Monthly Archives: May 2025

“Trump pardons ‘humbled’ John G. Rowland, former CT governor”

May 29, 2025, 12:45 pmcampaign finance, ethics investigationspardons, Pay-to-Play, political corruption, public corruptionJustin Levitt

An excerpt from the CT Mirror about a governor convicted of corruption and campaign finance charges: John G. Rowland, the thrice-elected and twice-convicted former Republican governor of Connecticut, said he was “humbled and appreciative” Wednesday after learning he was the… Continue reading

“Mayor, two other former local officials indicted in south Georgia for election interference in municipal races last year”

May 29, 2025, 12:44 pmchicanery, election administration, residencycriminalization of politics, disqualification, Election InterferenceJustin Levitt

On the same day as the 2024 general election (which was run by the county), municipal elections were scheduled in Camilla, Georgia. There was a firestorm with notable racial overtones about the eligibility of a former city councilmember, who had … Continue reading

“Trump administration ramps up push as crypto ally”

May 29, 2025, 12:42 pmethics investigationsPay-to-Play, political corruptionJustin Levitt

The WaPo piece’s subhead: The administration’s full-throated support of crypto is raising concern from ethics experts who say it overlaps with the president’s personal investments.

The Abundance Agenda Comes to the Supreme Court

May 29, 2025, 12:25 pmUncategorizedRichard Pildes

The Supreme Court issued a major decision today involving NEPA, the National Environmental Policy Act, in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County Co. Here’s a slightly modified version of a thread I posted on X regarding the significance of… Continue reading

Plaintiffs seek en banc review of decision saying private parties can’t enforce the VRA

May 28, 2025, 5:35 pmstatutory interpretation, Voting Rights ActJustin Levitt

Two weeks ago, Rick covered the latest Eighth Circuit disaster, finding that only the DOJ, and not private plaintiffs, had any ability to enforce the Voting Rights Act. (An earlier Eighth Circuit case held that private plaintiffs couldn’t sue… Continue reading

“Santos’s Treasurer Avoids Prison for Her Role in His Schemes”

May 28, 2025, 5:33 pmcampaign finance, chicaneryJustin Levitt

To be clear, these are just the campaign finance schemes. And the sentence announced today: probation.

“Texas’ proof-of-citizenship bill for voters fizzles at end of legislative session”

May 28, 2025, 5:32 pmelection administration, legislation and legislaturesproof of citizenshipJustin Levitt

Votebeat covers the path of a bill that would have applied requirements for documentary proof of citizenship not only to new registrants but also to the 18.6 million existing registered voters.

“The Disparate and Durable Effects of Mail Voting Restrictions: Evidence from Texas”

May 28, 2025, 5:31 pmabsentee ballots, election administration, The Voting Wars, voter registrationvoter turnoutJustin Levitt

More from Texas. This is interesting research on 2021’s SB1, which (among other elements) required voters casting mail ballots to provide either their driver’s license or state ID number or their Social Security digits, both on mail ballot applications… Continue reading

“Wisconsin Elections Commission: Small communities don’t need permission to stop using voting machines”

May 28, 2025, 5:30 pmelection administration, The Voting Wars, voting technologyJustin Levitt

From Wisconsin Public Radio: The Wisconsin Elections Commission says small communities don’t need the state’s permission to stop using electronic voting machines, siding with a northwestern Wisconsin town that switched to hand-counted, paper ballots last year. The WEC decision… Continue reading

“Legal challenge to come against Oklahoma bill capping initiative petition signatures”

May 28, 2025, 5:29 pmdirect democracy, legislation and legislaturesJustin Levitt

The Oklahoman covers (paywall) threats of litigation to a new Oklahoma requirement (with some comparisons to recent measures in other states restricting direct democracy) that restricts the number of signatures for an initiative coming out of any given county to… Continue reading

“Trump administration begins cracking down on federal employees’ use of leave for voting”

May 28, 2025, 5:28 pmThe Voting WarsExecutive Orders, time to voteJustin Levitt

From Government Executive: With some key primary elections at the state level occurring in the coming weeks, the Trump administration has begun notifying employees they can no longer use paid administrative leave to vote. The reminder, so far sent… Continue reading

“Flawed, but ultimately fair, chief electoral officer says of B.C. election”

May 28, 2025, 5:27 pmelection administrationinternational electionsJustin Levitt

From the Vancouver Sun, the most important paragraph in my mind is this one: Still, Boegman insists that in each case the problems were fixed and the overall outcome of the election was not affected. As long as humans… Continue reading

Private rights of action and the DOJ’s HAVA complaint against North Carolina

May 28, 2025, 6:48 amcourt decisionsDerek Muller

Justin nicely summarizes the heart of the DOJ’s HAVA complaint against North Carolina. I just wanted to highlight one other detail: the private right of action. Back in October, I noted that a federal court in North Carolina held there… Continue reading

“Donald Trump’s Politics of Plunder”

May 27, 2025, 10:48 pmcampaign finance, chicanery, conflict of interest laws, ethics investigationsdemocratic backsliding, Pay-to-PlayJustin Levitt

Evan Osnos, in the latest issue of the New Yorker, reviews the state of American oligarchy and the First Family’s use of the Oval Office as a private moneymaking machine. One small excerpt: Even seasoned practitioners of Washington pay-to-play have… Continue reading