And because spending rules for leadership PACs are… Continue reading

“Dark Money in the 2020 Election”

November 20, 2020, 9:22 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy for the Brennan Center.

“Money to support Trump court fight could flow to president”

November 12, 2020, 7:24 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

AP: Trump has promised to contest President-elect Joe Biden’s win in court. But the fine print indicates much of the money donated to support that effort since Election Day has instead paid down campaign debt, replenished the Republican National… Continue reading

“The Most Expensive Election Ever”

November 11, 2020, 8:41 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy for the Brennan Center.

“Trump solicits ‘election defense’ donations that also finance his new leadership PAC”

November 10, 2020, 7:42 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WaPo: In the wake of the election, President Trump’s supporters have been peppered with texts and emails asking for donations to support legal battles contesting his loss to President-elect Joe Biden.“We can’t allow the Left-wing MOB to undermine our Election,”… Continue reading

Supreme Court, Without Comment, Won’t Hear Suit By Progressives Seeking to Kill Super PACs

November 9, 2020, 6:39 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

This is not a surprise at all and I was always mystified by anyone who thought this Court would agree to hear a campaign finance case to make things more regulatory. The trend is decidedly in the opposite direction.

“Trump Legacy: Boom in Corporate Political Disclosure”

November 2, 2020, 7:20 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

New from Bruce Freed, Karl Sandstrom, and Dan Carroll: How has the Trump presidency impacted corporate political disclosure and accountability? The answer might come as a surprise. It’s been a boon and a boom.Over the past four years, more large… Continue reading

“NRA Victory Fund” Super PAC Reported as Making Illegal $5,000 Contribution to Trump for President [Updated as Likely Reporting Error]

November 1, 2020, 10:09 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NRA Victory Fund is a super PAC that does not make campaign contributions. Yet there is now a $5,000 contribution listed to Trump for President. Perhaps this is an error and it came from another fund. We’ll see. UPDATE: A… Continue reading

“Top FEC Official’s Undisclosed Ties to Trump Raise Concerns Over Agency Neutrality”

October 28, 2020, 8:23 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Quite a story in ProPublica today: Debbie Chacona oversees the division of the Federal Election Commission that serves as the first line of defense against illegal flows of cash in political campaigns. Its dozens of analysts sift through billions of… Continue reading

“‘We Merely Need to Dampen Turnout’: Leaked Docs Show Top Trump Allies’ 2016 Plan to Suppress Black Voters”

October 28, 2020, 8:21 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Great new reporting from Andy Kroll: The disinformation operation was christened “Project Clintonson.” It brought together two notorious figures in Republican political circles, Blackwater founder Erik Prince and Trump adviser Roger Stone. Their objective couldn’t have been more explicit.“We… Continue reading

“Reforming The FEC: Rulemaking Obligations Must Be Fulfilled”

October 26, 2020, 8:14 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Karl Sandstrom at Law360.

“The 2020 Campaign Money Story”

October 23, 2020, 5:19 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Axios podcast speaks to Ciara Torres-Spelliscy.

“U.S. Businesses Say One Thing on Climate Change, But Their Campaign Giving Says Another”

October 23, 2020, 1:26 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Bloomberg: Bloomberg Green examined political donations by businesses in the S&P 100 and the U.S.-based members of the Climate Action 100, a group representing the world’s largest corporate contributors to climate change. For every dollar these corporations gave to… Continue reading

“Pharma contributed to attorneys general who want to repeal the Affordable Care Act”

October 21, 2020, 6:20 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Stat: The Affordable Care Act has driven a huge boost in revenue for pharmaceutical companies — but ironically, $1.5 million in drug industry donations last election cycle were funneled to Republican state attorneys general who will soon make a case… Continue reading