Lobbying

Arizona: “Arizona Attorney General Investigating Phoenix Law Firm’s Falsified Lobbying Documents” by Dustin Gardiner and Rob O’Dell for Arizona Republic

Campaign Finance

“Why the High Court Sidestepped a Soft Money Case” by Joseph Williams for U.S. News & World Report

Maryland: “Mayor Pugh Calls Gary Brown ‘a Good Employee,’ Stands by Him Following Guilty Finding” by Yvonne Wagner for Baltimore Sun

Missouri: “Campaign Finance Decision Being Appealed” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Pennsylvania: “Claiming ‘Taco Bell’ Tastes, Philly DA Williams Drew Questions Early on with Elaborate Campaign Spending” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

Ethics

“A Vocal Defender of Ethics Has Fans – and Foes” by Nicholas Fandos for New York Times

Massachusetts: “Former Top Mass. Lawmaker Often Helped His Business, Family” by Andrea Estes for Boston Globe

New York: “Ex-Sterne Agee Executive Admits to N.Y. Pension Fund Bribes” by Christian Berthelson for Bloomberg.com

New York: “Appeals Court Vacates Former State Senator’s Conviction and Fine” by Benjamin Weiser for New York Times

Oregon: “Republican Confirmed to State Ethics Panel Despite Democrats’ Outcry” by Gordon Friedman for Portland Oregonian

Elections

Ohio: “High Court to Review Ohio’s Method for Removing Voters from Registration Rolls” by Robert Barnes for Washington Post

Lobbying

“White House Backs Down on Keeping Ethics Waivers Secret” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

Pennsylvania: “Lack of Gift Ban for Pa.’s Legislators Continues to Miff Critics” by Angela Couloumbis (Philadelphia Inquirer) and Karen Langley for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Court: Former Attorney General Tom Horne’s rights violated in campaign case” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez for Arizona Republic

Missouri: “Candidate Spending Gets Little Scrutiny under Missouri Ethics Laws” by Ellen Cagle for Southeast Missourian

Washington: “Citizen Watchdog Peppers Washington State with Campaign-Finance Complaints Against Dems” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times

Ethics

“A Constitutional Puzzle: Can the president be indicted?” by Adam Liptak for New York Times

“Congress Expands Russia Investigation to Include Trump’s Personal Attorney” by Brian Ross and Matthew Mosk for ABC News

“How Michael Flynn May Have Run Afoul of the Law” by Charlie Savage for New York Times

Kentucky: “Bevin, Facing Ethics Complaint, Blasts Journalist Over Reporting About His Mansion” by Allison Ross (Louisville Courier-Journal) for Lexington Herald-Leader

Michigan: “Lawyer Is 7th Person Charged in Macomb County Corruption Probe” by Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press

Legislative Issues

Texas: “Texas Lawmaker Threatens to Shoot Colleague After Reporting Protesters to ICE” by Matthew Haag for New York Times

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “Divided House Forwards Campaign Bill to Senate” by Christine Stuart for CTNewsJunkie.com

Missouri: “Missouri Pay-to-Play Allegations Heat Up Over New Links Between Lawmaker, Megadonor” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star

Ohio: “Dayton Mayor Using Uncapped Mayoral Campaign Fund for Gubernatorial Bid, AP Reports” by Associated Press for Cleveland Plain Dealer

Ethics

“Jared Kushner Now a Focus in Russia Investigation” by Matt Zapotosky, Sari Horwitz, Devlin Barrett, and Adam Entous for Washington Post

Alabama: “Mike Hubbard Appeals Ethics Convictions; Says Prosecutors Misinterpreted Law” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser

Arizona: “Ex-Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce, Lobbyist Jim Norton Indicted” by Rachel Leingang and Hank Stephenson for Arizona Capitol Times

California: “Taxpayer Money Wasted on Bar Tabs, Trips to Las Vegas and Expensive Electronics in South El Monte, Audit Shows” by Adam Elmahrek for Los Angeles Times

South Carolina: “More Than 50 Accusations Against Public Officials Await Stalled South Carolina Ethics Commission” by Maya Prabhu for Charleston Post and Courier

Texas: “Bills Aimed at Restricting Lobbyists Die in Texas House” by Sean Collins Walsh for Austin American-Statesman

Elections

“The GOP Inherits What Trump Has Wrought” by Karen Tumulty and Robert Costa for Washington Post

“‘Anyone … with a Pulse’: How a Russia-friendly adviser found his way into the Trump campaign” by Tom Hamburger and Rosalind Helderman for Washington Post

Lobbying

Missouri: “Greitens Nonprofit Lobbies for Legislation, But Isn’t Registered to Lobby” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post Dispatch

Campaign Finance

Missouri: “New Campaign Finance Rules Ignore Missouri Voters’ Decision” by Kurt Erickson (Tribune News Service) for Governing

Texas: “Dozens of Abbott Appointees Surpass Donor Threshold Targeted by Stalled ‘Pay for Play’ Bill” by Jolie McCullough for Texas Tribune

Virginia: “Dark Money Comes with a Twist in Virginia’s Statewide Races” by Alan Suderman (Associated Press) for Minneapolis Star Tribune

Ethics

“Justice Department Ethics Experts Clear Mueller to Lead Russia Probe” by Matt Zapotosky and Matea Gold for Washington Post

“Fox News Retracts Story Linking Murder of D.N.C. Aide to 2016 Presidential Campaign” by Michael Grynbaum and Daniel Victor for New York Times

Connecticut: “Voting in Your Employer’s Interest? No Conflict in Connecticut” by Mark Pazniokas for Connecticut Mirror

Florida: “New DEP Secretary Says There’s No Conflict in Political Side Businesses” by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald

Lobbying

Colorado: “Shuttering the Revolving Door, Bennet Bill Would Institute Lifetime Lobbying Ban for Lawmakers” by Adam McCoy for Colorado Statesman

Arizona: “Phoenix Moves to Implement New Rules for Lobbyists Following Republic Report” by Rob O’Dell and Dustin Gardiner for Arizona Republic

New York: “JCOPE Settlement Expected to Reveal Glenwood Behind $690K” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

Lobbying

Iowa: “Ethics Complaint Against Iowa Gun Owners Leader Dismissed” by Brianne Pfannenstiel for Des Moines Register

Rhode Island: “Ethics Board: Former Senate President Paiva Weed must wait to lobby General Assembly” by Christine Dunn for Providence Journal

Virginia: “A ‘Personal Friend’ Exemption on Gifts to Virginia’s Elected Officials Leaves Open an Unlimited Loophole” by Bill Bartel for The Virginian-Pilot

Campaign Finance

Maine: “Maine Developer Will Face Jail Time, Fines for Illegal Political Donations” by Edward Murphy for Portland Press Herald

North Carolina: “Former NC Legislator, Fletcher Hartsell, Gets Probation in State’s Campaign Finance Case” by Anne Blythe for Raleigh News & Observer

Ethics

“Kushner Keeps Most of His Real Estate but Offers Few Clues About Potential White House Conflicts” by Amy Brittain and Jonathan O’Connell for Washington Post

Michigan: “Feds: Bag man delivered bribes to Macomb officials” by Robert Snell for Detroit News

New York: “Whose Job Is It to Investigate Legislature’s ‘Lulu’ System?” by Rachel Silberstein for Gotham Gazette

Elections

“Former C.I.A. Chief Reveals Mounting Concern Over Trump Campaign and Russia” by Matt Apuzzo for New York Times

“Trump Asked Intelligence Chiefs to Push Back against FBI Collusion Probe after Comey Revealed Its Existence” by Adam Entous and Ellen Nakashima for Washington Post

Lobbying

“White House Moves to Block Ethics Inquiry into Ex-Lobbyists on Payroll” by Eric Lipton for New York Times

California: “California Is About to Go Nuts Thanks to Some Fourth-Graders from Merced” by Robert Rodriguez for Fresno Bee

Campaign Finance

“Michael Flynn Invokes 5th Amendment, Citing ‘Public Frenzy’” by The Associated Press for Portland Oregonian

“Supreme Court Affirms Ban on ‘Soft Money’ in Campaigns” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

“Bullock Vetoes Bill to Raise Allowable Campaign Contributions” by Holly Michels for Billings Gazette

Ethics

Arkansas: “Panel: Dallas Cowboys owner violated Arkansas ethics law” by John Lyon (Arkansas News Bureau) for Arkansas Online

New Jersey: “Frelinghuysen Hit with Ethics Complaint Over Outing of Activist to Her Employer” by Justin Zaremba (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger

South Carolina: “How South Carolina Lawmakers Are Re-examining Their Rule Book after Statehouse Probe Indictments” by Andy Shain for Charleston Post and Courier

Redistricting

North Carolina: “Supreme Court Ruling Wipes Out Republican-Drawn House Districts in N.C.” by Richard Wolff for USA Today

Federal:

Deputy Attorney General Appoints Special Counsel to Oversee Probe of Russian Interference in Election
Washington Post – Devlin Barrett, Sari Horwitz, and Matt Zapotosky | Published: 5/18/2017

The Justice Department appointed Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, as special counsel to oversee the investigation into ties between President Trump’s campaign and Russian officials, dramatically raising the legal and political stakes in an affair that has threatened to engulf Trump’s presidency. The decision by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein came after a cascade of damaging developments for Trump in recent days, including his abrupt dismissal of James Comey as FBI director, and the subsequent disclosure that the president asked Comey to drop the investigation of his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

DOJ Deflects Calls for More Foreign Agents Act Transparency
Bloomberg BNA – Kenneth Doyle | Published: 5/11/2017

Watchdogs are calling for the U.S. Department of Justice to make public all of its advisory opinions on the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a law aimed at letting the public know about foreign influence on U.S. politics. The Justice Department recently posted online brief summaries of three past advisory opinions issued under FARA. It has indicated no plans for further action. Meanwhile, other, more complex questions about who must register under the law have increased. High-profile advocates, including Michael Flynn, President Trump’s former national security adviser, recently filed disclosures under FARA revealing past work for foreign governments or political parties.

Reckless Stock Trading Leaves Congress Rife with Conflicts
Politico – Maggie Severns | Published: 5/14/2017

A Politico investigation found 28 House members and six senators each traded more than 100 stocks in the past two years, placing them in the potential cross hairs of a conflict-of-interest on a regular basis. A handful of lawmakers, some of them frequent traders and some not, disproportionately trade in companies that also have an interest in their work on Capitol Hill. House and Senate members who are active traders insist their buying and selling is a normal part of managing their finances, as with any American who wants to save for retirement. But the clear majority of lawmakers avoid potential conflicts by buying mutual funds, putting their portfolios in blind trusts, or simply staying out of the stock market.

The Right Builds an Alternative Narrative About the Crises Around Trump
New York Times – Jeremy Peters | Published: 5/17/2017

As Americans process a dizzying week of damning revelations about President Trump, he has found shelter on the right, where the collective judgment of the conservative media and the Republican Party so far seems to be to shift the blame and change the subject. His most fervent supporters are building alternative narratives to run alongside the “mainstream media” account, from relatively benign diversions to more bizarre conspiracies. For many Trump loyalists, the issue is not whether his presidency is messy and chaotic and dysfunctional; the more relevant question is whether they see anyone else who is equipped to change Washington in the way Trump promised he would.

What Is Obstruction of Justice? An Often-Murky Crime, Explained
New York Times – Charlie Savage | Published: 5/16/2017

The report that President Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to drop the investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn has sparked charges that Trump is obstructing justice. Several federal statutes criminalize actions that impede official investigations. While some examples of illegal ways to thwart the justice system are specific, like destroying evidence, the law also includes broad, catchall prohibitions. Could that cover asking the FBI director to drop part of an investigation, and later firing him?

From the States and Municipalities:

California – Mayor’s Top Aide Got Married at Bayfront Estate of Developer and SoccerCity Supporter
San Diego Union-Tribune – Jeff McDonald | Published: 5/12/2017

Stephen Puetz, chief of staff to San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, took his wedding vows at a private home owned by developer Morgan Dene Oliver, who advocating for the SoccerCity plan for the city-owned Qualcomm Stadium property. Puetz said he received no special treatment from Oliver. As soon as he was offered use of the estate, he said, he contacted the city Ethics Commission to see how he could best meet the conflict-of-interest rules. Puetz said he and his wife, former council aide and registered lobbyist Diana Palacios, paid for the wedding themselves, including a reasonable fee to Oliver for use of the property.

Massachusetts – City Council Debates Level of Transparency in Lobbying Act
Spare Change News – Beth Treffeisen | Published: 5/15/2017

The Boston City Council held a hearing to discuss Mayor Martin Walsh’s re-filing of the proposed home rule petition on lobbying. At the hearing, questions soon arose on whether this draft is what would work best for the city. In its current form, the petition is modeled after existing lobbying regulations at the state-level, but also goes beyond the state’s framework by covering communications not only with elected officials but also with all city employees at all levels of municipal government.

Missouri – Greitens Fails to Meet Promises on Ethics Laws
Southeast Missourian – Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) | Published: 5/15/2017

Bills to strengthen state ethics laws, a campaign pledge of Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, languished and failed to make it to his desk before lawmakers adjourned the 2017 legislative session. While Greitens said he “set the example on ethics” by enacting lobbyist-gift and revolving-door bans in the executive branch, lawmakers said a not-for-profit with secret donors that promotes his agenda helped undermine his policy proposals in the Legislature.

Montana – New Commissioner Takes Over at Political Practices Office
U.S. News & World Report – Matt Volz (Associated Press) | Published: 5/15/2017

Jeff Mangan has taken over as Montana’s commissioner of political practices, succeeding Jonathan Motl. The office is a political hot seat by nature of its role as the independent overseer of the campaign activities of the state’s elected officials. Allegations of partisan bias tend to dog the commissioner, who is appointed by the governor and must be confirmed by the Senate. As a result, the commissioner’s office has seen frequent turnover – Mangan will be the fifth person to hold the office since Dennis Unsworth in 2010, and he is the first in that time to be confirmed to a full six-year term.

New Hampshire – N.H. Ethics Committee Has Fielded Dozens of Complaints, But Issued No Violations
New Hampshire Public Radio – Casey McDermott | Published: 5/15/2017

The Executive Branch Ethics Committee has spent much of the last decade maintaining a remarkably low profile – it has never held a public hearing on a complaint or recommended any penalties against public officials accused of ethics breaches. From the beginning, this seven-member panel was designed to serve as a resource and a kind of conscience-check for state officials. On that end, it has published dozens of advisory opinions, but the committee was also supposed to be a place where the public could turn when they thought executive branch officials were breaking the rules.

New Jersey – ‘P.S.: One of the ring leaders works in your bank!’: Is this congressman’s fundraising letter a threat?
Washington Post – Amber Phillips | Published: 5/15/2017

In a hand-written note, U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen outed a member of an activist group opposing the incumbent Republican to her employer. Saily Avelenda was still a senior vice president and assistant general counsel at Lakeland Bank in March when Frelinghuysen sent a fundraising letter to a member of the bank’s board of directors informing him that Avelenda was one of the “ringleaders” of NJ 11th for Change. The group formed in response to the election of President Trump and has been pressuring Frelinghuysen to meet with constituents in his district and to oppose Trump’s agenda. Avelenda subsequently resigned from her position at the bank.

North Carolina – Strict North Carolina Voter ID Law Thwarted After Supreme Court Rejects Case
New York Times – Adam Liptak and Michael Wines | Published: 5/15/2017

The U.S. Supreme Court will not review a decision that found North Carolina’s 2013 voting law discriminated against African American voters. A unanimous panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit had found in 2016 that North Carolina legislators had acted “with almost surgical precision” to blunt the influence of African American voters. Last summer, the Supreme Court had divided evenly on whether the law could be used in last fall’s election while the appeals continued. As is the court’s custom, the justices gave no reason for declining to hear the case. But Chief Justice John Roberts issued a statement noting there was a dispute about who represented the state in the case and nothing should be read into the court’s decision to decline to hear it.

South Carolina – State Rep. Rick Quinn Indicted by State Grand Jury
Charleston Post & Courier – Glenn Smith | Published: 5/16/2017

State Rep. Rick Quinn is the fourth South Carolina legislator charged as part of a corruption probe. A grand jury indicted Quinn on two counts of misconduct in office. He is accused of using campaign donations for personal profit. Quinn is the son of veteran strategist Richard Quinn, who owns marketing and political consulting firms. Rick Quinn, also a campaign consultant, owns a direct-mail business. The Quinns have said they keep their firms separate, but the indictments allege Rep. Quinn has an economic interest in all of them. Quinn’s father has not been charged. But the millions of dollars the Quinn firms have collected and spent on clients’ behalf have been a central part of the inquiry.

Vermont – Vt. Political Ethics Bill Moves to Governor’s Desk
Burlington Free Press – April McCullum | Published: 5/11/2017

A bill passed by Vermont lawmakers sets up a state ethics commission in 2018 with a part-time executive director that would review complaints, but would have no investigative or enforcement authority. The commission would also create a state ethics code. The bill also limits lawmakers and government officials from lobbying immediately after they leave office. Individuals who give campaign contributions to a candidate would have to wait one year before that politician’s office could consider them for a no-bid state contract over $50,000.

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 60 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

Lobbying

Massachusetts: “City Council Debates Level of Transparency in Lobbying Act” by Beth Treffeisen for Spare Change News

Campaign Finance

California: “California Ethics Watchdog Nabs Its Former Leader” by Taryn Luna for Sacramento Bee

Ethics

“Comey Memo Says Trump Asked Him to End Flynn Investigation” by Michael Schmidt for New York Times

“At Mar-a-Lago, the Star Power of the Presidency Helps Charities – and Trump – Make More Money” by Drew Harwell and David Fahrenthold for Washington Post

Montana: “New Commissioner Takes Over at Political Practices Office” by Matt Volz (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report

New Hampshire: “N.H. Ethics Committee Has Fielded Dozens of Complaints, But Issued No Violations” by Casey McDermott for New Hampshire Public Radio

New Jersey: “‘P.S.: One of the ring leaders works in your bank!’: Is this congressman’s fundraising letter a threat?” by Amber Phillips for Washington Post

West Virginia: “State Rep. Rick Quinn Indicted by State Grand Jury” by Glenn Smith for Charleston Post & Courier

Vermont: “Vt. Political Ethics Bill Moves to Governor’s Desk” by April McCullum for Burlington Free Press

Elections

North Carolina: “Strict North Carolina Voter ID Law Thwarted After Supreme Court Rejects Case” by Adam Liptak and Michael Wines for New York Times

Elections

“Young Black Democrats, Eager to Lead from the Left, Eye Runs in 2018” by Alexander Burns for New York Times

Ethics

“Trump Revealed Highly Classified Information to Russian Foreign Minister and Ambassador” by Greg Miller and Greg Jaffe for Washington Post

“How Trump Gets His Fake News” by Shane Goldmacher for Politico

“Under Trump, Inconvenient Data Is Being Sidelined” by Juliet Eilperin for Washington Post

“Reckless Stock Trading Leaves Congress Rife with Conflicts” by Maggie Severns for Politico

Missouri: “Greitens Fails to Meet Promises on Ethics Laws” by Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) for Southeast Missourian

New York: “Joseph Ponte to Resign as New York City Jails Chief” by Michael Schwirtz and William Rashbaum for New York Times

South Carolina: “South Carolina Consulting Firm’s ‘Tentacles’ Have Created an ‘Unprecedented’ Political Power Structure” by Andy Shain, Glenn Smith, and Andrew Brown for Charleston Post and Courier

Lobbying

California: “Mayor’s Top Aide Got Married at Bayfront Estate of Developer and SoccerCity Supporter” by Kevin McDonald for San Diego Union-Tribune

Texas: “State Fraud Investigator Forced to Resign Over Ties to Iraqi Government Lobbying” by Edgar Walters for Texas Tribune

Lobbying

“DOJ Deflects Calls for More Foreign Agents Act Transparency” by Kenneth Doyle for Bloomberg BNA

Kansas: “Who Are Kansas Lobbyists Taking to Dinner?” by Bryan Lowry and Kelsey Ryan for Kansas City Star

Texas: “Powerful Abbott Appointee’s Lobbying Sparks Blowback in Legislature” by Jay Root for Texas Tribune

Campaign Finance

Maryland: “FBI Searches Republican Political Consulting Firm in Annapolis” by Fenit Nirappil, Josh Hicks, and Matea Gold for Washington Post

Ethics

“Trump Warning to Comey Prompts Questions on ‘Tapes’” by Peter Baker and Michael Shear for New York Times

District of Columbia: “Bowser Cabinet Official Probed Over Child’s School Placement” by Peter Jamison for Washington Post

Florida: “Ex-Florida Congresswoman Convicted of Taking Money Meant for Charity” by Matt Stevens for New York Times

Rhode Island: “Providence Council President Charged with Embezzlement” by Jennifer Bogdan for Providence Journal

Elections

“Trump Picks Voter ID Advocate for Election Fraud Panel” by Julie Hirschfeld Davis for New York Times

Procurement

New York: “Government Watchdogs Push ‘Clean Contracting’ Reform in Albany” by Rachel Silberstein for Gotham Gazzette

Lobbying

California: “Foes into Friends: Lobbyists make amends to lawmakers with ‘make-up money’” by Laurel Rosenhall for CALmatters.org

Illinois: “Ethics Board Rejects Watchdog Recommendation That City Officials Report Lobbying” by Hal Dardick for Chicago Tribune

Campaign Finance

Tennessee: “Bill to Increase Campaign Finance Audits Heads to Governor” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Ethics

“CNN Exclusive: Grand jury subpoenas issued in FBI’s Russia investigation” by Evan Perez, Shimon Prokupecz, and Pamela Brown for CNN

New Hampshire: “Lawmaker Behind Misogynistic Forum: ‘I’ve never hated women’” by Kathleen Ronayne (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report

New Jersey: “$25,000 Could Be Yours for Reporting N.J. Corruption” by Owen Proctor for Bergen Record

Pennsylvania: “Philly DA Williams Faces More Federal Corruption Charges” by Jeremy Roebuck for Philadelphia Inquirer

West Virginia: “W. Va. Reporter Arrested for ‘Yelling Questions’ at HHS Secretary” by Doug Stanglin for USA Today

Legislative Issues

“Why the IRS Puts White-Nationalist Groups in the Same Category as Orchestras, Planetariums and Zoos” by Max Ehrenfreund for Washington Post

Lobbying

“Trump’s Trade Pick Clears Hurdle, Despite Past Foreign Lobbying” by Fredreka Schouten for USA Today

Campaign Finance

Connecticut: “GOP Seeks to Gut Public Campaign Funding in Conn.” by Neil Vigdor for Connecticut Post

New Mexico: “Toulouse Oliver Proposes New Campaign Spending Rules” by Dan Boyd for Albuquerque Journal

Ethics

“Sally Yates Tells Senators She Warned Trump About Michael Flynn” by Matt Apuzzo and Emmarie Huetteman for New York Times

“Trump Looms as Kushner Companies Courts Investors in China” by Keith Bradsher, Ailin Tang, and Jesse Drucker for New York Times

California: “California Politicians Stole Their Money. Will That Make Them Care About Democracy?” by Alexei Koseff for Sacramento Bee

Florida: “When That Feisty Neighbor Becomes the President” by Michael LaForgia and Steve Eder for New York Times

Illinois: “Ex-Top Aide to Dorothy Brown Indicted on Charges She Lied to Grand Jury” by Jason Meisner for Chicago Tribune

New York: “Murky Definitions for Government Entities Undermines Transparency” by Rachel Silberstein for Gotham Gazette

Lobbying

“Silicon Valley Tech Lobbyists Swarm Brussels” by Harry Cooper and Nicholas Hirst for Politico.eu

“Lewandowski Exits Lobby Firm Amid Reports of Foreign Clients” by Jennifer Jacobs and Ben Brody for Bloomberg.com

Canada: “Liberals Removed Lobbyists Who Signed Up for Montreal Fundraiser with Justin Trudeau” by Giuseppe Valiante and Joanna Smith (The Canadian Press) for CBC

Campaign Finance

California: “California Attorney General Targets Political Nonprofits” by Don Thompson (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report

Missouri: “Campaign Donation Limits Stay, but Other Parts of Missouri’s New Campaign Finance Law Blocked by Federal Judge” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“Nelson Mullins Partner Settles with SEC in Pay-to-Play Suit” by Scott Flaherty for American Lawyer

Ethics

“Trump Eases Ban on Political Activity by Churches” by Jordan Fabian and Naomi Jagoda for The Hill

“The Mystery Behind a Flynn Associate’s Quiet Work for the Trump Campaign” by Matea Gold for Washington Post

Mississippi: “Physician Pleads Guilty to Bribing Mississippi Prison Chief” by Jeff Amy (Assocuated Press) for U.S. News & World Report

Elections

“Ivanka Trump’s West Wing Agenda” by Jodi Kantor, Rachel Abrams, and Maggie Haberman for New York Times

Lobbying

“Trump Transition Staffers Head to K Street Despite Lobbying Ban” by Theodoric Meyer and Michael Stratford for Politico

“City Pays for Mets Moment, Guided by Firm with Troubled Ties to de Blasio” by J. David Goodman for New York Times

Campaign Finance

Colorado: “Colorado Supreme Court Hears Dispute on Whether Legal Fees Count as Political Donations” by Tom McGhee for Denver Post

Minnesota: “Minnesota Republicans Want to Eliminate ‘Welfare for Politicians’” by Rachel Stassen-Berger for St. Paul Pioneer Press

Tennessee: “Jeremy Durham Dismisses Campaign Finance Audit, Points Finger in Fiery Letter” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Ethics

“A Code Pink Protester Laughs Over a Trump Nominee and Is Convicted” by Christopher Mele for New York Times

“While in White House, Trumps Remained Selling Points for ‘Very Special’ Philippines Project” by Drew Harwell and Matea Gold for Washington Post

Vermont: “House Passes Ethics Commission Bill with Some Reluctance” by Mark Johnson for VTDigger.org

Elections

“Comey Forcefully Defends ‘Painful’ Decision on Clinton Probe” by Josh Gerstein and Austin Wright for Politico