Jim Sedor, Author at State and Federal Communications

December 2, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Oregon: “The City’s Public Campaign Financing Program Allowed Candidates with Little Support to Snag Taxpayer Dollars” by Sophie Peel for Willamette Week Ethics California: “Assessor Reports $1M Behested Payment, Biggest Charitable Donation Made at a Local Elected Official’s Request” by Jeff McDonald […]

November 26, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “Trump Is Running His Transition Team on Secret Money” by Ken Bensinger and David Fahrenthold (New York Times) for Seattle Times New York: “F.B.I. Agents Investigate Use of Fake Donors in N.Y. Assembly Race” by Jay Root, Bianca Pallaro, and William […]

November 25, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “Gaetz Campaign’s Reports of Vast Spending on Fees Are Scrutinized” by David Ingold and Ted Mann (Bloomberg) for MSN Missouri: “Missouri State Pension Board Bans Use of Fund for Political Donations” by Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) for Yahoo News Ethics Arizona: “Arizona […]

November 22, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – November 22, 2024

National/Federal Chauffeured Cars and Broadway Tickets: Inside the national realtors group DNyuz – Debra Kamin (New York Times) | Published: 11/18/2024 Interviews with current and former employees, members, and elected leaders of the National Associated of Realtors (NAR), as well as tax […]

National/Federal

Chauffeured Cars and Broadway Tickets: Inside the national realtors group

DNyuz – Debra Kamin (New York Times) | Published: 11/18/2024

Interviews with current and former employees, members, and elected leaders of the National Associated of Realtors (NAR), as well as tax records and employment contracts, paint a portrait of a nonprofit organization where leaders have come to expect lavish spending and benefits the day they step into the job. The group’s president, president-elect, and first vice president are elected by members and receive annual six-figure payments. The NAR refers to officers as “volunteers.” They have been given corporate credit cards, and on work trips, they have racked up charges from expensive dinners, golf outings, spa treatments, and sports tickets.

Senate Confirms Biden’s Ethics Czar, Who Will Remain Under Trump

Government Executive – Eric Katz | Published: 11/14/2024

The Senate confirmed President Biden’s nominee to serve as head of the Office of Government Ethics, giving him a term that will last through Donald Trump’s tenure. David Huitema, currently a State Department ethics official, will now serve in the governmentwide ethics czar role in a five-year term. Senate Democrats sought to prioritize his confirmation in the waning days of the Biden administration and their control of the chamber before Trump’s inauguration.

Trump Picks Brendan Carr as FCC Chairman

MSN – Eva Dou and Cristiano Lima-String (Washington Post) | Published: 11/17/2024

Donald Trump said he was naming Brendan Carr as the next Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairperson, positioning the regulatory agency to do battle against social media companies and television broadcasters that Republicans portray as too liberal. Carr, the senior Republican among the FCC’s five commissioners, has vowed in recent days to take on what he called a “censorship cartel” including Facebook, Google, Apple, and Microsoft.

Go Bags, Passports, Foreign Assets: Preparing to be a target of Trump’s revenge

MSN – Stanley-Becker and Ellen Nakashima (Washington Post) | Published: 11/14/2024

Unlike the ordinary Americans who joke each election cycle about leaving the country when their preferred candidate loses, a group of anxious retired officers or government officials includes people whom the incoming president and his allies have subjected to withering criticism. Even before the election, some were subpoenaed by Trump-aligned members of Congress. Others were placed on watch lists compiled by pro-Trump activists. Scarcely any described firm plans to leave the country. But they are also not brushing off the threats as they keep track of personnel named to influential government jobs.

How a Brutally Repressive African Country Freely Raises Money in the U.S.

MSN – Katharine Houreld (Washington Post) | Published: 11/20/2024

Three years ago, The U.S. imposed sanctions against the ruling party of Eritrea, a repressive country in the Horn of Africa. Yet, Eritrea’s embassy in Washington helped raise millions of dollars on behalf of the country since then, while Eritrean officials acknowledge the government and the ruling party are one. Earlier this year, about 100 Eritreans living in the U.S. joined a Zoom call co-hosted by officials from the Eritrean Embassy to raise money to fund the struggle against its opponents. Any group acting on behalf a foreign government must register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. None of the groups represented on the call have done so.

Speaker Johnson Restricts Use of Capitol Bathrooms by Transgender People

MSN – Maegan Vazquez and Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 11/20/2024

House Speaker Mike Johnson said transgender individuals would not be allowed into restroom facilities in the Capitol and House office buildings that do not correspond with their sex assigned at birth, announcing the rule change after Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender individual elected to Congress. Asked by reporters for details on how the House could enforce such a restriction, Rep. Nancy Mace said the House sergeant at arms “can enforce it.”

Trump Picks People Who Worked on Project 2025 Despite Distancing Himself

MSN – Patrick Svitek (Washington Post) | Published: 11/20/2024

Donald Trump is assembling an administration that includes some picks for key positions that stand in stark contrast to his repeated efforts to distance himself from Project 2025, the conservative blueprint for a second Trump term that had become a political liability for him. Trump has named at least four other nominees who are credited by name in Project 2025, a product of the conservative Heritage Foundation.

House Panel Was Told Gaetz Paid Two Women $10,000, in Part for Sex

MSN – Jacqueline Alemany, Liz Goodwin, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Meryl Kornfield, and Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) | Published: 11/20/2024

House Committee on Ethics investigators probing sexual misconduct allegations against former Rep. Matt Gaetz obtained records showing he paid more than $10,000 to two women who testified before the panel. The news came as the committee declined to release its report on misconduct allegations against Gaetz after a closed-door meeting, and as Donald Trump’s embattled attorney general pick attempted to sell himself on Capitol Hill to skeptical Republican senators.

Trump’s Incoming Chief of Staff Is a Former Lobbyist. She’ll Face a Raft of Special Interests

MSN – Brian Slodysko, Joshua Goodan, and Alan Suderman (Associated Press) | Published: 11/21/2024

As incoming White House chief of staff, one of Susie Wiles’ vexing challenges will be policing the buffet line of powerful interests who want something from Donald Trump. During Trump’s first presidency, she lobbied for many of them. Trump was first elected on a pledge to “drain the swamp” in Washington. But his transactional approach to the presidency ushered in a lobbying boom that showered allies, including Wiles, with lucrative contracts and empowered wealthy business associates.

Trump Win Poised to Bolster Congressional Investigative Power

MSN – Michael Macagnone (Roll Call) | Published: 11/20/2024

House Republicans are looking forward to pursuing their congressional investigations next year with a friendlier Justice Department (DOJ) under the Trump administration, one that could pursue contempt of Congress charges to give teeth to congressional subpoenas. Some of the most prominent probes in the current Congress came from the House Judiciary and House Oversight and Accountability committees, whose chairpersons frequently worked hand-in-hand on investigations of officials in the Biden administration and clashed with the DOJ over access to documents and interviews.

Donations Improved Odds of Avoiding Trump Tariffs, Study Finds

MSN – Shawn Donnan (Bloomberg) | Published: 11/20/2024

Public companies whose executives donated to Republican candidates had a higher chance of winning exclusions from Donald Trump’s first-term tariffs on China, while those that gave to Democrats saw their odds fall, according to a study into thousands of applications for relief. Stephen Vaughn, who oversaw the exclusion process during the Trump administration, said any suggestion of partisan bias in the process was “utterly false” and it was designed to be apolitical.

Democrats Draw Up an Entirely New Anti-Trump Battle Plan

Seattle Times – Lisa Lerner and Reid Epstein (New York Times) | Published: 11/17/2024

Locked out of power next year, Democrats are hatching plans to oppose Donald Trump that look nothing like the liberal “resistance” of 2017. As they face this tough political landscape, Democratic officials, activists, and ambitious politicians are seeking to build their second wave of opposition to Trump from the places they still control: deep-blue states. Democrats envision flexing their power in these states to partly block the Trump administration’s policies and to push forward their vision of governance.

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – US Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Alaska Campaign Finance Law

MSN – Nate Raymond (Reuters) | Published: 11/18/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to a campaign finance law in Alaska that required greater public disclosure of certain political contributions. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit said the restrictions adopted in 2020 are some of the most stringent disclosure requirements in the country on political donors. The law requires anyone who contributes $2,000 or more annually to a group making independent expenditures to, within 24 hours, report their donation or face a penalty of up to $1,000 per day, among other provisions.

California – Ex-L.A. City Hall Fundraiser Sentenced in Huizar Bribery Case

MSN – City News Service | Published: 11/15/2024

A former City Hall fundraiser was sentenced to a year of home detention for arranging a $500,000 bribe for now-imprisoned ex-Los Angeles City Councilperson José Huizar to “grease the wheels” for a proposed condominium project. Justin Kim was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service as part of his three-year probationary sentence. He pleaded guilty in to a single count of federal program bribery and agreed to cooperate with investigators.

California – Council Approves New San Diego Ethics Commission Executive

MSN – Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 11/20/2024

Career prosecutor Bryn Kirvin was approved to take over as executive director of the San Diego Ethics Commission once current leader Sharon Spivak steps away early next year. The change in leadership comes weeks after voters approved Measure D, which included several important modifications to the Ethics Commission.

California – Anaheim Kicks Discussion on Gift Ban in Wake of Corruption Scandal

Voice of OC – Hosam Elattar | Published: 11/18/2024

A majority of Anaheim City Council members say they are not ready to implement a proposed law that would ban them from accepting gifts worth more than $50 per year from a lobbyist or contractor in the aftermath of one of Orange County’s largest corruption scandals. The council narrowly voted to kick the discussion to implement the restrictions to an undetermined date following hypothetical situation based questions about the proposal from Councilperson Norma Campos Kurtz and concerns from city officials.

Florida – Republicans Target Social Sciences to Curb Ideas They Don’t Like

DNyuz – Vimal Patel (New York Times) | Published: 11/21/2024

Florida has become a testing ground for a raft of conservative policies meant to limit or expunge what Republicans describe as “woke” indoctrination in the state’s schools and colleges. Faculty and student critics have said this latest effort infringes on university autonomy and could reduce students’ exposure to courses they believe are necessary for a well-rounded education. Academic freedom advocates worry that it marks a new, more organized approach.

Florida – Broward Commission Relaxes Rules on Food and Drink Gifts

MSN – Lisa Huriash (South Florida Sun-Sentinel) | Published: 11/13/2024

Broward County commissioners voted to relax the rules surrounding accepting gifts of food and drinks from lobbyists, vendors, and contractors when they are on the job. Commissioner Mark Bogen proposed creating a $25 cap on soft drinks, which would be inclusive of any food given at the same time. That also means raising the maximum on food from five dollars to $25.

Florida – Ex-State Sen. Artiles Sentenced to 60 Days for Campaign Violations, but Appeal to Delay Start

MSN – Charles Rabin (Miami Herald) | Published: 11/18/2024

Frank Artiles, a former Florida senator convicted of orchestrating a ghost candidate scheme that likely stole an election from a Democrat, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, five years of probation, and 500 hours of community service. Judge Miguel de la O agreed to stay the order until after the defense appeals the verdict. Assistant State Attorney VanderGiesen told jurors how a shadowy but powerful Republican Party operative reached out to Artiles for help in the 2020 race for the District 37 Senate seat.

Florida – Prosecutors Drop Charges Against Former Miami City Commissioner and Lobbyist

Yahoo News – Tess Riski (Miami Herald) | Published: 11/20/2024

The Broward State Attorney’s Office dropped criminal charges against former Miami City Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla and lobbyist Bill Riley Jr., putting an end to a high-profile corruption case that was set for trial in December. Attorney Jared Whaley, who represents Riley, alleged that Miami-Dade Ethics Commission investigator Karl Ross made “material misrepresentations and omissions” in the arrest affidavit.

Georgia – Georgia Appeals Court Cancels Arguments on Trump Appeal on Willis

MSN – Holly Bailey (Washington Post) | Published: 11/18/2024

The Georgia Court of Appeals abruptly canceled oral arguments on Donald Trump’s appeal of a state court ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue prosecuting the 2020 election interference case against the president-elect and several of his allies. The notice gave no reason for the cancellation. It comes amid lingering questions about the future of the Georgia case against Trump as he prepares to return to the White House after his election victory.

Illinois – ‘Magic List’ of Madigan-Connected Lobbyists Shown to Jury in Ex-Speaker’s Corruption Trial

Yahoo News – Jason Meisner and Megan Crepeau (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 11/18/2024

The FBI in a raid on the home of Michael McClain seized handwritten notes listing the names of allies of then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan who had gone on to lucrative lobbying careers. Federal prosecutors in Madigan’s corruption trial say the “Magic Lobbyist List.” is evidence that McClain was secretly helping a select group of former Madigan staffers, associates, and allies get business and the speaker was aware of the effort.

Indiana – Former Evansville Mayoral Candidate Ordered to Pay $400K in Defamation Case

Yahoo News – Jon Webb (Evansville Courier & Press) | Published: 11/18/2024

A former Evansville mayoral candidate has been ordered to pay $400,000 in damages after reportedly writing blogs and social media posts falsely accusing an Indianapolis lawyer and journalist of pedophilia and stealing taxpayer money. A judge ordered Gabriel Whitley to hand over $400,000 to Abdul Hakim-Shabazz. In a complaint, Shabazz said has never been accused or charged with any of those crimes and vehemently denies the allegations.

Louisiana – Louisiana Legislators Threaten to Remove State Ethics Board Members, Issue Subpoenas

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/13/2024

State legislators threatened to subpoena and remove members of the Louisiana Board of Ethics in an intensification of the fight over enforcement of the state ethics code. Members of the House Governmental Affairs Committee lashed out at the board for not heeding legislative requests to hold off on hiring a new administrator until January. At that point, Gov. Jeff Landry gains more control of the board through a new set of appointees.

Maine – Portland’s Ethics Commission Still Isn’t Ready After 2 Years. It May Not Be What Voters Thought.

Yahoo News – Grace Benninghoff (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 11/20/2024

An effort to establish an ethics commission in Portland has been derailed after city councilors realized some people, including the city manager, would have been exempt. Councilor Kate Sykes raised concerns that the ordinance drafted by the city was not what voters intended when they approved the referendum calling for an ethics panel in 2022.

Michigan – Ex-CFO Admits to Stealing $40M from Detroit Nonprofit in ‘Astonishing’ Scheme

MLive – Rose White | Published: 11/16/2024

William Smith, the former chief financial officer for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, admitted to stealing $44 million from the nonprofit group in an embezzlement scheme. Over nearly a decade, Smith transferred $24.4 million from the Conservancy’s bank accounts to an account titled “The Joseph Group, Inc.” This entity, which was owned by Smith, provided no goods or services to the organization. Smith also used $14.9 million to pay off purchases made on four American Express credit cards.

Michigan – Panel Pushes Out Lobbying Reform as Clock Runs Down on Legislative Session

Yahoo News – Kyle Davidson (Michigan Advance) | Published: 11/14/2024

The Michigan House Ethics and Oversight Committee continued to push forward on laws addressing outside financial influences in Lansing politics. The committee heard testimony on the Bringing Reforms in Integrity, Transparency, and Ethics Act introduced by House Democrats in March. One bill bars lawmakers, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, or attorney general from lobbying any sooner than a year after their term ends. A second bill would require the disclosure of gifts from lobbyists to legislative staff.

Minnesota – CenterPoint Lobbyist Ghostwrote Comments to Support Gas Appliance Rebates

Energy and Policy Institute – Karlee Weinman | Published: 11/19/2024

Comments submitted to Minnesota regulators that support CenterPoint Energy’s controversial push to skew customer rebates toward gas furnaces rather than electric air source heat pumps appear to have been created and ghostwritten by a CenterPoint lobbyist, not the people who signed them, data attached to the documents show. The Minnesota Department of Commerce, a state agency that oversees the customer-funded rebate program, will decide in early December whether to allow the utility to offer hefty rebates for furnaces, which critics say is out of step with state law and is an improper use of customer money.

Missouri – ‘A Little Goofy’: Loopholes allow millions to flow around Missouri campaign donation limits

Yahoo News – Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) | Published: 11/15/2024

Missouri voters in 2016 approved a constitutional amendment capping donations to candidates, outlawing direct contributions from corporations and labor unions, and banning efforts to conceal where money is coming from. It spurred a lawsuit and a rush to grab big donations before the limits took effect. But it did not take long for consultants to find ways around contribution limits, forging a trail to unlimited giving by having candidates set up affiliated committees alongside their campaign committees.

New Jersey – Vote to Name N.J. School After Top Politician Violated State Ethics Code, Panel Says

MSN – Adam Clark (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 11/20/2024

The chief of staff for New Jersey’s former lieutenant governor violated the state ethics code by using her local board of education seat to help rename a school after her boss, according to a state ethics panel. Terry Swanson-Tucker was president of East Orange’s Board of Education when she cast two votes to help put then-Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver’s name on a $41 million elementary school that was under construction.

New Jersey – Campaign Finance Watchdog Approves Higher Contribution Limits

Yahoo News – Nikita Biryukov (New Jersey Monitor) | Published: 11/19/2024

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission approved hikes to campaign contribution limits that will raise caps for next year’s legislative and other non-gubernatorial races by more than five percent. The adjustments are the first made under the Elections Transparency Act that approved dramatic increases to the limits and requires the commission to index donation caps for inflation every two years.

New York – N.Y. Prosecutors Appear Open to Yearslong Delay in Trump Hush Money Case

MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 11/19/2024

Manhattan prosecutors said they will oppose a request by Donald Trump’s lawyers to dismiss his 34-count felony conviction but suggested they were open to postponing proceedings in the case until after the president-elect’s second term in the White House. Trump, who will take office January 20 and serve until early 2029, had been scheduled for sentencing November 26 and faced up to four years in prison.

New York – Want to Be a Judge in the Bronx? Better Pay These Firms.

New York Focus – Sam Mellins and Chris Bragg | Published: 11/13/2024

Over the past three years, nearly every civil court judge in the Bronx has hired a political consulting firm directly tied to the leader of the Bronx Democratic Party. The pattern raises concerns about a pay-to-play element within Bronx judicial elections, low-profile contests where the county political machine’s muscle can prove decisive. An analysis of campaign disclosures found political firms London House and Collado Consultants & Company have collected nearly half of the total campaign spending by winning Bronx Civil Court candidates since 2021.

North Carolina – Republicans in North Carolina Push Sweeping Changes to Consolidate Power

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 11/20/2024

Republicans in North Carolina are rushing a bill through the Legislature before they lose their supermajority to give their party more control over elections, eliminate the jobs of judges who have ruled against them, and limit the authority of the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general. They loaded up a $227 million Hurricane Helene relief package with an array of provisions that weaken the hand of Democrats in the battleground state.

Ohio – State Prosecutors Nix Ex-FirstEnergy Executive’s Deposition, Leaving Criminal Charges on the Table

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 11/19/2024

State prosecutors moved to squash a looming deposition of a former top official of FirstEnergy Corp., signaling they are considering new charges in a bribery investigation. Eileen Mikkelsen, formerly the company’s vice president of rates and regulatory affairs, is scheduled to testify under oath in a regulatory investigation in December, one of seven since-ousted company officials subpoenaed in the case before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. But Deputy Attorney General Carol O’Brien asked the regulators to back off, warning the deposition could grant her immunity, preventing prosecutors from charging her with any crimes.

Oregon – Portland Mayoral Candidate Rene Gonzalez Fined $9,000 for New Set of Campaign Finance Violations

MSN – Shane Dixon Kavanaugh (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 11/14/2024

Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez, who finished third in his bid for mayor, broke city campaign finance laws after he repeatedly failed to return donations that exceeded Portland’s strict contribution limits in a timely manner, the city auditor’s office ruled. Gonzalez was fined $9,180 – three times the $3,060 in illegal funds his campaign collected but was too slow to refund to donors.

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania’s High Court Sides with Republicans on Misdated Mail Ballots

NPR – Hansi Lo Wang | Published: 11/18/2024

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court directed all the state’s county election officials not to count certain mail-in ballots for this year’s general election that arrived on time but in envelopes without the correct dates handwritten by voters. The order is the latest development in a long-running legal battle over what to do when absentee voters do not follow an artifact of the state’s election rules. It is a major victory for Senate candidate David McCormick, who holds a narrow lead over U.S. Sen. Bob Casey ahead of a statewide recount.

Pennsylvania – Pa. Lawmakers Say Candidates Choose to Pay $250 Late Fee to Avoid Revealing Donors

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Ford Turner | Published: 11/19/2024

A Department of State report shows sixty-six candidates for the Pennsylvania Legislature, including 22 incumbents, missed a deadline for filing campaign finance reports just before the November 5 election, a dynamic that has sparked bipartisan condemnation and calls for bigger penalties. Rep. Valerie Gaydos noted some campaigns are pulling in hundreds of thousands of dollars in short periods of time, and the state-set maximum penalty of $250 for missing a report filing deadline is, in comparison, a pittance. “That means the general public will have no way of knowing who is bankrolling these campaigns,” said Gaydos.

Tennessee – Nashville Transit Campaign Donors Revealed, Include Big Business, Dark Money Group

Yahoo News – Evan Mealins (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 11/19/2024

The group that funded Nashville’s successful campaign to pass a $3.1 billion transit plan finally disclosed its donors, revealing a broad base of commercial support from big business, law, and real estate, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars from a dark money group. The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance called out the pro-transit campaign’s initial lack of financial transparency ahead of Election Day and ordered the group file disclosures that revealed the source of its financial backing.

Wisconsin – Former Wisconsin Justice Accused of Ethics Violations Over 2020 Election Probe

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 11/19/2024

Legal regulators filed a 10-count ethics complaint against former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who oversaw a problem-plagued review of the 2020 presidential election in the battleground state. Republicans who control the Legislature hired Gableman to review the election after Donald Trump lost Wisconsin. Gableman consulting with conspiracy theorists as he conducted a secretive, shambolic investigation that culminated with him telling lawmakers they should consider revoking the state’s 10 electoral votes.

November 21, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Tennessee: “Nashville Transit Campaign Donors Revealed, Include Big Business, Dark Money Group” by Evan Mealins (Nashville Tennessean) for Yahoo News Elections Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania’s High Court Sides with Republicans on Misdated Mail Ballots” by Hansi Lo Wang for NPR Ethics National: “House Panel Was […]

November 20, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance New Jersey: “Campaign Finance Watchdog Approves Higher Contribution Limits” by Nikita Biryukov for New Jersey Monitor Pennsylvania: “Pa. Lawmakers Say Candidates Choose to Pay $250 Late Fee to Avoid Revealing Donors” by Ford Turner for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Elections Florida: “Ex-State Sen. Artiles Sentenced […]

November 19, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Alaska: “US Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Alaska Campaign Finance Law” by Nate Raymond (Reuters) for MSN New York: “Want to Be a Judge in the Bronx? Better Pay These Firms.” by Sam Mellins and Chris Bragg for New York Focus Ethics […]

November 18, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Missouri: “‘A Little Goofy’: Loopholes allow millions to flow around Missouri campaign donation limits” by Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) for Yahoo News Oregon: “Portland Mayoral Candidate Rene Gonzalez Fined $9,000 for New Set of Campaign Finance Violations” by Shane Dixon Kavanaugh (Portland […]

November 15, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – November 15, 2024

National/Federal A Spike in Demand, and Fees, for Lobbyists with Ties to Trump DNyuz – Kenneth Vogel and Kate Kelly (New York Times) | Published: 11/7/2024 In corporate boardrooms and foreign capitals, there is a scramble to sign lobbyists who could help […]

National/Federal

A Spike in Demand, and Fees, for Lobbyists with Ties to Trump

DNyuz – Kenneth Vogel and Kate Kelly (New York Times) | Published: 11/7/2024

In corporate boardrooms and foreign capitals, there is a scramble to sign lobbyists who could help navigate an incoming administration viewed with uncertainty and concern. Companies and foreign countries have long relied on lobbyists to guide them through the shifts in power on Capitol Hill or the White House. But since Donald Trump first upended global politics in 2016, he has continued to confound establishment gatekeepers on K Street. It has led to a delicate dance in which a relatively small group of lobbyists have sought to demonstrate their value to him and to cautious clients, without running afoul of the sensitivities of either.

Nonprofits Vow a New Resistance. Will Donors Pay Up?

DNyuz – David Fahrenthold and Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 11/13/2024

In Donald Trump’s first term as president, some of his toughest opponents were left-leaning nonprofit groups. They bogged down his immigration and environmental policies with lawsuits and protests and were rewarded with a huge “Trump bump” in donations. Some of those groups are promising to do it all over again, but this time it could be a lot harder. Trump’s administration could learn from past mistakes and avoid the procedural errors that made its rules easier to challenge, and the higher courts are seeded with judges appointed by Trump. Nonprofits are also finding some supporters are not energized by another round of resistance.

Gaetz Resigned Days Before Ethics Investigation Report Expected

MSN – Marianna Sotomayor, Jacqueline Alemany, and Marianne Levine (Washington Post) | Published: 11/13/2024

The House Committee on Ethics was set to vote on releasing a report about U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, who resigned from Congress after being picked as Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Gaetz has been under investigation by the bipartisan ethics panel for allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct and illegal drug use and accepted improper gifts. If a lawmaker is under investigation by the committee and resigns, is expelled, or leaves Congress, the committee immediately ceases any ongoing investigation.

Neera Tanden’s X Posts Violated Ban on Political Fundraising, Government Watchdog Alleges

MSN – Adam Cancryn (Politico) | Published: 11/7/2024

A government ethics watchdog agency formally accused White House domestic policy chief Neera Tanden of repeatedly violating the Hatch Act by soliciting political contributions on social media in the months before the election. It appears to be the first time a White House official has faced such a complaint after Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger warned in May that he would eliminate the custom of sending such accusations to the president to deal with at his discretion.

Some Ethics Experts Raise Concerns Over Musk and Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency Roles

MSN – Soon Rin Kim (ABC News) | Published: 11/13/2024

Donald Trump’s announcement that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a newly formed advisory Department of Government Efficiency has alarmed some government ethics experts, who say the pair’s deep financial interests could lead to potential conflicts-of-interest. Some ethics experts are particularly alarmed that Musk and Ramaswamy’s roles have been described as “outside of government,” an arrangement that could potentially mean they would not be subject to normal financial disclosure rules.

The Onion Wins Auction to Take Control of Alex Jones’s Infowars

MSN – Kim Bellware (Washington Post) | Published: 11/14/2024

The satirical news site The Onion won a bankruptcy auction to acquire the media company of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The bid was sanctioned by the families of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, who in 2022 won a $1.4 billion defamation lawsuit against Jones and his company for claiming the massacre was a hoax. The takeover of comes with a multi-year agreement with the nonprofit group Everytown for Gun Safety, which will serve as the exclusive advertiser during the Onion-led relaunch of Infowars.

Trump Could Pick Government’s Top Ethics Official – After Key Ally Blocked Biden’s Choice

MSN – Fredreka Schouten (CNN) | Published: 11/8/2024

Donald Trump could be in a position to select the government’s top ethics czar when he assumes office in January after a key ally in the Senate blocked President Biden’s pick to head the Office of Government Ethics. Sen. Mike Lee objected to the confirmation of David Huitema to the post, a little more than a year after he was first nominated by Biden. Lee said the vote should be delayed until after the presidential election, citing what he called the “political weaponization of the US government against Donald Trump by the Biden-Harris administration.”

Trump, Allies Signal They Will Try to Call the Shots for Republican-Led Senate

MSN – Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 11/10/2024

Donald Trump and his allies signaled they will try to call the shots in the Republican-led Senate, pushing the candidacy of Sen. Rick Scott for GOP leader and demanding that Republicans allow Trump to make appointments to his administration and the courts without Senate approval. Next year, Republicans are on track to have at least 53 senators, a comfortable majority to approve nominations, but Trump seemed to indicate that was not sufficient for his choices for federal jobs and judicial vacancies.

Elon Musk’s $1M Voter Giveaways Were Fixed Lotteries, Lawsuits Say

MSN – Kyle Melnick (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

When Robert Alvarez heard that Elon Musk was giving away $1 million in a lottery each day to a swing-state voter, he signed a petition from Musk’s super PAC in hopes of winning. But in a lawsuit filed against Musk and America PAC, Alvarez said he never had a chance of winning. America PAC, which Musk created to campaign for Trump, did not select winners by chance, but instead by vetting candidates’ social media presence for pro-GOP values, Alvarez’s lawsuit said.

Minority-Owned Firms Face ‘Crisis’ as Affirmative Action Programs Fall

MSN – Julian Mark (Washington Post) | Published: 11/11/2024

Minority- and women-owned businesses are bracing for the end of affirmative action in federal contracting, and the potential loss of contracts worth at least $70 billion a year, as government programs for “disadvantaged” firms have fallen to legal attack over the past year. A series of court rulings have held some of the federal government’s largest diversity programs violate the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. As a result, key agencies have dropped race and gender preferences born in the Civil Rights era and intended to level the playing field by setting aside billions each year in contracting dollars for minority- and women-owned firms.

Republicans Win House, Delivering Trump a Trifecta

MSN – Emily Brooks (The Hill) | Published: 11/12/2024

Republicans are projected to keep control of the U.S. House, handing the party total control of Washington with Donald Trump back in the White House in January. Decision Desk HQ projected the GOP would hold the House by winning its 218th seat, the number needed for a majority in the chamber. The final breakdown is uncertain, with ballots still being counted for several races in California. Those exact numbers will matter a lot for Speaker Mike Johnson’s political future, for which policies Republicans can enact, and how the lower chamber will function – or not function.

How ‘Urgent’ Texts Pushed These Donors to Give Thousands of Times to Political Candidates

MSN – Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 11/12/2024

There is a new kind of political donor: one who gives in fairly small amounts, sometimes as little as a dollar, over and over. More than 13,500 Americans are frequent donors who have made one or more contributions per day, on average, in this cycle. Campaigns do not stop sending fundraising messages to donors, even after they have hit contribution limits. Joint fundraising committees allow for complex ways of shifting money between participating committees to increase the amount that a donor can give after hitting the limit on any individual committee.

Elon Musk’s PAC Spent an Estimated $200 Million to Help Elect Trump, AP Source Says

MSN – Dan Merica (Associated Press) | Published: 11/11/2024

Elon Musk’s super PAC spent around $200 million to help elect Donald Trump, according to a person familiar with the group’s spending, funding an effort that set a new standard for how billionaires can influence elections. America PAC’s work was aided by an FEC ruling that paved the way for super PACs to coordinate their canvassing efforts with campaigns, allowing the Trump campaign to rely on the near-unlimited money of the nation’s most high-profile billionaire to boost turnout.

Four States Reject Ranked-Choice Voting, Approved in District

MSN – Tim Craig (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon rebuffed efforts to adopt ranked choice voting in their future elections, dealing a setback to those who wanted to dramatically change how Americans choose their elected officials. The one bright spot for advocates of ranked-choice voting was the District of Columbia, where a referendum was approved by a wide margin. The practice is already in use in Alaska and Maine. But Alaska voters, who initially approved ranked choice voting in a 2020 referendum, are considering a referendum to undo the change.

Special Counsel Jack Smith Plans to Quit; Cannon Appeal May Continue

MSN – Perry Stein and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 11/13/2024

Special counsel Jack Smith plans to resign and wrap up his federal prosecutions of Donald Trump before the president-elect takes office and can fire him. Trump’s election victory prompted Smith to start winding down the prosecutions instead of continuing court proceedings until Inauguration Day. Ending the two federal cases could allow Smith to deliver a final report detailing his findings before Trump becomes the 47th president. Smith appears to still be considering how to handle an ongoing appeal in Trump’s classified documents case.

Legal Questions Surround Trump’s Talk of Political Prosecutions

Roll Call – Ryan Tarinelli | Published: 11/8/2024

Donald Trump expressed support for criminal charges to be filed against his political opponents on the campaign trail, but former Justice Department officials and legal experts say there are various guardrails set up to prevent retribution through the criminal process. But former Trump administration officials have warned publicly that people who once aimed to stop Trump’s worst impulses will not be there to rein him in during a second term. Trump will also be immune from federal prosecution for official acts after a Supreme Court decision earlier this year.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Judge Recuses from Arizona Case Over His Email Denouncing Attacks on Harris

MSN – Annabelle Timsit and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 11/13/2024

The judge overseeing the criminal election-interference case in Arizona against some of Donald Trump’s supporters recused himself from the case. Maricopa County Judge Bruce Cohen had emailed colleagues urging them to speak out against conservative attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris’s gender and racial identity. An attorney for one of the defendants said the emails showed the judge “bears a deep-seated personal political bias” against Trump and the defendants.

California – Criminal Prosecutor Tapped to Lead San Diego Ethics Panel, as Voters Hand It More Power

MSN – Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 11/8/2024

A committee of the San Diego Ethics Commission selected an outsider to take over the regulatory office after current Executive Director Sharon Spivak steps away early next year. The full commission will now Consider appointing longtime prosecutor Bryn Kirvin to run the department charged with enforcing city campaign finance laws and lobbying rules. Voters approved Measure D, which strengthens the agency’s authority in several important ways, including awarding the commission authority to name its executive director.

California – In a Historic Shift, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors Will Nearly Double in Size

MSN – Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 11/11/2024

Voters approved a proposal to add four more members to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors as part of a massive overhaul of the county government’s structure. Measure G’s passage marks a dramatic reshaping of a government that has not fundamentally changed for over a century, as the county’s population exploded from 500,000 to roughly 10 million. The ballot measure also calls for the creation of an independent ethics commission by 2026.

California – Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Concedes Recall Defeat, Ending Tenure Marked by City’s Struggles

San Jose Mercury News – Shomik Mukherjee | Published: 11/9/2024

Oakland voters have recalled Mayor Sheng Thao. It was a resounding victory for a fierce recall campaign bankrolled almost entirely by a single hedge-fund manager, Philip Dreyfuss, who spent over $1.9 million in Alameda County politics this year. City Council president Nikki Fortunato Bas will serve as the interim mayor until a special election can be held. Thao’s professional future seems uncertain amid a sprawling FBI investigation into Oakland that in June led federal agents to raid her home and several other addresses.

California – Newsom Fined $13,000 for Failing to Report on Time Payments Made at His Request

Yahoo News – Sandra McDonald (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 11/8/2024

Gov. Gavin Newsome agreed to a $13,000 fine from the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for not meeting deadlines to report charitable contributions made at his request. State law requires elected officials to report donations made on their behalf within 30 days. The FPPC said on 18 occasions, Newsom and his 2018 campaign committee failed to make those reports on time, often submitting them several months late.

Delaware – Delaware’s Campaign Finance Law Sees Small Changes with a Potential Overhaul on the Horizon

Delaware First Media – Sarah Petrowich | Published: 11/10/2024

Delaware Gov. John Carney signed House Bill 291 into law, requiring the Department of Elections to provide a phone number and online form for reporting alleged campaign financing violations in the state, among other provisions. State Attorney General Kathy Jennings has indicated she is already working on additional reform recommendations to propose to the Legislature in the new year.

District of Columbia – Trayon White Sr., Facing Bribery Charge, Is Reelected to D.C. Council

MSN – Michael Brice-Saddler and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2024

District of Columbia Council member Trayon White Sr. sailed to a third term even as he faces a federal bribery charge. For White, who lacked serious opposition, the outcome is illustrative of the enduring support of his base. While some voters expressed reservations about voting for White, a vast majority made it clear that they still have his back.

Florida – Lobbying Firm Promotes Katie Wiles as Her Mother Becomes Trump’s Chief of Staff

MSN – David Bauerlein (Jacksonville Florida Times-Union) | Published: 11/8/2024

A day after Donald Trump named Susie Wiles as his chief of staff, Continental Strategy promoted Wiles’ daughter Katie to be the director of its lobbying and consulting offices in Jacksonville and the District of Columbia. The announcement said Wiles will continue to provide communications work for Continental Strategy’s federal and state operations while adding lobbying and business development to her role in the firm’s offices.

Florida – Suspended Miami-Dade Commissioner Martinez Convicted of Taking $15K to Help Constituent

MSN – Charles Rabin (Miami Herald) | Published: 11/7/2024

Joe Martinez, whose 17-year law enforcement career led to five terms in elected office as a county commissioner, was convicted of accepting $15,000 in payments in exchange for helping with legislation that would have benefited a constituent. Prosecutors argued Martinez accepted three $5,000 payments in 2016 and 2017 from Extra Supermarket owner Jorge Negrin in exchange for pushing legislation that would have permitted much needed large-refrigerated containers on the property.

Georgia – Supreme Court Squashes Mark Meadows’ Push to Move Georgia Election Charges

Yahoo News – Maureen Groppe and Bart Jansen (USA Today) | Published: 11/12/2024

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows lost his bid to move his Georgia election interference case to federal court, where it might have been easier to avoid prosecution. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a lower court’s rejection of Meadows’ attempt. Meadows, who was charged with Donald Trump and 17 others in what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to reverse Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in Georgia, argued the crimes he is accused of committing involved actions that were part of his federal job at the White House.

Indiana – Police: Shoulders spent thousands in campaign dollars on baseball cards, IU season tickets

Yahoo News – Jon Webb (Evansville Courier & Press) | Published: 11/7/2024

Former Vanderburgh County Commissioner Ben Shoulders used tens of thousands of dollars in campaign money to buy baseball cards and basketball season tickets, among other purchases, and then tried to report the expenditures as fraudulent in an effort to recoup some of the money, Evansville police say. Shoulders spent more than $41,000 on eBay purchases using a debit card assigned to his “Shoulders for Commissioner” account. He would then list the buys on his campaign finance forms as something else.

Kentucky – Grand Jury Declines to Indict Beshear Backer in Investigation of Straw Donations

Yahoo News – Tom Loftus (Kentucky Lantern) | Published: 11/8/2024

A Franklin County grand jury declined to indict prominent Louisville attorney Sam Aguiar in an investigation into whether Aguiar made excessive campaign contributions in the names of straw donors to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s 2019 campaign. Special prosecutor Rob Sanders said Aguiar admitted to doing so but did not know his behavior was a crime. Commonwealth’s Attorney Larry Cleveland recommended the matter be referred to the Kentucky election registry for a civil investigation.

Louisiana – Federal Judge Blocks Louisiana Law That Requires Classrooms to Display Ten Commandments

MSN – Sara Cline and Kevin McGill (Associated Press) | Published: 11/12/2024

A Louisiana requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public classrooms is “unconstitutional on its face,” a federal judge ruled, ordering state education officials not to take steps to enforce it and to notify all local school boards in the state of his decision. U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelles said the law had an “overtly religious” purpose, and rejected state officials’ claims the government can mandate the posting of the Ten Commandments because they hold historical significance to the foundation of U.S. law.

Louisiana – Judge Agrees to Temporarily Halt Louisiana Ethics Administrator Hiring, Attorney Says

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/11/2024

A judge issued a temporary restraining order that blocks the Louisiana Board of Ethics from picking a new administrator. The judge granted the stay at the request of Sens. Regina Barrow and Stewart Cathey. They are suing to halt the board from filling that position over the agency in 2025. Landry and lawmakers have had a fraught relationship with the ethics board in recent years.

Maryland – Former Prince George’s County Councilmember Sentenced 1 Year in Prison for Embezzlement

MSN – Randi Ayala, Samantha Gilstrap, and Matt Pusatory (WUSA) | Published: 11/13/2024

Former Prince George’s County Councilperson Jamel Franklin was sentenced to one year in prison after pleaded guilty to felony theft and perjury. Franklin admitted to stealing $124,450.10 from his campaign committee and using those funds to pay for, among other things, his credit card debt, personal rent, and personal subscriptions. He also admitted to concealing his use of campaign funds and falsifying information on reports he signed under the penalties of perjury and submitted to the State Board of Elections.

Michigan – Baum, Altoon Get Vastly Different Sentences in Taylor Public Corruption Case

MSN – Tresa Baldas (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 11/7/2024

The last two defendants in a public corruption scheme in Taylor, Michigan, involving bribes, a crooked mayor, and perverted housing deals were sentenced recently. Taylor’s former Community Development Manager Jeffrey Baum was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his role in helping two businesspeople secure contracts in exchange for bribes of all sorts. Real estate developer Haidir Altoon was sentenced to one day in prison followed by two years of supervised release for his role in a scheme that involved him paying bribes to Baum and former Taylor Mayor Richard Sollars.

New Jersey – Murphy Signs Law Allowing Office Holders, Candidates to Use Campaign Funds for Child Care

Bergen Record – Ashley Balcerzak | Published: 11/8/2024

Public officials and candidates running for office in New Jersey will soon be able to use campaign funds to pay for certain childcare expenses, after Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law. Under the law, a candidate or officeholder can use money raised by donors to pay for childcare the person would not have needed if they weren’t running for office or in public life.

New York – Emboldened by Re-election, Trump Renews Bid to Overturn His Conviction

DNyuz – Ben Protess, Kate Christobek, and Jonah Bromwich (New York Times) | Published: 11/12/2024

Donald Trump’s lawyers moved in recent days to throw out his criminal conviction in New York in the wake of his electoral victory, hoping to clear his record of 34 felonies before returning to the White House. The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which prosecuted Trump, then asked to pause decisions in the case so it could weigh how to respond. The judge overseeing the case, Juan Merchan, granted the pause, effectively freezing any progress until November 19.

New York – NYC Mayor Adams’ Girlfriend Tracey Collins Retires from DOE Amid Department of Investigation Inquiry Into ‘No-Show’ Job Claim

MSN – Chris Sommerfeldt and Cayla Bamberger (New York Daily News) | Published: 11/8/2024

Tracey Collins, Mayor Eric Adams’ longtime girlfriend retired from her high-ranking position in the New York City public school system. The departure comes as the system’s internal watchdog and the Department of Investigation are probing claims that her position amounted to a “no show” job with a six-figure salary. A former Department of Education employee alleged Collins has rarely shown up in person to work and keeps a light schedule mostly made up of virtual appointments.

New York – Eric Adams Reaped Public Dollar from a So-Called Small-Donor ‘Barbecue.’ Video Shows a Lavish Long Island Soiree Instead.

The City – George Joseph (The Guardian), Alyssa Katz, Yoav Gonen, and Katie Hogan | Published: 11/13/2024

A 2021 fundraiser on Long Island for then-mayoral nominee Eric Adams booked 231 donations, many of them from supermarket cashiers, delivery people, and other low wage workers at the New World Mall in Queens, each listed as having made contributions of $249 or $250. The campaign sought $362,000 in matching funds from New York City on the basis of the $55,000 it raised, entirely in small donations. But a video reveals an event, hosted by New World Mall president Lian Wu Shao and his family at their Long Island mansion, that does not appear to have been a grassroots fundraiser.

Ohio – Ex-FirstEnergy Lobbyist Pleads Fifth in Regulatory Investigation, Citing Self-Incrimination Risk

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealwr) | Published: 11/13/2024

A former FirstEnergy lobbyist who worked closely on the company’s scandal ridden lobbying and self-professed bribery campaign in Ohio invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination roughly 100 times during a recent deposition. Joel Bailey, lobbyist who reported to FirstEnergy’s now-indicted government affairs head Mike Dowling, was questioned under oath in a long-stalled state regulatory investigation into the bribery scheme.

Oregon – City Council Candidate Allegedly Offered Patrons Free Bar Entry in Exchange for Campaign Contributions

Willamette Week – Sophie Peel | Published: 11/13/2024

On a Saturday night at Fortune, a popular Portland bar, a city council candidate Ben Hufford allegedly gave bargoers waiting in line a proposal: donate $10 to his campaign, and they would not have to pay the $20 cover charge. Others recall he said they could not enter the bar unless they donated to his campaign. Hufford is a co-owner of Fortune. Campaign finance records show Hufford received 170 campaign donations that night. Nearly all were $10, or multiples of $10.

South Dakota – South Dakota Breaks Record for Number of Women Elected to the State Legislature

MSN – Makenzie Huber (Sioux Falls Argus Leader) | Published: 11/8/2024

A record number of women will serve in the South Dakota Legislature in 2025. Thirty-nine female lawmakers plan to arrive in Pierre when the legislative session starts in January, besting the previous record from the 2023-2024 Legislature by eight. The growth in female representation in South Dakota is part of a trend nationally, though most Legislatures do not have gender parity. In 2023, women represented at least half of the lawmakers in two states, Nevada and Colorado.

Texas – Audit: Former Austin city manager paid two consultants $554K in 2023, violating city ethics rules

KUT – Andrew Weber and Luz Moreno-Lozano | Published: 11/8/2024

Former interim City Manager Jesús Garza violated Austin’s ethics rules when he hired two former City Hall staffers to serve as consultants after the 2023 winter storm, a report commissioned by the city auditor found. The report said Laura Huffman and Joe Canales were paid $200 and $190 an hour respectively over their 10 months at City Hall. Garza skirted rules requiring a vote from the city council on contracts over $76,000 a year. The audit found both were effectively full-time assistant city managers.

November 14, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Maryland: “Former Prince George’s County Councilmember Sentenced 1 Year in Prison for Embezzlement” by Randi Ayala, Samantha Gilstrap, and Matt Pusatory (WUSA) for MSN New York: “Eric Adams Reaped Public Dollar from a So-Called Small-Donor ‘Barbecue.’ Video Shows a Lavish Long […]

November 13, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “How ‘Urgent’ Texts Pushed These Donors to Give Thousands of Times to Political Candidates” by Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee (Los Angeles Times) for MSN Elections California: “In a Historic Shift, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors Will Nearly Double in Size” by […]

November 12, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “Elon Musk’s $1M Voter Giveaways Were Fixed Lotteries, Lawsuits Say” by Kyle Melnick (Washington Post) for MSN Ethics California: “Criminal Prosecutor Tapped to Lead San Diego Ethics Panel, as Voters Hand It More Power” by Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) for […]

November 11, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Indiana: “Police: Shoulders spent thousands in campaign dollars on baseball cards, IU season tickets” by Jon Webb (Evansville Courier & Press) for Yahoo News Kentucky: “Grand Jury Declines to Indict Beshear Backer in Investigation of Straw Donations” by Tom Loftus (Kentucky Lantern) […]

November 8, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – November 8, 2024

National/Federal Trump’s Victory Is a Major Win for Elon Musk and Big-Money Politics DNyuz – Theodore Schleifer and Susanne Craig (New York Times) | Published: 11/6/2024 At an election-night gathering, Elon Musk sat two seats away from Donald Trump, ready to claim […]

National/Federal

Trump’s Victory Is a Major Win for Elon Musk and Big-Money Politics

DNyuz – Theodore Schleifer and Susanne Craig (New York Times) | Published: 11/6/2024

At an election-night gathering, Elon Musk sat two seats away from Donald Trump, ready to claim wide credit for his decisive presidential win. His victory lap was the culmination of an effort that began only six months ago and depended on a risky gamble: Musk’s new super PAC effectively led Trump’s get-out-the-vote operation in battleground states and Trump entrusted a crucial campaign function to a political neophyte. There is little doubt the election was a win not only for Musk but also big-money politics: an ultrawealthy donor took advantage of America’s evolving campaign finance system to put his thumb on the scale like never before.

Control of House Hangs in Balance, with Enormous Implications for Trump’s Agenda

MSN – Associated Press | Published: 11/6/2024

The U.S. House majority hangs in the balance, teetering between Republican control that would usher in a new era of unified GOP governance in Washington or a flip to Democrats as a last line of resistance to a Donald Trump second-term agenda. A few individual seats, or even a single one, will determine the outcome. Final tallies will take a while, likely pushing the decision into next week, or beyond.

Court Ruling Threatens to Curb Billions in Political ‘Dark Money’

MSN – Richard Rubin and Maggie Severns (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 10/30/2024

A federal appeals court said nonprofit groups cannot qualify for tax exemption under Section 501(c)(4) of the tax code if they have a substantial nonexempt purpose. That is a much stricter standard than the one in IRS regulations, which say groups only need a primary purpose that qualifies for the exemption. The decision from a conservative court sets a tighter legal standard for tax-exempt status that the advocates for political donor transparency have long sought.

What’s in Your TikTok Feed? As Elections Near, It May Depend on Gender.

MSN – Jeremy Merrill, Cristano Lima-Strong, and Caitlin Gilbert (Washington Post) | Published: 11/3/2024

A significant gender gap has emerged in this year’s presidential campaign, with women voters breaking for Kamala Harris and men for Donald Trump. For participants in a unique Washington Post experiment, that gap has also shown up in their TikTok feeds. The findings shed light on how TikTok is shaping the way American adults, especially younger ones, get their news, and what they see about politics.

Nearly a Decade After Pleading Guilty, ‘Fat Leonard’ Is Sentenced in Massive Navy Bribery Scandal

MSN – Alex Riggins (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 11/5/2024

The Malaysian contractor known as “Fat Leonard,” who bribed dozens of high-ranking U.S. Navy officers in the Navy’s worst-ever corruption scandal, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Leonard Francis, who was arrested in September 2013 during a sting operation that lured him to San Diego, pleaded guilty in 2015 to charges of bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Francis also pleaded guilty to a charge related to his flight from custody and failure to appear for his previously set sentencing in 2022.

Donald Trump Wins Presidential Election, Defeating Harris to Retake White House

MSN – Isaac Arnsdorf and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

Donald Trump was elected the nation’s 47th president, returning to the White House after a criminal conviction and two impeachments by riding a wave of voter dissatisfaction. To Trump and his supporters, retaking power after failing to overturn his 2020 election loss, inspiring a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol, and withstanding two impeachments, four criminal indictments, a conviction, and two assassination attempts represents a major vindication for their cause.

Republicans Take Back Senate Control

MSN – Liz Goodwin (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2024

Republicans regained control of the Senate after winning two crucial races, boosted by Donald Trump’s presidential win. GOP control will boost Trump’s ability to enact his agenda, as well as to staff his administration. Many crucial Cabinet and judicial appointments require Senate confirmation.

States Projected to Approve Measures Restricting Noncitizens from Voting

MSN – Patrick Marley, Praveena Somasundaram, and Nick Miroff (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2024

Voters in several states were on track to adopt provisions by wide margins that further restrict voting by noncitizens, who are already ineligible to cast ballots in state and federal elections. Republicans pressed for the measures in eight states as Donald Trump and his supporters contended without evidence that noncitizens vote in significant numbers. They said their efforts would help ward off noncitizen voting in state and federal elections and prevent local officials from allowing noncitizens to participate in municipal or school elections. Nineteen communities around the country allow noncitizens to vote in such elections.

Trump’s Win Is a Huge Legal Victory, too. His Trials Will Mostly Vanish.

MSN – Shayna Jacobs, Perry Stein, Holly Bailey, and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

Donald Trump’s election victory ensures his lawyers will seek to delay his upcoming sentencing hearing in Manhattan, where he was convicted of falsifying business records to conceal from voters from voters a hush money payment. Such a request would trigger a discussion about how the judge should proceed with the historic case – the first trial of a former president, who now is now president-elect. Trump vowed as a candidate to “fire” special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two federal cases against him. Prosecutors in Georgia will struggle to go forward with trying him for attempting to overturn the state’s 2020 election results.

Jan. 6 Riot Defendants Celebrate Trump’s Election, Angle for Pardons

MSN – Spencer Hsu, Tom Jackman, and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

Some defendants charged in the Capitol attack reacted to Donald Trump’s election victory with elation, as their defense lawyers began taking steps to delay trials or sentences in ongoing cases in anticipation of presidential pardons or more lenient treatment from a reshaped Justice Department. Trump has made pardoning January 6 defendants a signature campaign promise. He has not made clear who among the group of 1,500-plus people charged would receive pardons, though he has declined to rule out anyone, including members of extremist groups whose leaders were convicted of seditious conspiracy.

Republicans Make Major Gains in Control of State Governments

Yahoo News – Kevin Hardy (Stateline) | Published: 11/7/2024

Republicans won the White House on November 5 and strengthened their hold on state governments across the country. Before the election, the GOP controlled 57 state legislative chambers, while Democrats controlled 41 (Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature is nonpartisan). Republicans defended or expanded their control in several state capitols and won the only closely contested gubernatorial race with the election of former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte as New Hampshire’s next governor.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Campaign Finance Laws Make Funding of Election Challenges Murky

Arizona Capitol Times – Kiera Riley | Published: 11/1/2024

Funds fueling state candidate election challenges remain shrouded by Arizona’s campaign finance code, while congressional candidates’ funding is made fairly transparent by the FEC. A gap in reporting requirements between state and federal campaign finance laws has not drawn much ire from either side of the aisle beyond some raised eyebrows on who is financing litigation from last cycle and is still active well into 2024.

California – Real Estate Consultant Chiang Avoids Prison in Huizar’s LA City Hall Pay-to-Play Scheme

Daily Breeze – City News Service | Published: 11/5/2024

A real estate development consultant was sentenced to home detention and community service, but no prison time, for his role in the pay-to-play scheme at City Hall tied to now-imprisoned ex-City Councilperson Jose Huizar’s approval of large building projects in Los Angeles. George Chiang was also ordered to pay the maximum fine of $250,000. Because of his cooperation in the investigation, Chiang received a far lighter penalty than the 20 years in prison the charge carried, court papers show.

California – Measure OO: Effort to beef up Oakland’s public ethics commission leads comfortably

Local News Matters – Kiley Russell (Bay City News Service) | Published: 11/6/2024

Oakland’s Measure OO, designed to strengthen and update the city’s Public Ethics Commission (PEC), was ahead with about 72 percent of the vote based on early returns. The ballot measure would change the qualifications for the PEC, tighten rules governing lobbyist gifts to elected officials, add one more investigator to the commission’s staff, and authorize the PEC executive director to hire outside lawyers on issues where the city attorney has a conflict-of-interest, among other things.

California – Mark Farrell Hit with One of the Largest Ethics Fines on Eve of S.F. Mayoral Election

MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 11/4/2024

Mayoral candidate Mark Farrell is set to pay $108,000, the largest settlement in San Francisco Ethics Commission history, for campaign finance law violations. The agreement stems from Farrell launching a committee to support a ballot measure that has shared payroll and other expenses with his mayoral campaign. Unlike his mayoral campaign, Farrell’s ballot measure committee could accept donations beyond the $500 per person limit. An investigation found the committee repeatedly overpaid his mayoral campaign for their shared expenses.

California – Former 49ers Lobbyist’s Testimony Implicates Santa Clara Councilman in Grand Jury Leak

MSN – Lance Williams (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 11/6/2024

The San Francisco 49ers’ former top lobbyist testified Anthony Becker, the 2022 candidate for mayor of Santa Clara the team supported, leaked to him a confidential grand jury report that was sharply critical of the 49ers’ heavy involvement in local politics. Rahul Chandhok’s testimony implicated Becker on both a misdemeanor charge of mishandling an official document and perjury, for lying under oath in an ensuing investigation into how the leak occurred.

California – Former Huizar Associate Sentenced to Six Months Home Detention

The Eastsider LA – City News Service | Published: 11/4/2024

A longtime lobbyist and former City Hall official was sentenced to six months’ home detention for conspiring with now-imprisoned ex-Councilperson José Huizar in a bribery scheme. Morrie Goldman was also ordered to pay a $60,000 fine. Goldman pleaded guilty to a felony count of conspiring to commit bribery and honest services mail fraud in the government’s investigation of corruption at City Hall.

Colorado – Xcel Energy Ordered to Remove Investor Relations and Executive Salaries from Costs Passed on to Colorado Consumers

Colorado Sun – Mark Jaffe | Published: 11/5/2024

Colorado utility regulators, using the mandates in a 2023 law. are looking to carve lobbying fees, trade association dues, and investor relations costs from Xcel Energy rate requests. In a current gas rate case, more than $775,000 in such costs were disallowed. The figure in the future could be a lot higher based on the Colorado Public Utilities Commission decision in October ordering Xcel Energy to remove all investor relations costs, including a portion of executive salaries, from its calculations of costs passed on to customers.

Connecticut – CT’s Election Watchdog Agency Is Investigating 214 Cases, One Going Back 10 Years. What’s Taking So Long?

Stamford Advocate – Jacqueline Rabe Thomas and Ken Dixon | Published: 11/2/2024

Ten years have passed since Thomas Banisch filed a complaint with the state watchdog agency responsible for investigating and enforcing Connecticut’s election laws. The complaint alleging Ted Kennedy Jr. illegally raised $130,000 in his run for state Senate has yet to be resolved by the Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission. The database used to track the progress and status of election complaints shows dozens of others have been open for over a year. Nearly half the investigations the agency has closed over the last decade took at least a year to complete.

Delaware – Sarah McBride Wins Delaware Congressional Seat, Becomes First Transgender Rep in US History

MSN – Xerxes Wilson (Delaware News Journal) | Published: 11/5/2024

State Sen. Sarah McBride will be Delaware’s next representative in Congress, becoming the first transgender person elected to federal office in the history of the United States. She said her victory also sends a policy message, emphasizing her goals in Congress, that housing and healthcare be available to all, protecting reproductive freedom, and guaranteeing paid leave. McBride gained national attention when she became the first openly trans person to speak at the Democratic National Convention in 2016.

District of Columbia – Contractor at Center of Bribery Scandal Dropped from Sports Gambling Deal

MSN – Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2024

The District of Columbia halted more work with one of the contractors at the center of a federal investigation into Council member Trayon White Sr. District Services Management was dropped from a sports gambling subcontract, one of many government awards the company had received before its founder pleaded guilty to bribing a city official.

Florida – A Lobbyist Was Cited by the Ethics Commission; Now He’s Suing and Wants to Clear His Name

MSN – Mike Diamond (Palm Beach Post) | Published: 11/1/2024

Lobbyist Ron Book was cited for failing to cash checks from Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter for a ride on his private jet to Tallahassee to attend the inauguration of Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2023. Book’s lawyer argues a new state law should be applied retroactively, a move that would prevent the county’s Ethics Commission from pursuing the complaint. The new law adds time limits to the length of ethics investigations, requires sworn affidavits to launch complaints, and bans second-hand knowledge from being used in investigations.

Florida – In Miami-Dade, Christian Ulvert Helps Candidates win Elections and Developers Win Deals

Yahoo News – Douglas Hanks (Miami Herald) | Published: 11/1/2024

Christian Ulvert became prominent in local political circles for his work running campaigns for Democratic candidates in Miami-Dade County. Though not a registered lobbyist, he also works as a communications consultant for private-sector clients, advising developers and others seeking favorable decisions from Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and favorable votes from the county commission, where Ulvert has three campaign clients. The two sides of Ulvert’s business give him an enviable advantage as a paid consultant.

Louisiana – Supreme Court Will Hear Louisiana Map Case That Could Impact Black Voters

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a complex dispute over how Louisiana draws congressional maps that could affect the power of Black voters in the state and the balance of power in Congress. The case will not impact the 2024 election since it will not be decided for months, but legal experts said it could have significant ramifications for how states consider race in drawing congressional districts to comply with the Voting Rights Act and therefore could impact future elections.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Tells State Racing Commission Director He Can Still Own Racehorses – for Now

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/5/2024

The Board of Ethics told the state’s new racing commission executive director that his racehorses can continue to compete in Louisiana, at least until he needs a new license in 2026. Stephen Landry became the Louisiana Racing Commission’s top staff member in March after Gov. Jeff Landry appointed new members to the board. Stephen Landry, who is not related to the governor, owns a third of two racehorses and half of another.

Louisiana – Private Calls and Campaign Cash: Louisiana regulators’ ties to the utilities they oversee

Yahoo News – Pam Radtke, Mario Alejandro Ariza, and Miranda Green (Floodlight) | Published: 11/3/2024

The Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) is one of the few in the nation where there are no restrictions on when, where, and how often commissioners can communicate with the utilities they regulate. Residents and small businesses have almost no sway over the PSC, compared to utilities and big industrial power customers, said Logan Atkinson Burke, executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy. Over the last decade, nearly 43 percent, or about $3.5 million, of $250 and over campaign contributions to Louisiana commissioners came from utilities, energy-related businesses, and their attorneys and lobbyists.

Louisiana – Louisiana Lawmaker Asks AG to Investigate Ethics Board Over Alleged Open Meetings Violation

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/6/2024

State Rep. Beau Beaullieu is asking the attorney general to investigate the Louisiana Board of Ethics for violations of government transparency laws. He alleges the ethics board is using an illegitimate and secretive process to hire a new state ethics administrator, the board’s most important employee. Republican legislative leaders had asked the board in October to hold off on picking a new administrator until January, when most of the board will be stacked with new appointees from Gov. Jeff Landry and the Legislature.

Maine – ‘A Recusal Issue Inside a Recusal Issue’: An ethics inquiry puts the Maine Supreme Court in uncharted territory

Maine Monitor – James Keefe | Published: 11/3/2024

State Supreme Judicial Court Justice Catherine Connors is facing disciplinary proceedings, a first for a sitting Maine high court justice, because she did not recuse herself from two foreclosure appeals before the court. While Connors could be the first Maine justice to be disciplined, two different committees of legal experts disagreed on whether her recusal was necessary.

Maine – Mainers Vote to Reform Campaign Finance, Open Path for Supreme Court to Weigh In

Maine Morning Star – Emma Davis | Published: 11/6/2024

Maine voters passed Question 1, which would limit individuals and other entities to contributing $5,000 per year to PACs that make independent expenditures for or against candidates. These donations are currently unlimited under state law. Question 1 is likely to face legal challenges. Representatives of Maine Citizens for Clean Elections worry it is a long shot at best and, at worst, could open an opportunity for the U.S. Supreme Court to instead loosen campaign finance restrictions.

Massachusetts – MassLandlords Sues Boston, Says City Withheld Public Records to Protect Mayor Wu, Hide Unlawful Rent Control Lobbying

MSN – Gayla Cawley (Boston Herald) | Published: 11/4/2024

A trade association for Massachusetts landlords is in a legal battle with Boston over public records it says the city withheld to hide unlawful lobbying from housing advocates that influenced the mayor’s stalled rent control plan. Douglas Quattrochi, executive director of MassLandlords, alleges in an affidavit that the city failed to produce 10 documents he believes to exist around the formation of the city’s Rent Stabilization Advisory Committee.

Mississippi – Jackson Bribery Scandal: Mayor Lumumba indicted, calls it ‘political prosecution’

MSN – Charlie Drape (Jackson Clarion Ledger) | Published: 11/6/2024

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba was indicted by a federal grand jury in a bribery scandal. City Councilperson Angelique Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in August, after accepting bribes from two undercover FBI agents posed as Nashville real estate developers. Court documents show Lumumba directed a city employee to move up a deadline for the city’s hotel project near the Jackson Convention Complex. Lumumba agreed to move the deadline after accepting $10,000 for his “reelection committee,” which was given to him as a check to hide the real source of the funding – the Nashville “developers.”

Nevada – Nevada Politicians Can Spend Donor Cash Outside the Campaign

Las Vegas Review-Journal – Eli Segall | Published: 11/4/2024

When Joe Lombardo gave $5,000 from his campaign account to a PAC, the future Nevada governor thought he was helping pay for the statue of a fallen Las Vegas police officer. The money was instead used by former Las Vegas Councilperson Michele Fiore to pay her rent. Fiore was recently convicted of wire fraud for diverting contributions to personal use, though donations like Lombardo’s, which came into focus during Fiore’s trial, are legal in Nevada.

New Hampshire – A New Campaign Finance Law Is Allowing Record-Breaking Spending in NH Governor’s Race

Yahoo News – Ethan DeWitt (New Hampshire Bulletin) | Published: 11/1/2024

In her quest for the New Hampshire governor’s office, Kelly Ayotte is breaking financial records. As of October 30, the former U.S. senator has raised $21 million into her personal campaign fund since running for the office and spent nearly $19 million of it. Seventy percent comes from a single PAC and none of those transactions can be traced to individual donors. The strategy is the direct result of a 2023 law that removes limits on donations to candidates from PACs. And after recent validation from the attorney general’s office, the Ayotte campaign’s application of the law could become common practice in future elections.

New Mexico – Federal Judge Halts ‘De Facto’ Ban on Use of Campaign Funds; State Senator Ortiz y Pino Donated $200 for Student Workshop

Yahoo News – Colleen Heild (Albuquerque Journal) | Published: 11/1/2024

New Mexico Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino tapped his campaign account in 2021 to make a $200 donation for a high school student’s summer workshop. The expenditure was subsequently deemed illegal under the state’s Campaign Reporting Act, but a federal judge decided the ban on charitable donations to individuals was itself problematic. District Court Judge Margaret Strickland halted, at least for now, any enforcement of the provision by the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office.

New York – NYC Mayor Eric Adams Gets April 2025 Trial Date as His Lawyers Fight to Get Bribery Charge Tossed

MSN – Jake Offenhartz and Michael Sisak (Associated Press) | Published: 11/2/2024

New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ federal corruption trial will begin April 21, 2025, a judge ruled, right in the thick of his promised reelection campaign. Adams’ lawyers are fighting to throw out a bribery charge, one of five counts against the first-term mayor. They argued the charge does not meet the U.S. Supreme Court’s recently narrowed threshold for the crime and should not apply to Adams because it involves allegations dating to before he became mayor.

New York – Eric Adams Aide Overrode Internal Scoring System to Award Contract to Major Donor

Yahoo News – Joe Anuta (Politico) | Published: 10/30/2024

A close friend of New York City Mayor Eric Adams disregarded an official scoring system for a bidding process he oversaw through his role controlling municipal real estate deals. Instead that friend, Jesse Hamilton, overruled the process altogether and steered a lucrative contract away from the initial winner and to a major mayoral donor. Hamilton’s role in the deal was the subject of a city council hearing as lawmakers grilled his boss about that and other suspected corruption at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.

Ohio – Issue 1 Fails Big in Ohio Despite Massive Money Advantage

MSN – Jessie Balmert and Laura Bischoff (Columbus Dispatch) | Published: 11/6/2024

Ohio voters rejected Issue 1, choosing to stick with the status quo instead of setting up a new citizen commission to draw congressional and state legislative districts. Ohio will continue to use its current redistricting method led by state lawmakers and a commission of seven elected officials. Ohio will keep its current state legislative maps through 2030 but the congressional map, approved without Democratic support, will be redrawn next year for the 2026 election.

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania Judge Denies Attempt to Stop Musk’s $1 Million Voter Giveaways

MSN – Trisha Thadani and Annabelle Timsit (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2024

Elon Musk’s pro-Donald Trump political group can continue for now with its $1 million a day giveaway to voters, after a state judge in Philadelphia denied an attempt by the city’s district attorney to block it. Judge Angelo Foglietta declined to issue an injunction against America PAC. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner filed the suit against Musk and his super PAC, alleging the daily $1 million giveaways violated state laws regulating lotteries and protecting consumers.

Rhode Island – Facing Questions, McKee Pays Lobbyist for Legal Help with ILO Probe

MSN – Eli Sherman (WPRI) | Published: 11/4/2024

Gov. Dan McKee’s has now paid a powerful statehouse lobbyist he hired earlier this year to help him navigate an ethics investigation amid questions about a potential conflict-of-interest. Gubernatorial spokesperson Laura Hart said the governor paid Dome Consultants lobbyist William Murphy an undisclosed amount of money. McKee hired the influential lobbyist as private counsel to advise him on how to handle a request from the attorney general’s office for an interview as a criminal probe into the state contract was coming to close.

Texas – U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar Secures Another Term as Criminal Trial Looms

Yahoo News – Matthew Choi (Texas Tribune) | Published: 11/6/2024

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar secured an 11th term representing his South Texas congressional district despite a federal indictment accusing him of a litany of corruption allegations. He and his family are synonymous with political power in Laredo, whose airport has a terminal that bears his name. Cuellar faces a criminal trial after the Justice Department indicted him on a series of charges alleging bribery, money laundering, and working on behalf of the Azerbaijani government and a Mexican bank.

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