Category Archives: federal election commission

“Federal Election Commission Lays Bare Internal Conflicts and Challenges in Letters to Congress”

May 9, 2019, 2:33 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

CPI: The Federal Election Commission’s four leaders are offering lawmakers clashing perspectives on the agency’s very purpose.The FEC’s greatest challenge to fulfilling its mission is a misperception that “adherence to the rule of law and sensitivity to Americans’ First… Continue reading

“Trump slammed opponents for being in ‘cahoots’ with super PACs. Now, he’s endorsed a group supporting him.”

May 8, 2019, 4:29 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Michelle Ye He Lee for WaPo.

“FEC Dysfunction Now Threatens Democracy”

May 2, 2019, 7:56 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

TAP: Of all the Federal Election Commission’s many chronic breakdowns in recent years, its failure to take the slightest action to either stave off or respond to Russian meddling in the 2016 election is the most damaging to American… Continue reading

“A Lawsuit About Trump and the NRA Could Upend How the Government Polices Campaign Finance”

May 1, 2019, 9:09 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Mother Jones: A gun safety group, Giffords, and a campaign finance watchdog, the Campaign Legal Center, are suing the Federal Election Commission for failing to act on multiple complaints alleging that the National Rifle Association unlawfully coordinated with Donald Trump… Continue reading

“Mueller Report Opens Door for Civil Enforcement by FEC”

April 30, 2019, 9:46 amcampaign finance, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Release: Today, Common Cause, the Campaign Legal Center, and Democracy 21 filed a supplementto a complaint filed in July 2017 against President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign committee for soliciting contributions from foreign nationals in the form of… Continue reading

“New Findings: FEC Stonewalling Candidates, Parties, Seeking Guidance About Super PACs, Other Substantive Issues”

April 30, 2019, 7:17 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Release: New data and analysis from the Brennan Center show that the deadlocked Federal Election Commission has failed to provide guidance to candidates, parties, and others seeking to understand their legal obligations; update regulations to reflect changes in the… Continue reading

“The Cybersecurity 202: Cybersecurity proposal pits cyber pros against campaign finance hawks”

April 25, 2019, 7:29 amcampaign finance, campaigns, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

WaPo: The Federal Election Commission could decide today whether nonpartisan groups can offer political campaigns free cybersecurity services, an issue that has made bedfellows of Republicans and Democrats but divided cyber pros and campaign finance hawks.The proposal’s authors, Hillary… Continue reading

“Lawsuit: NRA Illegally Coordinated Up to $35 Million in Campaign Spending”

April 24, 2019, 6:17 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Release: Today, Campaign Legal Center Action (CLC Action) filed suit on behalf of Giffords against the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for failing to announce any action against the National Rifle Association (NRA) for using shell corporations to coordinate campaign spending… Continue reading

“For Campaign Finance Violators, Crime Pays”

April 24, 2019, 10:07 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Mike Gilbert and Samir Sheth: he Federal Election Commission (FEC) recently levied a record-breaking fine against Right to Rise, a Jeb Bush-connected super PAC, for soliciting an illegal contribution from a foreign national. The fine brought cheers for the … Continue reading

“Busted & Broke: Why the Federal Election Commission doesn’t work”

April 23, 2019, 8:08 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

Release: Issue One’s latest report, “Busted & Broke: Why the Federal Election Commission doesn’t work,” reveals why the FEC is dysfunctional and how the agency lacks the budget, staff, and teeth it needs to enforce the country’s… Continue reading

“Courts Have No Say When FEC Wants To Ignore Alleged Wrongdoing”

April 5, 2019, 9:11 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Ken Doyle: A decision by two federal judges is making it impossible to challenge the way the Federal Election Commission enforces campaign laws.When the FEC deadlocks along party lines, that’s now the end of the line — no court… Continue reading

“At the Federal Election Commission, No Watchdog for the Watchdog”

April 3, 2019, 7:31 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

Dave Levinthal: When Beverly Davis began disqualifying numerous applicants for the Federal Election Commission’s vacant inspector general job — including a long-time staff attorney for Commissioner Matthew Petersen — agency superiors protested. Accusations and allegations flew. A turf war ensued. … Continue reading

“From Rick Santorum to Beto O’Rourke, Federal Regulation Arbitrarily Criminalizes Candidates”

April 2, 2019, 7:04 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Eric Wang for the Daily Caller.

The Plight of the FEC

March 28, 2019, 7:58 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

From an Eleanor Eagan Jeff Hauser analysis of independent agencies: Finally, the plight of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an example of how Trump’s slowdown can exacerbate pre-existing threats to the public good. All of the commissioners are serving … Continue reading