Category Archives: campaign finance

“Trump using campaign, RNC funds to pay legal bills from Russia probe: sources”

September 19, 2017, 8:41 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Reuters: U.S. President Donald Trump is using money donated to his re-election campaign and the Republican National Committee to pay for his lawyers in the probe of alleged Russian interference in the U.S. election, two people familiar with the matter… Continue reading

“Trump Nominee to FEC Tried to Shred Texas’ Already-Weak Ethics Laws”

September 19, 2017, 7:01 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Christopher Hooks for the Texas Observer.

“Political campaigns prep for battle with hackers”

September 19, 2017, 6:59 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Politico: Candidates are quizzing prospective campaign managers on anti-hacking plans. Democratic committees like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which was breached last year, have switched internally from email to encrypted messaging apps. And both parties are feverishly trying to spread… Continue reading

“How the FEC Turned a Blind Eye to Foreign Meddling”

September 18, 2017, 9:01 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Ann Ravel for Politico: I suggested to the commission that the FEC consult with internet and tech experts to discuss how the agency’s current approach may or may not fit with future innovations. Starting this conversation should have been noncontroversial,… Continue reading

“Facebook Knows More About Russia’s Election Meddling. Shouldn’t We?”

September 18, 2017, 8:30 amcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Jim Rutenberg NYT column.

“Facebook Gave Special Counsel Robert Mueller More Details on Russian Ad Buys Than Congress”

September 15, 2017, 4:06 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

WSJ reports.

“Arizona agencies feud over policing ‘dark money’ groups; voters could be the losers”

September 15, 2017, 2:44 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

AZ Central: As next year’s statewide elections get closer, several Arizona agencies are locked in a bitter feud to determine who has the power to police so-called “dark money” groups that spend millions to influence races. The dispute is playing… Continue reading

“Trump’s FEC nominee has questioned the value of disclosing political donors”

September 15, 2017, 9:06 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Matea Gold for WaPo: James E. “Trey” Trainor III, the conservative Texas lawyer nominated by President Trump this week to serve on the Federal Election Commission, has challenged the principle that the public benefits from the disclosure of political donors,… Continue reading

FEC’s Weintraub: “Our elections are facing more threats online. Our laws must catch up.”

September 14, 2017, 8:03 pmcampaign finance, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

WaPo oped from Ellen Weintraub, longtime FEC Commissioner: Would you click on that political ad if you knew it had been generated by a Russian troll farm? Probably not. But without knowing that? Well, you might. Indeed, we now know… Continue reading

“FEC Votes to Explore Disclosure Rules for Online Ads”

September 14, 2017, 7:33 pmcampaign finance, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Ken Doyle for Bloomberg BNA: The Federal Election Commission voted unanimously to jump-start a rulemaking process focused on disclosure requirements for online ads, following the revelation of Russian-linked political ads on Facebook. The vote, at the end of a lengthy … Continue reading

“Watchdog group wants Facebook to release Russian-sponsored ads”

September 13, 2017, 7:21 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

CNBC: The Campaign Legal Center is urging Facebook to release the content of political ads purchased by Russian nationals and displayed on Facebook, most notably during the 2016 presidential campaign cycle. CNBC obtained an advance copy of a letter sent… Continue reading

“Trump nominates Texas lawyer Trey Trainor for Federal Election Commission”

September 13, 2017, 7:19 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Texas Tribune: President Donald Trump is nominating Trey Trainor, an Austin lawyer well known in Texas politics, to serve on the Federal Election Commission. The White House announced Trainor’s appointment late Tuesday night. He must be confirmed by the… Continue reading