Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

National/Federal

Disbanded Anti-Kleptocracy Unit Had Entangled Trump Allies

MSN – Peter Whoriskey (Washington Post) | Published: 3/27/2025

For 14 years, a team at the Justice Department investigated foreign kleptocrats, recovering hundreds of millions in cash and valuables that had been embezzled by corrupt politicians. In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi disbanded the “kleptocracy team,” explaining the move was necessary to redirect staff to prosecuting drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations. Left unmentioned the team’s investigations had entangled three prominent allies of President Trump who had done business with an accused kleptocrat or a close associate.

Judge Orders Government to Preserve Signal Messages About Houthi Military Strike

MSN – Michael Kunzelman (Associated Press) | Published: 3/27/2025

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to preserve records of a text message chat in which senior national security officials discussed sensitive details of plans for a U.S. military strike against Yemen’s Houthis. The images of the text chain show the messages were set to disappear in one week. American Oversight sued to ensure the records are kept in accordance with the Federal Records Act.

Ethics Watchdog Says Congressman Cory Mills May Have Lied About Finances and Isn;t Cooperating

MSN – Jack Newsham and Brent Griffiths (Business Insider) | Published: 3/27/2025

Trump Order Launches Smithsonian and Its Visitors into Confusion, Dismay

MSN – Manuel Roig-Franzia, Kyle Swenson, Emma Uber, and Gaya Gupta (Washington Post) | Published: 3/28/2025

President Trump’s executive order to eliminate what he considers “anti-American ideology” from the Smithsonian Institution cast the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex into a state of confusion. Trump’s executive order makes clear he intends to influence the finances of the Smithsonian, which receives about 60 percent of its funding from congressional appropriations and federal grants and contracts.

Democrats Sue Trump Administration Over Elections Executive Order

MSN – Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 3/31/2025

Several Democratic groups and lawmakers sued the Trump administration over an executive order calling for changes to the election system, including a requirement that people provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote. President Trump has baselessly claimed the 2020 presidential race was riddled with fraud. Specifically, he has said noncitizens voted illegally in the race.

Trump White House Plans to Shake Up Briefing Room Seating, Flexing Power Over Press Corps

MSN – Brian Stelter (CNN) | Published: 3/30/2025

In the Trump administration’s latest assertion of power over the press corps, the White House intends to take over the seating assignments in the press briefing room, according to a senior official. The plan may cause a tug-of-war with the White House Correspondents’ Association, the independent group that currently assigns seats and manages the relationship between the White House and the press corps.

Pardoned by Trump, Rod Blagojevich Has New Job: Lobbying for Bosnian Serbs

MSN – Aaron Schaffer, Beth Reinhard, and Michael Birnbaum (Washington Post) | Published: 4/2/2025

Less than two months after President Trump pardoned Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois who served prison time on corruption charges has been hired to lobby on behalf of the Bosnian Serb republic. The contract with Blagojevich’s firm, RRB Strategies, was filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. It calls for Blagojevich to engage in a sweep of activities to boost the Bosnian Serb republic, including taking aim at long-held U.S. government policies intended to keep the peace in Bosnia.

Appeals Court: Trump pardon ‘plainly’ did not cover Jan. 6 defendants’ unrelated crimes

MSN – Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 4/2/2025

A federal appeals court rejected the Justice Department’s claim that President Trump’s pardon of crimes related to the riot at the Capitol is so broad it sweeps in convictions for illegal possession of weapons five months later. The panel’s majority concluded the “plain terms” of Trump’s mass pardon for the defendants included only crimes directly connected to the attack on the Capitol, not those discovered by “happenstance” during the investigation of the riot.

Trump-Allied Prosecutor Looks to Undermine Biden Pardons

Seattle Times – Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 4/2/2025

Ed Martin, the Trump loyalist serving as interim U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia, is pursuing an inquiry into whether former President Joe Biden was competent to pardon his family members and others during his final days in office. The inquiry includes previously unreported letters to Biden’s family and former White House staff members. The letters are informal but provocative, questioning a presidential clemency power that has generally gone unchallenged.

From the States and Municipalities

Europe – From Brussels to Berlin: The rules on transparency and ethics for European lawmakers

MSN – Paula Soler (Euro News) | Published: 4/2/2025

A string of recent headlines, including a fresh corruption probe linked to Chinese company Huawei and the findings of the French court debarring Marine Le Pen for embezzlement, has put transparency and ethics in Europe under the spotlight. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) must follow a code of conduct with rules on transparency and ethics. First introduced in 2012 and refreshed in 2023, it is designed to keep MEPs in check, ensuring they act with integrity, transparency, and honesty, all while safeguarding the institution’s reputation.

Canada – Former Liberal Minister Worked Government Contacts to Ply COVID Contracts Without Registering as Lobbyist

MSN – Patti Sonntag (National Post) | Published: 3/31/2025

An Ontario lobbyist with close connections to Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative Party violated the province’s lobbying rules, according to the integrity commissioner, after requesting lands be removed from Greenbelt on behalf of a client and offering government staff tickets to a hockey game. Nico Fidani-Diker was found in non-compliance with the Lobbyists Registration Act in five separate instances, ranging from unregistered lobbying to placing public office holders in a position of conflicts-of-interest.

Canada – Ontario Lobbyist Found to Have Violated Rules, Including Relating to Greenbelt

MSN – Colin D’Mello and Isaac Callan (Global News) | Published: 3/31/2025

Sheila Copps said she did not lobby during the pandemic for providers of personal-protection equipment. But newly released emails show Copps requested at least two meetings in connection with multiple medical equipment supply companies during the pandemic. She did not record these meetings in the lobbying registry. Canada’s Lobbying Act requires hired lobbyists to register communications about meetings and contracts. It requires potential contractors to register the activities of their in-house lobbyist if that employee spends 20 per cent or more of their time lobbying.

Arizona – Measure That Could Affect GOP 2026 Race for Governor Advances

Arizona Capitol Times – Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) | Published: 3/27/2025

The GOP head of the Arizona Freedom Caucus is advancing legislation that would bar fellow Republican Karrin Taylor Robson from becoming the next governor, even if she were to win the election. The resolution says nothing about Robson, who formally jumped in the 2026 gubernatorial race earlier this year. But what the measure crafted by Sen. Jake Hoffman does say is that no person is eligible to become a state elected official who, for two years prior to the primary, has been required to register as a paid lobbyist.

California – Alec Baldwin, a $227,000 Payment and a San Jose Fundraiser at Heart of Allegations Against Former Lawmaker

MSN – Yue Stella Yu (CalMatters) | Published: 3/29/2025

Former Assemblyperson Evan Low was fined $106,000 for campaign reporting violations. Most of the allegations concern payments to actor Alec Baldwin for a campaign appearance as Low was running for Congress. The proposed penalty stems from an investigation into Low and the nonprofit he founded. He has reported raising $505,000 for the Foundation for California’s Technology and Innovation Economy. Ethics experts have cautioned those “behested payments” could give groups special access to officials.

California – Disgraced Former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu Sentenced to Two Months in Prison

Voice of OC – Spencer Custodio | Published: 3/28/2025

Former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu was sentenced to two months in prison and a year of supervised release, along with a $55,000 fine after pleading guilty to corruption charges. The sentence comes nearly three years after revelations of an FBI corruption probe into Anaheim City Hall surfaced when federal investigators first detailed a sketchy Angel Stadium sale process and the outsized influence Disneyland resort interests have on the city.

Colorado – Colorado Judges Made Campaign Contributions Despite Rules Prohibiting the Practice

Denver Gazette – David Migoya | Published: 4/1/2025

More than a half dozen judges in Colorado, each of them specially appointed and paid to oversee a divorce case since 2019, have made at least one political contribution while serving in that capacity despite a prohibition against the practice. The private judges handle civil cases, nearly all divorces by wealthy couples, away from the courthouse and the public, and their salaries and expenses are paid for by both parties.

Colorado – Colorado House Member Faced Investigation Over Ignored Harassment Complaint, Aide Mistreatment

Denver Post – Seth Klamann | Published: 3/31/2025

Rep. Regina English has been repeatedly accused of retaliating against and mistreating her legislative aides, including documented allegations she ignored an aide’s complaint of sexual harassment by a relative of the lawmaker last year. At the direction of a bipartisan legislative committee, English was quietly investigated by a third-party last year. English is at least the second state legislator to be investigated for allegedly mistreating aides in the past year.

Colorado – Colorado Lawmakers Kill Bill Aimed at Banning Lobbyists from Donating to Campaigns

Denver Post – Seth Klamann | Published: 3/28/2025

Colorado lawmakers defeated a proposal that would have prohibited lobbyists from donating to legislators, statewide elected officials, or candidates for those offices. The bill would have expanded a law that bars lobbyists from donating to campaigns during the Legislature’s 120-day annual session.

District of Columbia – Former D.C. Council Member, Expelled After Bribery Charge, Seeks Reelection

MSN – Meagan Flynn (Washington Post) | Published: 3/31/2025

Former District of Columbia Council member Trayon White Sr., who faces a federal bribery indictment that led to his expulsion in February, will run again for his old seat on the council. White enters the race while facing significant legal jeopardy in the case, in which he could face up to 15 years in prison. He remains a popular figure in the ward, however. He won reelection in November with more than 20,000 votes, even as he was under indictment.

District of Columbia – Transparency Law Slashed by D.C. Council as Lawmakers Want More Privacy

MSN – Meagan Flynn and Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) | Published: 4/1/2025

The District of Columbia Council voted to shut the public out of many of its meetings, including any meetings with Mayor Muriel Bowser on any topic. The short-term legislation could have lasting impacts on public access to elected leaders’ discussions if lawmakers ultimately make the changes permanent. Because lawmakers passed the legislation on an emergency basis – meaning it will take effect for 90 days, unless Bowser vetoes it – council members were able to quickly push it through without having to hold public hearings.

Florida – Trump-Backed Patronis, Fine Are Projected to Win House Special Elections in Florida

MSN – Patrick Svitek (Washington Post) | Published: 4/1/2025

Republicans won special elections to fill two House seats in Florida, withstanding a well-funded effort by Democrats to flip the solidly red districts and pull off a major upset that could have derailed President Trump’s agenda in Congress. The GOP margins of victory were notably smaller than when Trump carried each district by more than 30 percentage points in November. The wins give House Republicans a little more breathing room as they ramp up efforts to pass Trump’s legislative priorities in one ambitious bill this spring.

Florida – Newberry’s Marden to Withdraw Lobbying Registration After Learning It Could Violate State Law

MSN – Alan Festo (Gainesville Sun) | Published: 3/29/2025

Newberry City Commissioner and mayoral candidate Tim Marden plans to withdraw a recently filed federal lobbying registration form after learning it could violate state law. The issue was raised during a forum streamed by the city of Newberry, where Marden was asked how he would serve as a nonpartisan mayor while also lobbying for the John Birch Society and chairing the local Republican Party.

Florida – Taxpayer-Funded Staffers for Ron DeSantis Solicit Lobbyist Cash as His Wife Considers a 2026 Run

MSN – Ken Dixon (NBC News) | Published: 3/28/2025

Taxpayer-funded staffers in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s office have been making fundraising calls to state lobbyists, asking them to commit to raise money for a DeSantis-aligned political committee as his wife considers a campaign for governor. “It’s kind of a no-brainer for most of us. Of course we will give. He’s the governor,” said one person who said they received a call.

Georgia – Justice Department Instructed to Dismiss Legal Challenge to Georgia Election Law

MSN – Kate Brumback (Associated Press) | Published: 3/31/2025

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi instructed the Justice Department to dismiss a lawsuit challenging a sweeping election overhaul that Republican lawmakers in Georgia passed in the wake of Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss in the state. The lawsuit, filed in June 2021, alleged the Georgia law was intended to deny Black voters equal access to the ballot. Bondi said the Biden administration was pushing “false claims of suppression.”

Hawaii – Government Reform Bills Move Ahead at Hawaii Legislature

Yahoo News – Dam Nakaso (Honolulu Star-Advertister) | Published: 4/2/2025

Bills aimed at clamping down on campaign contributions from government contractors while separately providing more public money to run for political office remain alive following a key Senate committee hearing, joining other bills aimed at government reform that continue to move through the Hawaii Legislature. House Bill HB 412 would void state contracts if there are violations of state lobbying laws.

Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson Adds Springfield Alderwoman to Lobbying Team

Yahoo News – A.D. Quig, Jeremy Gorner, and Alice Yin (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 3/28/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office will hire Lakeisha Purchase, a current Springfield City Council member and registered state lobbyist, on a contract basis. Although state lawmakers are prohibited from lobbying other units of local government, local elected officials are not barred from lobbying in Springfield. State lobbyists are, however, required to declare they hold a local elected office on their registration forms.

Kansas – New Kansas Law Limits Groups Funded by Foreign Money from Supporting Referendums

Topeka Capital-Journal – Jack Harvel | Published: 4/3/2025

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly allowed a bill to become law without her signature that bans campaigns for state constitutional amendments from accepting large amounts of foreign money. The law prohibits organizations that have received over $100,000 in foreign funds over the past four years from contributing to campaigns concerning constitutional amendments.

Maine – How the Trump Administration Took Aim at Maine

MSN – Joanna Slater and Lisa Rein (Washington Post) | Published: 4/2/2025

President Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills had a brief but pointed exchange during a National Governors Association event at the White House. Trump demanded that Maine comply with his executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports. Trump threatened to cut off all funding to the state. “See you in court,” Mills responded. Since then, the state has been subjected to unusual, overlapping investigations and arbitrary reversals of funding, turning it into a test case for the Trump administration’s approach to perceived adversaries.

Massachusetts – Massachusetts Mayor Who Shuttered a Libelous Newspaper Faces Renewed Corruption Allegations

MSN – Michael Casey (Associated Press) | Published: 3/28/2025

For years, the mayor of a Boston suburb dreaded Wednesdays. That was the day when a local weekly would publish shocking allegations that he was on the take, sexually harassing women, or under investigation by the FBI. But almost everything the paper wrote about Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria turned out to be fake, enabling him to win a $1.1 million settlement that shut down the paper. Now preparing for his seventh mayoral campaign, he has been accused of padding his salary with bonus payments and this time, Massachusetts is pressing the city council to take action.

Michigan – New Michigan Transparency Portal a Work in Progress, Leaving Some Disclosures Hard to Find

Bridge Michigan – Simon Schuster | Published: 3/28/2025

A multimillion-dollar update to Michigan’s transparency portals is a work in progress after the Department of State rolled out the new software. Used to provide the public with information about campaign finance, lobbying reports, and personal financial disclosures of politicians, the new Michigan Transparency Network provides less information to the public in its current form than the old system.

Michigan – Lawmakers Cleared for Free Conference Tickets

Michigan Public – Colin Jackson | Published: 4/2/2025

Michigan public officials can continue accepting free tickets to the Mackinac Policy Conference. The gathering hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber often draws big names in government and business to Mackinac Island each May for a few days of informational sessions, networking, and partying. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson changed course in her final ruling after receiving information from the Detroit Regional Chamber, which had sought her guidance.

Montana – Ellsworth Receives Lifetime Ban from Montana Senate Floor for Ethics Violation

Montana Free Press – Tom Lutey | Published: 4/1/2025

Montana Sen. Jason Ellsworth was banned from the Senate floor for life as part of a censure stemming from an ethics investigation into a government contract awarded to a friend. The Legislative Audit Division concluded Ellsworth attempted to split the work into two contracts to avoid a $100,000 threshold that would have required the work to go out for bid.

New York – New York Mayor Eric Adams’s Corruption Case Dismissed by Federal Judge

MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 4/2/2025

A judge dismissed the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. U.S. District Court Judge Dale Ho denied a request by federal officials for the option of reinstating the charges because it could appear the mayor was beholden to government demands. The Justice Department’s decision to seek the dismissal of charges against Adams led to the resignations of several federal prosecutors, including the former interim head of the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, who alleged federal officials and Adams engaged in a “quid pro quo.”

North Dakota – Democratic ND Senator Proposes Doubling Ethics Commission Budget, Citing Holmberg Case

Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 4/2/2025

Sen. Tim Mathern wants to more than double the staff for the North Dakota Ethics Commission, arguing the state should be doing more to prevent public corruption. He said his proposal was prompted by news coverage of former Sen. Ray Holmberg’s prison sentence. The Ethics Commission also faces an unprecedented number of complaint filings.

Ohio – More Women Than Ever Serve in the Ohio Legislature. But They Are Still Underrepresented – and They Still Face Hurdles

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 3/30/2025

The Ohio General Assembly has 46 women serving in its two chambers, more than at any other time in the state’s 222-year history. That figure, which has been steadily trending up in recent years, is significant not just because it reflects the ability of Ohio women to make inroads into the halls of power. Several women lawmakers say it has a real effect on what happens at the statehouse, including what issues are prioritized. At the same time, women are still underrepresented in Columbus.

Oregon – Washington County Sewer Officials Ran Up Huge Food Tab on Ratepayers’ Dime

MSN – Jamie Goldberg (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 3/22/2025

Washington County’s sewer agency paid a long list of food and beverage expenses for its executives, employees, and others over five years that cost ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. The agency spent four times more on meals during that time than its counterparts in Portland and Clackamas County combined. Its expenditures offer a glimpse into lax spending practices at a sizable government agency that receives limited public scrutiny despite filling a crucial public need.

South Dakota – Kristi Noem Refused to Say Who Financed Some of Her Travel. It Was Taxpayers Who Were on the Hook

Yahoo News – Joshua Goodman, Jim Mustian, and Sarah Raza (Associated Press) | Published: 3/29/2025

As then-South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem crisscrossed the country stumping for Donald Trump and boosting her political profile beyond her home state, she refused to reveal what her extensive travel was costing taxpayers. In the weeks since Noem became Homeland Security secretary, that mystery has been solved: South Dakota repeatedly picked up the tab for expenses related to her jet-setting campaigning.

Texas – Hakeem Jeffries Threatens Lawsuit Over Delayed Texas Special Election

MSN – Melanie Zanona (NBC News) | Published: 4/2/2025

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is threatening a lawsuit against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for holding off on calling a special election to fill a vacant House seat in Houston, which Democrats allege is a deliberate move designed to help pad the GOP’s razor-thin majority. the Houston-area district, which has a predominantly Hispanic and Black population could go as long as seven months without representation in this Congress, unless Abbott calls a special election.

Washington – Seattle Committee Weighs Increased Levy Renewal for Public Campaign Financing

MSN – Spencer Pauley (The Center Square) | Published: 3/27/2025

A Seattle City Council committee is deliberating a levy renewal to fund a public campaign financing voucher program, with signs pointing to council support. The renewal proposal totals $45 million over 10 years. Central Staff Policy Analyst Brian Goodnight said the jump in revenue is needed to cover increased administrative costs and is the amount city officials said avoided putting revenue in the red under anticipated spending over a 10-year period.

Wisconsin – Liberal Wins Wisconsin Supreme Court Race in Blow to Trump

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 4/1/2025

Wisconsin voters elected Susan Crawford to the state Supreme Court, maintaining the court’s liberal majority in a setback for President Trump and Elon Musk, who backed her conservative rival. It was the most expensive court race in American history, costing more than $100 million, nearly doubling the past record. The loss was a rebuke to Musk, whose outpouring of cash appeared to do little to close the electoral gaps conservatives have faced in recent Wisconsin court races.