Category Archives: campaign finance

“Watchdog Group Files Complaint Over Donation to Trump Super PAC by Canadian Billionaire’s Company”

May 21, 2019, 9:31 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

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”

May 21, 2019, 9:26 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

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

“‘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