Category Archives: chicanery
Unanimous 4th Circuit Panel Rejects Former Va Gov. McDonnell’s Corruption Appeal
You can read the 89-page-opinion at this link.
A key question on appeal is whether the trial court defined “official act” too broadly for federal bribery law purposes. The 4th Circuit has an extensive discussion of the issue, concluding: “In… Continue reading
“In Rio Grande Valley, Some Campaign Workers Are Paid To Harvest Votes”
NPR:
This week, NPR examines public corruption in South Texas. The FBI has launched a task force to clean up entrenched wrongdoing by public servants in the Rio Grande Valley. In the final part of this series, we examine… Continue reading
“Small number of possible voter fraud cases referred to county prosecutors”
News from Ohio.
“Republican operative sentenced to 2 years in landmark election case”
WaPo:
A former Republican political operative convicted in the first federal criminal case of illegal coordination between a campaign and a purportedly independent ally was sentenced Friday to two years in prison — a lighter punishment than prosecutors sought… Continue reading
“Appeals court upholds decision to toss results of 2014 Magoffin County judge-executive election”
Kentucky.com:
The three-judge appeals panel did not agree with all of Preston’s conclusions, but the majority ruled that there was clearly enough evidence of improprieties to justify his decision to set aside the election.
“We are not sure which candidate… Continue reading
“Political Consultant To Be Sentenced For Violating Campaign Finance Law”
Peter Overby reports for NPR.
“Brace Yourself for Kobach”
Wichita Eagle editorial:
Secretary of State Kris Kobach finally got the prosecutorial powers he wanted. Brace yourself, Kansas voters, as he’s unlikely to put them in a drawer.
Kobach is such a zealot on the nonissue of voter fraud that… Continue reading
“Top aide to Fla. ex-congressman will plead guilty to breaking election law”
Miami Herald: “A former campaign manager for onetime Democratic Congressman Joe Garcia plans to plead guilty Thursday in Miami federal court to financing a tea party candidate in a scheme to siphon votes from his Republican nemesis.”
“DOJ Wants 4 Years in Jail for Consultant In Super PAC Campaign Coordination Case”
Bloomberg BNA:
The Justice Department is asking for a jail sentence of nearly four years for Tyler Harber, a Virginia political consultant who pleaded guilty to illegal coordination of campaign financing by a super political action committee and a congressional… Continue reading
Remember That Rare Case of Impersonation Fraud Where a Woman Got Her Son to Vote for Her Husband?
Back in 2012, I had a post , Allegation of Actual Impersonation Voter Fraud Attempt in Texas…and An Illustration of Why Such Fraud is Rare and Stupid, with a follow-up, More on the Voter Impersonation Fraud Case in Fort … Continue reading
“Dennis Hastert Rushed to Make Money as Payouts Grew”
Must-read NYT report. The Hastert case is about allegations of sexual abuse. But this Eric Lipton report shows how the documents getting leaked reveal a lot about lobbyists, former lawmakers, and the pay to play culture in DC.
Gov. Blagojevich Appeal, Argued Dec. 2013, Still Pending Before 7th Circuit
Inexplicable, especially before the usually speedy 7th Circuit, and especially with Judge Easterbrook on the panel.
“Hastert’s post-Congress life one of political withdrawal and chasing cash”
WaPo:
J. Dennis Hastert’s political winter in Washington has been defined by two seemingly contradictory traits. He shrank almost completely from the spotlight while becoming so dogged in the pursuit of wealth that it puzzled his longtime friends.
After… Continue reading