Category Archives: conflict of interest laws

“Senators to Propose Ban on U.S. Lawmakers, Executive Branch Members Owning Stock”

July 19, 2023, 5:22 amconflict of interest lawsDan Tokaji

WSJ: Two U.S. senators are set this week to introduce bipartisan legislation to bar members of the federal executive branch and lawmakers from owning stock in individual companies, as new polling shows broad public support for such a measure.… Continue reading

About That Black’s Law Dictionary Definition of Facilities Cited by Justice Alito in His WSJ Defense of Not Reporting the Free Ride on the Private Plane of a Billionaire Litigant…

June 22, 2023, 1:58 pmconflict of interest laws, legislation and legislatures, statutory interpretation, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

In my earlier post on Justice Alito’s laughable defense that he did not have to report the free ride on the private plane because it was “hospitality … on …facilities” owned by a person, I noted that one of the… Continue reading

Justice Alito’s Bad Textualism Extends to His Mangling of Words to Justify Not Reporting a Seat on a Private Jet Paid for by a Billionaire Litigant

June 21, 2023, 7:54 pmconflict of interest laws, ethics investigations, statutory interpretation, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Years ago in conversation with an originalist and textualist, the person I was speaking to defended originalism and textualism as constraining judges. The counterexample on the right was Justice Alito voting his values. The idea is that if all judges… Continue reading

“McCarthy Proposes Gutting Office of Congressional Ethics in Bid for Speaker”

January 3, 2023, 10:40 amconflict of interest laws, ethics investigationsRick Hasen

Time: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy spent the first two days of the new year trying to shore up GOP support for his bid to be Speaker by releasing a series of proposals aimed at winning over hard-right detractors who… Continue reading

“A Charity Tied to the Supreme Court Offers Donors Access to the Justices; The Supreme Court Historical Society has raised more than $23 million in the last two decades, much of it from lawyers, corporations and special interests.”

December 30, 2022, 5:23 pmconflict of interest laws, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

NYT reports.

“While advising Trump on judges, Conway sold her business to a firm with ties to judicial activist Leonard Leo”

December 20, 2022, 7:31 amconflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

Politico: Longtime judicial activist Leonard Leo appears to have helped facilitate the sale of former White House senior adviser Kellyanne Conway’s polling company in 2017 — as she was playing a key role in advocating for Leo’s handpicked list… Continue reading

In Ohio and North Carolina, Children of Political Leaders Sit on State Supreme Court Deciding on Legality of Latest Redistricting Plans Challenged as Gerrymanders

December 31, 2021, 11:34 amconflict of interest laws, redistrictingRick Hasen

In North Carolina, Justice Phil Berger, Jr. will decide himself whether he can rule on lawsuits against his dad, a leading Republican state senator. In Ohio, Justice Pat DeWine “has chosen not to recuse himself. DeWine says he’ll hear arguments… Continue reading

“‘Conflicted Congress’: Key findings from Insider’s five-month investigation into federal lawmakers’ personal finances”

December 13, 2021, 10:55 amconflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

Big project from Dave Levinthal.

“Trump Officials Illegally Campaigned While in Office, Watchdog Finds”

November 9, 2021, 1:09 pmconflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

NYT: Thirteen of President Donald J. Trump’s most senior aides — including his son-in-law and his chief of staff — campaigned illegally for Mr. Trump’s re-election in violation of a law designed to prevent federal employees from abusing the… Continue reading

“California politicians raising money for charity face new rules from ethics panel”

October 23, 2021, 12:48 pmconflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

Cal Matters: After more than 18 months of deliberation, California’s political ethics regulators voted today to approve new rules when elected officials raise money for charities that they or their family control.More public disclosure of their ties to the… Continue reading

California: “Facebook, Google, other corporate giants flooded Newsom with record $226 million in charity donations in 2020”

April 28, 2021, 7:21 amcampaign finance, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

LA Times: Facebook, Google and Blue Shield of California are among the companies that contributed $226 million to government causes on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s behalf last year, an unprecedented level of spending that is raising alarms about the influence large… Continue reading

“Focus on Trump’s official White House actions as part of Republican convention programming raises Hatch Act concerns”

August 25, 2020, 9:19 pmconflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

WaPo: The decision by the Republican National Convention to feature President Trump conducting official business inside the White House underscores how he is leveraging the powers of his office for political gain, raising questions about whether an event featured Tuesday… Continue reading

“Matt Gaetz appears to run afoul of House ethics rules; The Florida Republican spent thousands of dollars on a speechwriting consultant, and the construction of a private studio.”

July 22, 2020, 8:59 amconflict of interest laws, ethics investigationsRick Hasen

Politico reports.

“As Election Nears, Trump’s White House Grows Bolder in Flouting Ethical Norms”

July 16, 2020, 9:09 pmconflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

NYT: When President Trump holds official taxpayer-funded events outside Washington, his audiences are treated to campaign-style speeches and rock music playlists drawn from his political rallies. His appearances at the White House, most recently a rambling Rose Garden news conference… Continue reading

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