Category Archives: federal election commission

FEC’s Weintraub: “Our elections are facing more threats online. Our laws must catch up.”

September 14, 2017, 8:03 pmcampaign finance, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

WaPo oped from Ellen Weintraub, longtime FEC Commissioner: Would you click on that political ad if you knew it had been generated by a Russian troll farm? Probably not. But without knowing that? Well, you might. Indeed, we now know… Continue reading

“FEC Votes to Explore Disclosure Rules for Online Ads”

September 14, 2017, 7:33 pmcampaign finance, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Ken Doyle for Bloomberg BNA: The Federal Election Commission voted unanimously to jump-start a rulemaking process focused on disclosure requirements for online ads, following the revelation of Russian-linked political ads on Facebook. The vote, at the end of a lengthy … Continue reading

“Trump FEC Pick’s Twitter Goes Dark After Users Spot Anti-Protestant Links”

September 14, 2017, 7:30 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

TPM: The Twitter account for President Trump’s new pick for the Federal Election Commission was reportedly made private Tuesday evening after other Twitter users began noticing some of the nominee’s past sharing of anti-Protestant posts. The White House announced late… Continue reading

“Trump nominates Texas lawyer Trey Trainor for Federal Election Commission”

September 13, 2017, 7:19 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Texas Tribune: President Donald Trump is nominating Trey Trainor, an Austin lawyer well known in Texas politics, to serve on the Federal Election Commission. The White House announced Trainor’s appointment late Tuesday night. He must be confirmed by the… Continue reading

“Will Donald Trump let the Federal Election Commission rot?”

September 8, 2017, 10:03 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Dave Levinthal for CPI.

“Russian Facebook Political Ad Buys During 2016 Election Draw DOJ & FEC Complaints”

September 8, 2017, 9:50 amcampaign finance, chicanery, Department of Justice, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Release: Today Common Cause filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging that one or more unknown foreign nationals made expenditures, independent expenditures or disbursements in connection with the 2016 presidential… Continue reading

“FEC Might Act on Russia-Linked Facebook Political Ads: Official”

September 7, 2017, 9:26 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: The revelation that Russian sources financed political ads on Facebook in the 2016 presidential campaign could prompt enforcement action by the Federal Election Commission, agency Vice Chairwoman Caroline Hunter said. “It’s something we can and should deal with… Continue reading

President Trump Nominates FEC Commissioner Matthew Petersen for Federal District Court Judgeship in DC

September 7, 2017, 7:23 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

Dave Levinthal with the news, who also notes that if Petersen is confirmed there would be only 4 commissioners on the 6-member commission, a bare quorum.

Republican FEC Commissioners Reject Comm’r Weintraub Proposal for Foreign Interference Rulemaking

July 14, 2017, 1:18 pmcampaign finance, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Statement of reasons: The specter of any foreign government meddling in U.S. elections is an issue that we, like all Americans, take very seriously. Contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals in connection with U.S. elections are prohibited by the Federal… Continue reading

“Law on Foreign Campaign Money Narrow, FEC Analysis Says”

July 7, 2017, 8:44 pmcampaign finance, chicanery, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Bloomberg BNA: The Federal Election Commission may be severely constrained in what it can or will do to combat foreign influence in U.S. elections, a new analysis posted on the agency’s website suggests. The commissioners have recently grappled with… Continue reading

FEC Commissioner Weintraub Pushes Again for FEC to Consider Foreign Money Issue

June 21, 2017, 7:09 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Read the memorandum.

“Center for Public Integrity sues Federal Election Commission”

June 16, 2017, 8:13 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

CPI: On Feb. 6, Center for Public Integrity senior political reporter Dave Levinthal filed a FOIA request seeking any email exchanges between a White House and FEC official. On May 8, the FEC informed Levinthal that it had located responsive… Continue reading

Brad Smith Calls on FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub to Step Down after “Jump[ing] the Shark”

June 6, 2017, 7:41 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

The remarks are here, and they are as unconvincing as they are mean-spirited. The attacks on Democratic Federal Election Commissioner Weintraub and (former) Commissioner Ravel have been relentless. Ravel couldn’t take it anymore, and now the heat gets turned… Continue reading