Category Archives: federal election commission

Election Law Scholars’ Amicus Brief Urging En Banc in CREW v. FEC on FEC Misuse of “Prosecutorial Discretion” to Avoid Deciding Cases

June 30, 2021, 12:34 pmfederal election commissionRick Hasen

This amicus brief on a very important issue is written on behalf of Richard Briffault, Michael S. Kang, Jennifer Nou, Bertrall Ross, Douglas Spencer, Nicholas Stephanopoulos, Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, and Abby K. Wood.

“F.E.C. Dismisses Case Against Democrats Over Outreach to Ukraine”

June 16, 2021, 4:51 pmfederal election commissionRick Hasen

NYT: The Federal Election Commission has dismissed a complaint by an ally of President Donald J. Trump accusing the Democratic Party and one of its former consultants of violating campaign finance laws by working with Ukraine to help Hillary Clinton’s… Continue reading

“Democrats’ Improbable New F.E.C. Strategy: More Deadlock Than Ever”

June 8, 2021, 7:00 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

NYT: For more than a decade, Democrats seeking more robust enforcement of election laws and transparency measures have been routinely routed at the F.E.C., the nation’s top campaign watchdog agency. They have complained bitterly that Republicans have weaponized the commission’s… Continue reading

“Opinion: Close this FEC loophole that killed the case over Trump’s payment to Stormy Daniels”

May 10, 2021, 6:46 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub’s WaPo oped: But when the FEC’s professional legal staff recommended the commission investigate, two Republican commissioners instead tanked the case without a word about its merits. Since Cohen had already been prosecuted, they said,… Continue reading

“F.E.C. Drops Case Reviewing Trump Hush-Money Payments to Women”

May 7, 2021, 6:43 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

NYT: The Federal Election Commission said on Thursday that it had formally dropped a case looking into whether former President Donald J. Trump violated election law with a payment of $130,000 shortly before the 2016 election to a pornographic-film actress… Continue reading

“F.E.C. Asks Congress to Ban Prechecked Recurring Donation Boxes”

May 6, 2021, 10:29 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

NYT: The Federal Election Commission voted unanimously on Thursday to recommend that Congress ban political campaigns from guiding donors by default into recurring contributions through prechecked boxes, a month after a New York Times investigation showed that former President Donald… Continue reading

FEC Republican Commissioners Pave Way for More Foreign Corporate Influence in U.S. Campaigns

May 4, 2021, 7:04 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

Free Speech for People: The Federal Election Commission divided 3-3 on Free Speech For People’s 2017 complaint against the oil company Citgo, its Venezuelan state-owned parent company, and President Trump’s 2017 inaugural committee. The FEC’s general counsel agreed with Free… Continue reading

“Democrats Aim to Revive a Campaign Finance Watchdog”

April 19, 2021, 7:39 amcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

NYT: Yet as the Senate prepares to begin work on a sweeping voting rights and elections overhaul bill, the two parties are bitterly divided over a proposal to restructure the enforcer of campaign finance rules, a central plank of the… Continue reading

New Republican FEC Commissioners Vote Against Disclosure of Funding Backing Fundraising Letters Containing Express Advocacy

April 16, 2021, 3:09 pmfederal election commissionRick Hasen

The Democratic commissioners issued a statement on the 3-3 deadlock.

Shana Broussard, First African-American Member of the Federal Election Commission, Elected Its New Chair; Allen Dickerson, Formerly of the Institute for Free Speech, Elected Vice Chair

December 22, 2020, 11:38 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

Congratulations!

“Senate confirms three FEC commissioners, restoring full slate for the first time since 2017”

December 9, 2020, 7:59 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

WaPo: The Senate on Wednesday confirmed three members to the Federal Election Commission, restoring the agency’s ability to conduct official business after months without a voting quorum and bringing the panel to its full slate of six members for the… Continue reading

“The Nation’s Top Election Official Has Overdosed on the Trump Kool-Aid”

November 18, 2020, 10:14 amfederal election commission, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

Lachlan Markay for the Daily Beast: The good news is that the nation’s top campaign finance watchdog may soon be functional again. The bad news is that its current chairman has gone off the rails.Trey Trainor may not be a… Continue reading

“Election Panel Set to Be Revived But Likely to Remain Deadlocked”

November 17, 2020, 8:13 amfederal election commissionRick Hasen

Ken Doyle for Bloomberg Government: The Federal Election Commission is set to be revived after being sidelined during the most expensive election in U.S. history.Senate Rules and Administration Committee Chairman Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) scheduled a confirmation hearing for Wednesday for… Continue reading

“Trump announces intention to nominate two individuals to serve as FEC members”

October 28, 2020, 4:17 pmfederal election commissionRick Hasen

The Hill: President Trump on Wednesday announced his intent to nominate Sean Cooksey and Shana Broussard to serve as members of the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The potential nominations come four months after Republican FEC Commissioner Caroline Hunter resigned, … Continue reading