“Wisconsin AG Josh Kaul charges former Trump associates in fake elector scheme”

June 4, 2024, 7:38 amchicanery, election subversion risk, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

Molly Beck for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has filed felony forgery charges against an aide and two attorneys who worked for former President Donald Trump in 2020 for their part in designing and executing a… Continue reading

“Intelligence chairman says US may be less prepared for election threats than it was four years ago”

June 4, 2024, 7:00 amcheap speech, chicaneryRick Hasen

AP: With only five months before voters head to the polls, the U.S. may be more vulnerable to foreign disinformation aimed at influencing voters and undermining democracy than it was before the 2020 election, the leader of the Senate Intelligence… Continue reading

“How a Drop in Small-Dollar Donations Is Shaking Up Both Parties”

June 4, 2024, 6:58 amcampaign financeRick Hasen

NOTUS: In a stark reversal from recent political history, both parties have seen a significant decline this election cycle in the small-dollar contributions they harvest via text and email, largely from rank-and-file voters of modest means. Gone are the days… Continue reading

“Major NH voting law change nears finish line despite objections”

June 3, 2024, 1:08 pmelection administration, The Voting WarsRick Hasen

NHPR: The largest change to New Hampshire election laws in recent history: That’s how some are describing a set of Republican-backed bills that would create new requirements for people looking to register to vote. The bills would also make… Continue reading

“Lawsuit could complicate absentee voting in Wisconsin”

June 3, 2024, 1:07 pmabsentee ballots, election administrationRick Hasen

Wisconsin Watch: A lawsuit that could complicate Wisconsin’s absentee voting process, create additional last-minute work for election officials and confuse voters is coming before a Marinette County judge Wednesday. The lawsuit asks Marinette County Circuit Court Judge James Morrison to… Continue reading

Washington state law cannot bar felons from running for president

June 3, 2024, 10:15 amballot accessDerek Muller

This piece, by a columnist at the Seattle Times, is suddenly attracting terrific attention. It notes that Washington law allow someone “to challenge the right of a candidate to appear on the general election ballot after a primary” “Because… Continue reading

“D.C. ethics board recommends Rudy Giuliani be disbarred”

June 3, 2024, 7:06 amethics investigations, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

NBC News: The D.C. Bar’s Board on Professional Responsibility on Friday recommended that Rudy Giuliani be barred from practicing law in the nation’s capital. In its report, the board cited Giuliani’s work in Pennsylvania following the 2020 presidential election in… Continue reading

“Marco Rubio spreads debunked election claims about 2020 ballots”

June 3, 2024, 7:02 amelection subversion risk, fraudulent fraud squadRick Hasen

WaPo: In the contest to join former president Donald Trump on the 2024 ticket as his running mate, aspirants have had to follow his path on questioning election integrity in the United States. Many refuse to say they would accept … Continue reading

“Supreme Court sends dispute over Arkansas’ GOP-drawn congressional map back to lower court”

June 3, 2024, 6:57 amredistricting, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

NBC News: The Supreme Court on Monday told a lower court to take a fresh look at claims alleging that Republican-drawn congressional districts in Arkansas sought to minimize the influence of Black voters. The justices threw out a May 2023… Continue reading

“Multiple Trump Witnesses Have Received Significant Financial Benefits From His Businesses, Campaign”

June 3, 2024, 6:44 amchicaneryRick Hasen

ProPublica: Nine witnesses in the criminal cases against former President Donald Trump have received significant financial benefits, including large raises from his campaign, severance packages, new jobs, and a grant of shares and cash from Trump’s media company. The benefits… Continue reading

“Courting Risk: Corporate Underwrites & State Attorneys General”

June 3, 2024, 6:39 amcampaign finance, political polarizationRick Hasen

New report from CPA. From the foreword by Jacob Hacker & Paul Pierson: Political spending to support controversial policies and leaders thrives in darkness. And no spending has defied necessary scrutiny more than the bigger and bigger donations that public… Continue reading

“A Felon in the Oval Office Would Test the American System”

June 2, 2024, 10:01 amelection subversion riskRick Hasen

Peter Baker for the NYT: The revolutionary hero Patrick Henry knew this day would come. He might not have anticipated all the particulars, such as the porn actress in the hotel room and the illicit payoff to keep her quiet.… Continue reading

“Investors, worried they can’t beat lawmakers in stock market, copy them instead”

June 2, 2024, 9:59 amconflict of interest laws, legislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

WaPo: Members of Congress hear a lot of secrets: classified briefings, confidential previews of pending legislation and the private opinions of constituents, regulators, corporate executives and world leaders. Watchdog groups have long believed that somelawmakers use that information to make… Continue reading

“News site editor’s ties to Iran, Russia show misinformation’s complexity”

June 2, 2024, 9:57 amcheap speechRick Hasen

WaPo: Recently unearthed documents reveal that leaders of an online news site aimed at Americans have received money from both Russian and Iranian government media outlets, showing how widening geopolitical alliances are making it harder to identify and trace foreign… Continue reading