Category Archives: chicanery

“Could Matt Bevin Steal the Kentucky Governor’s Election?”

November 7, 2019, 8:59 amchicaneryRick Hasen

I have written this piece for Slate. It begins: Will the Kentucky Legislature assist Matt Bevin in stealing the governor’s race from Democrat Andy Beshear, who appeared to have won Tuesday’s election by about 5,000 votes? Ordinarily, I would consider… Continue reading

Why Didn’t DOJ Share Whistleblower Complaint with FEC, and What About the Timing of FEC Commissioner Petersen’s Departure?

November 7, 2019, 8:41 amchicanery, Department of Justice, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Empty Wheel ponders.

“Empower the FEC to Fight Election Crime; A depleted commission faces threats from Russia and beyond.”

November 6, 2019, 7:21 amcampaign finance, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Bloomberg editorial.

UK: “Johnson delay on Russia dossier helps Putin, says Litvinenko widow”

November 5, 2019, 7:13 pmchicaneryRick Hasen

Guardian: The widow of Alexander Litvinenko has said Boris Johnson should not have suppressed the parliamentary report on Russian interference in British politics, saying the delay helps the Kremlin and feeds suspicions of a cynical government “cover-up”.Marina Litvinenko said… Continue reading

“The Cybersecurity 202: Feds and police are war-gaming all the ways an election can be hacked”

November 5, 2019, 6:55 amchicanery, election administrationRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

“Court Lifts Confidentiality on Hofeller Files in Several Key States”

November 4, 2019, 1:46 pmchicaneryRick Hasen

Common Cause: Today Wake County Superior Court Judge Vince Rozier lifted a confidentiality designation on more than one hundred thousand documents created by the late Thomas Hofeller, the Republican operative responsible for many of the most controversial GOP gerrymanders of… Continue reading

Gates: RNC Had Advanced Notice of Wikileaks’ Release of Democrats’ Emails During 2016 Election

November 2, 2019, 3:13 pmcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

BuzzFeed: President Donald Trump’s team was “very happy” that Wikileaks released emails hacked from the Democratic party during the 2016 race, a former campaign official told investigators from the special counsel’s office.Rick Gates, who served as Trump’s deputy campaign chair,… Continue reading

“Threat to US elections in 2020 is not limited to Russia”

October 30, 2019, 12:56 pmcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

AP: Russia interfered in the 2016 election and may try to sway next year’s vote as well. But it’s not the only nation with an eye on U.S. politics.American officials sounding the alarm about foreign efforts to disrupt the 2020… Continue reading

“As Russia makes 2020 play, Democratic campaigns say they are in the dark, and experts fear U.S. elections are vulnerable”

October 28, 2019, 8:51 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

WaPo: Several Democratic presidential campaigns targeted by a Russia-based operation on Facebook’s popular Instagram app said they had been unaware of the new foreign disinformation efforts until the tech giant announced them publicly last week, raising alarms that American… Continue reading

“Justice Dept. Is Said to Open Criminal Inquiry Into Its Own Russia Investigation”

October 24, 2019, 10:19 pmchicanery, Department of JusticeRick Hasen

NYT: For more than two years, President Trump has repeatedly attacked the Russia investigation, portraying it as a hoax and illegal even months after the special counsel closed it. Now, Mr. Trump’s own Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation… Continue reading

Shah Zuberi, Los Angeles Financier Who Donated $900K to Trump Inaugural, Pleads Guilty to “making almost $1 million in illegal campaign contributions that included funneling money from foreign entities and individuals to influence U.S. elections.”

October 22, 2019, 1:55 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Daily Beast: A Los Angeles financier who donated $900,000 to President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee has admitted to falsifying records to hide his work as a foreign agent while he lobbied prominent U.S. government officials, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.Shah Zuberi,… Continue reading

“‘Get Over It’? Why Political Influence in Foreign Policy Matters”

October 21, 2019, 6:54 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT explainer.

“Public, election officials may be kept in the dark on hacks”

October 21, 2019, 6:44 amchicanery, election administrationRick Hasen

AP: If the FBI discovers that foreign hackers have infiltrated the networks of your county election office, you may not find out about it until after voting is over. And your governor and other state officials may be kept in… Continue reading