“The Trump Hush-Money Prosecution and Militant Democracy”
Jonathan Hafetz at Balkinization. This is well worth reading, though I continue to disagree with the bottom line.
Category Archives: chicanery
“Mystery fundraising firm takes in millions from the Trump campaign”
NBC News:
Former President Donald Trump’s political operation has routed more than $3 million so far this year through a Delaware limited liability company whose owners are not publicly disclosed, according to campaign finance records — a strategy that… Continue reading
Indiana: “Beckwith poses a ‘serious threat’ to Braun’s campaign, says GOP powerhouse lawyer” (Includes Jim Bopp Memo)
Indiana Capital Chronicle:
Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Braun faces a “serious threat” to his candidacy after Noblesville pastor Micah Beckwith was selected as his running mate, according to an internal campaign memo penned by prominent conservative attorney Jim Bopp.
The… Continue reading
Michigan Supreme Court, in Case Against Burkman and Wohl, Holds It Is Constitutional to Punish Intentional Lies About When, Where, or How People Vote (Relevant Also to Pending Mackey Case)
I have been arguing that it does not violate the First Amendment to make it a crime to intentionally lie about when, where or how people vote. The Supreme Court suggested as much in the Mansky case in 2018. I… Continue reading
“Mini Madoff” gets 18 months for fake Super PAC (and credit card fraud)
Christopher Richardson was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty in March in the Americans for Progressive Action affair.
Sentences for campaign finance fraud charges seem to be of interest lately.
House Judiciary on Manhattan DA and Trump prosecution
The House Judiciary committee held a hearing this morning on the NY case against Donald Trump, with a witness list including FEC Commissioner Trey Trainor, as well as Missouri AG Andrew Bailey, Ambassador Norm Eisen, and Elizabeth Price Foley. Testimony … Continue reading
“U.S. spy agencies are ready to warn voters about foreign election interference — if it’s severe enough”
An excerpt from the NBC report:
U.S. intelligence agencies are closely tracking attempts by foreign adversaries to influence the 2024 election through “deepfakes” or other false information and are ready to alert the public if necessary, officials said Wednesday.… Continue reading
“2020’s ‘fake elector’ schemes will be harder to try in 2024 – but not impossible”
Derek Muller, for The Conversation, recounts some of the ways that both the law and enforcement have changed in the last four years.
Speaking of which, Wisconsin Public Radio reports that an attorney charged last week in the Wisconsin false-elector… Continue reading
“Cheap fakes”
Deceptive selective editing has been around a whole lot longer than credible deepfakes.
(Cf. Sasha Issenberg’s recent conversation with Chris Hayes on MDM and its responses.)
“Fake Donations Helped a Candidate Get $162,000 From Taxpayers”
The N.Y. Times with the report on matching funds in a state Assembly race that’s something of an outlier:
The report also contrasts the state system with the city’s system:
For years, government watchdogs had urged state leaders to adopt… Continue reading
Update on the DOJ’s Election Threats Task Force
States Newsroom with a states’-eye view on the federal efforts. Despite 17 charges to date, and hefty sentences in some of those cases, the wheels of justice necessarily turn slowly. And election officials are also not thrilled about the… Continue reading
North Carolina: “Surprise GOP campaign finance law proposal prompts walkout by Democratic senators”
NC Newsline:
in a surprise move that caught most Legislative Building watchers off-guard, Republican lawmakers unveiled legislation on Thursday that would make significant changes to state campaign finance law. The sudden move prompted all 20 Senate Democrats to walk out… Continue reading
“‘Swindlers,’ ‘Hijacking,’ and ‘Blackmail’; Inside the Kennedy campaign’s Natural Law Party meltdown in Florida.”
Must-read Marc Caputo:
AMID VOTER DISENCHANTMENT with a Trump-Biden rematch, third-party activist Joseph Wendt believed 2024 could transform American politics. And Robert F. Kennedy Jr. might be the candidate to do it.
“It seemed this was the Year of the… Continue reading
“The G.O.P. Push for Post-Verdict Payback: ‘Fight Fire With Fire’”
NYT:
Republican allies of Donald J. Trump are calling for revenge prosecutions and other retaliatory measures against Democrats in response to his felony conviction in New York.
Within hours of a jury finding Mr. Trump guilty last week, the anger… Continue reading