Category Archives: campaigns

“New Rule Bars Political Activity, Campaign Contributions by Federal Judiciary Employees”

March 1, 2018, 7:17 amcampaignsRick Hasen

Tony Mauro: Starting on March 1, more than 1,000 employees of the federal judiciary will be subject to a policy that prohibits them from partisan political activity, including campaign contributions. Judges and court employees have lived under similar rules for… Continue reading

Supreme Court Justices Grapple with Difficult Issues at Oral Argument in Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, the Political Apparel Case

February 28, 2018, 11:04 amcampaigns, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I have just had the chance to read the transcript in Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky. As I indicated in my Slate piece yesterday, the case is a difficult one, not because polling places should be places for political expression… Continue reading

“Free Speech vs. Freedom From Intimidation The Supreme Court is set to reconsider campaigning at the ballot box; Justice Scalia got it right the first time.”

February 27, 2018, 1:22 pmcampaigns, Scalia, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

I have written this piece for Slate. It begins: On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, a case raising the question of whether Minnesota and other states can prevent people from wearing… Continue reading

“The Latest: Trump campaign statement appears to violate law”

February 27, 2018, 12:39 pmcampaigns, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

AP: A statement released by the Trump campaign attributed to White House senior adviser Jared Kushner Tuesday is in seeming violation of federal law prohibiting the use of official titles in political work..

“10 super-rich people dominate giving to super PACs active in midterm elections for Congress”

February 26, 2018, 7:27 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

USA Today: Donations from 10 super-rich individuals account for more than 20% of the money filling the bank accounts of federal super PACs, a USA TODAY analysis shows, highlighting how a small group of wealthy patrons is racing to influence… Continue reading

“The True Source of the N.R.A.’s Clout: Mobilization, Not Donations”

February 25, 2018, 9:47 pmcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT: To many of its opponents, that decades-long string of victories is proof that the N.R.A. has bought its political support. But the numbers tell a more complicated story: The organization’s political action committee over the last decade has not … Continue reading

“Behind a Key Anti-Labor Case, a Web of Conservative Donors”

February 25, 2018, 8:54 pmcampaignsRick Hasen

NYT reports.

“Argument preview: Justices to hear challenge to Minnesota voting dress code”

February 23, 2018, 9:09 amcampaigns, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Amy Howe preview for SCOTUSBlog.

New Federal Indictment of 13 Russians from Special Counsel Mueller Says, Among Other Things, That Russians Violated Federal Election Law Through Political Ads

February 16, 2018, 10:05 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Here’s the indictment, and a few snippets I’ve posted on Twitter: From the indictment (https://t.co/JFEIwHoJL4) pic.twitter.com/S5UAEkP7sF — Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) February 16, 2018 Election-law related charges pic.twitter.com/wnoiq94HIi — Rick Hasen (@rickhasen) February 16, 2018 Yet only some of… Continue reading

“Trump’s Inaugural Committee Paid $26 Million to Firm of First Lady’s Adviser”

February 16, 2018, 7:51 amcampaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NYT reports.

In Response to FEC Complaint by Common Cause, Trump’s Lawyer Michael Cohen Says He Paid $130,000 to Porn Star. Is There a Campaign Finance Violation?

February 14, 2018, 8:00 amcampaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

Maggie Haberman for the NYT: Michael D. Cohen, President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, said on Tuesday that he had paid $130,000 out of his own pocket to a pornographic-film actress who had once claimed to have had an affair with… Continue reading

“Russia Sees Midterm Elections as Chance to Sow Fresh Discord, Intelligence Chiefs Warn”

February 14, 2018, 7:23 amcampaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: Russia is already meddling in the midterm elections this year, the top American intelligence officials said on Tuesday, warning that Moscow is using a digital strategy to worsen the country’s political and social divisions. Russia is using fake accounts… Continue reading

“Fake News and Bots May Be Worrisome, but Their Political Power Is Overblown”

February 13, 2018, 6:00 amcampaignsRick Hasen

Brendan Nyhan for NYT’s The UpShot.

Liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidate Speaking Out on Judicial Issues in Ways Some Find Troubling

February 11, 2018, 8:51 pmcampaigns, judicial electionsRick Hasen

Fascinating Patrick Marley report in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Usually it is conservatives pushing the envelope on judicial campaign speech. But now there’s this: Tim Burns is doing what state Supreme Court candidates have long avoided — telling voters what he… Continue reading

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