Campaign Finance Archives - State and Federal Communications

September 18, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Maryland: “Campaign Announcements Highlight ‘Glaring Hole’ in Maryland Election Law” by Sam Janesch (Baltimore Sun) for MSN National: “ActBlue Acquiring Dem Digital Firm as Its Mission Grows” by Jessica Piper (Politico) for MSN Rhode Island: “Former R.I. Senator […]

September 17, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Massachusetts: “Norfolk County Sheriff Patrick McDermott Accused of Using Campaign Cash for Personal Use” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) for MSN Elections Minnesota: “Democrat Elected to Fill Seat of Minnesota Lawmaker Killed in June” by Patrick Svitek […]

September 16, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Arizona: “Coconino Prosecutors Will Investigate Rodney Glassman Over Alleged Campaign Finance Violations” by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy (Arizona Mirror) for Yahoo News California: “Alameda County Board Rejects Bid to Raise Donation Limits in Supervisor Campaigns” by Kiley Russell (Bay City News) for MSN Rhode […]

September 15, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Arizona: “Arizona Supreme Court Weighs Fate of Voter-Approved ‘Dark Money’ Disclosure Law” by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy (Arizona Mirror) for Yahoo News Massachusetts: “MassGOP to Pay $36K After Allegations of Illegal Donations” by Ross Cristantiello (Boston.com) for MSN New York: […]

September 12, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – September 12, 2025

National/Federal FBI Seized Computers, Papers Labeled ‘Trump’ During Bolton Search MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 9/4/2025 FBI agents seized computers, phones and reams of documents in the search of the home and office of former national security […]

National/Federal

FBI Seized Computers, Papers Labeled ‘Trump’ During Bolton Search

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 9/4/2025

FBI agents seized computers, phones and reams of documents in the search of the home and office of former national security adviser John Bolton. Search warrant records confirmed prosecutors are seeking to build a case against Bolton for alleged unauthorized removal of classified documents and violations of the Espionage Act involving improper transmission of national defense information. The most serious of those crimes carries potential punishment of up to a decade in prison.

Historic Peace Vigil Partially Dismantled After Trump Orders: ‘Take it down’

MSN – Marissa Land (Washington Post) | Published: 9/7/2025

Law enforcement officials dismantled parts of the White House Peace Vigil, which had stood for more than forty years and called for nuclear disarmament and an end to global conflict, after President Trump ordered it to be taken down as part of the clearing of homeless encampments in the nation’s capital. Federal officers picked apart the structure that shields protesters and their signs from the elements. The vigil is maintained by a rotating cast of volunteers who keep the protest going 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Appeals Court Upholds E. Jean Carroll’s $83.3 Million Defamation Judgment Against President Trump

MSN – Jake Offenhartz (Associated Press) | Published: 9/8/2025

A federal appeals court upheld a civil jury’s finding that President Trump must pay $83.3 million to E. Jean Carroll for his repeated social media attacks against the longtime advice columnist after she accused him of sexual assault. A three-judge panel of the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Trump’s appeal of the defamation award, finding that the “jury’s damages awards are fair and reasonable.”

House Committee Releases More Epstein Documents, Including ‘Birthday Book’

MSN – Kadia Goba and Katie Tarrant (Washington Post) | Published: 9/8/2025

The House Oversight Committee released hundreds of pages of documents it received from sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, including a redacted version of a “birthday book” allegedly gifted to the deceased financier on his 50th birthday with messages from high-profile friends. Earlier in the day, Democrats on the committee released portions of the book, including a suggestive picture and note allegedly drawn by President Trump when he and Epstein were friends. White House officials have denied Trump drew the sketch or signed the note.

Chief Justice Allows Trump to Fire a Democratic FTC Commissioner for Now

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 9/8/2025

President Trump can fire a Democrat on the Federal Trade Commission while the Supreme Court considers whether to weigh in on a lawsuit challenging her dismissal, Chief Justice John Roberts ruled. Roberts did not offer a reason for the temporary ruling, but it signals the high court may be inclined to overturn an appeals court decision that affirmed Rebecca Slaughter’s reinstatement.

Paramount Picks Ombudsman to Review Complaints of Bias at CBS News

MSN – Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 9/8/2025

Paramount selected Kenneth Weinstein, the former president and chief executive of the conservative-leaning Hudson Institute think tank, to serve as ombudsman and review editorial complaints raised against CBS News. The company agreed to appoint an ombudsman for at least two years as a condition of its merger with Skydance Media, which was approved by the Federal Communications Commission in July.

Rep. Luna’s Investment in a Donor’s Energy Firm Illustrates Potential Limits of a Stock Trading Ban

MSN – Scott Wong (NBC News) | Published: 9/8/2025

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has threatened to force a vote a bill banning lawmakers from owning or trading stocks. But Luna’s most recent financial disclosure shows she has a significant investment of her own, illustrating how lawmakers could hold assets that pose potential conflicts-of-interest, even if the stock trading ban becomes law. Luna invested $250,001 to $500,000 in America First Natural Resources (AFNR), a company founded by one of her political donors. Luna’s office said she owns no stock in AFNR, emphasizing she has another kind of “investment” and does not own stock in any company.

Judge Temporarily Halts Firing of Fed Governor Lisa Cook

MSN – Andrew Ackerman (Washington Post) | Published: 9/9/2025

A federal judge temporarily blocked President Trump from removing Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, an early victory in her push to remain on the central bank board while she challenges the president’s authority to dismiss her. Trump moved to fire Cook in August, citing allegations by a member of his administration that she had committed mortgage fraud. No criminal charges have been filed, and Cook denies wrongdoing. She sued to stop Trump from ousting her.

Defying Past Criticism, Trump Plans G-20 Summit at His Doral Resort

MSN – Natalie Allison and Michael Birnbaum (Washington Post) | Published: 9/5/2025

President Trump plans to host next year’s Group of 20 summit at his Doral golf resort in Florida, fulfilling his wish to host a major gathering of world leaders at one of his properties after bowing to criticism of self-dealing over a similar proposal during his first term. Trump’s decision reflects the unconstrained approach he has taken during his second term, rejecting the guardrails that once constrained him when it came to mixing personal business with his public office.

Trump Ally Charlie Kirk Gunned Down in Brazen Act of Public Violence

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck, Natalie Allison, Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, and Angie Orellana Hernandez (Washington Post) | Published: 9/10/2025

Charlie Kirk, a key ally of President Trump, was fatally shot during a campus event at a Utah university, a slaying that shook the worlds of politics and media and horrified a vast audience who watched viral video of the attack on their phones. Kirk was known as one of the right’s most prominent and polarizing figures after amassing a significant following through Turning Point USA, his conservative youth organization that has chapters on more than 3,500 college campuses.

Trump Administration Halts I.R.S. Crackdown on Major Tax Shelters

Seattle Times – Jesse Drucker (New York Times) | Published: 9/9/2025

The Trump administration is dismantling efforts by the IRS to shut down aggressive tax shelters used by America’s biggest multinational companies and wealthiest people. The administration, bowing to pressure from industry groups, right-wing activists, and congressional Republicans, is rolling back several IRS law enforcement efforts, including one aimed at a lucrative tax shelter used by companies. The IRS crackdown was projected to raise more than $100 billion over 10 years.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Horne Seeks Recusal of Justice Who Prosecuted Him Over Campaign Finance Laws

Yahoo News – Gloria Rebecca Gomez (Arizona Mirror) | Published: 9/5/2025

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne wants an Arizona Supreme Court justice who accused him of violating state campaign finance laws more than a decade ago to step away from a case that has the potential to give Horne drastically more power over how students are taught. In the motion, attorney Dennis Wilenchik argued that a political spat between Horne and Justice Bill Montgomery means the latter should not have any role in deciding the fate of Horne’s ongoing lawsuit.

Arizona – An Arizona Law Promised to End Secret Political Donations. Did It Work?

Yahoo News – Taylor Seely (Arizona Republic) | Published: 9/10/2025

A voter-approved law intended to force groups to reveal the “true sources” behind campaign spending, but a review of public records showed that often did not happen. In the first election where the disclosure law was in place, 40 percent of campaigns listed no donors at all. More often, the reports showed groups funneling tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to other groups, without reporting where the money originated.

California – How California Legislators Got More Than $820,000 in Travel in 2024

MSN – Jeremia Kimelman (CalMatters) | Published: 9/8/2025

Last year, corporations and nonprofits spent more than $820,000 to take dozens of California legislators on domestic and international trips. Nearly 100 groups sponsored trips for 92 lawmakers, about three-quarters of the Legislature, to destinations that included far-flung places such as Europe, Southeast Asia, and Israel. State law requires that organizations annually disclose any major donors who travel alongside elected officials, if the travel for elected officials in a year totals more than $10,000 or at least $5,000 to a single official and if the trip sponsorship accounts for at least one-third of the organization’s total expenses.

California – SF Eyes Subtle Spending Reform After Priciest Election Ever

San Francisco Examiner – Adam Shanks | Published: 9/9/2025

In an era of big money in local politics, watchdogs are proposing a set of changes to San Francisco’s campaign finance laws. The proposal comes less than a year after Mayor Daniel Lurie vastly outspent his opponents in a crowded mayoral race largely by funneling his own money into the campaign. In total, 2024 was the most expensive election year in San Francisco history, according to the city Ethics Commission.

California – Supreme Court Lifts Restrictions on ‘Roving’ ICE Raids in Los Angeles

Yahoo News – Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 9/8/2025

Los Angeles area based on broad criteria such as speaking Spanish or gathering at locations day laborers often congregate. The justices put on hold a lower court order that reined in what critics called “roving” raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That judge found the tactics were likely unconstitutional because agents were detaining people without probable cause. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote it was reasonable to briefly question people who meet multiple “common sense” criteria for possible illegal presence.

Florida – U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds Skirts Campaign Finance Laws in Dual Bids for Congress, Governor

WUSF – Melanie Payne (Florida Trident) | Published: 9/8/2025

In February, after an endorsement by President Trump, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds announced he was running to be Florida’s next governor. Donations began pouring into the Friends of Byron Donalds PAC totaling more than $22 million. But contributions to Byron Donalds for Congress did not stop, and the FEC has an issue with the Donalds’ campaign soliciting and collecting money for both.

Hawaii – Ex-Mitsunaga Secretary Charged for Illegal Political Donations

Honolulu Civil Beat – Christina Jedra | Published: 9/3/2025

A former secretary for a prominent Hawaii engineering firm was criminally charged with making illegal political contributions, a rare campaign finance indictment in a state with a history of “pay-to-play.” The attorney general’s office indicted Terri Ann Otani on four counts of making false name contributions. In July 2020, Otani allegedly donated a total of $2,000 to Honolulu mayoral candidate Colleen Hanabusa in the names of her sister and niece even though those family members were not the actual source of the money.

Illinois – ICE Launches ‘Operation Midway Blitz’ Targeting Immigrants in Chicago

MSN – Mariana Alfaro, Arelis Hernández, Marianne LeVine, and Kim Bellware (Washington Post) | Published: 9/8/2025

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it launched an operation in Chicago as part of the Trump administration’s effort to target “sanctuary cities,” and immigrant advocates said several people in Hispanic communities have been detained. The number of reported arrests is relatively few, but immigrant rights advocates said the operation appears to mark a shift in tactics. Local activists said before this operation, agents presented warrants at specific homes or detained people at immigration court. They said stopping people on the street in what appeared to be a fairly random fashion is new.

Indiana – Remediation Document Reveals Ethics Concerns Before Indiana Cabinet Secretary Resignation

Yahoo News – Casey Smith and Niki Kelly (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 9/9/2025

A remediation agreement signed in July shows Jennifer-Ruth Green was already the subject of an inspector general investigation into alleged misuse of state resources and workplace misconduct before her sudden resignation as Indiana’s public safety secretary. Among the allegations against Green are claims she used state vehicles and travel cards for personal and political purposes and directed state employees to assist with those activities during work hours.

Louisiana – Landry Pays Fine, Discloses $13,540 in Free Travel in Deal to Drop Ethics Charges

Yahoo News – Greg LaRose and Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 9/5/2025

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry admitted to failing to report 19 instances of free travel he accepted as attorney general and governor, worth more than $13,500, under a settlement reached with the Louisiana Board of Ethics. The board fined the governor $900, though Landry could have faced tens of thousands of dollars in penalties for failing to disclose the complementary travel. The decision to drop the charges against Landry ends more than two years of deliberations with Landry’s attorneys since the charges were filed.

Massachusetts – Former Boston Councilor Sentenced for Kickback Scheme

MSN – Tréa Lavery (MassLive) | Published: 9/5/2025

A former Boston city councilor convicted on federal corruption charges was sentenced to one month in prison after pleading guilty to a kickback scheme earlier this year. In addition to the prison time, Tania Fernandes Anderson will serve three years of supervised release, during which she cannot hold any position with financial discretion, among other conditions. She will also be required to pay restitution and forfeiture of $13,000 and special assessments of $200.

Michigan – Judge Throws Out Charges Against GOP Would-Be Electors in Michigan

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 9/9/2025

A Michigan judge dismissed criminal charges against a group of people who were accused of attempting to falsely certify President Trump as the winner of the 2020 election in the battleground state, a major blow to prosecutors as similar cases in four other states have been muddied with setbacks. District Court Judge Kristen Simmons said she saw no intent to commit fraud in the defendants’ actions. They “seriously believed” there were problems with the election, the judge said. “… I believe they were executing their constitutional right to seek redress,” Simmons added.

Michigan – Consultant Charged in ‘Dark Money’ Scheme Continues to Aid Several Michigan GOP Candidates

Yahoo News – Kyle Davidson (Michigan Advance) | Published: 9/5/2025

A Republican consultant accused of fundraising violations in connection to a “dark money” scheme remains a key financial advisor for several GOP candidates and causes. Last year, the attorney general’s office brought several charges against Bright Spark Strategies co-founder Heather Lombardini, following an investigation into an alleged scheme in which two nonprofits funneled $2.6 million into the Unlock Michigan campaign, which aimed to repeal the emergency powers Gov. Gretchen Whitmer utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lombardini faces three misdemeanor charges and a felony for allegedly failing to file campaign finance disclosures.

Minnesota – Minneapolis Election Door-Knocking Dispute: Council member, park candidate feud with developer

MSN – Deena Winter (Minneapolis Star Tribune) | Published: 9/8/2025

A Minneapolis City Council member and a Park Board candidate claim a developer violated state law by refusing to allow their campaign workers into his buildings to knock on doors of potential voters. The law enacted last year allows candidates and campaign workers to campaign door-to-door in apartments, condo buildings, townhouses, college dorms, nursing homes, and mobile home parks. Building owners or managers who violate the law can face a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per violation and a petty misdemeanor charge.

Mississippi – It’s Not Just Trump. Red States Are Cracking Down on Their Own Blue Cities.

MSN – Molly Hennessy-Fiske (Washington Post) | Published: 9/8/2025

Defendants who appear in Jackson’s dilapidated county courthouse often wait more than a year to have cases heard, a backlog that local officials blame on too few judges and a shortage of resources. Since January, though, some individuals charged under the same statutes have gotten their version of justice in a parallel operation created by the Republican-run Mississippi Legislature. State leaders defend the new system as necessary to address a spike in crime and court backlogs. Critics say it was imposed by White GOP lawmakers on an overwhelmingly Black, majority-Democratic city.

New Jersey – N.J. Comptroller Alleges Conflicts of Interest Involving George Norcross’ Firm and Local Government Insurance Funds

MSN – Andrew Seidman (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 9/9/2025

Health insurance funds that serve more than 100,000 local government employees in New Jersey have been hijacked by a single private company that effectively controls their contracts, a state watchdog agency said. The New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller said Conner Strong & Buckelew, the insurance brokerage founded by Democratic power broker George Norcross III, and a related entity have violated public contracting laws and failed to disclose conflicts-of-interest to state regulators.

New York – The Secret Bundlers Behind Eric Adams’ Campaign Fundraising Revealed

MSN – Greg Smith and Yoav Gonen (The City) | Published: 9/5/2025

A loophole in the New York City law says campaigns do not have to disclose bundlers as intermediaries – money-raisers who choreograph multiple donations to campaigns – if they are doing this fundraising in connection to an event paid for by the campaign. A media investigation found Mayor Eric Adams did not disclose a slew of these secret bundlers to the Campaign Finance Board, a lapse that is legal, but ethically dubious, campaign finance experts say.

North Carolina – Campaign Watchdog Calls for Probe into Indian-American Group’s Fundraiser.

MSN – Dan Kane (Raleigh News & Observer) | Published: 9/3/2025

A campaign finance watchdog asked the State Board of Elections to investigate what he called an “eye-popping” fundraiser that he says drew more than $165,000 each to the campaigns of two of the state’s most powerful leaders. Bob Hall said he found evidence of “straw donors” and possible payments from business funds, both of which are illegal under North Carolina election laws. It was one of two complaints related to the fundraiser filed with the elections board.

Rhode Island – He’s a State Senator. She’s a Councilwoman. Why Controversy Follows Foster’s Power Couple.

USA Today – Katherine Gregg (Providence Journal) | Published: 9/8/2020

While Rhode Island Senate Minority Whip Gordon Rogers may be number two in the Republican leadership, his political influence is tempered by his party holding only four seats in the 38-member state Senate. But Rogers and his wife, Town Councilor Heidi Weston Rogers, are the political power couple in their hometown of Foster. That has led to an ethics complaint about what role, if any, she played in preventing his removal as the town’s $84,872-a-year director of public works.

Rhode Island – No Time Like the Present to Change Lobbyist Gift Rules, Open Government Advocates Tell Ethics Panel

Yahoo News – Alexander Castro (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 9/9/2025

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission heard public feedback on the possibility of changing state ethics rules to limit lobbyists’ influence on the lawmaking process. One change would increase the limit on individual gifts to public officials from $25 to $50 and from $75 to $150 annually in aggregate. The other would broaden the definition of “interested person” to explicitly cover lobbyists and their employers, filling a gap that lets public officials and employees accept potentially unlimited gifts from these parties.

Tennessee – Judge Acquits Casada, Cothren on 3 Charges for Insufficient Evidence, Other Counts Stand

Yahoo News – Vivian Jones (Tennessean) | Published: 9/9/2025

Months after a guilty verdict, a federal judge acquitted former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and a former top aide on three counts of public corruption but declined to acquit the men on more than a dozen other charges. A jury found Casada and his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren, guilty on more than a dozen counts each of public corruption charges, including fraud, bribery, theft, conspiracy, and money laundering.

Utah – Utahns Love to Call Their Members of Congress – Now They May Dial State Lawmakers More Often

Yahoo News – Alixel Cabrera (Utah Dispatch News) | Published: 9/5/2025

5 Calls, a website and app that finds users’ U.S. representatives and senators and provides them with a phone number and a script to discuss some of the hottest issues on Capitol Hill, is now expanding to include members of the Utah Legislature in partnership with Elevate PAC. On the list of federal issues, platform users in the state may now notice items with a red banner, marking state-wide issues. The experience has also been different with Utah lawmakers, as many personally answer their phone calls, as opposed to delegating calls to a staffer.

Washington – What Happens to Money Set Aside for Unused Seattle ‘Democracy Vouchers’?

KNKX – Nate Sanford | Published: 9/9/2025

People who support Seattle’s “democracy voucher” program outnumber those who use it. In the August 5 primary election, about 114,000 Seattleites approved Proposition 1, which will renew the property tax funding Seattle’s unique public campaign financing system for another decade. It passed with 59 percent of the vote. But as of September 3, only 36,882 Seattleites had returned their vouchers. Voters still have up to November 28, nearly a month after the general election, to donate their vouchers, and participation may continue to grow. But if past elections are any indication, participation is unlikely to get significantly higher.

September 10, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Arizona: “Arizonans Said ‘No’ to Secret Political Donations. They Could Be Overruled” by Taylor Seely (Arizona Republic) for Yahoo News Washington: “What Happens to Money Set Aside for Unused Seattle ‘Democracy Vouchers’?” by Nate Sanford for KNKX Elections Minnesota: “Minneapolis Election Door-Knocking Dispute: […]

September 9, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Arizona: “Horne Seeks Recusal of Justice Who Prosecuted Him Over Campaign Finance Laws” by Gloria Rebecca Gomez (Arizona Mirror) for Yahoo News Florida: “U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds Skirts Campaign Finance Laws in Dual Bids for Congress, Governor” by Melanie Payne (Florida Trident) […]

September 8, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Hawaii: “Ex-Mitsunaga Secretary Charged for Illegal Political Donations” by Christina Jedra for Honolulu Civil Beat Michigan: “Consultant Charged in ‘Dark Money’ Scheme Continues to Aid Several Michigan GOP Candidates” by Kyle Davidson (Michigan Advance) for Yahoo News New York: “The Secret Bundlers Behind […]

September 5, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – September 5, 2025

National/Federal Federal Appellate Panel Rejects Trump’s Deportations Under Wartime Law MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 9/3/2025 A federal court ruled President Trump unlawfully invoked a centuries-old wartime law to deport Venezuelan migrants, blocking one of his most […]

National/Federal

Federal Appellate Panel Rejects Trump’s Deportations Under Wartime Law

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 9/3/2025

A federal court ruled President Trump unlawfully invoked a centuries-old wartime law to deport Venezuelan migrants, blocking one of his most contentious immigration initiatives and teeing up a legal battle sure to end up before the Supreme Court. A divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit rejected Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to remove alleged members of the Venezuela-based Tren de Aragua gang, concluding their presence in the country did not amount to the type of invasion or “predatory incursion” lawmakers envisioned when they drafted the statute allowing fast-tracked deportations.

Mark Warner Says Spy Agency Visit Canceled Over Posts by Laura Loomer

MSN – Noah Robertson and Warren Strobel (Washington Post) | Published: 9/3/2025

The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee said he was blocked from a planned visit to a major U.S. spy agency as part of his routine congressional oversight duties after a series of social media posts by Laura Loomer, the far-right activist and provocateur. Sen. Mark Warner had arranged meetings with top officials at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which analyzes data from spy satellites for the Pentagon and intelligence community, but said his visit was abruptly canceled after Loomer attacked him and the agency’s director online.

Republicans Fail to Censure Rep. LaMonica McIver as Democrats Threaten Retaliation

MSN – Marianna Sotomayor, Kadia Goba, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 9/3/2025

House Republicans surprisingly failed to censure Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver and strip her from a committee assignment. The Republican-led vote came in response to McIver’s indictment by a federal grand jury earlier this year for allegedly interfering with law enforcement while attempting to enter an immigration detention facility. The House will also soon consider another resolution, this one to censure a Republican, brought by Democrats retaliating in defense of McIver.

Judge Rules Trump Administration Cannot Withhold Funding from Harvard

MSN – Susan Svrluga, Joanna Slater, and Laura Meckler (Washington Post) | Published: 9/4/2025

A federal judge ruled the Trump administration violated the Constitution by freezing federal research funding at Harvard University, dealing the White House a setback in its efforts to force change at the country’s oldest university and higher education nationwide. U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs said freezing and canceling more than $2 billion in research grants and other federal actions violated Harvard’s First Amendment rights and amounted to “retaliation, unconstitutional conditions, and unconstitutional coercion.”

Epstein Accusers Join Lawmakers to Push for Full Release of Documents

MSN – Amy Wang, Mariana Alfaro, Kadia Goba, Marianna Sotomayor, and Katie Tarrant (Washington Post) | Published: 9/3/2025

About a dozen accusers of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein joined House lawmakers and a crowd of hundreds at the U.S. Capitol to push for the Justice Department to release all its files related to its investigations of the disgraced financier and of his imprisoned associate Ghislaine Maxwell. In emotional testimony, the women recounted how they were lured as teenagers into a sex-trafficking operation run by Epstein and Maxwell and abused for years. All voiced their support for lawmakers to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act that would compel the Trump administration to publicly disclose far more documents on Epstein.

The Supreme Court Has Expanded Trump’s Power. He’s Seeking Much More.

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 9/1/2025

The Supreme Court has expanded President Trump’s authority in a string of emergency rulings, but in his firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and other issues probably headed to the court, he is signaling that he continues to seek broader powers for the executive branch. The cases could serve as tests of how much further the high court is willing to go to bless the president’s assertion of executive authority. They differ from previous showdowns because of the magnitude of the authority Trump is seeking to wield and because he wants greater control over powers the Constitution ascribes to another branch of government.

Bipartisan Group of House Lawmakers Introduce Stock Trading Ban Legislation

MSN – Annie Grayer (CNN) | Published: 9/3/2025

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers introduced legislation to ban stock trading for members of Congress as pressure has escalated for elected officials to weed out corruption and restore public trust. The bill introduced in the House comes after Sen. Josh Hawley led a similar effort that advanced out of committee in July and is awaiting a Senate floor vote. One key difference is Hawley’s bill reaches into the executive branch and would impact President Trump as a result, while the House bill only addresses Congress.

Trump’s Pick for Federal Reserve Plans to Keep His White House Job While on Fed

MSN – Andrew Ackerman (Washington Post) | Published: 9/4/2025

Federal Reserve nominee Stephen Miran, a senior White House economic adviser, told senators he does not plan to resign from the Trump administration if confirmed to the Federal Reserve’s board of governors, an unusual arrangement likely to raise concerns about the central bank’s independence. Miran said he plans to take an unpaid leave instead of stepping down from the White House because he would only be filling a short-term slot on the board. He said repeatedly he was citing the advice of an attorney. If confirmed, he would be the first modern-day Federal Reserve Board member to maintain such close ties to the White House.

Wall Street Is Coming for K Street

WAMU – Taylor Giorno (NOTUS) | Published: 9/3/2025

Shamrock Capital recently purchased strategic communications and public affairs firm Penta Group from another private equity company, infusing a degree of confidence in these deals, which have been popping up along K Street in earnest over the past five years. Advisers on both sides of these deals also observe a growing comfort with investments in lobbying shops like Monument Advocacy, which made its first acquisition since the firm secured an investment from Everlane Equity Partners.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Trump’s Use of the National Guard During Los Angeles Immigration Protests Is Illegal, a Judge Says

Yahoo News – Olga Rodriguez (Associated Press) | Published: 9/2/2025

The Trump administration violated federal law by sending National Guard troops to Southern California during immigration enforcement operations and accompanying protests, a federal judge ruled. The order comes after California sued, saying the troops sent to Los Angeles over the summer were violating a law that prohibits military enforcement of domestic laws. Lawyers for the administration argued the Posse Comitatus Act does not apply because the troops were protecting federal officers, not enforcing laws.

Florida – Nonprofit Tied to Florida’s Lt. Gov. Won State Contracts During His Senate Stint

Yahoo News – Jeffrey Schweers (Orlando Sentinel) | Published: 9/2/2025

In three years, Jay Collins has gone from nonprofit executive to state senator to a lieutenant governor viewed as having an inside track in the North Carolina governor’s race. During that time, the nonprofit organization where Collins served as a top officer entered the Florida market and received $16 million in disaster relief business from the state. The Legislature is responsible for deciding the state’s spending plan each year and setting rules for the awarding of grants and contracts. As a senator, Collins does not appear to have voted on any money going directly to his organization or appear to have disclosed any conflicts-of-interest.

Georgia – Judge Throws Out Campaign Finance Lawsuit Between Republican Rivals in Georgia Governor’s Race

Yahoo News – Russ Bynum (Associated Press) | Published: 8/28/2025

A federal judge threw out a lawsuit by one of Georgia’s top Republican officials against his chief rival for the 2026 GOP nomination for governor that claimed the opponent had an unfair advantage in campaign fundraising. The judge’s ruling allows Lt. Gov. Burt Jones to continue raising unlimited campaign funds using a special leadership committee granted to a select group of Georgia officials under a 2021 law.

Iowa – Joni Ernst Expected to Announce She Won’t Seek Reelection in 2026, Sources Say

MSN – Stephen Gruber-Miller (Des Moines Register) | Published: 8/30/2025

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst will not seek reelection in 2026, according to people familiar with her decision, setting off a major upheaval in one of Iowa’s marquee midterm contests. Ernst has endured national scrutiny over comments she made at a May town hall, saying, “well, we all are going to die,” after a constituent shouted that people would die because of Medicaid cuts in President Trump’s spending bill. The next day, after facing backlash, Ernst shared a sarcastic apology video she filmed while walking through a cemetery.

Kansas – Advocates’ Lawsuit Against Foreign Contributions Ban Stalls as Kansas Crafts Rules

Yahoo News – Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 8/27/2025

Kansas officials brought clarity to a new law that bans financial contributions from foreign nationals to campaigns for or against state constitutional amendments, a law at the center of an ongoing lawsuit. The case in federal court has stagnated while parties waited for the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission to straighten out details of the law. A recent meeting was one of the first times commissioners were able to publicly weigh the law’s framework and craft rules for enforcement. Now, it is up to a judge whether the court case will continue.

Kentucky – Louisville Ethics Commission Sues City Over Alleged Power Grab by County Attorney’s Office

MSN – Lucas Aulbach (Louisville Courier Journal) | Published: 8/29/2025

The Louisville Ethics Commission is taking the city to court, claiming the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office is pushing for improper control over the advisory board. County Attorney Mike O’Connell’s office, meanwhile, has contended the commission’s lawyer has conflicts-of-interest that could lead to serious issues as he represents the board in charge of ensuring city employees are following the Ethics Code.

Maryland – Baltimore County Council Approves IG Appointment Board, Sends Question to Voters

MSN – Natalie Jones (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 9/2/2025

Baltimore County voters will decide whether the county’s inspector general should be selected by an independent appointment board in the future. The Baltimore County Council unanimously approved a charter amendment that would create a seven-member panel to appoint or reappoint an inspector general to the role. Under current laws, the county executive is responsible for appointing an inspector general, who the county council must also confirm.

Michigan – Records: Beydoun, other MEDC officials skipped conflict of interest reports

Bridge Michigan – Paula Gardner | Published: 9/2/2025

Members of the board in charge of Michigan’s billion-dollar economic development strategy skipped filing just over half of their required annual conflict-of-interest certification documents from 2019 to 2022. Records show the omissions peaked in 2022, when just four of 18 members on the Michigan Economic Development Corp. executive committee signed the documents – all of them in March, two months after they were due.

Missouri – Republicans Eye Next House Carveout with Missouri Special Session

MSN – Dylan Wells, Hannah Knowles, and Kadia Goba (Washington Post) | Published: 8/29/2025

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe moved toward helping the Republican Party gain another seat in the U.S. House, announcing a special session to redraw the state’s congressional maps. The session follows a nationwide pressure campaign from President Trump aimed at beefing up his party’s chances in the 2026 midterm elections with an aggressive and rare mid-cycle overhauling of congressional maps.

Missouri – Trump’s DOJ Seeks Election Equipment in Red State Ahead of 2026 Election

MSN – Yvonne Winget Sanchez and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 9/3/2025

A top official for President Trump’s Justice Department recently sought access to voting equipment used by two Republican clerks in Missouri during the 2020 election, an unusual request from federal officials amid continued efforts by the president to malign the integrity of the nation’s voting systems. Trump overwhelmingly won each of his three elections in Missouri, yet many of his supporters there and elsewhere continue to champion the president’s false claim that voting equipment was rigged against him in 2020 and ballots should be tallied by hand.

Missouri – Council Member Revives Effort to Cap Campaign Contributions for City Council Elections

Springfield Daily Citizen – Jack McGee | Published: 8/28/2025

The Springfield City Council will once again consider capping campaign contributions for city council and mayoral candidates. In 2016, Missouri voters passed a constitutional amendment establishing limits on campaign contributions to political parties and candidates for statewide offices, among other changes to campaign finance law. But the contribution limit did not apply to municipal elections, leaving Springfield without any cap on campaign contributions after a previous change to state law nullified the city’s $500 limit.

Nevada – A Majority of Nevada’s Legislation Aimed at Government Transparency Failed During the 2025 Session

MSN – Annie Vong (Nevada Independent) | Published: 9/2/2025

Though Nevada lawmakers in 2025 were able to pass some transparency laws focused on certain areas, such as requiring more reporting on school police use of force and creating a public records task force, the vast majority of transparency bills failed to make it across the finish line. According to a Nevada Independent analysis, 26 bills and resolutions were introduced in 2025 that sought to increase transparency in government and campaigns. Only eight were signed into law.

New Jersey – NJ to Regulate Campaign Spending on Security as Political Violence Mounts

Yahoo News – Dana DiFilippo (News Jersey Monitor) | Published: 8/28/2025

As political violence becomes a growing threat and reality, New Jersey’s election watchdog has moved to officially allow candidates to use campaign money to pay for security services and devices. The Election Law Enforcement Commission has historically permitted such expenses, but commission members voted to propose regulations to codify and standardize the use of campaign funds to bolster security.

New York – Campaign Board Deepens Probe into Eric Adams Fundraising

Yahoo News – Joe Anuta (Politico) | Published: 8/29/2025

A New York City oversight board petitioned the Department of Justice, hired an outside investigator, and issued subpoenas as part of a widening probe into Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign fundraising practices. Those revelations came in a trove of federal court papers that paint the clearest picture yet of the Campaign Finance Board’s independent investigation into Adams’ 2021 and 2025 mayoral runs, along with more detailed reasoning behind the board’s decision to repeatedly deny the mayor public matching funds.

New York – Talks Underway Over Trump Administration Role for NYC Mayor Adams Amid Efforts to Stop Mamdani, Sources Say

Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt and Josephine Stratman (New York Daily News) | Published: 9/3/2025

While vowing to still run for reelection, New York City Mayor Eric Adams did not dismiss the possibility of joining President Trump’s administration as sources said conversations are underway about a potential job opportunity. Adams remains dogged in his reelection efforts by accusations that he is beholden to Trump, whose Justice Department quashed the mayor’s corruption indictment in a controversial move. It was reported that the push to get Adams a job is aimed at culling the mayoral race field to maximize chances of stopping Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, who is polling as the favorite to win November’s contest.

North Carolina – NC Indian-American Group Promoted Event as Political Fundraiser. Was That Legit?

MSN – Dan Kane (Raleigh News & Observer) | Published: 9/2/2025

The North Carolina Association of Indian Americans hosted a fundraiser on May 31 that benefitted longtime Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall. The association’s filings with the state describe it as a nonprofit under the 501(c)(3) designation in the federal tax code, which means it is not supposed to engage in political fundraising. Bob Hall, the retired executive director of Democracy North Carolina, is preparing a complaint to the State Board of Elections about the fundraiser.

North Dakota – Ethics Commission Highlights Time Management in Annual Report

Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (Noth Dakota Monitor) | Published: 8/29/2025

A new report shows that North Dakota Ethics Commission complaints that do not require a full investigation are usually closed in fewer than six months. The commission was directed by the state Legislature to compile annual reports to help the public understand how it operates, especially in light of ongoing concerns from state officials that the agency takes too long to resolve baseless allegations.

Oklahoma – Lobbyists Spent Hundreds of Thousands in Oklahoma’s Legislative Session. Here’s Where the Money Went

Golfweek – Alexia Aston (Oklahoman) | Published: 9/3/2025

A push to cut income taxes, solve a state agency’s financial crisis, and reduce government spending dominated the 2025 legislative session in Oklahoma. Lobbyists spent over $460,000 during the session, largely on meals and events with lawmakers. Lobbyists often play an outsize role in shaping policy, and they are required to disclose how much they spend on behalf of clients and who they spend it on. The Oklahoman analyzed their expense reports, as well as lobbying data compiled by the state Ethics Commission, from the 2025 session.

Oklahoma – Education Department Forced to Release Key Card Data for Matt Langston

Oklahoma Watch – Jennifer Palmer | Published: 9/3/2025

Texan Matt Langston has kept his campaign business in Texas running while collecting a six-figure salary as the Oklahoma Department of Education’s chief policy advisor, though he rarely comes into the office. He has spent just 42 days in the office since Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters hired Langston in January 2023 and issued a directive ending telework for the agency’s employees. Since 2023, Langston’s political consulting firm, Engage Right, has sent campaign emails on Walters’ behalf.

Pennsylvania – Lobbying: How public agencies spend millions to shape state government

LancasterOnline – Gregory Scott | Published: 8/30/2025

From school districts and townships to transit agencies and boroughs, public entities across Pennsylvania are paying big money to be heard in the Capitol. At least 90 local governments have paid nearly $7 million in taxpayer money to hire 38 private lobbying firms since last year, all to influence lawmakers and secure more state funding. Many of those firms were founded by or employ political insiders who know the system and have connections to the major players in the Legislature and the executive branch.

Rhode Island – Cranston City Council President, Lawyer Resign Over Relationship Concerns

Cranston Herald – Rosegalie Cineus | Published: 8/28/2025

Cranston City Council President Jessica Marino and council lawyer Stephen Angell resigned. Their departure from city government followed public allegations, including comments by Mayor Ken Hopkins, of a romantic relationship between the two and contentions it created conflicts-of-interest. Marino and Angell neither confirmed nor denied the existence of a personal relationship, but both said they had committed no wrongdoing.

Texas – Measures Seeking to Prevent Future Quorum Breaks by Texas Lawmakers Approved Wednesday

MSN – Aarón Torres (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 9/4/2025

Texas Republicans passed measures that aim to prevent future walkouts by increasing the punishments for lawmakers who break quorum and preventing them from fundraising during that time. House Bill 18 would ban any state lawmaker who is absent for the purposes of impeding legislative action from accepting campaign contributions greater than $221, the amount lawmakers receive as a daily per diem during a regular or special session.

Virginia – Public Housing Director in Virginia Caught Living in One of His Agency’s Units

MSN – Daniel Wu and Teo Armus (Washington Post) | Published: 9/2/2025

The city of Alexandria’s public housing agency is investigating its chief executive officer, Erik Johnson, after he was found to be living in a public housing unit near the Potomac River, sparking outrage in the wealthy Northern Virginia community where access to affordable housing has long been a challenge. His move into the project effectively allowed him to jump ahead of a decade-long waiting list that is rarely opened up to new families, officials and advocates said.

September 4, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Texas: “Texas House Advances Fundraising Restrictions for Lawmakers Who Leave State to Block Legislation” by Alejandro Serrano (Texas Tribune) for MSN Elections Missouri: “Trump’s DOJ Seeks Election Equipment in Red State Ahead of 2026 Election” by Yvonne Winget Sanchez and Patrick Marley […]

September 3, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Missouri: “Council Member Revives Effort to Cap Campaign Contributions for City Council Elections” by Jack McGee for Springfield Daily Citizen New Jersey: “NJ to Regulate Campaign Spending on Security as Political Violence Mounts” by Dana DiFilippo (News Jersey […]

September 2, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Georgia: “Judge Throws Out Campaign Finance Lawsuit Between Republican Rivals in Georgia Governor’s Race” by Russ Bynum (Associated Press) for Yahoo News Kansas: “Advocates’ Lawsuit Against Foreign Contributions Ban Stalls as Kansas Crafts Rules” by Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) for Yahoo News […]

August 29, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – August 29, 2025

National/Federal As Campaign Spending Flows Unchecked, Some States Are Trying to Impose Limits Christian Science Monitor – Simon Montlake | Published: 8/27/2025 Most elected officials now rely on outside groups, such as super PACs, that accept unlimited donations, to help […]

National/Federal

As Campaign Spending Flows Unchecked, Some States Are Trying to Impose Limits

Christian Science Monitor – Simon Montlake | Published: 8/27/2025

Most elected officials now rely on outside groups, such as super PACs, that accept unlimited donations, to help bankroll their campaigns. As fundraising breaks new records – super PACs spent around $2.7 billion in the 2024 election cycle – reform advocates in two states are pushing back. Maine and Montana are challenging, in different ways, the Supreme Court’s interpretation of campaign finance laws. Reformers hope to lay out a blueprint for how states can regulate corporations, unions, and dark money groups that play an outsize role in determining who is elected to public office.

Trump Says He’s Firing Fed Governor Lisa Cook, Opening New Front in Fight for Central Bank Control

MSN – Christopher Rugaber and Will Weissert (Associated Press) | Published: 8/26/2025

President Trump said he is firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, an unprecedented move that would constitute a sharp escalation in his battle to exert greater control over what has long been considered an institution independent from day-to-day politics. Trump said he is removing Cook effective immediately because of allegations she committed mortgage fraud. The move is likely to touch off an extensive legal battle that will probably go to the Supreme Court and could disrupt financial markets.

CDC Leaders Who Resigned Said RFK Jr. Undermined Vaccine Science, Risking Lives

MSN – Lena Sun, Lauren Weber, and David Ovalle (Washington Post) | Published: 8/28/2025

Senior leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), who resigned in protest after CDC Director Susan Monarez was fired, said they were asked to participate in an unscientific vaccine recommendation process they believe could harm the health of Americans. Staff and leaders of the agency are openly revolting against the Trump administration and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of the CDC and anti-vaccine activist, after months of tension over vaccine policy and staffing cuts.

Consumer Watchdog Ends Investigation into Buy Now, Pay Later Company Linked to Donald Trump Jr.

MSN – Fatima Hussein (Associated Press) | Published: 8/22/2025

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) dropped an investigation into a buy now, pay later company with close ties to Donald Trump Jr., saying the investigation was conducted in a biased manner and based off politics. The closure of the investigation also comes when the CFPB, which helps oversee the nation’s banks and financial services companies, has been undoing rulemaking, dropping other cases, and ending law enforcement work that was done under previous administrations, including President Trump’s first term.

Trump Repeatedly Pointed a Finger at Bolton in the Days Before Raids

MSN – Natalie Allison and Michael Birnbaum (Washington Post) | Published: 8/23/2025

Days before his former national security adviser’s home and office were raided by the FBI, President Trump had trained his sights on his onetime aide, publicly rebuking John Bolton for criticizing his policy toward Russia. The president said he was not aware of the raids until they occurred, and there is no evidence the investigation was launched in response to Bolton’s recent criticisms of Trump. People close to Trump have privately noted, however, that the president was bothered by Bolton’s recent deprecation of his attempts at peacemaking.

Trump Rolls Back Rules Meant to Keep Politics Out of Climate Research

MSN – Scott Dance (Washington Post) | Published: 8/22/2025

Ahead of President Trump’s second term in the White House, scientists and advocates sought to tighten rules that protect climate researchers and their work from political interference. They added policies to prevent a repeat of the scandal known as “Sharpiegate” and even enshrined others in a union contract. The Trump administration has now rolled those changes back.

House Oversight Subpoenas Epstein Estate, Including for Any ‘Client List’

MSN – Kadia Goba (Washington Post) | Published: 8/25/2025

House Oversight Committee Chairperson James Comer subpoenaed Jeffrey Epstein’s estate as part of an ongoing probe into the handling of the federal sex-trafficking investigation. The GOP base has been in an uproar since the Justice Department said there was no “client list” in its files associated with Epstein, contradicting what Attorney General Pam Bondi and some former administration officials have claimed. Several right-wing pundits and conspiracy theorists have accused the federal government of a cover-up aimed at protecting powerful men who might have engaged in improper behavior with teenage girls.

Redistricting War Between Texas and California Is About to Jolt the Midterms

MSN – Liz Crampton, Dustin Gardiner, and Nick Reisman (Politico) | Published: 8/23/2025

California and Texas raced forward with parallel action to draw new congressional maps, setting into motion a national redistricting fight that could upend the midterms and determine control of the House. The nation’s two largest states had fired the opening salvo in what is likely to become an intense and protracted redistricting campaign by both parties to grasp power in Washington. Now other red and blue state governors face pressure to follow their lead and aggressively gerrymander their congressional maps.

FEMA Employees Put on Leave After Criticizing Trump Administration in Open Letter

MSN – Brianna Sacks (Washington Post) | Published: 8/26/2025

The Trump administration placed more than a dozen Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees on leave after they signed an open letter of dissent about the agency’s leadership. About 180 current and former FEMA staffers sent a letter to members of Congress and other officials, arguing the current leaders’ inexperience and approach harm FEMA’s mission and could result in a disaster on the level of Hurricane Katrina.

She Pushed to Overturn Trump’s Loss in the 2020 Election. Now She’ll Help Oversee U.S. Election Security.

ProPublica – Doug Bock Clark | Published: 8/26/2025

Heather Honey, a high-profile denier of Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election, was appointed to a senior position in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in which she will help oversee the nation’s election infrastructure. In 2024, ProPublica reported Honey played a key role in the effort to change Georgia’s election rules to allow Republican officials to contest a potential Trump loss in that year’s presidential race. Honey also promoted election conspiracy theories.

State Lawmakers Reconsider Costs, Purpose of Serving After Minnesota Assassination

Yahoo News – Kevin Hardy (Stateline) | Published: 8/26/2025

Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman appeared via video message at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) in Boston and urged fellow lawmakers to refocus on the true purpose of public service. In June, he and his wife were shot just before the politically motivated shooter killed state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband. The shooting hung over this year’s NCSL meeting. Lawmakers in attendance on the left and the right repeatedly lamented the toxicity of American politics and the growing threat of political violence at local levels of government.

Attorneys for Former Special Counsel Jack Smith Hit Back at ‘Unfounded’ Watchdog Probe

Yahoo News – Alexander Mallin (ABC News) | Published: 8/26/2025

Attorneys for former special counsel Jack Smith, who brought criminal charges against President Trump, denounced a watchdog investigation into Smith’s work, describing the reasoning for the probe as baseless and partisan. Sen. Tom Cotton’s complaint accused Smith of taking deliberate steps in his prosecutions of Trump, which included charges for unlawful retention of classified materials as well as a criminal conspiracy to overturn his 2020 election loss, to impact Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign in violation of the Hatch Act.

Ghislaine Maxwell, Who Wants a Pardon, Says She Never Saw Trump ‘in Any Inappropriate Setting’

Yahoo News – Erica Orden, Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 8/22/2025

Convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, who is seeking a pardon from Donald Trump, told top Justice Department officials during an interview she never witnessed the president “in any inappropriate setting” with girls introduced to him by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell, Epstein’s co-conspirator who is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence, makes unfailingly flattering references to Trump, according to transcripts of the conversation. The Justice Department released the interview materials around the same time it delivered a tranche of the so-called Epstein files to Capitol Hill.

From the States and Municipalities

Europe – Denmark Summons US Envoy After Report of Americans Carrying Out Influence Operations in Greenland

MSN – Associated Press | Published: 8/26/2025

Denmark’s foreign minister had the top U.S. diplomat in the country summoned for talks after the main national broadcaster reported at least three people with connections to President Trump have been carrying out covert influence operations in Greenland. Trump has said he seeks U.S. jurisdiction over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. He has not ruled out military force to take control of the island. Denmark and Greenland have said the island is not for sale and condemned reports of the U.S. gathering intelligence there.

Canada – Manitoba Premier Didn’t Break Conflict of Interest Laws by Taking Charters to Grey Cup: Ethics commissioner

Yahoo News – Caitlyn Gowriluk (CBC) | Published: 8/27/2025

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew did not violate provincial conflict-of-interest laws when he took planes chartered by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the Grey Cup in 2023 and 2024, the province’s ethics commissioner found. The investigation came after a CBC article earlier this year raised questions about the trips, which were also offered to Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham.

California – Ex-Dream Keeper Chief Is Under Criminal Investigation – but She Hasn’t Left the Spotlight

MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 8/25/2025

Sheryl Davis resigned amid scrutiny over her handling of the Dream Keeper Initiative, San Francisco Mayor London Breed’s signature reinvestment in the Black community. City Attorney David Chiu later accused a major Dream Keeper beneficiary, the nonprofit Collective Impact, of making payments on behalf of Davis that investigators said amounted to bribes. Davis now seems determined to retain her seat in public life, after her position of authority was stripped from her.

California – OC Democrat Lobbyist Gets Six Months in Jail for Attempted Wire Fraud

Voice of OC – Noah Biesiada | Published: 8/22/2025

Melehat Rafiei, former head of the Orange County Democratic Party, was sentenced to six months in jail by a federal judge for attempted wire fraud. The sentencing comes after Rafiei signed a plea agreement admitting to the attempted fraud charge and acknowledging she tried bribing two Irvine City Council members for favorable cannabis legislation, something she was not charged for. U.S. District Court Judge Fernando Aelle-Rocha also ordered three years of supervised release once Rafiei serves her time and a $10,000 fine.

District of Columbia – D.C. Judges and Grand Jurors Push Back on Trump Policing Surge

MSN – Salvador Rizzo and Michael Laris (Washington Post) | Published: 8/27/2025

President Trump declared a crime emergency in the District of Columbia, giving federal law enforcement agencies and National Guard members unprecedented authority to patrol the nation’s capital. But the surge is meeting resistance in the city’s federal courthouse, where magistrate judges have admonished prosecutors for violating defendants’ rights and court rules, and grand jurors have repeatedly refused to issue indictments. A federal magistrate judge said one arrest was preceded by the “most illegal search I’ve seen in my life” and described another arrest as lacking “basic human dignity.”

District of Columbia – How a Thrown Sub Made ‘Sandwich Guy’ a Resistance Icon in Trump’s D.C.

MSN – Sophia Solano (Washington Post) | Published: 8/21/2025

Where protest movements take hold, symbols of resistance soon follow. In the District of Columbia since the Trump administration has taken over the city’s police force and ordered the National Guard to patrol the streets, that symbol has taken the form of a person who flung a footlong sub. His name, colloquially, is “Sandwich Guy.” His real name is Sean Dunn, a former Justice Department employee who was captured on video hurling a footlong at a federal officer and now faces a felony charge. A video of the incident quickly went viral.

Florida – Florida Ordered to Dismantle Alligator Alcatraz Over Environmental Impact

MSN – Lori Rozsa (Washington Post) | Published: 8/22/2025

A federal judge in Miami gave the state of Florida 60 days to clear out the immigrant detention facility called Alligator Alcatraz, handing environmentalists and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians a win after they clashed with Gov. Ron DeSantis over the environmental impacts the makeshift site was having in the federally protected Everglades. The ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams, which forbids state officials from moving any other migrants there, deals a blow to what had become a marquee symbol of President Trump’s immigration policy.

Iowa – Democrat Wins Iowa Senate Race, Upending Republican Supermajority

MSN – Ken Jeong (Washington Post) | Published: 8/27/2025

Catelin Drey flipped a vacant state Senate seat in Iowa’s Sioux City area formerly held by a Republican after she won more than 55 percent of the vote in a low-turnout race. The upset victory erased the GOP’s supermajority in the Senate. Drey’s triumph in a voting district that lies inside Woodbury County, which President Trump easily won in 2024, also offers a glimpse into the mood of conservative-leaning districts ahead of next year’s midterms.

Louisiana – Louisiana Asks Supreme Court to Gut Voting Rights Act and Ban Use of Race in Redistricting

MSN – Zach Montellaro (Politico) | Published: 8/27/2025

Louisiana is asking the Supreme Court to dismantle the central provision of the Voting Rights Act and ban any use of race in redistricting. In a legal brief, the state urged the court to overturn a landmark 1986 ruling that established a legal test for when a voting map illegally dilutes minorities’ voter power. That ruling, Thornburg v. Gingles, has been understood for decades to require that states with significant communities of minority voters draw districts that fairly reflect their voting power.

Maryland – Court Throws Out Lawsuit by Trump Administration Against All Maryland Federal Judges

MSN – Lea Skene (Associated Press) | Published: 8/26/2025

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Cullen threw out the Trump administration’s lawsuit against Maryland’s entire federal bench in a ruling that underscored the extraordinary nature of the suit and accused the White House of a “concerted effort” to “smear and impugn” judges who rule against it. At issue in the lawsuit was an order by Chief Maryland District Judge George Russell III that stopped the immediate deportation of migrants challenging their removals. The Justice Department said the automatic pause impeded the president’s authority to enforce immigration laws.

Michigan – Michigan Panel OKs Signature-Gathering to Ban Political Spending by ‘Monopoly’ Utilities

Bridge Michigan – Jordyn Hermani | Published: 8/22/2025

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers approved petition language for an effort to ban political spending by utilities like Consumers Energy and DTE, as well as large state contractors. In addition to prohibiting campaign contributions for certain actors, the initiative also looks to expand state campaign finance laws to more clearly identify who is paying for political communications regardless of whether they are advocating for or against a cause.

Michigan – Michigan GOP Representative’s Earmark Request Raises Questions on Loopholes in New Ethics Rules

Yahoo News – Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) | Published: 8/27/2025

The wealthy owner of the Dort Financial Center made a large political contribution to Michigan Rep. David Martin a month after Martin requested a $2.5 million earmark to renovate areas of the facility located in Flint. While the earmark ultimately was not included in the House budget plan, the request appeared to skirt new House ethics rules that ban legislatively appropriated grants to for-profit entities.

Montana – Lawmakers Detail Stolen Funds in Complaints to State’s Commissioner of Political Practices

Yahoo News – Micah Drew (Daily Montanan) | Published: 8/27/2025

Two state lawmakers have filed complaints with the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices detailing how their campaign treasurer allegedly stole thousands of dollars. Sen. Cora Neumann and Rep. Zooey Zephyr filed their complaints after their former treasurer, Abbey Lee Cook, signed a plea agreement with the federal government admitting to an embezzlement scheme of more than $250,000.

Nevada – Ethics Panel Takes Issue with Lieutenant Governor Over Task Force on Trans Athletes

Nevada Independent – Rocio Hernandez | Published: 8/22/2025

A panel from the Nevada Commission on Ethics took issue with Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony using state resources for a task force aimed at keeping transgender athletes out of women’s sports and is recommending he take corrective actions to avoid any further proceedings from the commission. The Nevadans for Equal Rights Committee filed an ethics complaint against Anthony after he stated during a legislative committee meeting that his staff has helped with work related to the task force. Anthony has also promoted the task force’s work on his official X account.

New Jersey – Judge Rules Alina Habba Serving ‘Without Lawful Authority’ as New Jersey’s U.S. Attorney

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 8/21/2025

A federal judge ruled Alina Habba, President Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney in New Jersey, is in that role “without lawful authority” – a decision that called into question the administration’s novel strategy for keeping her and other controversial interim choices in top prosecutorial roles. U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Brann concluded Habba, appointed as interim U.S. attorney in March, had served beyond the 120-day expiration date for that role and the Justice Department’s efforts to keep her past that deadline did not withstand legal scrutiny.

New Mexico – Albuquerque City Council Candidate Alleges Bribery, Extortion in Ethics Complaint

Yahoo News – Gillian Barkhurst (Albuquerque Journal) | Published: 8/27/2025

Stephanie Telles, a candidate for Albuquerque City Council, alleged her opponent;s campaign manager, a longtime political consultant in New Mexico, tried to pay her to drop out of the race. In a letter to the city Ethics Board, Telles alleged Scott Forrester, the campaign manager for Ahren Griego, another candidate, offered to “retire” her campaign debt if she withdrew an appeal for a recount of her signatures submitted to qualify for the ballot.

New York – Mayor Adams’ Supporters Spotted Handing Out Red Envelopes with Cash at 3 Summer Campaign Events: Report

MSN – Craig McCarthy, Steven Vago and Shane Galvin (New York Post) | Published: 8/21/2025

Allies of New York City Mayor Eric Adams were spotted at several July campaign events handing out red envelopes stuffed with cash to attendees, including journalists from Chinese-language outlets, according to The New York Times. The report was published one day after disgraced Adams advisor Winnie Greco was caught giving cash to a reporter from THE CITY. The practice of receiving anywhere from $20 to $300 is common among Chinese-language journalists in New York, one anonymous reporter for a Chinese-language publication told The Times.

Ohio – Charter Amendment Would Align Cincinnati Campaign Finance Reporting with State Rules

WVXU – Becca Costello | Published: 8/25/2025

A charter amendment on the November ballot would align campaign finance reporting in Cincinnati with statewide rules. “It had to do with easier ways to track compliance with contribution limits, but because of the technology that we have today, particularly in the Office of Ethics and Good Governance, they are able to do that work without these separate reports,” city Councilperson Evan Nolan said.

Oregon – Oregon Government Transparency Advocates Aim to Beef Up Public Meetings Rules, Citing Troubling Ambiguities

MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 8/22/2025

Leaders of cities, counties, and other governing bodies across the state have complained about inconsistent training and vague guidance from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, which lawmakers empowered to enforce the state’s public meetings law beginning in 2024. The public meetings law essentially prohibits officials of a governing body from privately discussing policies under their authority with a majority of voting members. But proponents and critics of the law say it, and state guidance on how to follow it, contains significant ambiguity.

Pennsylvania – Dauphin County Fired Worker Charged with Computer Crimes, but Keeps Hiring His IT Company Anyway

MSN – Juliette Rihl and Joshua Vaughn (pennlive.com) | Published: 8/26/2025

Dauphin County fired an information technology employee in 2027 after he was convicted of computer crimes. Since then, the county has paid David Maurer’s company nearly $700,000 to serve as an information technology contractor. His company continues to receive county contracts. Maurer was terminated from his role as a county network technician after he was convicted of spying on his estranged wife.

Rhode Island – The RI Ethics Commission Could Double the Gift Limit for Lawmakers. Should They?

USA Today – Katherine Gregg (Providence Journal) | Published: 8/25/2025

Is Rhode Island’s current $25 per gift cap and a cumulative $75 annually from any one “interested person” for public officials too low? Opinions vary widely among Rhode Island lawmakers. Some, like Sen. Todd Patalano, believe increasing the limit would allow for “normal human interactions” and clarify what is acceptable. On September 9, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission will give members of the public their own chance to comment on a proposal to double the gift limit.

Texas – State Ag Employees Told Police They Were Wary of Sid Miller’s Political Consultant. Now He’s the Agency’s Chief of Staff.

MSN – Kate McGee (Texas Tribune) | Published: 8/25/2025

Todd Smith was preparing to stand trial, accused of soliciting exorbitant fees in exchange for state hemp licenses. He was a top political consultant for Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, whose office provided the licenses. Less than a week after prosecutors subpoenaed Miller to testify, Smith accepted a deal offered by prosecutors that will dismiss the charges after two years if he follows the terms of his probation. Three months after his guilty plea, Miller hired Smith to be his chief of staff at the same state agency at the center of his case.

Texas – Texas Showdown: Legal battle looming over Ten Commandments in schools

MSN – Michelle Boorstein (Washington Post) | Published: 8/26/2025

With a new state law set to take effect requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public classroom in Texas, many school districts are scrambling to figure out what to do. Some are holding off following a federal judge’s recent ruling against the mandate. Others are racing to fundraise for donated posters of the commandments. The law, and others like it in Louisiana and Arkansas, is part of a coordinated effort to get the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority, who advocates hope will end, or significantly weaken, restrictions on prayer in public schools.

Texas – Dallas Ousts Newly Hired Inspector General Due to Charter Violation

MSN – Devyani Chhetri (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 8/27/2025

The Dallas City Council discharged Inspector General Timothy Menke after weeks of discussing how city officials bungled his hiring process. Last November, voters approved a charter proposition that established an independent office of inspector general and called for its top officer to be “a competent practicing attorney of recognized ability.” Menke, who began his job on June 30 and has decades of experience investigating governmental fraud and misconduct, is not an attorney.

Texas – NAACP Asks Court to Block New Texas Congressional Map

MSN – Brianna Tucker (Washington Post) | Published: 8/26/2025

The NAACP asked a court to block what it called a “racially motivated” congressional map that dilutes the political power of Black voters. The organization is seeking to prevent Texas’s redrawn congressional map from taking effect, claiming the new district map is unconstitutional. In 2021, Republican lawmakers drew a new map and the NAACP and others sued, arguing the districts were racially discriminatory. A panel of judges held a trial this year but has not yet ruled.

Texas – Texas Senate Passes Bill Banning Elected Officials from Fundraising in Special Sessions

MSN – Aarón Torres (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 8/27/2025

Elected officials in Texas would be prohibited from receiving campaign donations during some special legislative sessions under a bill passed by the state Senate. The legislation bars a member who holds statewide office, including the governor, from being able to fundraise during any overtime session as long as that session begins before September 1. Senate Bill 19 now goes to the House.

Utah – Judge Rules Utah’s Congressional Map Must Be Redrawn for the 2026 Elections

MSN – Hannah Schoenbaum (Associated Press) | Published: 8/25/2025

The Utah lawmakers will need to rapidly redraw the state’s congressional boundaries after a judge ruled the Republican-controlled Legislature circumvented safeguards put in place by voters to ensure districts are not drawn to favor any party. The current map divides Salt Lake County – Utah’s population center and a Democratic stronghold – among the state’s four congressional districts, all of which have since elected Republicans by wide margins.

August 28, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “As Campaign Spending Flows Unchecked, Some States Are Trying to Impose Limits” by Simon Montlake for Christian Science Monitor Elections Iowa: “Democrat Wins Iowa Senate Race, Upending Republican Supermajority” by Ken Jeong (Washington Post) for MSN Ethics Washington DC: “D.C. Judges and […]

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