Category Archives: conflict of interest laws

“South Jersey congressman spent $9,000 from campaign funds on donor’s wedding”

November 21, 2011, 9:01 amcampaign finance, chicanery, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

NJ.com: A three-night stay at a five-star hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland, for a wedding: $7,725. A set of china from Bloomingdale’s for the bride and groom: $463. Cab rides, meals, tips and airline baggage fees: $953. Expensing it to… Continue reading

Is the State Farm Judicial Recusal Case in Illinois Coming Back?

November 21, 2011, 8:59 amcampaign finance, conflict of interest laws, judicial electionsRick Hasen

Chicago Tribune editorial: Back in 2005, plaintiff’s attorneys had asked Karmeier to recuse himself from the State Farm case because, they said, his campaign had accepted at least $350,000 from State Farm officers, employees, lawyers and others connected to… Continue reading

“Reform Groups Press Congress to Curb Congressional Insider Trading”

November 18, 2011, 5:25 pmcampaign finance, conflict of interest laws, ethics investigationsRick Hasen

See this press release.

“Court orders reinstatement of redistricting official”

November 17, 2011, 10:58 pmcitizen commissions, conflict of interest laws, ethics investigations, redistrictingRick Hasen

The Arizona Republic offers this report about this order issued by the Arizona Supreme Court today. This is major news for the vitality of the redistricting commission in Arizona. An opinion from the court will follow.

“Aspen city attorney says opinion to commission is confidential; Activist says office has conflict of interest in Aspen election issues”

November 17, 2011, 8:52 amconflict of interest laws, election administrationRick Hasen

The Aspen Times reports.

2d Circuit Reverses Bruno’s “Honest Services” Fraud Conviction; Allows New Trial

November 16, 2011, 1:24 pmchicanery, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

The opinion is here. Howard rounds up the stories.

“The Hatch Act: A Law Misused”

October 31, 2011, 7:46 amconflict of interest laws, ethics investigationsRick Hasen

Carolyn Lerner has written this NYT oped. It begins: “THE federal agency I lead, the United States Office of Special Counsel, enforces a law that is broken and needs to be fixed. … [The Hatch Act] at its worst…… Continue reading