Monthly Archives: September 2019

Democrats File New Lawsuit Challenging North Carolina Congressional Districts as Unconstitutional Partisan Gerrymandering Under the State Constitution; Too Late?

September 27, 2019, 9:56 amredistrictingRick Hasen

You can find the complaint here. Here is what I wrote when a three-judge state court struck state legislative districts as a partisan gerrymander: First, it is not clear that there is enough time to bring such a challenge… Continue reading

“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

Trump “jokes about driving people ‘frigging crazy’ with hints he might never leave WH”

September 26, 2019, 8:54 pmchicaneryRick Hasen

Once again the President jokes about not following the Constitution’s term limits requirements for President. Hilarious. (Actually, a very norm-crushing dangerous development.)

“A Dead Man’s Hard Drive Is the ‘Most Perfect’ Example of White Supremacy in Our Lifetime”

September 26, 2019, 8:00 pmredistrictingRick Hasen

Michael Harriott for The Root on the Hofeller Files.

FEC Chair Ellen Weintraub Releases Draft Letter Setting Forth Her View of FEC Law that Candidates Soliciting Opposition Research Not at Market Rates Violate the Federal Law

September 26, 2019, 7:54 pmcampaign finance, federal election commissionRick Hasen

This cannot be acted on by an FEC without a quorum, and surely this would divide the commission along party lines, but Ellen Weintraub’s analysis seems solid.

Polarization and Political Reform

September 26, 2019, 2:42 pmUncategorizedRichard Pildes

In a NYT article today, John Schwartz accurately quotes me as expressing skepticism about whether various political reforms are likely to fundamentally transform the hyerpolarized politics of our era. I want to elaborate briefly on those comments, since John… Continue reading

“Elections Could Expand Voting Rights This Fall. They Will Take Place in an ‘Intolerable Condition.'”

September 26, 2019, 2:25 pmfelon votingRick Hasen

Daniel Nichanian: Hundreds of thousands of citizens are barred from voting in Kentucky, Mississippi, and Virginia’s elections this November. And whether they get to participate in future elections will be perversely decided by those who are already allowed to vote.The… Continue reading

Kathryn Murdoch, Daughter-in-Law of Rupert, Putting Big Bucks Behind Election Reform Group

September 26, 2019, 1:25 pmalternative voting systems, political polarizationRick Hasen

John Schwartz in the NYT: Now, working with the nonpartisan group Unite America, she is connecting like-minded organizations that are trying to overhaul the democratic process of voting to make it less likely to reward partisanship. She is… Continue reading

“Disaster narrowly averted U.S. to remain in Universal Postal Union”

September 26, 2019, 12:24 pmelection administrationRick Hasen

Tammy Patrick: Fortunately, Deputy Post Master General Ronald Stroman and Election Mail Management Specialist Dan Bentley understand that tens of millions of American voters receive their ballot not by a poll worker, but from their postal carrier; and that delivering… Continue reading

“Congress Has Used Campaign Finance for Impeachment Before: Here’s How To Do It Now”

September 26, 2019, 12:22 pmcampaign financeRick Hasen

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy analysis.

“In rural Texas, black students’ fight for voting access conjures a painful past”

September 26, 2019, 12:21 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

WaPo reports.

My Thoughts on the Whistleblower Complaint

September 26, 2019, 8:31 amconflict of interest laws, ethics investigationsRick Hasen

With the complaint released today, I’ve been tweeting about the case in this thread: Among the most disturbing allegations are those of a cover up by White House lawyers and the deep involvement of AG Barr. He needs to… Continue reading

Justice Ginsburg Says Justice Kennedy Was Primary Author of Unsigned Majority Opinion in Bush v. Gore

September 25, 2019, 8:06 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

Mark Sherman of the AP: RBG identifies Kennedy as the author of the principal opinion in Bush v. Gore, which was an unsigned per curiam opinion. #SCOTUS— Mark Sherman (@shermancourt) September 25, 2019

Inspector General for Intelligence Community Had Concluded Trump May Have Committed Campaign Finance Crime with Ukraine Activities (A View Rejected by DOJ)

September 25, 2019, 6:40 pmUncategorizedRick Hasen

NYT: The whistle-blower, moreover, identified multiple White House officials as witnesses to potential presidential misconduct who could corroborate the complaint, the people said — adding that the inspector general for the intelligence community, Michael Atkinson, interviewed witnesses.Mr. Atkinson eventually concluded… Continue reading

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The law of politics and the politics of law