Category Archives: campaign finance
“Facebook Gave Special Counsel Robert Mueller More Details on Russian Ad Buys Than Congress”
“Arizona agencies feud over policing ‘dark money’ groups; voters could be the losers”
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”
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.”
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”
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
“Facebook still doesn’t know the extent of Russian ad buys in election”
CNN:
How extensive was Russia’s use of Facebook to meddle with the presidential election? Even Facebook doesn’t know.
One week after it told the country that it had sold $100,000 worth of ads to a Russian troll farm during… Continue reading
“Watchdog group wants Facebook to release Russian-sponsored ads”
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”
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
“Some Facebook ads bought by Russian company may have violated US election law”
“Nestled in House Spending Bill: Campaign Finance Deregulation”
WSJ:
The inclusion of the deregulatory measures in the spending package is prompting pushback from campaign-finance watchdogs, who worry they may ultimately become law.
If they do, churches may be able to contribute to candidates without fear of losing their… Continue reading
“I Ran Digital For A 2016 Presidential Campaign. Here’s What Russia Might Have Got For $100,000”
Kevin Bingle:
One common response to the news that a Kremlin-linked online operation in Russia bought $100,000 worth of Facebook ads during the 2016 election campaign has been that the money is a drop in the bucket relative to the… Continue reading
“Will Donald Trump let the Federal Election Commission rot?”
Dave Levinthal for CPI.
“Russian Facebook Political Ad Buys During 2016 Election Draw DOJ & FEC Complaints”
Release:
Today Common Cause filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging that one or more unknown foreign nationals made expenditures, independent expenditures or disbursements in connection with the 2016 presidential… Continue reading