Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance

Texas: “They Left Office Years Ago. Why Are Their Campaigns Still Spending on Steakhouses and Fancy Hotels?” by Taylor Goldenstein (Houston Chronicle) for MSN

Elections

Wisconsin: “2 Former Trump Associates Bound Over for Trial in Wisconsin Fake Elector Case” by Molly Beck (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) for Yahoo News

Ethics

California: “LA Councilmember John Lee Hit with $138,000 Fine in Las Vegas Gift Case” by David Zahniser (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

National: “Jack Smith Tells Congress He Could Prove Trump Engaged in a ‘Criminal Scheme’ to Overturn 2020 Election” by Ryan Reilly (NBC News) for MSN

National: “Trump Administration Prepares Sweeping Crackdown on Leftist Networks” by Eva Dou, Joseph Menn, and Will Oremus (Washington Post) for MSN

Michigan: “Former Chatfield Aides Get Probation in Exchange for Testimony” by Simon Schuster for Bridge Michigan

Pennsylvania: “Dauphin County Sheriff Son’s Hire Raises Questions About Nepotism Policy” by Juliette Rihl (PennLive) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “Data Centers Have a Political Problem – and Big Tech Wants to Fix It” by Gabby Miller (Politico) for MSN

New York: “New York’s Senate Doesn’t Publish Votes on Nominees. Advocates Want That to Change” by Dan Clark (Albany Times Union) for MSN

Campaign Finance

California: “LA City Attorney Accused of Ethics Breach Before Settling Major Case for $18M” by Nick Gerda for LAist

North Dakota: “North Dakota Attorney General Voids Ethics Opinion, Says Agency Lacked Authority” by Jacob Orledge (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News

Elections

Virginia: “Instacart Director Says She Was Fired for Democratic Congressional Campaign” by Dan Merica (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Trump Has Signed More Executive Orders in 2025 Than in His Entire First Term” by Emily Davies, Cat Zakrzewski, and Clara Ence Morse (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Trump Chief of Staff Susie Wiles Says President ‘Has an Alcoholic’s Personality’ and Much More in Candid Interviews” by Kevin Liptak, Alejandra Jaramillo, and Kristen Holmes (CNN) for MSN

National: “Rob Reiner Was More Than a Hollywood Liberal. He Was a Sophisticated Political Operator.” by Melanie Mason (Politico) for MSN

Oregon: “Ethics Commission Investigates Progressive Portland City Councilors over August Retreat” by Jonathan Bach and Shane Dixon Kavanaugh (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Wisconsin: “Prosecutor Says Judge Knew She Would Get ‘Heat’ for Aiding Immigrant” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Georgia: “Brad Raffensperger Sues to Win More Campaign Spending Power in Georgia Governor Race” by Jeff Amy (Associated Press) for MSN

Illinois: “2 Illinois Election Board Democrats Who Blocked Senate President Don Harmon Fines Have Ties to His Donors” by Rick Pearson (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

Elections

Colorado: “Trump Asserts He Has Pardoned County Clerk Convicted in Colorado Case” by Derek Hawkins and Alec Dent (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “LA City Councilman John Lee Violated Gift Laws on Lavish Vegas Jaunt, Judge Says” by David Zahniser (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

National: “Trump Bashes Late Director Rob Reiner, Drawing Immediate Backlash” by Amy Wang (Washington Post) for MSN

New York: “Administration Fails Again to Indict N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James” by Perry Stein, Jasmine Golden, Salvador Rizzo, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

Oregon: “Oregon Ethics Commission Finds Rep. Greg Smith Violated State Ethics Laws in Pursuit of Raise” by Shaanth Nanguneri (Oregon Capital Chronicle) for Yahoo News

Redistricting

Indiana: “Indiana GOP Rejects Trump’s Map in Major Blow to His Gerrymandering Push” by Adam Wren (Politico) for MSN

National/Federal

Did Emil Bove Violate Judicial Ethics Code with Appearance at Trump Rally?

Courthouse News Service – Bernjamin Weiss | Published: 12/10/2025

Third Circuit Judge Emil Bove may have violated the federal judiciary’s ethics code when he attended a political charged rally held by President Trump, legal experts and lawmakers said. Experts also said Bove’s appearance at Trump’s event adds to a trend of nominally impartial federal judges who have increasingly embroiled themselves in partisan politics.

Stephen Miller Faces Ethics Concerns Over Stock Sale of Las Vegas Mining Company

Las Vegas Sun – Ana Swanson (New York Times) | Published: 12/10/2025

Stephen Miller, a top adviser to President Trump, sold shares worth $50,000 to $100,000 in the mining company MP Materials following a July announcement of a lucrative deal between the Las Vegas company and the Trump administration, government filings show. The sale came one month after the administration announced an extraordinary series of measures to support MP Materials. The deal, which included the government purchasing shares in the company and committing to buy its products, led MP Materials’ share price to skyrocket.

Democrats’ Path to Power May Come Through Hundreds of Races Far from Washington

MSN – Hunter Woodall (CBS News) | Published: 12/10/2025

Much of national Democrats’ attention in next year’s midterms is centered on working to flip control of the U.S. House and win consequential races for governor. But some in the party have zeroed in on less talked-about elections that could prove less costly and have a far-reaching impact at a time when the Democratic brand has grown wearisome with some voters. Democrats’ state legislative campaign arm is outlining a potential path “to flip more than 650 state legislative seats” across a range of states.

The Capitol Is Hard to Navigate. Does It Have to Be?

MSN – Nina Heller (Roll Call) | Published: 12/10/2025

To the unfamiliar, the Capitol and its surrounding office buildings are a maze of fluorescent lighting, identical hallways, and unmarked tunnels. Even experienced staff and lawmakers sometimes get lost. But that could start to change next year, if some House members get their way. Wayfinding tools could offer turn-by-turn directions, according to a new proposal from the House Administration Modernization and Innovation Subcommittee.

Supreme Court Will Hear Case on Trump’s Ban on Birthright Citizenship

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 12/5/2025

The Supreme Court said it will hear a case examining the legality of President Trump’s ban on birthright citizenship, a high-stakes test of the controversial policy that could redefine who is considered an American. The justices have yet to set a date for arguments, but the court has taken the case in time to render its decision by June or July, when the current term ends. The administration asked the justices to take up the case on an expedited basis after lower courts found the policy unconstitutional and blocked it.

What We Know About Suspect Brian Cole’s Arrest in Jan. 6 Pipe Bomb Case

MSN – Connor Greene (Time) | Published: 12/5/2025

Nearly five years after pipe bombs were planted near the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican national conventions the night before the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, authorities have arrested a suspect in the case. Brian Cole Jr. of Virginia was charged with transporting an explosive device and attempted malicious destruction by means of explosive materials, marking the culmination of a years-long, and still ongoing, investigation, federal officials announced.

Supreme Court Seems Likely to Back Trump’s Power to Fire Independent Agency Board Members

MSN – Mark Sherman (Associated Press) | Published: 12/8/2025

The Supreme Court seemed likely to expand presidential control over independent federal agencies, signaling support for President Trump’s firing of board members. The court’s conservative majority suggested it would overturn a unanimous 90-year-old decision that has limited when presidents can fire agencies’ board members, in part to try to ensure decision making free of political influence, or leave it with only its shell intact.

New Dark Money Network Could Exploit Campaign Finance Loophole Banning Federal Contractors

MSN – Robert Schmad (Washington Examiner) | Published: 12/9/2025

Top employees at Anthropic, a major federal contractor, are reportedly involved in discussions to establish a dark money network that could be used to skirt campaign finance laws prohibiting the company from making political donations. Company executives would likely donate to a new political network helmed by former U.S. Rep. Brad Carson, which will be composed of two super PACs with the whole thing being funded through an affiliated 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization called Public First. Unlike super PACs, which are required to list the names of all their donors, the individuals and organizations funding 501(c)(4) groups are totally anonymous.

Supreme Court Weighs Further Loosening Campaign Finance Limits

MSN – Julian Mark (Washington Post) | Published: 12/9/2025

The Supreme Court wrestled over whether to lift limits on how much political parties can spend in cooperation with candidates, in a case that could change how money flows through the campaign finance system. Republican leaders are asking the court to remove limits on how much parties can spend on items like advertisements and campaign expenses. They say the existing limits hinder the partie’’ free-speech rights and put parties in a weaker position than outside groups like Super PACs.

Justice Dept. Says a Court Ruling Is Blocking Efforts to Reindict Comey

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 12/9/2025

Justice Department lawyers said a recent ruling barring their access to key evidence has effectively crippled their efforts to reindict former FBI Director James Comey after their original case against him was dismissed. The concession came in a court filing urging a federal judge to lift a temporary order she imposed restricting the government’s ability to review or use emails and other electronic communications seized as part of an investigation more than five years ago involving Comey confidante Daniel Richman.

Justice Dept. Kills Long-Time Tool Used to Prove Racial Discrimination

MSN – Laura Meckler (Washington Post) | Published: 12/9/2025

After years of complaints from consercatives, the Justice Department moved to end a decades-old provision of civil rights law that allows statistical disparities to be used as proof of racial discrimination. The new regulations reinterpret a key plank of the Civil Rights Act and were issued without an opportunity for public comment, which is unusual for major regulatory action. While they apply only to Justice Department programs, the Trump administration has made clear it plans similar regulatory rollbacks across the government.

From the States and Municipalities

California – California Lobbyist Pleads Guilty in Capitol Corruption Case

Courthouse News Service – Alan Riquelmy | Published: 12/4/2025

Lobbyist Greg Campbell pleaded guilty for his role in a scheme to help Dana Williamson, California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff, to draw $225,000 from a dormant campaign account belonging to then-U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra. Prosecutors also said Campbell created fake contracts for Williamson, who had obtained a loan from the Covid-19 paycheck protection program.

California – An SDPD Captain Helped Secure a Multimillion-Dollar Surveillance Deal. Now He Works for the Contractor.

MSN – Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 12/9/2025

As a captain in charge of special projects and legislative affairs, Jeff Jordon was the San Diego Police Department’s point person for implementing the so-called smart streetlights, a network of cameras across the city that record cars as they pass by. Before he retired in April, Jordan helped select Flock Safety to run the city’s multimillion-dollar surveillance system. Within three months of leaving public service, Jordon was hired by Flock Safety to help it win even more police contracts.

California – Former Compton Councilman Pleads Guilty in Scheme Involving Secret Bribes and Corrupt Officials

MSN – Richard Winton (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 12/9/2025

Former Compton City Councilperson Isaac Galvan pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges for bribing a Baldwin Park City Council member, whom he paid $70,000 in exchange for city marijuana permits. Galvan, who ran a consulting service, was involved in a scheme in which he facilitated bribes to Councilperson Ricardo Pacheco from one of Galvan’s clients who wanted a marijuana permit in Baldwin Park.

California – SLO County Supervisor Adds 2 People to Staff: His wife and his hopeful successor

MSN – Chloe Shrager (San Luis Obispo Tribune) | Published: 12/9/2025

San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Bruce Gibson made two new high-level staffing changes that have been questioned. Gibson hired his wife, Cherie Gibson, who exited retirement to fill the role of his legislative assistant. Cherie Gibson will be joined on her husband’s staff in January by Jim Dantona, chief executive officer of the SLO Chamber of Commerce and a candidate for Bruce Gibson’s seat in the 2026 election.

California – Why Does Oakland Pay Millions to a Security Firm Linked to the FBI Corruption Case?

MSN – Kate Talerico (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 12/10/2025

A year after former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao was swept out of office amid a federal corruption probe, the city still has not replaced a security company with one of the city’s biggest contracts despite the firm’s ties to the investigation. Although ABC Security’s contract expired in 2023, the city council has repeatedly extended it. For the last five months, it has failed to agree on who should be awarded the new contract. The political deadlock suggests Oakland is struggling to shake familiar issues with drawn-out procurement processes, political influence. and lingering fallout from the Thao corruption scandal.

Florida – Miami Will Have Its First Democratic Mayor in Nearly 30 Years

MSN – Sabrina Rodriguez (Washington Post) | Published: 12/9/2025

Miami will have its first Democratic mayor in nearly 30 years, after the city elected former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins in a contest that attracted attention from President Trump and national Democrats. Although the race was technically nonpartisan, the political divide was clear. Trump backed Emilio González, while the Democratic National Committee and potential Democratic presidential hopefuls supported Higgins. She will become the first woman mayor in the history of Miami.

Georgia – Georgia Ethics Panel Decides a GOP Candidate for Governor Can Loan $10M to Aid His Election

MSN – Jeff Amy (Associated Press) | Published: 12/4/2025

Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is allowed to loan $10 million to his campaign for governor, the state’s ethics panel said. Attorney General Chris Carr, who is running against Jones, alleged it evaded campaign finance restrictions. But the Ethics Commission decided a loan to a leadership committee counts as a contribution under state law, adopting a legal opinion that there is “nothing in the current statute which prohibits such a loan of personal funds.”

Hawaii – He Spent Funds Meant for Native Hawaiians on Polo and Porsches. The Federal Government Failed to Stop Him

Honolulu Civil Beat – Nick Grube | Published: 12/10/2025

Christopher Dawson and his companies had won hundreds of millions of dollars in no-bid government contracts through the Small Business Administration based on the promise that his profits would primarily be used to help Native Hawaiians by, in part, promoting the culture, building homes, and supporting orphaned children. A former employee met with federal investigators and filed a whistleblower lawsuit accusing Dawson and executives of cheating the program by spending money on private jets, luxury homes in Hawaii and Florida, memberships to private social clubs, and a nearly $1 million annual salary.

Maryland – Nash’s Lobbying While on City Council Draws Scrutiny

Frederick News-Post – Nolan Wilkinson | Published: 12/10/2025

Frederick City Councilperson Katie Nash’s job as a lobbyist is being scrutinized as she prepares for a second term on the council, with concerns she might have connections to data centers that present a conflict-of-interest. Nash has worked as a lobbyist for energy companies, taking in a gross total of over $350,000 from just one of her clients, Vistra Corp., since 2019. Vistra is a retail energy provider and generator that operates nationwide, including as an electricity provider in Maryland.

Missouri – Missouri Democrats’ Effort to Block GOP Gerrymander Picks Up Steam

MSN – Aaron Pellish (Politico) | Published: 12/9/2025

Democrats in Missouri looking to block the state’s new congressional districts hit a key deadline to getting a step closer to freezing the map drawn by the Republican-controlled Legislature to create an additional GOP-leaning district in the 2026 midterms. People Not Politicians, the committee organizing to block the new map, said it submitted over 305,000 signatures, more than double the 107,000 valid signatures needed to trigger a referendum process that could put the map in front of voters next year.

Nevada – Sandoval, Aguero, Vellardita Won’t Face Sanctions for Failing to Register as Lobbyists

Yahoo News – Dana Gentry (Nevada Current) | Published: 12/5/2025

Critics say a Nevada law that requires lobbyists to register within two days of attempting to influence state lawmakers has no teeth, following the Legislative Counsel Bureau’s (LCB) decision to let violations slide against a former governor, a union boss, and a consultant who lobbied lawmakers on behalf of the current governor. The Nevada State Education Association is questioning whether LCB Acting Director Roger Wilkerson followed state law, which requires him to not only investigate, but also report suspected violations to the attorney general.

New Jersey – Trump Loyalist Alina Habba Resigns as New Jersey’s Top Federal Prosecutor

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 12/8/2025

Alina Habba, President Trump’s embattled pick as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey, said she is resigning after a protracted legal battle over the legitimacy of her appointment. A federal appeals court panel ruled she has been serving unlawfully as acting U.S. attorney. She will transition to a new role as a senior Justice Department adviser and could return to lead the New Jersey prosecutors’ office if that court decision is overturned on appeal, Attorney General Pam Bondi said.

New Jersey – Bill Targeting NJ Corruption Watchdog Withdrawn After Public Outcry

MSN – Susan Livio and Ted Sherman | Published: 12/9/2025

A controversial bill seeking to eviscerate a corruption-fighting watchdog agency has been abruptly pulled by its sponsor, New Jersey Senate President Nick Scutari. The bill sought to undercut the watchdog role of the Office of the State Comptroller, transferring much of its responsibilities to the State Commission of Investigation. The effort to downgrade the comptroller came in the wake of a series of critical reports by the agency that have embarrassed or angered officials who have been targets of the comptroller.

New York – Cuomo Files New Lawsuit Seeking to Block Ethics Probe of His Book Deal

Albany Times Union – Brendan Lyons | Published: 12/10/2025

Andrew Cuomo’s years of legal battles with New York’s ethics agencies continued when the former governor filed another lawsuit against the state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, seeking an injunction to block the panel from investigating his $5.1 million book deal. The petition alleges his constitutional rights are being violated and the statutes used to empower the ethics commission are facially invalid.

New York – Grand Jury Refuses to Reindict Letitia James in Mortgage Fraud Case

MSN – Perry Stein and Gregory Schneider (Washington Post) | Published: 12/4/2025

A grand jury in Virginia rejected Justice Department efforts to charge New York Attorney General Letitia James with mortgage fraud, declining to indict her again after a judge dismissed the charges recently. It marks a major defeat for President Trump, who has made a priority of prosecuting James, a longtime foe. As New York attorney general, James brought a civil fraud case against Trump and his real estate empire, which resulted in a verdict that Trump and others in his company had committed fraud.

New York – NYC Council Committee Criticizes Inna Vernikov for Bringing Gun to Protest, but Doesn’t Censure Her

Yahoo News – Josephine Stratman and Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 12/9/2025

The New York City Council’s Ethics Committee criticized Councilperson Inna Vernikov for bringing a gun to a peaceful protest in 2023 but voted not to formally take the matter further. Vernikov was arrested and criminally charged hours after bringing her firearm to the 2023 Brooklyn College rally five days after Hamas’ attack on Israel, which she was counterprotesting. The charges against her were later dropped after police found the weapon was inoperable.

Ohio – ‘Weak Slap on the Wrist’: Elections Commission fines HB 6 repeal group just $400 for violations

MSN – Anna Staver (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 12/5/2025

After years of not reporting the millions of dollars it raised to repeal House Bill 6 in Ohio, the committee behind the failed referendum will pay just $400 in fines. “Fine should’ve easily been more than $100,000 based on years of no accountability,” Secretary of State Frank LaRose posted on X. “Today, OEC issued a pathetic $400 fine.”

Oklahoma – Oklahoma’s Campaign Finance Site Has Been Offline for Months. Why?

MSN – Alex Gladden (Oklahoman) | Published: 12/6/2025

Oklahoma’s campaign finance website has been offline for nearly three months, raising questions about access to public information ahead of a critical election year. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission had planned to launch a new campaign finance site on October 1, but that fell behind schedule and no new date has been set. The outage has left some voters waiting for information that is typically available with a simple online search.

Pennsylvania – Former Dauphin County Official’s NRA Show Contract Didn’t Violate Ethics Law, State Finds

MSN – Juliette Rihl (PennLive) | Published: 12/9/2025

Jeff Haste, a longtime Dauphin County commissioner who came under fire last year for a series of apparent conflicts, began receiving $60,000 a year to act as the county’s “liaison” to the National Rifle Association’s outdoor show six months after resigning from office in 2021. State law prohibits former public officials from receiving contracts with their prior agency within a year of leaving, that role. But the Pennsylvania Ethics Commission ruled that does not apply to this case.

Texas – Supreme Court Hands Trump Victory in Fight over Texas Congressional Map

MSN – Justin Jouvenal, Julian Mark, and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 12/4/2025

The Supreme Court handed President Trump and Republicans a major political victory by clearing the way for a Texas congressional map that was drawn in the hope of flipping up to five House seats to the GOP. The order marks the latest development in a battle between Republican and Democratic states that are seeking partisan advantage ahead of the 2026 midterms. The states are taking the unusual step of redistricting congressional seats at the halfway point between the U.S. Census Bureau’s nationwide surveys of the population.

Wisconsin – Unlimited Donations, Weak Recusal Rules Led to Record Wisconsin Supreme Court Spending

MSN – Larry Sandler (Wisconsin Watch) | Published: 12/4/2025

The Wisconsin Legislature enacted a public campaign financing law for state Supreme Court elections in 2009. But it lasted for just one Supreme Court campaign before a Republican-controlled Legislature repealed it in 2011. Members of the court then adopted what might be one of the nation’s most lax recusal rules for campaign donations. The stories behind that shift in recusal rules, the short-lived venture in public financing of high court races, and the campaign finance laws that followed help explain how Wisconsin Supreme Court campaign spending exploded this spring to a national record of $114.2 million.

Elections

Florida: “Miami Will Have Its First Democratic Mayor in Nearly 30 Years” by Sabrina Rodriguez (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Democrats’ Path to Power May Come Through Hundreds of Races Far from Washington” by Hunter Woodall (CBS News) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Former Compton Councilman Pleads Guilty in Scheme Involving Secret Bribes and Corrupt Officials” by Richard Winton (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

National: “Justice Dept. Kills Long-Time Tool Used to Prove Racial Discrimination” by Laura Meckler (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Stephen Miller Faces Ethics Concerns Over Stock Sale of Las Vegas Mining Company” by Ana Swanson (New York Times) for Las Vegas Sun

New Jersey: “Bill Targeting NJ Corruption Watchdog Withdrawn After Public Outcry” by Susan Livio and Ted Sherman for MSN

New York: “NYC Council Committee Criticizes Inna Vernikov for Bringing Gun to Protest, but Doesn’t Censure Her” by Josephine Stratman and Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

Maryland: “Nash’s Lobbying While on City Council Draws Scrutiny” by Nolan Wilkinson for Frederick News-Post

Campaign Finance

National: “New Dark Money Network Could Exploit Campaign Finance Loophole Banning Federal Contractors” by Robert Schmad (Washington Examiner) for MSN

National: “Supreme Court Weighs Further Loosening Campaign Finance Limits” by Julian Mark (Washington Post) for MSN

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma’s Campaign Finance Site Has Been Offline for Months. Why?” by Alex Gladden (Oklahoman) for MSN

Ethics

California: “An SDPD Captain Helped Secure a Multimillion-Dollar Surveillance Deal. Now He Works for the Contractor.” by Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) for MSN

National: “Supreme Court Seems Likely to Back Trump’s Power to Fire Independent Agency Board Members” by Mark Sherman (Associated Press) for MSN

New Jersey: “Trump Loyalist Alina Habba Resigns as New Jersey’s Top Federal Prosecutor” by Jeremy Roebuck and Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “Former Dauphin County Official’s NRA Show Contract Didn’t Violate Ethics Law, State Finds” by Juliette Rihl (PennLive) for MSN

Lobbying

Nevada: “Sandoval, Aguero, Vellardita Won’t Face Sanctions for Failing to Register as Lobbyists” by Dana Gentry (Nevada Current) for Yahoo News

Campaign Finance

Georgia: “Georgia Ethics Panel Decides a GOP Candidate for Governor Can Loan $10M to Aid His Election” by Jeff Amy (Associated Press) for MSN

Ohio: “‘Weak Slap on the Wrist’: Elections Commission fines HB 6 repeal group just $400 for violations” by Anna Staver (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Wisconsin: “Unlimited Donations, Weak Recusal Rules Led to Record Wisconsin Supreme Court Spending” by Larry Sandler (Wisconsin Watch) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Supreme Court Will Hear Case on Trump’s Ban on Birthright Citizenship” by Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “What We Know About Suspect Brian Cole’s Arrest in Jan. 6 Pipe Bomb Case” by Connor Greene (Time) for MSN

New York: “Grand Jury Refuses to Reindict Letitia James in Mortgage Fraud Case” by Perry Stein and Gregory Schneider (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

California: “California Lobbyist Pleads Guilty in Capitol Corruption Case” by Alan Riquelmy for Courthouse News Service

Redistricting

Texas: “Supreme Court Hands Trump Victory in Fight over Texas Congressional Map” by Justin Jouvenal, Julian Mark, and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

National/Federal

The Forgotten Court Case That Let Billionaires Spend Big on Elections

MSN – Beth Reinhard (Washington Post) | Published: 12/1/2025

The focus on Citizens United in the last 15 years has obscured a less-recognized campaign finance case, one that never made it to the Supreme Court. SpeechNow.org v. FEC paved the way for the super PACs frequently used by billionaires for election-year spending sprees. While Citizens United abolished the ban on independent expenditures by corporations and unions, SpeechNow went one step further. It erased limits on contributions to political committees that make independent expenditures and do not give money directly to candidates or parties. These entities took on the catchier name of super PACs.

Fugees Rapper Pras Michel Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison Over Illegal Donations to Obama Campaign

MSN – Michael Kunzelman (Associated Press) | Published: 11/20/2025

Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel of the Fugees was sentenced to 14 years in prison for illegally funneling millions of dollars in foreign contributions to former President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. In April 2023, a federal jury convicted Michel of 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. The trial included testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Former President of Honduras, Convicted of Trafficking, Freed after Trump Pardon

MSN – Tobi Raji, Shayna Jacobs, and Samantha Schmidt (Washington Post) | Published: 12/2/2025

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, convicted by a U.S. court last year on charges he ran the Central American nation as a “narco-state” that helped send South American cocaine to the United States, has been released from federal prison after receiving a pardon from President Trump. Hernández was serving 45 years in prison on importation and weapons charges. U.S. prosecutors said he built his political career on millions of dollars in bribes from traffickers in Honduras and Mexico, and as president helped to move at least 400 tons of cocaine to the U.S. while protecting traffickers from extradition and prosecution.

Trump Rails Against Somali Migrants: ‘I don’t want them in our country’

MSN – Amy Wang and Caroline O’Donovan (Washington Post) | Published: 11/2/2025

President Trump ended a Cabinet meeting with a rant against Somali migrants, accusing them of having “ripped off” Minnesota and using dehumanizing language to attack a group he has increasingly targeted in recent weeks. The president’s comments came amid reports his administration is ramping up immigration enforcement efforts targeting undocumented Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Trump recently threatened to end temporary protected status for Somali immigrants in Minnesota and, without evidence, accused “Somali gangs” of terrorizing people there.

Northwestern to Pay $75 Million to End Trump Administration Probes

MSN – Angie Orellana Hernandez (Washington Post) | Published: 11/29/2025

Northwestern University has become the sixth school to reach a deal with the Trump administration in an agreement that ends federal investigations into allegations of unlawful discrimination, race-based admissions, and fostering a hostile educational environment for Jewish students. The deal requires Northwestern to pay $75 million to the U.S. government over several years; in turn, the administration will restore nearly $800 million in federal research funding that had been frozen since April.

Trump Says He Will Pardon Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar

MSN – Mariana Alfaro, Kadia Goba, and Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) | Published: 12/3/2025

President Trump said he will pardon U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, unexpectedly ending the prosecution of a member of the opposing party. Cuellar, one of the most conservative Democrats in the House, was charged last year with bribery, money laundering, and conspiracy. Trump also pardoned Cuellar’s wife, who also had been charged. The indictment detailed a bold corruption scheme in which Cuellar allegedly promised to wield his power as a member of Congress to advocate for his benefactors.

The New York Times Sues the Pentagon Over Press Restrictions

MSN – Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 12/4/2025

The New York Times sued the Defense Department over its press policy prohibiting journalists from soliciting any information not explicitly authorized for release by the government. The Times alleged the press rules violated the First Amendment’s guarantee of a free press and the newspaper’s due process rights under the Fifth Amendment.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Ontario Will Require Skills Grant Applicants to Reveal If They Hired Lobbyists

Toronto Star – Moira Welsh | Published: 12/2/2025

Bowing to pressure, the Ontario government will soon require that groups hiring lobbyists for help in getting millions of dollars from the Skills Development Fund will now have to report those connections in their application. The change is expected by the end of the year. Labor Minister David Piccini has been under fire since auditor general Shelley Spence an audit found Piccini and his predecessor handed out $126 million in training funding to 64 organizations that used lobbyists to push applications ranked “low and medium” in a process that was “not fair, transparent or accountable.”

California – DWP Employee Made Assistants Run Personal Errands, Buy Her Snoop Dogg Tickets, Ethics Enforcer Says

MSN – Noah Goldberg (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 11/26/2025

A high-ranking employee at the Department of Water and Power (DWP) made staffers run personal errands for her, including purchasing tickets to a Snoop Dogg concert, according to the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission’s director of enforcement. It is alleged that Renette Anderson, an executive assistant to the DWP’s general manager, asked subordinates to book a plane ticket for her personal travel, make physical therapy appointments for her, purchase party supplies for a non-work party at her home, and make a service appointment at a Mercedes Benz dealership for her personal vehicle.

California – International Travel. Fancy Meals. Missing Receipts. Who Paid the Tab for This Top Official?

MSN – Paige St. John (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 12/4/2025

Ricardo Lara’s transition from influence-brokering California legislator to insurance regulator was rocky. Almost immediately upon assuming office in 2019, the state insurance commissioner was discovered soliciting money from those he regulated, even allowing his campaign fundraiser to set his office calendar. Lara is now under two new investigations for potential campaign finance and ethics violations and accused by consumer advocates of cozying up to those he regulates.

California – Unindicted Co-Conspirator Stays Silent After FBI Arrests but Still on SCIF Board

MSN – Lia Russell (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 12/3/2025

Weeks after four top Sacramento political figures were ensnared in an FBI corruption probe, one of them, lobbyist Alexis Podesta, has remained quiet and emerged relatively unscathed. Despite speculation that Gov. Gavin Newsom would remove her, Podesta attended a regularly scheduled meeting for the State Compensation Insurance Fund, the state agency on whose board of directors she sits. Podesta’s attorney has confirmed his client is an unindicted co-conspirator cited in the indictment from federal prosecutors.

District of Columbia – Judge Limits Warrantless Immigration Arrests in DC

MSN – Hassan Ali Kanu and Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 12/2/2025

A federal judge restricted the Trump administration’s ability to arrest suspected undocumented immigrants in the District of Columbia without a warrant, saying the arrests are only permissible if authorities have reason to believe the person is likely to escape. Government attorneys had disputed whether agents are using a lower standard than probable cause, but U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell ruled the plaintiffs’ accounts of their arrests and multiple public statements by high-ranking officials proved otherwise.

Florida – Florida Becomes the GOP’s Biggest Redistricting Test – and a Messy One

MSN – Gary Fineout (Politico) | Published: 12/2/2025

Florida is barreling into a mid-decade redistricting fight with Republicans in and out of the state pushing for action, but party leaders are split on how far to go and when to start. Those pushing the effort believe the state could yield three to five additional GOP House seats ahead of the 2026 midterms, a haul big enough to influence control of Congress. But the drive comes amid an ongoing power struggle inside the state Capitol and legal constraints that make Florida one of the hardest places in the country to redraw lines for partisan gain.

Georgia – Georgia Case Against Trump Dropped, Ending Efforts to Punish President over 2020 Election Aftermath

MSN – Kate Brumback (Associated Press) | Published: 11/26/2025

A judge dismissed the Georgia election interference case against President Trump and others after the prosecutor who took over the case said he would not pursue the charges, ending the last effort to punish the president in the courts for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. Pete Skandalakis, executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, took over the case from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who was removed over an “appearance of impropriety” created by a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she chose to lead the case.

Illinois – Former Inspector General Joe Ferguson Fined $5K for Revealing Botched Little Village Smokestack Implosion Could Have Been Prevented

WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 11/28/2025

The Chicago Board of Ethics fined former Inspector General Joe Ferguson $5,000 for violating the city’s ethics ordinance by divulging a confidential report that found city officials could have prevented a plume of dust from enveloping Little Village in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when crews demolished the former Crawford Power Plant. Ferguson said that while he was disappointed by the fine, he had no regrets about his decision to send the report to two unidentified media organizations.

Indiana – Indiana Republicans’ Proposed Map Breaks Indianapolis into 4 Districts

MSN – Marissa Meador (Indianapolis Star) | Published: 12/1/2025

Indiana House Republicans released a proposed map with new congressional district lines that could lead to the elimination of the two Democrats from the state’s congressional delegation if passed. The official map marks a major step forward for Indiana’s redistricting proponents who had failed for weeks to sway reluctant senators on the plan to draw new districts. But on November 25, just minutes after the House announced it would meet on the topic of redistricting, the Senate announced it would reconvene December 8 to consider a proposed map from the House.

Kentucky – Groups Spent $9M Lobbying Kentucky Executive Branch Officials in Past Fiscal Year

Louisville Public Media – Joe Sonka | Published: 11/28/2025

Government contractors, health-related groups, and the medical marijuana industry were among hundreds of organizations that spent $9.1 million lobbying Kentucky’s executive branch agencies on policy in the fiscal year ending this summer. Kentucky has long required groups to report their spending on legislative lobbyists but first required reports on executive branch lobbying spending in 2020. This push for increased transparency followed the conviction of a former cabinet secretary and lobbyist for orchestrating a kickback scheme to steer large government contracts to clients.

Kentucky – KY Candidate Had a Fundraiser on His Own Church Campus. He Says There’s No Issue

MSN – Austin Horn (Lexington Herald-Leader) | Published: 11/24/2025

A fundraiser for Ryan Dotson, a candidate in Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District race, was held on the grounds of the church Dotson leads. It is not against any campaign finance law to host a fundraiser at a church. But the event at Lighthouse World Outreach Center, where Dotson is lead pastor, does raise questions about how the event was carried out, according to a federal campaign finance expert.

Massachusetts – Super PAC Illegally Coordinated with Diehl Campaign in 2022 Election, Regulators Say

WBUR – Chris Van Buskirk | Published: 11/20/2025

State campaign finance regulators found former Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl and a super PAC that backed his campaign illegally coordinated during the 2022 election. Office of Campaign and Political Finance Director William Campbell said Diehl’s campaign and the super PAC, called Mass Freedom, hired the same media consultant. That created a presumption of coordination between the campaign and super PAC in violation of state law, according to Campbell.

Michigan – Conservative Activists Get Probation in Voter intimidation Case

MSN – Arpan Lobo (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 12/1/2025

Two conservative activists who previously pleaded no contest in connection to a robocall scheme to spread inaccurate information to mostly Black voters around Detroit, leading up to the 2020 election, will avoid jail time. Jacob Wohl and John Burkman were each sentenced to one year probation. Prosecutors said the men engaged in an effort that circulated robocalls to nearly 12,000 people in 2020. The robocalls made false claims about voting by mail, which was promoted that year as a way to avoid contracting COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Michigan – Issues Resolved in Hall Lions Ticket Complaint, Attorney Withdraws Request for Investigation

Yahoo News – Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) | Published: 12/3/2025

Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall’s troubles with a potential scandal over Detroit Lions tickets he received from a lobbying firm have been resolved, as the attorney who made a formal complaint rescinded his request for the state to investigate the matter. Bob LaBrant, the former general counsel for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, filed a complaint in reaction to news that Hal received tickets to a recent Lions home game from Bill Wort of Public Affairs Associates.

Mississippi – Supreme Court May Revive First Amendment Suit from Sidewalk Preacher Who Shouted at Concertgoers

MSN – John Fritze (CNN) | Published: 12/3/2025

Street preacher Gabriel Olivier wants to challenge an ordinance in federal court that was enacted by a Mississippi city that bars people from protesting outside an amphitheater. But before he can advance his lawsuit, he must deal with a 1994 Supreme Court precedent that is intended to bar people convicted of a crime from using civil lawsuits to effectively reverse their convictions. Olivier claimed the ordinance violates his First Amendment rights to share his faith publicly.

Missouri – Missouri Bill Targets ‘Misleading’ Automatic Donations Connected to Bill Eigel

Yahoo News – Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) | Published: 12/2/2025

No Missouri politician should be able to extract recurring campaign donations the way that Bill Eigel is from a Nebraska veteran tapped 35 times this year for more than $1,000, a Republican lawmaker said. State Rep. Jim Murphy used the first day of pre-filing for the upcoming legislative session to introduce a bill to ban solicitations that include recurring donations. The bill also requires each solicitation to state “in a clear and conspicuous manner” the candidate or PAC that will use the money.

New Jersey – Appeals Court Rules Trump Prosecutor Appointment Violates Law

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 12/1/2025

A federal appeals court ruled President Trump unlawfully maneuvered to keep his former personal attorney, Alina Habba, as the top prosecutor in New Jersey, a decision that could have far-reaching implications for other controversial appointments that have been challenged in court. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled against the extraordinary steps the Justice Department deployed to bypass Senate confirmation and keep Habba in the top position.

New Jersey – NJ AG, Others Attack Bill That Would Combine State Watchdog Agencies

MSN – Mike Davis and Michael Diamond (Asbury Park Press) | Published: 11/27/2025

New Jersey, a state often synonymous with the corrupt antics of politicians at all levels, has too many government watchdogs keeping too many eyes trained on taxpayer dollars, according to one of its most powerful elected officials. It is a problem Senate President Nick Scutari hopes to fix. If signed into law, a new bill proposed by Scutari would essentially fold much of the Office of the State Comptroller’s responsibilities into the State Commission of Investigation, turning two watchdog agencies into one-and-a-half.

New Jersey – Progressive Topples Former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey in Jersey City Mayoral Runoff

MSN – Ry Rivard (Politico) | Published: 12/2/2025

James Solomon, a city council member elected with the support of anti-machine progressives, will be the next mayor of New Jersey’s second largest city. Solomon besting disgraced former Gov. Jim McGreevey in the runoff to lead Jersey City. McGreevey joins former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo as a politician who grasped for a second chance in public life that voters did not want to give them.

New York – NY Gov. Hochul Accepted – and Is Now Refunding – Thousands in Donations from Appointees

Gothamist – Jimmy Vielkind | Published: 11/29/2025

After a Democratic primary rival questioned some of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s fundraising methods, the governor’s campaign said it will return thousands of dollars she accepted from people she has appointed to state boards and councils. Public records show Hochul raised at least $72,500 from people who donated after she gave them positions steering state policy. Some of the people in question also contributed before their appointments, and some of the appointees were first put into their positions by Hochul’s predecessor, Andrew Cuomo.    

New York – City Investigators Haven’t Given Up on Probing Eric Adams’ Conduct, Judge’s Order Reveals

MSN – Greg Smith (The City) | Published: 12/3/2025

A court order revealed the Department of Investigation (DOI) has an ongoing investigation of whether New York City Mayor Eric Adams violated ethics laws, a probe that is proceeding even after the mayor got his corruption case tossed after the Trump Justice Department abandoned it. U.S. District Court Judge Dale Ho revealed the existence of DOI’s investigation in issuing an order that opens the door for DOI to use material from the defunct federal indictment in its continuing conflict-of-interest probe of the mayor.

New York – Co. That Won Big-Bucks ‘Panic Button’ Deal for NYC Schools Hired Firm of Adams Ally Frank Carone

Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 12/1/2025

Before getting a multimillion-dollar contract from Mayor Eric Adams’ administration to install “panic buttons” in New York City public schools, a company hired the lobbying and consulting firm operated by Frank Carone, the mayor’s ex-chief of staff. SOS Technologies hired Oaktree Solutions to do “strategic consulting” in connection with its effort to secure the contract. There is no record Oaktree employees engaged in direct lobbying of Adams administration officials prior to the award. In any event, Carone resigned as chief of staff in late 2022, so he is no longer covered by the one-year lobbying ban on former city officials.

Pennsylvania – The State Budget Was 135 Days Late, but Pa. Lawmakers Got Their Pay Raise on Schedule

MSN – Tirzah Christopher (PennLive) | Published: 12/2/2025

Pennsylvania lawmakers received a pay increase on December 1, raising their base salary to $113,575. Only New York and California’s legislators make more. The Pennsylvania Legislature’s increases also are automatic, which means they go into effect without a vote. The raises come after a more than four-month budget impasse, which forced some counties, school districts, and non-profits across the state to take drastic measures like reducing staff or taking out high-interest loans to keep operating.

Rhode Island – How to Win Elections and Influence the State House? The League of RI Businesses Has a Plan.

Rhode Island Current – Nancy Lavin | Published: 11/25/2025

When a group of gun rights advocates piled into Rhode Island House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s office to rail against a proposed assault-style weapons ban last spring, Shekarchi gave them some advice om how to influence lawmakers. David Levesque took the message to heart. He created a string of 40 PACs allowing The League of Rhode Island Businesses to circumvent the $2,000-per-candidate annual campaign donation limit set by state law. While not illegal, the move exposes The League and its financial beneficiaries to greater risk of reporting mistakes and violations.

Tennessee – Republican Wins Special Election in Trump Country, as Democrat Gains Ground

MSN – Dan Merica (Washington Post) | Published: 12/2/2025

Republicans retained a ruby-red congressional district, winning a special election in Tennessee that became more competitive than initially expected and prompted an aggressive closing scramble by GOP leaders on behalf of their nominee. The victory by Matt Van Epps, who aligned himself with President Trump, capped a contest that served as the latest test of voters’ attitudes about Trump’s agenda and Democrats’ response less than a year before the midterm elections. Van Epps defeated Aftyn Behn, a left-leaning state representative who frequently mentioned economic concerns on the campaign trail.

Ethics

California: “International Travel. Fancy Meals. Missing Receipts. Who Paid the Tab for This Top Official?” by Paige St. John (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

National: “The New York Times Sues the Pentagon Over Press Restrictions” by Scott Nover (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Trump Says He Will Pardon Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar” by Mariana Alfaro, Kadia Goba, and Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) for MSN

Mississippi: “Supreme Court May Revive First Amendment Suit from Sidewalk Preacher Who Shouted at Concertgoers” by John Fritze (CNN) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Pennsylvania: “The State Budget Was 135 Days Late, but Pa. Lawmakers Got Their Pay Raise on Schedule” by Tirzah Christopher (PennLive) for MSN

Lobbying

Michigan: “Issues Resolved in Hall Lions Ticket Complaint, Attorney Withdraws Request for Investigation” by Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) for Yahoo News

New York: “Co. That Won Big-Bucks ‘Panic Button’ Deal for NYC Schools Hired Firm of Adams Ally Frank Carone” by Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) for Yahoo News

Redistricting

Florida: “Florida Becomes the GOP’s Biggest Redistricting Test – and a Messy One” by Gary Fineout (Politico) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Missouri: “Missouri Bill Targets ‘Misleading’ Automatic Donations Connected to Bill Eigel” by Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) for Yahoo News

New York: “NY Gov. Hochul Accepted – and Is Now Refunding – Thousands in Donations from Appointees” by Jimmy Vielkind for Gothamist

Elections

Tennessee: “Republican Wins Special Election in Trump Country, as Democrat Gains Ground” by Dan Merica (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

Illinois: “Former Inspector General Joe Ferguson Fined $5K for Revealing Botched Little Village Smokestack Implosion Could Have Been Prevented” by Heather Cherone for WTTW

National: “Former President of Honduras, Convicted of Trafficking, Freed after Trump Pardon” by Tobi Raji, Shayna Jacobs, and Samantha Schmidt (Washington Post) for MSN

New Jersey: “NJ AG, Others Attack Bill That Would Combine State Watchdog Agencies” by Mike Davis and Michael Diamond (Asbury Park Press) for MSN

Lobbying

Canada: “Ontario Will Require Skills Grant Applicants to Reveal If They Hired Lobbyists” by Moira Welsh for Toronto Star

Kentucky: “Groups Spent $9M Lobbying Kentucky Executive Branch Officials in Past Fiscal Year” by Joe Sonka for Louisville Public Media

Campaign Finance

National: “Fugees Rapper Pras Michel Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison Over Illegal Donations to Obama Campaign” by Michael Kunzelman (Associated Press) for MSN

Kentucky: “KY Candidate Had a Fundraiser on His Own Church Campus. He Says There’s No Issue” by Austin Horn (Lexington Herald-Leader) for MSN

National: “The Forgotten Court Case That Let Billionaires Spend Big on Elections” by Beth Reinhard (Washington Post) for MSN

Rhode Island: “How to Win Elections and Influence the State House? The League of RI Businesses Has a Plan.” by Nancy Lavin for Rhode Island Current

Elections

Georgia: “Georgia Case Against Trump Dropped, Ending Efforts to Punish President over 2020 Election Aftermath” by Kate Brumback (Associated Press) for MSN

Ethics

California: “DWP Employee Made Assistants Run Personal Errands, Buy Her Snoop Dogg Tickets, Ethics Enforcer Says” by Noah Goldberg (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

New Jersey: “Appeals Court Rules Trump Prosecutor Appointment Violates Law” by Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN

Redistricting

Indiana: “Indiana Republicans’ Proposed Map Breaks Indianapolis into 4 Districts” by Marissa Meador (Indianapolis Star) for MSN

National/Federal

Top Fannie Mae Officials Ousted After Sounding Alarm on Sharing Confidential Housing Data

MSN – Brian Slodysko (Associated Press) | Published: 11/13/2025

A confidant of Bill Pulte, the Trump administration’s top housing regulator, provided confidential mortgage pricing data from Fannie Mae to a principal competitor, alarming senior officials of the government-backed lending giant who warned it could expose the company to claims it was colluding with a rival to fix mortgage rates. While Lauren Smith, the company’s head of marketing, still holds her position, the senior Fannie Mae officials who called her conduct into question were all forced out of their jobs late, along with internal ethics watchdogs who were investigating Pulte and his allies.

Trump Names Paul Ingrassia to GSA Post After Withdrawal Over Racist Texts

MSN – Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 11/14/2025

President Trump tapped Paul Ingrassia, the unsuccessful nominee to run the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), to become deputy general counsel of the General Services Administration, which oversees federal real estate. Ingrassia withdrew his OSC nomination after several GOP senators said they could not support him following reports he texted other Republicans racist slurs and said he had “a Nazi streak.” He also was subject to a sexual harassment investigation in recent months, according to Politico.

Trump Gives Second Pardon to Jan. 6 Participant and Pardons Two Others

MSN – Michael Kranish (Washington Post) | Published: 11/15/2025

President Trump issued a second pardon to Daniel Wilson, whom he had previously pardoned for participation in the breach of the Capitol but was in prison on a separate gun charge. Trump also pardoned Suzanne Kaye, who had been sentenced to 18 months in prison for threatening FBI agents who wanted to speak to her about her whereabouts on January 6, 2021.

Former Fed Official Resigned Following Ethics Probe, Document Shows

MSN – Victoria Guida (Politico) | Published: 11/15/2025

Former Federal Reserve board member Adriana Kugler stepped down from the central bank in August amid scrutiny of her financial holdings, which appeared to violate the bank’s ethics rules, according to a document detailing her trading activity. According to a document released by the Office of Government Ethics, Kugler or her husband bought and sold multiple individual stocks in 2024, a category of asset that senior Fed officials are not allowed to purchase.

The Trump Prosecutor Probing Former Top Obama Administration Officials

MSN – Perry Stein, Jeremy Roebuck, and David Ovalle (Washington Post) | Published: 11/17/2025

When Jason Reding Quiñones was hired in 2018 as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of Florida, he was placed alongside other entry-level attorneys in the office’s boot camp for new hires. Most of those prosecutors win promotion. Reding Quiñones flunked, failing to impress his supervisors with his work ethic and legal acumen and earning poor marks on his performance evaluation. He left the office in 2024. A year later, President Trump tapped Reding Quiñones to return to the Miami-based U.S. attorney’s office as its boss. Justice Department officials have entrusted Reding Quiñones with a broad probe of Trump foes.

Despite Congressional Action, Quick Release of Epstein Files Is in Doubt

MSN – Perry Stein, Jeremy Roebuck, and Theodoric Meyer (Washington Post) | Published: 11/19/2025

The House and Senate agreed to pass a bill calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all unclassified information and files related to the sex trafficking investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The Justice Department so far has continued to say nothing about how it would respond to that demand. There are many reasons to doubt that a bulk release of the files is imminent. If President Trump wanted Bondi to release all the Epstein files, he could have ordered her to do so at any point in the past six months.

House Democrats Split Over Unusual Reprimand of One of Their Own

MSN – Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) | Published: 11/18/2025

The House, in a rare bipartisan action, voted to rebuke a Democrat who maneuvered the timing of his retirement to all but assure his handpicked successor would win his seat without opposition. The vote of formal disapproval of Rep. Jesús García was remarkable because it was instigated by a fellow Democrat, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. All Republicans and 23 Democrats supported the measure. The reprimand carries no formal penalty other than the damage to Garcia’s reputation, which a majority of Democrats sought to defend.

Trump Administration Revives Some Funding for IG Group

MSN – Meryl Kornfield and Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 11/18/2025

The Trump administration reversed its attempt to eliminate funding for a key government oversight group, following calls from Capitol Hill to release the congressionally approved money and protect federal watchdog activities. The defunding of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, an umbrella organization for 72 inspectors general across government, was unrelated to the federal government shutdown, and the office’s 25 employees have remained furloughed since the start of the fiscal year.

Most Corporate Trump Ballroom Donors Repped by 3 Lobbying Firms, Watchdog Says

MSN – Arden Farhi (CBS News) | Published: 11/19/2025

The majority of the corporations known to have donated to the fund for President Trump’s new White House ballroom are represented by three lobbying firms, according to a report from Public Citizen. Lobbyists from those three firms – Miller Strategies, Ballard Partners, and Michael Best Strategies – mingled with the president and executives from top technology and cryptocurrency companies in the East Room recently. Several companies retained more than one of the lobbying firms in 2025, paying hundreds of thousands annually for advocacy before Congress and the Trump administration.

Ex-Officials Could Get Lifetime Bans from Lobbying for China, Russia Under New Bipartisan Push

MSN – Morgan Phillips (Fox News) | Published: 11/18/2025

Former national security officials could soon lose their security clearances or even face lifetime bans from lobbying for foreign adversaries under new legislation introduced in the House and Senate. The three-bill package takes direct aim at Washington’s “revolving door,” closing the loopholes that have let former officials and power brokers, many with deep knowledge of U.S. defense secrets, push the interests of China, Russia, and other hostile regimes inside the U.S. government.

Justice Dept. Acknowledges Full Grand Jury Never Saw Final Comey Indictment

MSN – Salvador Rizzo and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 11/19/2025

Justice Department lawyers acknowledged a full grand jury never reviewed the final indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, a remarkable admission that could threaten the viability of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney N. Tyler Lemons sought to downplay the error, arguing the revised indictment was changed only to remove the count that the grand jury rejected. “The new indictment wasn’t a new indictment,” Lemons said.

Justice Dept. Charges Democratic Congresswoman with Stealing FEMA Funds

MSN – Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 11/19/2025

Federal officials indicted U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick on allegations she used her family’s health care company to steal from a covid-19 vaccination contract funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and then used the money to bolster her congressional campaign. Cherfilus-McCormick was charged alongside multiple co-defendants, including her brother and her tax preparer. The House ethics committee is also investigating Cherfilus-McCormick.

Trump Family’s Business Ties to Saudi Arabia Raise Ethics Worries

Seattle Times – Vivian Nereim (New York Times) | Published: 11/18/2025

The leveraging of political relationships for personal profit is ordinary in the Persian Gulf, where hereditary ruling families hold near-total power and the term “conflict-of-interest” carries little weight. But the mixing of politics and profitmaking during President Trump’s second term has shattered American norms, shocking scholars who study ethics and corruption. Trump met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, engaging in national security talks with a foreign leader who also oversees a major construction project that is in talks over a potential deal with the Trump family business.

From the States and Municipalities

California – FBI Sent Letters to CA Lobbyists as Part of Corruption Probe Involving Ex-Newsom Chief of Staff

MSN – Lia Russell (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 11/18/2025

The FBI has read or listened to K Street and Sacramento lobbyists’ conversations as part of an ongoing corruption investigation that has so far ensnared Gov. Gavin Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, former Deputy State Attorney General Sean McCluskie, and lobbyist Greg Campbell. Letters from the Sacramento field office informed recipients their wire or electronic communications had been “intercepted” as part of its conspiracy case accusing Campbell, Williamson, and McCluskie of stealing campaign funds from former cabinet secretary Xavier Becerra.

Colorado – Colorado Ethics Commission Advances Complaints Against Democrats Who Attended Dark Money-Funded Retreat

Colorado Public Radio – Taylor Dolven (Colorado Sun) | Published: 11/19/2025

The Independent Ethics Commission will investigate complaints against state lawmakers who attended a weekend retreat with lobbyists in Vail paid for, at least in part, by a dark money group. The commission voted in favor of deeming the complaints “nonfrivolous” and allowing them to move forward. The complaints allege that 16 lawmakers who are members of the Opportunity Caucus violated Colorado’s prohibition on elected officials receiving gifts when they attended a retreat where they mingled with lobbyists at a ritzy hotel.

Colorado – Colorado Justices Weigh Disclosure Requirements for Ballot Initiative Spending

Colorado Springs Gazette – Michael Karlik (Colorado Politics) | Published: 11/18/2025

The Colorado Supreme Court considered whether an organization that spent $4 million to advocate for ballot initiatives in the 2020 election was required to disclose its donors and spending. Unite for Colorado argued it spent 10 percent or less of its money on a single ballot measure and less than 25 percent of its money on ballot measures. Therefore, Unite for Colorado did not have a “major purpose” of ballot issue advocacy that triggered disclosure. But some justices said an organization could avoid the transparency required of issue committees if it were so wealthy that its expenditures on ballot initiatives were relatively small in comparison.

Georgia – GOP Lawmaker Says Tougher Campaign Finance Penalties Needed in Response to New Georgia Project Case

Georgia Recorder – Ross Williams | Published: 11/13/2025

Stacey Abrams’ New Georgia Project is a thing of the past, but it may still be a major topic of conversation when lawmakers gather next year for the annual legislative session. The voter engagement project founded by Stacey Abrams announced it was dissolving after the Georgia Ethics Commission concluded the group violated state campaign finance law and levied a $300,000 fine, the largest for an ethics violation in state history. A GOP-led panel floated ideas for legislation that members said would discourage organizations from illegally funding candidates in the 2026 midterms and beyond.

Georgia – Georgia Prosecutor Keeps Case Against Trump Alive for Now

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 11/14/2025

The head of a Georgia prosecutors board assigned himself to oversee a sprawling racketeering case against President Trump and his allies over their attempts to overturn the 2020 election, keeping alive for now litigation that has long faced trouble. Peter Skandalakis, the board’s executive director, said he was taking the case because he had not been able to find another prosecutor to take it. He said he needed time to review the extensive material and did not signal whether he would ultimately pursue the case or abandon it.

Georgia – Ethics Commission’s Advisory Opinion Deals New Setback to Chris Carr in Fundraising Fight with Burt Jones

WXIA – Zach Merchant and Reeves Jackson | Published: 11/19/2025

An advisory opinion from Georgia’s ethics commission says certain candidates can loan their own personal money to a leadership committee or PAC. At the center of the dispute is a $10 million loan that Lt. Gov. Burt Jones made to his own leadership committee, a special fundraising vehicle that can accept unlimited donations. State law allows only a few officials to use these committees. The attorney general is not on that list. That means Jones has access to a leadership committee but state Attorney General Chris Carr, his primary opponent in the race for governor, does not.

Illinois – Senate President Don Harmon Faces New Challenge Over Near-$10M Campaign Finance Fine

Yahoo News – Rick Pearson (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 11/17/2025

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon is facing a new challenge over a State Board of Elections staff finding that his campaign committee owes $9.8 million in fines for accepting campaign contributions in excess of state limits. The Liberty Justice Center filed a complaint with the election board regarding Harmon’s committee. The move could allow the matter to go to court and sidestep the bipartisan election panel’s stalemate on the issue.

Indiana – Indiana Likely Will Not Push Forward with Redistricting Despite Pressure from White House

MSN – Adam Wren and Andrew Howard (Politico) | Published: 11/14/2025

President Trump’s effort to force mid-decade redistricting suffered a major setback after Indiana’s Republican Senate leader declared the chamber will not convene in December to redraw maps. It marks the fourth state where efforts have stalled despite pressure from Trump and his political team. Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray announcement immediately incensed those in Trump’s orbit.

Kansas – Mayor of Tiny Kansas Town Could Be Deported Over Voter Fraud Charges

MSN – Caroline O’Donovan (Washington Post) | Published: 11/18/2025

Joe Ceballos has been winning elections in the tiny ranching town of Coldwater for more than a decade, recently securing his second mayoral term in a landslide. But Ceballos’s version of the American dream – a Mexican immigrant who became an integral part of a close-knit Kansas community – has run into a newer American phenomenon: the aggressive prosecution of alleged voter fraud by noncitizens.

Kentucky – FCPS Lobbyist Terminates Contract, Alleging ‘Monetary and Reputational Damage’

MSN – Valarie Honeycutt Spears (Lexington Herald-Leader) | Published: 11/14/2025

In May, Piper-Smith LLC submitted a $38,000 marketing campaign to the Fayette County Public Schools to help it convince the public that a 50 percent occupational tax increase was necessary. A lobbyist for Fayette County Public Schools has terminated her contract with the district after she says her firm suffered “significant damage due to the district’s shifting information on its budget status.”

Louisiana – In Louisiana, Casinos Can’t Make Political Donations, but Sportsbooks Can, Ethics Board Says

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/14/2025

Louisiana prohibits casino companies and executives from making state political contributions, but that same ban does not apply to sports gambling operations, according to the Louisiana Board of Ethics. A sport betting company and its senior management can still make political donations, even if the business is a subsidiary of a larger gambling enterprise prohibited from doing so.

Michigan – Woodward’s Firm Gave Campaign Services to Third of Commissioners He Oversees

MSN – Max Bryan (MediaNews Group) | Published: 11/13/2025

Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson Dave Woodward is a paid political consultant for a business that provided campaign services to one-third of the commissioners he now oversees, records show, a situation critics see as a potential conflict-of-interest. Woodward is a partner owner of Pivot Point Strategies LLC, a firm that has provided campaign services to six fellow Democratic commissioners since the beginning of 2020, according to campaign finance reports.

Michigan – Michigan Establishes Disclosure Requirements for Earmarks in State Budget

MSN – Clara Hendrickson (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 11/19/2025

New Michigan laws will bring greater transparency to state spending directly awarded to a specific entity, such as a nonprofit or local government, at a lawmaker’s request. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a pair of bills establishing new disclosure requirements and mandating a 45-day period for the public to learn about earmark funding proposals before lawmakers approve the spending. Earmarks do not go through the typical process for distributing public dollars in which a state department or agency evaluates which bidders should receive funding.

Michigan – Detroit’s Ethics System Under Fire as Mary Sheffield Faces First Test as Mayor-Elect

Yahoo News – Violet Ikonomova (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 11/18/2025

A series of recent ethical concerns involving Detroit officials, including city council President and Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield, have prompted criticism of the city’s conflict-of-interest rules and the apparatus designed to ensure they are followed. Government ethics experts flagged poor advice from the Detroit Board of Ethics and policies that appear to allow officials to seek guidance from sources beyond that board, which can lead to conflicting determinations. Ethics training is lacking with less than 10 percent of Detroit’s 10,000-plus public servants having taken it.

Missouri – How a Nebraska Veteran Unwittingly Became a Repeat Donor to a Missouri County Campaign

Yahoo News – Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) | Published: 11/17/2025

A Korean War veteran from Nebraska named Russell Wood made 35 donations totaling $1,050 over the last year to Bill Eigel’s campaign for St. Charles County executive. The problem is, Wood, who is 92, has never heard of Eigel or set foot in St. Charles County. He said he had no idea he had made so many donations to Eigel’s campaign. Wood appears to have been caught in an online fundraising practice that makes donations automatically repeat on a weekly or monthly basis unless the contributor changes a pre-checked box.

Nevada – Nevada Supreme Court Revives Criminal Case Over Trump Elector Gambit

Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 11/13/2025

A unanimous Nevada Supreme Court revived the criminal case against six prominent allies of President Trump who falsely claimed to be legitimate presidential electors amid Trump’s effort to subvert the 2020 election. The justices concluded state Attorney General Aaron Ford properly brought the forgery case in Las Vegas, overruling a lower-court decision that found the case should have been brought in Carson City, where the pro-Trump elector nominees signed the false documents.

New Mexico – New Mexico Lawmaker Appeals Adverse Ruling Over Campaign Donation to Student

Courthouse News Service – Joe Duhownik | Published: 11/18/2025

New Mexico’s secretary of state engaged in content discrimination when she referred Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino’s donation to a high school student for criminal prosecution under campaign finance laws, the senator told a federal appeals court. Ortiz y Pino said a section of the state’s Campaign Reporting Act violates the First Amendment by discriminating what types of charitable contributions an elected official can make with their campaign funds.

New York – Ex-Aide to NYC Mayor Eric Adams Avoids Prison Time as Federal Judge Addresses ‘Elephant in the Room’

MSN – Jake Offenhartz (Associated Press) | Published: 11/18/2025

A former aide to outgoing New York Mayor Eric Adams was sentenced to three years’ probation, including a year of home confinement, for soliciting illegal campaign contributions for Adams. But as a federal judge announced the sentence for Mohamed Bahi, a liaison to the city’s Muslim communities, he also addressed the “elephant in the room” – that Adams’ own corruption charges had been erased through a remarkable intervention by the Trump administration.

North Dakota – Campaign Finance at Heart of Latest Skirmish Between Executive Branch, ND Ethics Commission

Yahoo News – Jacob Orledge (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 11/17/2025

The secretary of state is asking for a formal legal opinion from the attorney general on the North Dakota Ethics Commission’s authority, including whether it had the right to issue a recent advisory opinion. The Legislature empowered the commission to issue advisory opinions if a public official wants to know whether an action is permitted under state law. But the governor and other elected officials say the agency has overstepped, with the conflict contributing to a stalled process to fill vacancies on the commission.

Ohio – FirstEnergy Ordered to Pay More Than $250 Million for Misconduct in Sweeping Ohio Bribery Scheme

Yahoo Finance – Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) | Published: 11/19/2025

Ohio utility regulators ordered FirstEnergy to pay more than $250 million in fines and refunds for its misconduct in a statehouse bribery scandal whose fallout continues five years on. Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, among the state’s most powerful politicians, and four associates were charged for their parts in an alleged $60 million racketeering scheme funded by FirstEnergy in exchange for a $1 billion nuclear plant bailout. FirstEnergy admitted to the bribes and agreed to pay $230 million to avoid prosecution.

Oklahoma – After Vote Controversy, Lawmakers and Elected Officials Will Get Thousands More in Pay

MSN – Murray Evans (The Oklahoman) | Published: 11/19/2025

State boards that determine pay for legislators and statewide elected officials have met for a second time after their actions in previous meetings were called into question because one member was a registered lobbyist and should not have been serving on the boards. The Legislative Compensation Board and the Statewide Official Compensation Commission, which have the same nine members, rescinded actions from previous meetings and updated their decisions regarding pay raises for legislators and 11 statewide positions.

Pennsylvania – Barstool Influencers Pushed Anti-Tax Message as Pa. Lawmakers Privately Debated Sports Betting Proposal

Spotlight PA – Stephen Caruso | Published: 11/19/2025

As Pennsylvania lawmakers worked to reach a budget deal, three Barstool Sports influencers sent a message to their millions of followers: Harrisburg wants to tax your fun. Behind the scenes, Democrats were trying to sell their GOP counterparts on a deal that would increase taxes on sports betting and online gaming. The videos demonstrated the changing landscape of advocacy in a media environment where Americans flock to digital personalities for their news. They also raise questions about whether they constituted lobbying, and if Barstool Sports and its stars were registered to do such advocacy work.

South Carolina – Are All Public Charter School Districts Subject to Ethics Laws? SC Agency Says No

MSN – Zak Koeske (The State) | Published: 11/13/2025

For years, South Carolina’s ethics agency has held taxpayer-funded charter school districts to the same government accountability standards as traditional public-school districts. But that treatment, the Ethics Commission recently determined, should not have been applied to all charter school districts. Because the districts were created by private entities, the commission reasoned, they were not governmental entities, and their board members and employees were not public members or public employees.

Tennessee – Tennessee Judge Blocks Trump’s Use of National Guard in Memphis but Gives Time for Government Appeal

MSN – Adrian Sainz and Jonathan Mattise (Associated Press) | Published: 11/18/2025

A Tennessee judge blocked the use of the National Guard in Memphis under a crime-fighting operation by President Trump but also put the order on hold, giving the government five days to appeal. Davidson County Chancellor Patricia Head Moskal’s decision sides with Democratic state and local officials who sued, contending Gov. Bill Lee cannot deploy the Tennessee National Guard for civil unrest unless there is rebellion or invasion, and even then, it would require action by state lawmakers.

Tennessee – Tennessee Registry Orders Pardoned House Staffer to Explain Troubled PAC

Yahoo News – Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) | Published: 11/19/2025

The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance is ordering a former House staff member recently pardoned after conviction in a corruption case to testify about a PAC he secretly formed in 2020 to sway the election. The registry voted to drop a subpoena against Cade Cothren and, instead, bring him in next year to explain his actions in forming the Faith Family Freedom Fund. Registry Chairperson Tom Lawless said Cothren sent fraudulent documents, including a treasurer’s report and several emails, to the agency when he formed the PAC.

Texas – Federal Court Blocks Texas from Using New Congressional Gerrymander in 2026 Midterms

MSN – Eleanor Klibanoff (Texas Tribune) | Published: 11/18/2025

A federal appeals court panel ruled Texas cannot use its new congressional map for the 2026 election and will instead need to stick with the lines passed in 2021. The decision is a blow for Republicans, in Texas and nationally, who pushed through this unusual mid-decade redistricting at the behest of President Trump. They were hoping the new map would help protect the narrow GOP majority in the U.S. House.

Wyoming – Wyoming Legislature Reverses Course on Axing Memberships with National Associations Perceived as Too Costly, Liberal

MSN – Maggie Mullen (WyoFile) | Published: 11/20/2025

Lawmakers reversed course on the prospect of cutting ties with two national, non-partisan organizations that have long provided research and training to members and staff of the Wyoming Legislature. Wyoming pays biennial dues to the Council of State Governments West and the National Conference of State Legislatures that cost approximately $271,300 and $293,500 respectively. The value of those memberships, however, came into question during a Management Council meeting in April.

Campaign Finance

Colorado: “Colorado Justices Weigh Disclosure Requirements for Ballot Initiative Spending” by Michael Karlik (Colorado Politics) for Colorado Springs Gazette

New Mexico: “New Mexico Lawmaker Appeals Adverse Ruling Over Campaign Donation to Student” by Joe Duhownik for Courthouse News Service

New York: “Ex-Aide to NYC Mayor Eric Adams Avoids Prison Time as Federal Judge Addresses ‘Elephant in the Room'” by Jake Offenhartz (Associated Press) for MSN

Tennessee: “Tennessee Registry Orders Pardoned House Staffer to Explain Troubled PAC” by Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) for Yahoo News

Ethics

National: “Justice Dept. Acknowledges Full Grand Jury Never Saw Final Comey Indictment” by Salvador Rizzo and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN

Ohio: “FirstEnergy Ordered to Pay More Than $250 Million for Misconduct in Sweeping Ohio Bribery Scheme” by Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) for Yahoo Finance

Lobbying

Colorado: “Colorado Ethics Commission Advances Complaints Against Democrats Who Attended Dark Money-Funded Retreat” by Taylor Dolven for Colorado Sun

National: “Most Corporate Trump Ballroom Donors Repped by 3 Lobbying Firms, Watchdog Says” by Arden Farhi (CBS News) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “Barstool Influencers Pushed Anti-Tax Message as Pa. Lawmakers Privately Debated Sports Betting Proposal” by Stephen Caruso for Spotlight PA

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “Senate President Don Harmon Faces New Challenge Over Near-$10M Campaign Finance Fine” by Rick Pearson (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

Pennsylvania: “Capitol Police Arrest 18 at Protest Against Lax Pa. Campaign Finance Laws” by Tirzah Christopher (PennLive) for MSN

Elections

Kansas: “Mayor of Tiny Kansas Town Could Be Deported Over Voter Fraud Charges” by Caroline O’Donovan (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Trump Family’s Business Ties to Saudi Arabia Raise Ethics Worries” by Vivian Nereim (New York Times) for Seattle Times

National: “Despite Congressional Action, Quick Release of Epstein Files Is in Doubt” by Perry Stein, Jeremy Roebuck, and Theodoric Meyer (Washington Post) for MSN

Michigan: “Detroit’s Ethics System Under Fire as Mary Sheffield Faces First Test as Mayor-Elect” by Violet Ikonomova (Detroit Free Press) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

National: “House Democrats Split Over Unusual Reprimand of One of Their Own” by Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) for MSN

Redistricting

Texas: “Federal Court Blocks Texas from Using New Congressional Gerrymander in 2026 Midterms” by Eleanor Klibanoff (Texas Tribune) for MSN