Category Archives: campaign finance

$42 Million Mystery at the RNC

December 4, 2020, 12:58 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Roger Sollenberger for Salon: In August, Salon reported that the Republican National Committee (RNC) had paid about $5 million to a mystery marketing services company called Digital Consulting Group LLC, starting with a $2 million expenditure in February, just a… Continue reading

Must-Read Miami Herald: “Disgraced Republican lawmaker planted no-party candidate in key Senate race, sources say”

December 3, 2020, 2:21 pmballot access, campaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Come for the fake candidate with the same last name as the Democrat; stay for the use of sham LLCs and super pacs to obscure the identity of those behind the dirty trick. It would not surprises me if this… Continue reading

“The CPA-Wharton Zicklin Model Code of Conduct”

December 1, 2020, 1:34 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

New: How can U.S. public companies protect against the risks inherent in spending to influence elections when politics is hyperpartisan, citizens are polarized and a controversy can ignite a wildfire virally and potentially affect a company’s bottom line?The Center for… Continue reading

“Trump raises more than $150 million appealing to false election claims”

November 30, 2020, 8:34 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

WaPo: President Trump’s political operation has raised more than $150 million since Election Day, using a blizzard of misleading appeals about the election to shatter fundraising records set during the campaign, according to people with knowledge of the contributions.The influx… Continue reading

Must-Read from AP: “‘Mercenary’ Donor Sold Access for Millions in Foreign Money”

November 30, 2020, 12:44 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

AP: As an elite political fundraiser, Imaad Zuberi had the ear of top Democrats and Republicans alike — a reach that included private meetings with then-Vice President Joe Biden and VIP access at Donald Trump’s inauguration.He lived a lavish, jet-setting… Continue reading

“How Trump’s fundraising could benefit his post-White House political life”

November 24, 2020, 7:00 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Fredreka Schouten for CNN: But the legal fine print on each shows that a new Trump fundraising arm, Save America, actually will get the first cut of any money that comes in. And because spending rules for leadership PACs are… Continue reading

“Dark Money in the 2020 Election”

November 20, 2020, 9:22 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy for the Brennan Center.

“Money to support Trump court fight could flow to president”

November 12, 2020, 7:24 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

AP: Trump has promised to contest President-elect Joe Biden’s win in court. But the fine print indicates much of the money donated to support that effort since Election Day has instead paid down campaign debt, replenished the Republican National… Continue reading

“The Most Expensive Election Ever”

November 11, 2020, 8:41 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy for the Brennan Center.

“Trump solicits ‘election defense’ donations that also finance his new leadership PAC”

November 10, 2020, 7:42 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WaPo: In the wake of the election, President Trump’s supporters have been peppered with texts and emails asking for donations to support legal battles contesting his loss to President-elect Joe Biden.“We can’t allow the Left-wing MOB to undermine our Election,”… Continue reading

Supreme Court, Without Comment, Won’t Hear Suit By Progressives Seeking to Kill Super PACs

November 9, 2020, 6:39 amcampaign finance, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

This is not a surprise at all and I was always mystified by anyone who thought this Court would agree to hear a campaign finance case to make things more regulatory. The trend is decidedly in the opposite direction.

“Trump Legacy: Boom in Corporate Political Disclosure”

November 2, 2020, 7:20 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

New from Bruce Freed, Karl Sandstrom, and Dan Carroll: How has the Trump presidency impacted corporate political disclosure and accountability? The answer might come as a surprise. It’s been a boon and a boom.Over the past four years, more large… Continue reading

“NRA Victory Fund” Super PAC Reported as Making Illegal $5,000 Contribution to Trump for President [Updated as Likely Reporting Error]

November 1, 2020, 10:09 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NRA Victory Fund is a super PAC that does not make campaign contributions. Yet there is now a $5,000 contribution listed to Trump for President. Perhaps this is an error and it came from another fund. We’ll see. UPDATE: A… Continue reading

“Top FEC Official’s Undisclosed Ties to Trump Raise Concerns Over Agency Neutrality”

October 28, 2020, 8:23 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Quite a story in ProPublica today: Debbie Chacona oversees the division of the Federal Election Commission that serves as the first line of defense against illegal flows of cash in political campaigns. Its dozens of analysts sift through billions of… Continue reading