Category Archives: campaigns

“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

Federal District Court Enjoins California Requirement that Presidential Primary Candidates Release Tax Returns, Finding Measure Likely Unconstitutional and Preempted by Federal Law

October 1, 2019, 6:04 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

You can find the court’s rather cursory discussion of the issues in this opinion (via BAN). I expect this will now go on appeal to the Ninth Circuit, which could well reverse, and to the Supreme Court, which I… Continue reading

Here’s the Full Meet the Press Daily Segment Where I Discussed Ukraine/Campaign Finance/Election Interference/Impeachment with Chuck Todd

September 28, 2019, 9:33 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Watch.

“NRA’s Ties to Russian Nationals Detailed in New Report”

September 27, 2019, 9:49 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

WSJ: National Rifle Association funds paid for lodging and travel of Russian nationals throughout 2015 and 2016, as part of a relationship that allowed foreign actors looking to influence the U.S. election, including now-convicted Maria Butina, to infiltrate the gun-rights… Continue reading

“Instead of ‘No Collusion!’ Trump Now Seems to Be Saying, So What if I Did?”

September 23, 2019, 9:20 pmcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Peter Baker news analysis in the NYT.

Common Cause: “DOJ & FEC Complaints Filed Against President Trump, Rudy Giuliani and Others for Illegal Solicitation of Contribution from Ukrainian President”

September 23, 2019, 2:36 pmcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Press release.

“As Trump Confirms He Discussed Biden With Ukraine, Pressure to Impeach Builds”

September 23, 2019, 8:31 amcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: President Trump acknowledged on Sunday that he raised corruption accusations against former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. during a phone call with Ukraine’s leader, a stunning admission as pressure mounted on Democrats to impeach Mr. Trump over allegations… Continue reading

“Trump’s Ukraine Gambit Could Be Another Campaign Finance Crime; Unfortunately, Robert Mueller may have given the president the green light to solicit foreign interference again”

September 22, 2019, 2:53 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

I have written this piece for Slate. It begins: President Donald Trump may well have committed a new campaign finance crime if he, as reported, pressured Ukraine into providing dirt on a political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, and… Continue reading

“Tech takes over political fundraising”

September 20, 2019, 7:15 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Axios: Small-dollar political donations have exploded this campaign cycle, thanks in large part to technology that makes it possible for candidates to target potential donors with cheap ads and easy-to-use online donation platforms.Why it matters: A surge in fundraising… Continue reading

“Federal judge blocks California law to force disclosure of Trump’s tax returns”

September 19, 2019, 2:40 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

LAT: A federal judge ordered a temporary injunction Thursday against California’s first-in-the-nation law requiring candidates to disclose their tax returns for a spot on the presidential primary ballot, an early victory for President Trump but a decision that will undoubtedly… Continue reading

“Political Fundraiser Pleads Guilty To Fraud”

September 19, 2019, 7:19 amcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

ProPublica: In one of the first Justice Department cases of its kind, Maryland political consultant Kelley Rogers pleaded guilty to wire fraud on Tuesday for operating multiple fraudulent political action committees that raised money from donors for conservative causes… Continue reading

“Democracy vouchers are supposed to be an answer, but big money is swamping Seattle’s elections”

September 18, 2019, 9:12 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Seattle Times: What Yang’s talking about was Initiative 122, which Seattle voters approved in 2015 as an experiment in public financing of elections. Through a property tax it gives every Seattle voter $100 worth of “democracy vouchers” to… Continue reading

“Warren releases plan to tackle Washington corruption”

September 16, 2019, 7:01 amcampaigns, chicanery, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

WaPo: Sen. Elizabeth Warren released a new plan Monday to tackle corruption in Washington, part of the Democratic presidential candidate’s ongoing promises to enact “big structural change” if elected.Warren’s wide-ranging new proposal seeks to dramatically limit the influence of federal… Continue reading