Category Archives: campaign finance

“Pharma contributions to politicians who support restricting abortions could reverberate”

July 24, 2019, 8:45 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

STAT: Take the case of Pfizer (PFE), Merck (MRK), and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). Each company sells contraceptive products. Pfizer markets Depo-Provera, Merck sells Nexplanon, and J&J markets Ortho-Novum.But last year, all three… Continue reading

“Republican FEC commissioners let Clinton campaign off the hook for super PAC coordination”

July 23, 2019, 5:48 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Open Secrets: Deadlocked on a party-line vote, the Federal Election Commission has dismissed a complaint that Hillary Clinton’s campaign illegally coordinated with a super PAC during the 2016 presidential election cycle.Continuing a recent trend with the embattled regulatory agency that… Continue reading

“Dem front-runners cash in on slippery definition of lobbying”

July 23, 2019, 5:44 amcampaign finance, lobbyingRick Hasen

Politico: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and other leading Democratic presidential candidates have sworn off contributions from Washington lobbyists as a way to insulate themselves from those who might try to shape their agendas if elected.But they’re hardly… Continue reading

“A Banner Proxy Season for Political Disclosure and Accountability”

July 22, 2019, 7:18 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Bruce F. Freed, Dan Carroll, and Karl J. Sandstrom blog.

“De Blasio used state account he controls as campaign slush fund”

July 20, 2019, 11:23 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

The NY Post discusses some questionable state-PAC spending on a federal race. A related Politico story notes that de Blasio is claiming that his presidential campaign launch video was not a presidential campaign expense.

“Prosecutors Are Asked Why Trump Wasn’t Indicted for Campaign Violations”

July 20, 2019, 11:22 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

The WSJ covers the House Oversight letter.

And now House Oversight wants to know how OLC’s stance on indicting the President factored in to the NY campaign finance case

July 19, 2019, 2:26 pmcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Following on this story, the letter is here.

“After Publishing Strong Evidence of Trump’s Campaign Finance Crimes, DOJ Closes Case Without Explanation”

July 19, 2019, 10:42 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Paul Ryan in Just Security on the announced end of the Stormy Daniels campaign finance case.

“Prosecutors weighed DOJ policy blocking indictment of a sitting president in closing Trump hush-money probe”

July 19, 2019, 10:42 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

And maybe there’s an explanation after all.

“John Paul Stevens Was Right: Citizens United Opened the Door to Foreign Money in U.S. Elections”

July 19, 2019, 10:42 amcampaign finance, election law and constitutional lawJustin Levitt

The Intercept traces funding from foreign nationals through American corporations to super PACs.

The latest Citizens United constitutional amendment proposal

July 19, 2019, 10:40 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Relatedly, the latest proposed amendment to overturn Citizens United was filed yesterday. It would ban private funding of support for or opposition to candidates if the funding isn’t a donation to a candidate’s campaign. I’m not a fan.

“Judiciary chair demands Hope Hicks clarify closed-door testimony”

July 18, 2019, 6:32 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryJustin Levitt

On whether she had direct knowledge of payments to Stormy Daniels, or whether she was “present” when Trump discussed Daniels. The documents unsealed in the Cohen warrant today seem to suggest there may be more to the story.

2020 Presidential fundraising hits a new record

July 18, 2019, 11:23 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

The Campaign Finance Institute parses the 2Q returns.

“William Barr’s donations to Senate Republicans spiked just before they confirmed him as attorney general”

July 18, 2019, 11:19 amcampaign financeJustin Levitt

Interesting. And according to the story, unusual: Neither Jeff Sessions, Loretta Lynch, nor Eric Holder—the three prior attorneys general—made payments to either party committees or senators ahead of confirmation hearings and votes. Holder gave $250 to the Democratic Senatorial… Continue reading