Category Archives: chicanery

“Prince William Electoral Board chair under investigation, may lose job”

January 11, 2016, 8:01 amchicanery, election administrationRick Hasen

Inside NoVa: An unauthorized investigation aimed at uncovering possible voter fraud might cost Prince William County Electoral Board Chairman Guy Anthony “Tony” Guiffré his job. The Virginia State Board of Elections took a rare vote Friday to initiate steps… Continue reading

“Corruption or Politics: Supreme Court Weighs McDonnell Case”

January 11, 2016, 7:49 ambribery, chicanery, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Jacob Gershman for the WSJ law blog. I’m expecting a cert grant, and now it appears we have a relist (nothing about the case in today’s orders).

In Missouri, Sex (With Lobbyists) Might Be a “Gift”

January 7, 2016, 1:12 pmchicanery, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

Political Wire explains.

“Montana to use corruption ruling to defend contribution caps”

January 7, 2016, 10:40 amcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Interesting AP story: A second Montana judge has ruled there was corruption in the state’s 2010 Republican primary elections, with candidates pledging loyalty to a national anti-union group’s cause in exchange for thousands of dollars in illegal and unreported… Continue reading

“Virginia’s former governor faces prison over politics”

January 6, 2016, 7:30 pmbribery, chicanery, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

George Will column on the McDonnell cert petition.

“Measuring the integrity of elections”

January 6, 2016, 8:12 amchicanery, election administrationRick Hasen

Boston Globe talks with Pippa Norris.

“Political Self-Interest and the Question of Corruption”

December 31, 2015, 8:04 ambribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

Must-read Bob Bauer: Critics of the McDonnell prosecution have argued that elected officials engage in “routine” political behaviors that should not be confused with the “official acts.” Politicians are kind to their campaign contributors and supporters, helping them where they… Continue reading

Diverse Group of Politicians Sign on to Brief Urging #SCOTUS to Hear Blagojevich Case

December 29, 2015, 3:22 pmbribery, campaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

This brief brings together, among others, Bob Barr and Bobby Rush. Here is how the brief phrases the question presented: Whether, in a case involving solicitation of campaign contributions, Evans v. United States, 504 U.S. 255 (1992), modified the holding… Continue reading

Tokaji’s “True Threats” in NYU Review of Law & Social Change

December 22, 2015, 10:22 amchicanery, The Voting WarsDan Tokaji

My short piece “True Threats: Voter Intimidation and the Constitution” is now posted on NYURLSC’s online publication The Harbinger. The abstract is here.

“New Mexico Struggles With Campaign Finance Enforcement”

December 22, 2015, 8:10 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

AP: Former New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran was able to funnel thousands of dollars in campaign donations to her private bank accounts during a gambling binge without any regulatory agency noticing that she was breaking the law. Duran’s… Continue reading

Litigant in “Most Significant Application” of Bush v. Gore Precedent Cannot Run Again for Judge Because of Felony Conviction

December 21, 2015, 10:45 amchicanery, election administrationRick Hasen

Election law nerds spent a lot of time on Hunter v. Hamilton County Board of Elections, a case in which the Sixth Circuit revived a strong reading of the Supreme Court’s Bush v. Gore decision as an equal… Continue reading

“Milwaukee County DA Moves To Revive John Doe Case”

December 18, 2015, 9:08 pmcampaign finance, chicanery, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

WPR reports.

WI John Doe Case May Get Appealed to #SCOTUS

December 18, 2015, 11:56 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Three district attorneys have moved to intervene in the state’s now-stalled John Doe investigation into Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign and conservative groups, a move aimed at bringing the case before the U.S. Supreme Court. The motion was… Continue reading

“2 DAs back away from bid to revive probe into Walker campaign”

December 16, 2015, 7:08 amcampaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Two of the five district attorneys involved in an investigation of Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign and conservative groups are walking away from an attempt to revive the probe that the state Supreme Court terminated this summer. In… Continue reading