National/Federal

Orders to Investigate Columbia Protesters Raised Alarms in Justice Dept.

DNyuz – Devlin Barrett (New York Times) | Published: 5/1/2025

A top Trump appointee in the Justice Department ordered an aggressive investigation in the last several months of student protesters at Columbia University, raising anger and alarm among career prosecutors and investigators who saw the demand as politically motivated and lacking legal merit, people familiar with the episode said. The demand for the inquiry into students who protested Israel’s conduct of the conflict in Gaza also prompted pushback from a federal magistrate judge, who believed some of the steps being sought by the official, Emil Bove III, were unjustified and might violate the First Amendment.

Trump Sons’ Deals on Three Continents Directly Benefit the President

DNyuz – Eric Lipton and David Yaffe-Bellany (New York Times) | Published: 5/5/2025

A contest of sorts has played out across Europe, the United States, and the Middle East as President Trump’s two older sons have pursued a blitz of family moneymaking ventures capitalizing on their father’s name and power, each seemingly trying to outdo the other. It is a rush to cash in that involves billions of dollars with few precedents in American history.

States Are Tightening Rules for Getting Citizen-Led Proposals on the Ballot

DNyuz – Emily Cochrane (New York Times) | Published: 5/5/2025

Some state Legislatures are making it harder for members of the public to put ballot measures before voters. Less than half of the nation’s 50 states allow citizens to collect signatures and to place proposals on the ballot. Legislatures can also put questions on the ballot and typically author the majority of constitutional amendments. But after the fall of Roe v. Wade allowed states to restrict abortion access, abortion rights groups turned to the ballot initiative process to circumvent conservative lawmakers and to put the question directly before voters.

Chief Justice Says Courts Must Be Free to Check ‘Excesses’ of Congress, White House

MSN – Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 5/7/2025

Chief Justice John Roberts championed the independence and authority of the nation’s judicial system to serve as a check on Congress and the president at a time when federal courts are being attacked by the Trump administration. His comments drew applause from the audience of lawyers and judges who were aware that President Trump’s second term has led to escalating tensions between executive branch officials pushing the boundaries of presidential power and federal trial court judges whose rulings often slow or scale back those efforts.

Hegseth Attorney’s Dual Roles Trip Conflict of Interest Alarms

MSN – Daniel Lippman and Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 5/2/2025

Tim Parlatore is a personal attorney and top adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. At the same time, he is suing the Navy and defending private clients against the U.S. government. While Parlatore insists his arrangement is above board, it is highly unusual for a sitting top adviser for a Cabinet secretary to be working in government while at the same time representing clients suing the government or working for clients as they challenge the federal decisions.

Abbe Lowell Launches His Own Law Firm

MSN – Daniel Barnes (Politico) | Published: 5/2/2025

Prominent defense lawyer Abbe Lowell launched Lowell & Associates, his own boutique law firm with an initial client roster that includes several opponents of President Trump. Lowell is teaming up with two attorneys who publicly resigned from their positions at Skadden Arps, after the firm chose to make a deal with the White House to avoid being targeted by the president.

DOGE Aide Who Helped Gut CFPB Was Warned About Potential Conflicts of Interest

MSN – Jake Pearson (ProPublica) | Published: 5/7/2025

A Department of Government Efficiency aide at the nation’s consumer watchdog agency was told by ethics attorneys he held stock in companies that employees are forbidden from owning and was advised not to participate in any actions that could benefit him personally, according to a person familiar with the warning. But days later, court records show, Gavin Kliger, a 25-year-old software engineer who has been detailed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau since March, went ahead and participated in mass layoffs at the agency anyway, including the firings of the ethics lawyers who had warned him.

Voice of America Will Carry One America News Programming

MSN – Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 5/7/2025

Voice of America (VOA) will carry programming from television network One America News, according to a post on X from Kari Lake, a senior adviser to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the government body that oversees VOA. Lake’s announcement was met with outrage from VOA staffers, who pointed to OAN’s right-wing slant and support of President Trump. VOA White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara said this agreement violates the congressional mandate of VOA.

U.S. Pushes Nations Facing Tariffs to Approve Musk’s Starlink, Cables Show

MSN – Jeff Stein and Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 5/7/2025

Numerous countries decided to assist Elon Musk’s Starlink while trying to fend off U.S. tariffs. A series of internal government messages reveal how U.S. embassies and the State Department have pushed nations to clear hurdles for American satellite companies, often mentioning Starlink by name. The documents do not show the Trump team has explicitly demanded favors for Starlink in exchange for lower tariffs. But they do indicate that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed officials to push for regulatory approvals for Musk’s satellite firm at a moment when the White House is calling for wide-ranging talks on trade.

Judge Strikes Down Trump Order Punishing Law Firm Perkins Coie

MSN – Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 5/2/2025

A federal judge barred the Trump administration from implementing an executive order targeting the law firm Perkins Coie. U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell said President Trump’s order was an unconstitutional effort to punish the firm for taking on clients and cases he dislikes. Trump has issued several executive orders punishing prominent law firms. He directed that firms lose government contracts and their employees be blocked from entering government buildings, interacting with government officials; or being hired for government jobs.

Report Spotlights Lobbying by White House Chief’s Former Clients

MSN – Martine Powers (Washington Post) | Published: 5/5/2025

In the first three months of the new Trump administration, several former lobbying clients of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles met with White House staff, drawing concern from Public Citizen about potential conflicts-of-interest. The White House says Wiles was not part of any meetings or decision-making involving the former clients except for a single phone call with the Big Three automakers that included General Motors, which Wiles last represented in 2019. Public Citizen argues Wiles should be required to recuse herself from decisions that affect her former clients.

Catholic Leaders Recoil from Trump’s Pope Post

MSN – Michelle Boorstein and Anthony Faiola (Washington Post) | Published: 5/4/2025

As Catholic cardinals prepared to choose a successor to Pope Francis, church leaders, politicians, and pundits blasted President Trump for sharing an Artificial Intelligence-generated image of himself on a throne in the cassock and miter of the pontiff. The pope is the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. The image, shared by both Trump and the White House, drew quick condemnation.

Trump’s Return to Power Elevates Ever Fringier Conspiracy Theories

Seattle Times – Emily Cochrane (New York Times) | Published: 5/5/2025

Conspiracy theories that were relegated to random and often anonymous online forums are now being championed or publicly debated by increasingly powerful people. President Trump has embraced, elevated, and even appointed to his cabinet people promoting these theories, giving the ideas a persuasive authority and a dangerous proximity to policy.

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – Alaska’s Attorney General Flew to South Africa and France. A Corporate-Funded Group Paid.

Yahoo News – Nathaniel Herz (Anchorage Daily News) | Published: 5/7/2025

Trips taken by Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor to France and South Africa underscore watchdogs’ concerns about the group that paid for the travel, the Attorney General Alliance (AGA), which has raised millions of dollars from corporations – including some that have had legal disputes with states. CNN reported the group collected nearly $27 million in sponsorships between 2019 and 2023, and allows companies to suggest “speakers, panelists, working groups, white papers and events.”

California – China Allegedly Tried to Influence This Politician. She Says She’s Not Going Anywhere

MSN – Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 5/2/2025

After being sworn in as second-in-command of the Arcadia City Council, Eileen Wang addressed a controversy that has taken a back seat in the months since the Eaton fire devastated nearby Altadena. Wang said her romantic relationship with Yaoning Sun ended eight months before federal prosecutors charged Sun with conspiracy and acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government. Sun allegedly worked with China to cultivate Wang, in hopes she would rise in politics and help promote pro-China policies, including opposition to Taiwan.

Colorado – Bill to Put School Boards, Special Districts Under Colorado Ethics Commission Fails

Colorado Politics – Marianne Goodland | Published: 5/6/2025

For the third year in a row, a bill that would add school boards and special districts to the jurisdiction of the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission failed. The commission has issued hundreds of opinions regarding its authority, the vast majority tied to financial issues, such as gift bans and travel expenses. It has never issued an opinion that would define the standards of conduct or reporting requirements that would fall under its purview.

District of Columbia – As D.C. U.S. Attorney Nomination Falters, Ed Martin’s Past Feeds Doubts

MSN – Tom Jackman and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 5/8/2025

Ed Martin’s nomination to be the top federal prosecutor in the District of Columbia is now faltering in the U.S. Senate. The same headlong style that fed controversies over his 15 weeks as interim U.S. attorney has over the years both fueled his rise through conservative politics and burned him repeatedly, costing him jobs, tens of thousands of dollars in fines, and court contempt citations. Democratic critics say they see a pattern in what they call Martin’s repeated abuse of his powers in office to threaten political opponents, and his indifference to the law and legal ethics.

Georgia – Another Ethics Complaint Filed Against Conservative Lobbying Group with Influence at Georgia Capitol

Yahoo News – Ross Williams (Georgia Recorder) | Published: 5/6/2025

An influential conservative lobbying group allegedly failed to file the proper disclosures in connection with advertisements for Gov. Brian Kemp and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the 2022 election, according to a complaint filed with the State Ethics Commission. Frontline Policy Action is an evangelical 501(c)(4) organization that successfully lobbied during the 2025 legislative session for bills including the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act and a ban on transgender women and girls playing on women’s school sports teams.

Louisiana – As Charges Linger Over Landry, Louisiana House Votes to Overhaul Ethics Investigations

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 5/6/2025

Investigations of public officials for alleged misconduct could be significantly blunted under a bill passed by the Louisiana House. House Bill 674 targets the same process used to bring ethics charges against Gov. Jeff Landry two years ago. Members of the state Board of Ethics said the legislation would make it harder to pursue charges over ethical misconduct.

Louisiana – Louisiana Lawmakers Might Lift Restrictions on Gifts to Elected Officials, Government Employees

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 5/6/2025

Louisiana lawmakers are quickly moving legislation that would eliminate a prohibition in state ethics law on public sector employees and elected leaders from receiving gifts in most circumstances. Instead, government employees would be able to receive any type of gift worth up to $100 per event with an annual cap of $200. They would be able to accept an additional $200 in “seasonal or holiday food” gifts for a total limit of $400 in gifts.

Louisiana – Louisiana Lawmakers Might Shield Campaign Spending on Constitutional Amendments, Tax Proposals

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 5/5/2025

Louisiana lawmakers might eliminate requirements that political donations and spending on constitutional amendments, tax millages, and other election propositions be made available to the public. The change would result in voters knowing less about who is working to pass or defeat ballot measures they are asked to consider. House Bill 596 would make dozens of changes to Louisiana campaign finance reporting laws.

Maryland – After Hogan Controversy, Maryland Passes New Ethics Law

MSN – Eric Cortellessa (Time Magazine) | Published: 5/8/2025

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed into law a bipartisan overhaul of the state’s ethics laws requiring future governors to put their financial holdings in a blind trust or disinvest from them entirely. During former Gov. Larry Hogan’s eight years in office, nearly 40 percent of the competitive affordable housing awards overseen by the governor went to developers listed as clients on Hogan’s real estate firm’s website. A media report found one of the projects Hogan approved was being developed on his family’s property.

Massachusetts – Boston City Councilor Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Corruption Charges

MassLive – Ryan Mancini | Published: 5/5/2025

Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson pleaded guilty to two of the six federal corruption charges in federal court – one count of wire fraud and one count of theft involving federal funds. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop four of the charges against her and recommended she serve 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and pay $26,000, as well as an additional fine set by the court.

Michigan – Michigan Lawmakers Hear Out Testimony on Rules to Close the Lobbyist Gift Loophole

Michigan Advance – Anna Liz Nichols | Published: 5/7/2025

Michigan lawmakers heard testimony on rules currently being considered that would halt elected officials from working around state prohibitions on accepting gifts from lobbyists. State law bars elected officials from accepting gifts like sports tickets or flights valued above $79. The change being considered by the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules, would ban public officials from reimbursing lobbyists for the value of a gift that exceeds the maximum allowed limit.

Montana – Montana Republicans Dominated the 2024 Election. Things Got ‘Weird’ as Some Sided with Democrats

MSN – Matthew Brown and Hannah Schoenbaum (Associated Press) | Published: 4/30/2025

Montana lawmakers meet for just a few months every two years. It remains a true citizen Legislature, opening the playing field for compromise, said political analyst Jeremy Johnson. Minority Democrats took full advantage, remaking legislative committees and banding with a handful of moderate Republicans to thwart GOP leaders’ efforts to make Montana’s judicial system more partisan. Similar alliances bolstered Medicaid expansion, raised teacher pay, and passed a state budget increase that includes investments in affordable housing and health care.

New York – Andrew Cuomo Warned: Don’t pass notes to super PAC

MSN – Jeff Coltin and Nick Reisman (Politico) | Published: 5/5/2025

Campaign finance regulators sent a warning shot to Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic front-runner in the New York City mayoral race, over a recent practice that raised concerns. The New York City Campaign Finance Board emailed all city campaigns noting the board adopted new rules in November, strengthening those outlawing coordination between candidates and super PACs. That followed reporting last week that Cuomo was using an increasingly common legal practice known as “redboxing” to communicate his preferred messaging and advertising strategy.

New York – NYC Mayor Adams’ Appeal of Matching Campaign Funds Ruling Denied, Can’t Try Again Until Mid-July

Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 5/7/2025

New York City’s Campaign Finance Board is sticking to its guns in denying Mayor Eric Adams more than $4 million in public matching funds for his reelection run and will not give him another chance to challenge the decision until mid-July. The board first denied Adams the matching funds in December 2024, citing compliance issues, including his federal corruption indictment accusing him of taking bribes and illegal campaign cash from Turkish government operatives. After the Department of Justice secured a controversial dismissal of Adams’ indictment, his campaign filed a formal petition urging the board to reconsider its denial of funds.

North Carolina – Republican Concedes Long-Unsettled North Carolina Court Election to Democratic Incumbent

MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 5/7/2025

Jefferson Griffin, the Republican challenger for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat, conceded last November’s election to incumbent Allison Riggs two days after a federal judge ruled that potentially thousands of disputed ballots challenged by Griffin must remain in the final tally. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Myers ordered the State Board of Elections to certify results showing Riggs is the winner by 734 votes. Democrats and voting rights groups called Griffin’s efforts an attack on democracy that would serve as a road map for the GOP to reverse election results in other states.

North Dakota – Effort to Improve North Dakota Campaign Finance Reporting Fails

Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 5/3/2025

A stripped-down campaign finance bill failed in the North Dakota Senate after a prolonged disagreement between chambers. Some lawmakers hoped House Bill 1377 would be a vehicle for ambitious changes in campaign spending transparency, as well as for streamlining financial disclosure regulations for candidates.

North Dakota – North Dakota Lawmakers Approve Ethics Commission Bill with Deadline Removed

Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 5/2/2025

State lawmakers approved a North Dakota Ethics Commission budget full of major policy changes, though they abandoned a controversial proposal that would have imposed a deadline for complaints. Legislators agreed to fund a $50,000 case management system to help the commission track filings, which staff say will help them work more efficiently. Other noteworthy provisions in the budget include a handful of changes intended to fix bottlenecks in the Ethics Commission’s complaint process.

Ohio – Court Upholds Racketeering Convictions of Ex-Ohio House Speaker and Lobbyist in $60M Bribery Scheme

MSN – Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) | Published: 5/6/2025

A federal appeals court upheld the racketeering convictions of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and a one-time lobbyist in a $60 million bribery scandal described as the largest corruption scheme in state history. Householder was sentenced to 20 years in prison , and lobbyist and former Ohio Republican Party Chairperson Matt Borges was sentenced to five years in prison.

Ohio – Ohio Elections Commission Urges State Senators to Restore Funding in Budget

Ohio Capital Journal – Nick Evans | Published: 5/6/2025

The future is far from certain for the Ohio Elections Commission after House budget drafters moved to eliminate the agency. Now the state Senate gets its turn to tweak the two-year spending plan. Commission Executive Director Phil Richter went before a Senate committee to make the case for his agency. Richter warned that turning campaign finance laws over to an official appointed by the secretary of state or the county board of elections will create chaos.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Ethics Commission Clears Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett

Oklahoman – Nolan Clay | Published: 5/2/2025

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission cleared Corporation Commission member Todd Hiett after an investigation into accusations he violated a conflict-of-interest rule. The allegations arose because Hiett continued to vote on rate hikes despite disclosures about his drunken behavior at a regulatory conference in Minnesota last year.

Oregon – Former OLCC Director to Pay $500 Ethics Fine for Pappy Van Winkle Diversion

MSN – Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 5/5/2025

Steve Marks, the former executive director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, agreed to pay a $500 civil penalty to the state’s ethics commission for using his position to obtain a prized bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon. It mirrors those reached by two other commission executives in April. In all, six managers received reprimands after an internal investigation found they had used their positions for personal gain when they had scarce bourbon set aside for themselves. They were subsequently fired or stepped down.

Oregon – Former Oregon Secretary of State Faces $1,600 Fine for Ethics Violations

MSN – Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 5/4/2025

Former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan agreed to pay $1,600 in civil fines to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission for using her position to obtain a $10,000-a-month side job and for seeking state reimbursement for roomier accommodations on work trips where she was accompanied by her children and the family dog. In 2023, the commission opened its investigation into whether Fagan violated ethics rules for her side job with an associated company of La Mota, which operates cannabis stores in Oregon.

Oregon – Oregon’s Most Populous County Moves Forward with Lobbying Rules

MSN – Austin De Dios (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 5/1/2025

In a unanimous vote, the Board of Commissioners gave final approval to an ordinance that establishes Multnomah County’s first-ever lobbying reporting requirements and other transparency measures. It requires lobbyists to register and report quarterly on any efforts to influence policy and any gifts they give over $50. The ordinance takes effect on July 1.

Texas – Fifth Circuit Signals Support for Free Speech Claims in Legal Services Dispute

Courthouse News Service – Cameron Thompson | Published: 4/28/2025

A Fifth Circuit panel appeared likely to side with a campaign finance advocacy group in a dispute over a small piece of Texas election law. The Institute for Free Speech appealed to the three-judge panel that the Texas Election Commission’s advisory opinion on providing free legal services to candidates unfairly restricted their First Amendment rights. The institute wanted to represent a city council candidate who wanted to challenge a separate piece of the election code related to a warning printed on political signs. When they asked the commission if that conduct would violate the law, the commission ruled it would be a form of in-kind contribution.

Texas – Texas’ Highest Criminal Court Rehears Houston-Area Case That Could Impact Enforcement of Ethics Laws

Houston Public Media – Natalie Weber | Published: 5/1/2025

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals heard oral arguments in a case that could determine how the state’s ethics laws are enforced. In September, Texas’ highest criminal court ruled the state Ethics Commission had exclusive authority over certain ethics, campaign finance, and political advertising laws. In practice, the ruling meant prosecutors had to seek permission from the commission before bringing criminal charges against politicians and lobbyists. The debate centers on whether state lawmakers intended for the ethics commission to have exclusive authority over this area.

Texas – Texas Republican Lawmakers May ‘Financially Handcuff’ Cities That Don’t Play by Their Rules

MSN – Joshua Fechter (Texas Tribune) | Published: 5/5/2025

Two years after Texas lawmakers enacted a sweeping law aimed at sapping authority from the state’s urban areas, GOP legislators once more advanced bills intended to stop local governments from adopting progressive policies. Republicans in the Legislature want to give the state the authority to effectively torpedo cities’ budgets if they pursue local rules that might conflict with state law, intended to deter them from adopting left-leaning ideas in the first place.

Washington – Seattle City Council to Consider Changing Ethics Code for Votes

Seattle Times – David Kroman | Published: 5/1/2025

The Seattle City Council will soon consider a law changing the city’s ethics code and making it easier for members to vote on legislation even if they have a possible financial conflict-of-interest. A year after several perceived conflicts among council members altered the path of a number of bills, the proposed change could clear the way for how this council considers laws regulating landlord-tenant relations and business in the city.