Category Archives: campaign finance

“DOJ & FEC Complaints Filed Against President Trump, His Campaign & American Media Inc. for Illegal, Unreported $150K Coordinated Expenditure to Former Playboy Playmate”

February 20, 2018, 1:06 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Release: Today, Common Cause filed complaints with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging reason to believe that American Media, Inc.’s August 2016 payment of $150,000 to former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal, to buy and… Continue reading

“How Democrats use ‘dark money’ — and win elections”

February 20, 2018, 7:43 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

CPI: Democrats love decrying “dark money” — political contributions for which the source of funds is a mystery. But that isn’t stopping them from accepting “dark money” themselves or making it difficult to determine the original underwriter of… Continue reading

“The Supreme Court, Judicial Elections, and Dark Money”

February 19, 2018, 10:54 amcampaign finance, judicial electionsRick Hasen

Richard Briffault has posted this draft on SSRN (forthcoming, DePaul Law Review). Here is the abstract: In its cases dealing with judicial elections, the Court has cycled back and forth over whether to treat judges as representatives of the voters,… Continue reading

“Campaign Finance and Freedom of Speech – A Transatlantic Perspective”

February 18, 2018, 4:05 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Mathias Hong has posted this draft on SSRN. Here is the abstract: If freedom of speech protects a marketplace of ideas – what is its proper currency? Is it only the force of the arguments brought forth – or is… Continue reading

Mueller’s Indictment Shows the Way for Russians to Legally Try to Influence Our Elections Next Time

February 17, 2018, 1:55 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

I have written this piece for Slate. It begins: The Mueller indictment of 13 Russian nationals for interfering with the 2016 U.S. presidential election offers a remarkably detailed account of a complex plot to sow discord and influence the presidential… Continue reading

“Trump’s Inaugural Committee Paid $26 Million to Firm of First Lady’s Adviser”

February 16, 2018, 7:51 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT reports.

“Citizens United Loses Free Speech Appeal Over New York Donor Rules”

February 16, 2018, 7:41 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Reuters: A federal appeals court on Thursday threw out a constitutional challenge by the conservative group Citizens United to New York state’s requirement that registered charities disclose their donors annually. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan rejected… Continue reading

“Trump Lawyer’s Payment to Porn Star Raises New Questions”

February 15, 2018, 7:03 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: But Mr. Cohen’s assertions left many questions unanswered, including whether the payment was truly a personal gift by him or whether he was reimbursed by some other party, like Mr. Trump or an associate of Mr. Trump. In a… Continue reading

“The Fight for Corporations to Reveal Political Spending”

February 15, 2018, 6:52 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy at the Brennan Center.

“Was the Payment to Stormy Daniels a Campaign Contribution?”

February 14, 2018, 1:47 pmcampaign finance, Celebrity Justice, chicaneryRick Hasen

WSJ reports. More at TIME. Still MORE from CNN.

In Response to FEC Complaint by Common Cause, Trump’s Lawyer Michael Cohen Says He Paid $130,000 to Porn Star. Is There a Campaign Finance Violation?

February 14, 2018, 8:00 amcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Maggie Haberman for the NYT: Michael D. Cohen, President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, said on Tuesday that he had paid $130,000 out of his own pocket to a pornographic-film actress who had once claimed to have had an affair with… Continue reading