Category Archives: campaigns

“Trump Inauguration Spending Under Criminal Investigation by Federal Prosecutors”

December 13, 2018, 2:22 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

WSJ: Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are investigating whether President Trump’s 2017 inaugural committee misspent some of the record $107 million it raised from donations, people familiar with the matter said. The criminal probe by the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office,… Continue reading

“As Election Fraud Probe Centers On N.C.’s 9th District, A Cynical Cloud Settles In”

December 13, 2018, 12:10 pmcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NPR: Pat Melvin, a realtor in Elizabethtown, N.C., has been a friend of Dowless for 30 years. He says the accusations being made against Dowless and the Harris campaign are going to ruin politics in the state’s 9th District.… Continue reading

“A Guide to Election Year Activities of Section 501(c)(3) Organizations”

December 13, 2018, 11:48 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Steven Sholk’s annual review, now ready for your downloading pleasure.

Brad Smith and Rick Hasen Join Podcast with Constitution Center’s Jeffrey Rosen to Debate: “Cohen, Trump, and Campaign Finance Law”

December 13, 2018, 11:40 amcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

This is the podcast you’ve been waiting for: President Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to several crimes, including illegally making hush money payments to two women alleging affairs with then-candidate… Continue reading

“Senate votes to overturn Trump administration donor disclosure rule for ‘dark money’ groups”

December 12, 2018, 8:44 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

WaPo: The Senate on Wednesday voted 50 to 49 to overturn a Trump administration policy that allows politically active nonprofits to withhold from the government the identities of their donors, underscoring a growing unease among Democrats over the influence of… Continue reading

“Tabloid Publisher’s Deal in Hush-Money Inquiry Adds to Trump’s Danger”

December 12, 2018, 8:23 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: Until this week, it was largely Mr. Cohen’s word against the president’s denials. That is why the admission by A.M.I. is “highly significant, because it goes to corroborate” Mr. Cohen’s testimony, said Jeff Tsai, part of the prosecution team… Continue reading

In Cooperation Agreement with Government, National Enquirer Parent Company Admits It Made Payments to Trump’s Mistress to Influence the 2016 Presidential Election

December 12, 2018, 10:49 amcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

From a DOJ release: The Office also announced today that it has previously reached a non-prosecution agreement with AMI, in connection with AMI’s role in making the above-described $150,000 payment before the 2016 presidential election. As a part of the… Continue reading

“North Carolina Fraud Scandal Casts Shadow Over the Primary, Too”

December 12, 2018, 7:22 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT reports.

“In N.C. election fraud case, witness says operative held onto 800 absentee ballots”

December 12, 2018, 7:15 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NBC News: McCrae Dowless, the man whose “get-out-the-vote” activities are the center of the election fraud investigation in North Carolina, told a local political campaign volunteer that he was holding onto 800 absentee ballots, according to a new affidavit… Continue reading

“Trump says Cohen’s guilty plea is like the Obama campaign’s civil fine. There’s no comparison, experts say.”

December 11, 2018, 7:32 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Fredreka Schouten for CNN.

“Potent Weapon or Poison Pill? Super PACs Pose Quandary for 2020 Democrats”

December 11, 2018, 7:24 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

Shane Goldmacher for the NYT: It is one of the most potent and feared weapons in the arsenal of modern American politics: the super PAC. But as three dozen Democrats ponder presidential runs in 2020 and begin to design their… Continue reading

“‘A Simple Private Transaction’: Trump Lays Out a Defense in a Campaign-Finance Case”

December 10, 2018, 6:25 pmcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Charlie Savage in the NYT: President Trump defended himself on Monday against prosecutors’ accusation that he directed illegal payments ahead of the 2016 election to two women to stay silent about alleged extramarital affairs with him, insisting that the payments… Continue reading

Interview with Me on PBS News Hour: “Why Cohen’s hush money places the president at legal risk”

December 10, 2018, 4:58 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

I spoke to the PBS News Hour about the President and the alleged campaign finance violations.

“North Carolina Democrat preparing for special election in contested congressional race”

December 10, 2018, 10:14 amcampaignsRick Hasen

Politico: The Democrat in a North Carolina congressional race marred by accusations of election fraud said Monday that his team is already preparing for the possibility of a special election that would supersede the allegedly tainted contest held last month.… Continue reading

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