Category Archives: campaigns

Texas: “Sylvester Turner calls for investigation into Tony Buzbee ad, citing ‘deep fake’ law”

October 19, 2019, 5:43 amcampaignsRick Hasen

Houston Chronicle: Mayor Sylvester Turner has called for the district attorney to open a criminal investigation into Tony Buzbee’s campaign over a television ad that appears to show edited photos of Turner and an allegedly fake text between the… Continue reading

CA Supreme Court Will Hear Case About Requiring Presidential Candidates to Release Tax Returns on Nov. 6, With Opinion Likely by Thanksgiving

October 16, 2019, 4:48 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

At the Lectern reports.

Trump at Louisiana Rally Says Democrats are Pursuing “illegal, invalid and unconstitutional bullshit impeachment.”

October 11, 2019, 8:50 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

NYT dispatch.

“Facebook Is Threatening Our Elections—Again”

October 11, 2019, 8:17 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

Vanita Gupta: After Facebook was implicated in the 2016 election wreckage, the company made strides to shore up the platform against future harms to our democracy. But now, Facebook is sabotaging its own efforts through a new policy: the… Continue reading

“Indicted Donors Spread Campaign Cash Widely; Pair of Soviet-born Florida businessmen donated $675,000 to at least 14 GOP candidates and groups last year”

October 11, 2019, 2:53 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

WSJ reports. At least 14 Republican candidates and groups directly received a total of $675,500 in campaign contributions last year from Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, the Soviet-born Florida businessmen indicted this week on campaign-finance violations.Federal prosecutors in Manhattan say… Continue reading

“A Spice Company Spent $92,000 on Pro-Impeachment Facebook Ads in a Week”

October 11, 2019, 2:40 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

NYT reports.

“We have no idea who is paying Rudy Giuliani; A loophole in ethics laws lets Trump’s personal lawyer sidestep disclosure.”

October 10, 2019, 7:44 pmcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Trevor Potter and Delaney Marsco: Rudolph W. Giuliani is not the secretary of state. In fact, he has no official position in President Trump’s Cabinet or administration. Yet he is traveling the world holding himself out as a U.S. … Continue reading

“The Arrest of Giuliani’s Ukraine Associates Shows How Much Trump Has Already Corrupted Our Elections”

October 10, 2019, 10:22 amcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

I have written this piece for Slate. It begins: The news of Thursday’s indictments of two associates of Rudy Giuliani’s, who according to their lawyer (and former Trump lawyer) John Dowd, assisted Giuliani “in connection with his representation of President… Continue reading

“Can a 501c3 Advocate for Impeachment of a Federal Office Holder?”

October 8, 2019, 8:40 amcampaigns, lobbying, tax law and election lawRick Hasen

Timely exploration by Tim Mooney at NPQ.

“Trump’s 2016 campaign was run on a shoestring. His reelection machine is huge — and armed with consultants.”

October 8, 2019, 8:37 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WaPo: Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2015 had no pollster, rapid-response team or fundraiser. A bare-bones staff fueled by pizza and energy drinks toiled in a makeshift office at Trump Tower. His opponents vastly outspent him — and lost.But as… Continue reading

California Governor Signs into Law New Ban on Certain Political “Deep Fakes”; I Expect a Serious First Amendment Challenge

October 7, 2019, 3:32 pmcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Yahoo: With deepfake technology producing realistically modified digital content at a steeply increasing rate, California’s governor Gavin Newsom is taking a series of legal steps to avoid such technology from damaging the state’s political integrity and protect residents from having… Continue reading

“Candidates are hoping you’ll buy their rhetoric — as well as their merchandise”

October 7, 2019, 2:44 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Marketplace: Most of us can identify a standard commercial and we usually know someone is trying to sell us something. But what happens when the “product” is a political candidate and the “ad” is a tweet, or Facebook post?In her… Continue reading

“Russia likely to focus on voter suppression in 2020, feds warn states”

October 7, 2019, 8:08 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

CNN: The federal government warned state election officials Thursday it suspects Russia may focus on voter suppression as a means to interfere in the 2020 presidential election.The joint FBI and Department of Homeland Security document, obtained by CNN and… Continue reading

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