Category Archives: campaign finance

“Rep. Katie Porter flexes political power with new fundraising committee to support progressive candidates”

June 30, 2020, 8:59 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

OC Register: As she heads into the heart of her first re-election campaign, Rep. Katie Porter of Irvine is quickly becoming a power broker in the House of Representatives.She’s a Democrat in a flip district that still leans slightly… Continue reading

Barr Tried to Interfere with Michael Cohen Campaign Finance Case in SDNY, With Implications for the President’s Own Liability

June 25, 2020, 9:19 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: But Mr. Barr spent weeks in the spring of 2019 questioning the prosecutors over their decision to charge Mr. Cohen with violating campaign finance laws, according to people briefed on the matter.At one point during the discussions, Mr. Barr… Continue reading

“Political Donors Linked to China Won Access to Trump, GOP; Hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations opened doors in Washington for Chinese nationals with high-level ties”

June 24, 2020, 7:18 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Important WSJ report.

New FEC Commissioner Trey Trainor, Not Sure If He Will Recuse in Cases Involving Trump Campaign Despite Having Served as Lawyer for It, Expresses Skepticism About Existence of “Dark Money”

June 18, 2020, 8:20 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Revealing Dave Levinthal interview.

“Free Speech for Whom? And by Whom?”

June 12, 2020, 3:41 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Brendan Fischer and Kedric Payne blog.

“Alaska Supreme Court Says Initiative for a Top-Four System and Campaign Finance Disclosure Does Not Violate the Single-Subject Rule, and Therefore Can be on November 2020 Ballot”

June 12, 2020, 3:36 pmballot access, campaign finance, direct democracyRick Hasen

BAN reports.

D.C. Circuit Rejects Another Challenge to Presidential Debate Committee’s Exclusion of Minor Party Candidates

June 12, 2020, 3:34 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Opinion here.

“California D.A.s Call for Ban on Police Union Money and Endorsements in Prosecutorial Elections”

June 5, 2020, 7:59 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Eliahyu Kamisher reports for The Appeal: But a ban on direct campaign contributions will have relatively little effect on the influence of police unions, said Robert Stern, a former attorney who has worked extensively on California campaign finance reform. He… Continue reading

“Private Prison Contractor Continues to Illegally Spend Millions in Elections: CLC Appeals Decision”

June 4, 2020, 9:30 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Release.

“U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to Montana campaign finance law”

June 2, 2020, 8:31 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Bozeman Daily Chronicle: The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a case that challenged Montana’s law on disclosing the spending for political ads within 60 days of an election.In August 2019, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of … Continue reading

“China’s hidden targeting of Donald Trump one reason Facebook needs new cybersecurity approach; Too many loopholes exist for bad actors to influence our elections. It’s time for Facebook to get serious about closing them.”

May 29, 2020, 8:58 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Laura Edelson and Sheila Krumholz oped in USA Today.

“IRS Rule Change Could Aid Foreign Election Meddling, Critics Say”

May 28, 2020, 8:24 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Bloomberg: Transparency advocates are looking for a legislative fix after the IRS approved a rule they say opens the door to allow politically active nonprofits to take foreign money to influence U.S. elections, without being detected.“At a time when… Continue reading

“FEC’s Prosecutorial Discretion Considered by Federal Court, Again”

May 28, 2020, 6:55 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Wiley analysis.

Nevada: “Former MedMen marijuana executive alleges manager pressured him into illegal contribution to Sisolak”

May 27, 2020, 12:32 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

The Nevada Independent reports.

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