Category Archives: federal election commission

FEC Chair Trey Trainor Calls U.S. Catholic Bishops Corrupt for Directives Limiting Church Political Activity (Trainor Also Attacks Mail Balloting)

September 16, 2020, 7:12 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

Church Militant interviews Trey Trainor on video: The Marxist Left is going to have a complete and total meltdown over this. Church Militant sat down recently in our studios with the chairman of the Federal Election Commission, Trey Trainor… Continue reading

“Trump’s New Election Law Pitbull Goes to War With Transparency Groups; Trey Trainor is accusing groups like Common Cause and CREW of trying to force the FEC into enacting a liberal agenda.”

September 4, 2020, 8:56 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

Daily Beast: Donald Trump’s first addition to the nation’s top election regulator has launched a broadside against anti-corruption groups that, he claims, are trying to advance a left-wing agenda by attempting to spur enforcement of federal election laws.Trey Trainor,… Continue reading

Is Kanye West Going to Break the Law and Not File FEC Reports?

August 23, 2020, 7:03 pmfederal election commissionRick Hasen

Some thoughts: The @kanyewest candidacy may seem like a joke to some, but getting this filing would tell us a lot more about who is paying and who is benefitting. Have we ever seen a presidential candidate spend this much… Continue reading

D.C. Circuit Strikes FEC Rule Which Limited Disclosure of Contributions Funding Independent Expenditures

August 21, 2020, 9:51 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Big win for more effective disclosure rules.

Federal Election Commission Staffers Send Letter Calling for More Racial Diversity and Inclusion at the FEC

August 17, 2020, 7:00 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

You can read the letter here. It begins: We the undersigned, nonpartisan staff members of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) affirm our commitment to make our workplace a model of inclusion and equal opportunity for all, regardless of racial,… Continue reading

Allen Dickerson, of the Institute for Free Speech, is Being Nominated to Replace Commissioner Hunter on the FEC

June 26, 2020, 11:52 amelection law biz, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Allen Dickerson of the Institute for Free Speech is the president's new @fec nominee, per new announcement from the WH. The president's only other @fec nominee, Trey Trainor, was nominated in September 2017 and confirmed in May 2020. pic.twitter.com/cJOCUk5oqt—… Continue reading

“FEC losing quorum again after Caroline Hunter resigns”

June 26, 2020, 9:41 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

Politico: The Federal Election Commission is losing its short-lived quorum after Caroline Hunter, a longtime Republican commissioner of the FEC and former chair of the agency, is resigning, according to a resignation letter obtained by POLITICO.Her departure from the… Continue reading

New FEC Commissioner Trey Trainor, Not Sure If He Will Recuse in Cases Involving Trump Campaign Despite Having Served as Lawyer for It, Expresses Skepticism About Existence of “Dark Money”

June 18, 2020, 8:20 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Revealing Dave Levinthal interview.

“FEC’s Prosecutorial Discretion Considered by Federal Court, Again”

May 28, 2020, 6:55 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Wiley analysis.

“Senate confirms Trump appointee to Federal Election Commission, restoring panel’s voting quorum for the first time since August”

May 19, 2020, 3:22 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

WaPo: The Senate on Tuesday confirmed a conservative Texas lawyer nominated by President Trump to the Federal Election Commission, restoring a voting quorum on the agency for the first time since August amid a mounting backlog of complaints and requests… Continue reading

“Senate committee advances nomination of FEC commissioner”

May 7, 2020, 8:46 pmfederal election commissionRick Hasen

Washington Post: Senate committee Thursday voted to advance President Trump’s nominee to fill a vacancy on the Federal Election Commission, which would restore the agency’s ability to conduct official business.The Senate Rules and Administration Committee voted along party lines… Continue reading

“Push to Revive FEC Could Curb Court Action on Campaign Finance”

May 7, 2020, 8:27 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Ken Doyle: Advocates of stricter campaign finance law enforcement fear a Senate Republican push to restore a quorum on the Federal Election Commission could thwart their ability to pursue alleged violations in court.The Senate Rules and Administration Committee is expected… Continue reading

Trey Trainor’s Nomination to FEC Getting a Senate Hearing May 7; It Will Lead Us from a Period of Inaction to a Period of … Different Inaction

April 30, 2020, 4:04 pmfederal election commissionRick Hasen

Gonna break some precedent to not confirm in party pairs, but it will restore a quorum if Trainor confirmed so the FEC can then defend itself when it is sued for inaction and partisan deadlock.

CREW Gets Default Judgment Against Quorum-Less FEC, Paving the Way for Private Litigation Against Campaign Finance Violators

April 10, 2020, 11:11 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

This development is one to watch.

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