Category Archives: campaign finance

“Federal officials struggle to drag political ad rules into the internet age”

June 27, 2018, 7:41 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, federal election commissionRick Hasen

CPI: The American social media platforms Russian entities used to influence the 2016 presidential election are essentially attempting to regulate themselves, fearing a repeat during the 2018 midterms. Meanwhile, the federal government agency tasked with protecting U.S. elections from … Continue reading

“Candidate Coordination With Outside Groups Eased by Rulings”

June 23, 2018, 10:00 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: Congressional campaigns may find it easier to coordinate their messages with super political action committees and other outside groups as a result of Federal Election Commission decisions. The commission dismissed complaints that messages posted on the campaign websites… Continue reading

The FEC’s “Superpower”

June 22, 2018, 6:55 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Ellen Weintraub: With a bolt out of the blue last Friday, a panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals bestowed a superpower upon the Federal Election Commission. Unfortunately, it is the power to kill any FEC enforcement matter, wholly… Continue reading

“National Enquirer sent stories about Trump to his attorney Michael Cohen before publication, people familiar with the practice say”

June 21, 2018, 4:35 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

WaPo: During the presidential campaign, National Enquirer executives sent digital copies of the tabloid’s articles and cover images related to Donald Trump and his political opponents to Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen in advance of publication, according to three people with… Continue reading

Colorado: “After federal judge’s ruling, all Colorado campaign finance complaints will be vetted by secretary of state’s office”

June 21, 2018, 8:14 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

The Denver Post reports.

“Will the Justice Department Investigate the Trump Foundation?”

June 17, 2018, 8:38 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NYT: Election law experts from across the political spectrum largely agreed that the New York attorney general made a compelling case this week that President Trump’s campaign and his charitable foundation violated federal campaign finance laws during the 2016 election.… Continue reading

Breaking: FEC Refuses to Act on Complaint Donald Trump Used Campaign Resources for Personal Use

June 15, 2018, 12:30 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Statement from dissenting FEC Commissioner Weintraub: Trump hotels, Trump steaks, Trump water, Trump golf courses, Trump wine. The Complaint in this matter cites to an unprecedented catalog of candidate-branded products and properties used along the 2016 campaign trail. According to… Continue reading

“Why the I.R.S. Should Go After Trump”

June 15, 2018, 11:54 amcampaign finance, campaigns, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Philip Hackney NYT oped: The New York State attorney general yesterday filed a lawsuit against the Donald J. Trump Foundation and its directors, accusing the charity and the Trump family of violating campaign finance laws, self-dealing and illegal coordination with… Continue reading

“The Curious Campaign Role of Donald Trump’s Foundation”

June 15, 2018, 11:35 amcampaign finance, campaigns, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy blogs.

D.C. Circuit, in 2-1 Votes, Makes It Much Harder to Challenge Decisions by Republican FEC Commissioners Not to Enforce Federal Campaign Finance Laws

June 15, 2018, 9:35 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

This opinion by Senior Judge Randolph, joined by Judge Kavanaugh is most unfortunate. As Judge Pillard suggests in her dissent, the opinion insulates FEC Commissioners’ refusal to enforce certain campaign finance laws from judicial review under the guise of “prosecutorial… Continue reading

Federal District Court Holds Colorado Law Allowing Private Individuals to File Campaign Finance Complaints Violates the First Amendment

June 12, 2018, 6:58 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

This opinion (by Obama appointee Raymond Moore) is perhaps the worst-written and reasoned election law opinion I’ve read from a federal court. I’m not saying the result is necessarily wrong (though my early thoughts are that it is). But much… Continue reading

“IRS revokes dark money group Americans for Job Security’s tax exempt status”

June 12, 2018, 11:29 amcampaign finance, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Big news from Issue One: This week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that it revoked the dark money group Americans for Job Security’s tax exempt status. The announcement followed a complaintfrom Issue One and the Campaign Legal Center… Continue reading

8th Circuit Holds Unconstitutional Missouri Law Requiring Political Committees Influencing Elections to Be Formed at Least 30 Days Before an Election

June 12, 2018, 10:27 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

This ruling makes sense to me: Assuming, without deciding, that this [anti-corruption] interest is compelling, the formation deadline is unconstitutional because it is not narrowly tailored. The formation deadline indiscriminately prohibits (or significantly burdens) speech by individuals or groups who… Continue reading