May 13, 2025 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Arizona: “In Taking Up ‘Dark Money’ Disclosure Law, AZ Supreme Court Could Reshape Free Speech Standards” by Jim Small for Arizona Mirror Maryland: “Appeals Court Rules Identity of Political Donors Can Be Hidden from Public View” by Maryland Matters for Yahoo News […]
Campaign Finance
Arizona: “In Taking Up ‘Dark Money’ Disclosure Law, AZ Supreme Court Could Reshape Free Speech Standards” by Jim Small for Arizona Mirror
Maryland: “Appeals Court Rules Identity of Political Donors Can Be Hidden from Public View” by Maryland Matters for Yahoo News
New York: “Cuomo Loses Out on $600K for Suspected Coordination with Super PAC” by Jeff Coltin (Politico) for MSN
Ethics
Washington DC: “Attorney General’s Brother Vies to Lead D.C. Bar, Upending Contest” by Keith Alexander (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Auction to Dine with Trump Creates Foreign Influence Opportunity” by Eric Lipton and David Yaffe-Bellany (New York Times) for DNyuz
National: “White South Africans Arrive at Dulles as Refugees Under Trump Order” by Teo Armus and Emily Wax-Thibodeaux (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Fake Pizza Orders Sent to Judges Seen as Threat to Judicial Safety” by Derek Hawkins (Washington Post) for MSN
Oregon: “Oregon Ethics Commission Rejects $1,600 Penalty for Former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s ‘Indefensible’ Conduct, Says It’s Too Low” by Aimee Green (Portland Oregonian) for MSN
May 12, 2025 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Arizona: “This AZ Dem Paid Fiancé $48K in Public Funds, Handed Over ‘Woefully Inadequate’ Receipts” by Ray Stern for Arizona Republic New York: “Democrats Made Public Money for Campaigns Even More Generous Than Expected” by Emilie Munson for Albany Times Union Ethics […]
Campaign Finance
Arizona: “This AZ Dem Paid Fiancé $48K in Public Funds, Handed Over ‘Woefully Inadequate’ Receipts” by Ray Stern for Arizona Republic
New York: “Democrats Made Public Money for Campaigns Even More Generous Than Expected” by Emilie Munson for Albany Times Union
Ethics
Washington DC: “Trump Names Fox News Host Jeanine Pirro as Interim U.S. Attorney for D.C.” by Paul Schwartzman, Jeremy Barr, and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Trump Administration in Talks with Qatar Over Plane Gift” by Karen DeYoung, Natalie Allison, and Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) for MSN
Illinois: “Feds Dismiss Bribery Charge Against Ex-Ald. Solis As Part of ‘Unprecedented’ Deal for Testifying Against Burke, Madigan” by Heather Cherone for WTTW
Oregon: “Ethics Commission Rejects Proposed Settlement in Oregon Rare Bourbon Scandal” by Diane Lugo for Salem Statesman Journal
Lobbying
National: “From Trump Whisperer to West Wing Pariah: How lobbyist Brian Ballard angered Trump” by Rachael Bade and Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) for Yahoo News
Redistricting
Alabama: “Federal Court Strikes Down Alabama’s Version of Congressional Map” by Michael Macagnone (Roll Call) for MSN
May 9, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 9, 2025

National/Federal Orders to Investigate Columbia Protesters Raised Alarms in Justice Dept. DNyuz – Devlin Barrett (New York Times) | Published: 5/1/2025 A top Trump appointee in the Justice Department ordered an aggressive investigation in the last several months of student protesters at […]
National/Federal
Orders to Investigate Columbia Protesters Raised Alarms in Justice Dept.
DNyuz – Devlin Barrett (New York Times) | Published: 5/1/2025
A top Trump appointee in the Justice Department ordered an aggressive investigation in the last several months of student protesters at Columbia University, raising anger and alarm among career prosecutors and investigators who saw the demand as politically motivated and lacking legal merit, people familiar with the episode said. The demand for the inquiry into students who protested Israel’s conduct of the conflict in Gaza also prompted pushback from a federal magistrate judge, who believed some of the steps being sought by the official, Emil Bove III, were unjustified and might violate the First Amendment.
Trump Sons’ Deals on Three Continents Directly Benefit the President
DNyuz – Eric Lipton and David Yaffe-Bellany (New York Times) | Published: 5/5/2025
A contest of sorts has played out across Europe, the United States, and the Middle East as President Trump’s two older sons have pursued a blitz of family moneymaking ventures capitalizing on their father’s name and power, each seemingly trying to outdo the other. It is a rush to cash in that involves billions of dollars with few precedents in American history.
States Are Tightening Rules for Getting Citizen-Led Proposals on the Ballot
DNyuz – Emily Cochrane (New York Times) | Published: 5/5/2025
Some state Legislatures are making it harder for members of the public to put ballot measures before voters. Less than half of the nation’s 50 states allow citizens to collect signatures and to place proposals on the ballot. Legislatures can also put questions on the ballot and typically author the majority of constitutional amendments. But after the fall of Roe v. Wade allowed states to restrict abortion access, abortion rights groups turned to the ballot initiative process to circumvent conservative lawmakers and to put the question directly before voters.
Chief Justice Says Courts Must Be Free to Check ‘Excesses’ of Congress, White House
MSN – Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 5/7/2025
Chief Justice John Roberts championed the independence and authority of the nation’s judicial system to serve as a check on Congress and the president at a time when federal courts are being attacked by the Trump administration. His comments drew applause from the audience of lawyers and judges who were aware that President Trump’s second term has led to escalating tensions between executive branch officials pushing the boundaries of presidential power and federal trial court judges whose rulings often slow or scale back those efforts.
Hegseth Attorney’s Dual Roles Trip Conflict of Interest Alarms
MSN – Daniel Lippman and Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 5/2/2025
Tim Parlatore is a personal attorney and top adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. At the same time, he is suing the Navy and defending private clients against the U.S. government. While Parlatore insists his arrangement is above board, it is highly unusual for a sitting top adviser for a Cabinet secretary to be working in government while at the same time representing clients suing the government or working for clients as they challenge the federal decisions.
Abbe Lowell Launches His Own Law Firm
MSN – Daniel Barnes (Politico) | Published: 5/2/2025
Prominent defense lawyer Abbe Lowell launched Lowell & Associates, his own boutique law firm with an initial client roster that includes several opponents of President Trump. Lowell is teaming up with two attorneys who publicly resigned from their positions at Skadden Arps, after the firm chose to make a deal with the White House to avoid being targeted by the president.
DOGE Aide Who Helped Gut CFPB Was Warned About Potential Conflicts of Interest
MSN – Jake Pearson (ProPublica) | Published: 5/7/2025
A Department of Government Efficiency aide at the nation’s consumer watchdog agency was told by ethics attorneys he held stock in companies that employees are forbidden from owning and was advised not to participate in any actions that could benefit him personally, according to a person familiar with the warning. But days later, court records show, Gavin Kliger, a 25-year-old software engineer who has been detailed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau since March, went ahead and participated in mass layoffs at the agency anyway, including the firings of the ethics lawyers who had warned him.
Voice of America Will Carry One America News Programming
MSN – Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 5/7/2025
Voice of America (VOA) will carry programming from television network One America News, according to a post on X from Kari Lake, a senior adviser to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the government body that oversees VOA. Lake’s announcement was met with outrage from VOA staffers, who pointed to OAN’s right-wing slant and support of President Trump. VOA White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara said this agreement violates the congressional mandate of VOA.
U.S. Pushes Nations Facing Tariffs to Approve Musk’s Starlink, Cables Show
MSN – Jeff Stein and Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 5/7/2025
Numerous countries decided to assist Elon Musk’s Starlink while trying to fend off U.S. tariffs. A series of internal government messages reveal how U.S. embassies and the State Department have pushed nations to clear hurdles for American satellite companies, often mentioning Starlink by name. The documents do not show the Trump team has explicitly demanded favors for Starlink in exchange for lower tariffs. But they do indicate that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed officials to push for regulatory approvals for Musk’s satellite firm at a moment when the White House is calling for wide-ranging talks on trade.
Judge Strikes Down Trump Order Punishing Law Firm Perkins Coie
MSN – Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 5/2/2025
A federal judge barred the Trump administration from implementing an executive order targeting the law firm Perkins Coie. U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell said President Trump’s order was an unconstitutional effort to punish the firm for taking on clients and cases he dislikes. Trump has issued several executive orders punishing prominent law firms. He directed that firms lose government contracts and their employees be blocked from entering government buildings, interacting with government officials; or being hired for government jobs.
Report Spotlights Lobbying by White House Chief’s Former Clients
MSN – Martine Powers (Washington Post) | Published: 5/5/2025
In the first three months of the new Trump administration, several former lobbying clients of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles met with White House staff, drawing concern from Public Citizen about potential conflicts-of-interest. The White House says Wiles was not part of any meetings or decision-making involving the former clients except for a single phone call with the Big Three automakers that included General Motors, which Wiles last represented in 2019. Public Citizen argues Wiles should be required to recuse herself from decisions that affect her former clients.
Catholic Leaders Recoil from Trump’s Pope Post
MSN – Michelle Boorstein and Anthony Faiola (Washington Post) | Published: 5/4/2025
As Catholic cardinals prepared to choose a successor to Pope Francis, church leaders, politicians, and pundits blasted President Trump for sharing an Artificial Intelligence-generated image of himself on a throne in the cassock and miter of the pontiff. The pope is the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. The image, shared by both Trump and the White House, drew quick condemnation.
Trump’s Return to Power Elevates Ever Fringier Conspiracy Theories
Seattle Times – Emily Cochrane (New York Times) | Published: 5/5/2025
Conspiracy theories that were relegated to random and often anonymous online forums are now being championed or publicly debated by increasingly powerful people. President Trump has embraced, elevated, and even appointed to his cabinet people promoting these theories, giving the ideas a persuasive authority and a dangerous proximity to policy.
From the States and Municipalities
Alaska – Alaska’s Attorney General Flew to South Africa and France. A Corporate-Funded Group Paid.
Yahoo News – Nathaniel Herz (Anchorage Daily News) | Published: 5/7/2025
Trips taken by Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor to France and South Africa underscore watchdogs’ concerns about the group that paid for the travel, the Attorney General Alliance (AGA), which has raised millions of dollars from corporations – including some that have had legal disputes with states. CNN reported the group collected nearly $27 million in sponsorships between 2019 and 2023, and allows companies to suggest “speakers, panelists, working groups, white papers and events.”
California – China Allegedly Tried to Influence This Politician. She Says She’s Not Going Anywhere
MSN – Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 5/2/2025
After being sworn in as second-in-command of the Arcadia City Council, Eileen Wang addressed a controversy that has taken a back seat in the months since the Eaton fire devastated nearby Altadena. Wang said her romantic relationship with Yaoning Sun ended eight months before federal prosecutors charged Sun with conspiracy and acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government. Sun allegedly worked with China to cultivate Wang, in hopes she would rise in politics and help promote pro-China policies, including opposition to Taiwan.
Colorado – Bill to Put School Boards, Special Districts Under Colorado Ethics Commission Fails
Colorado Politics – Marianne Goodland | Published: 5/6/2025
For the third year in a row, a bill that would add school boards and special districts to the jurisdiction of the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission failed. The commission has issued hundreds of opinions regarding its authority, the vast majority tied to financial issues, such as gift bans and travel expenses. It has never issued an opinion that would define the standards of conduct or reporting requirements that would fall under its purview.
District of Columbia – As D.C. U.S. Attorney Nomination Falters, Ed Martin’s Past Feeds Doubts
MSN – Tom Jackman and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 5/8/2025
Ed Martin’s nomination to be the top federal prosecutor in the District of Columbia is now faltering in the U.S. Senate. The same headlong style that fed controversies over his 15 weeks as interim U.S. attorney has over the years both fueled his rise through conservative politics and burned him repeatedly, costing him jobs, tens of thousands of dollars in fines, and court contempt citations. Democratic critics say they see a pattern in what they call Martin’s repeated abuse of his powers in office to threaten political opponents, and his indifference to the law and legal ethics.
Georgia – Another Ethics Complaint Filed Against Conservative Lobbying Group with Influence at Georgia Capitol
Yahoo News – Ross Williams (Georgia Recorder) | Published: 5/6/2025
An influential conservative lobbying group allegedly failed to file the proper disclosures in connection with advertisements for Gov. Brian Kemp and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the 2022 election, according to a complaint filed with the State Ethics Commission. Frontline Policy Action is an evangelical 501(c)(4) organization that successfully lobbied during the 2025 legislative session for bills including the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act and a ban on transgender women and girls playing on women’s school sports teams.
Louisiana – As Charges Linger Over Landry, Louisiana House Votes to Overhaul Ethics Investigations
Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 5/6/2025
Investigations of public officials for alleged misconduct could be significantly blunted under a bill passed by the Louisiana House. House Bill 674 targets the same process used to bring ethics charges against Gov. Jeff Landry two years ago. Members of the state Board of Ethics said the legislation would make it harder to pursue charges over ethical misconduct.
Louisiana – Louisiana Lawmakers Might Lift Restrictions on Gifts to Elected Officials, Government Employees
Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 5/6/2025
Louisiana lawmakers are quickly moving legislation that would eliminate a prohibition in state ethics law on public sector employees and elected leaders from receiving gifts in most circumstances. Instead, government employees would be able to receive any type of gift worth up to $100 per event with an annual cap of $200. They would be able to accept an additional $200 in “seasonal or holiday food” gifts for a total limit of $400 in gifts.
Louisiana – Louisiana Lawmakers Might Shield Campaign Spending on Constitutional Amendments, Tax Proposals
Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 5/5/2025
Louisiana lawmakers might eliminate requirements that political donations and spending on constitutional amendments, tax millages, and other election propositions be made available to the public. The change would result in voters knowing less about who is working to pass or defeat ballot measures they are asked to consider. House Bill 596 would make dozens of changes to Louisiana campaign finance reporting laws.
Maryland – After Hogan Controversy, Maryland Passes New Ethics Law
MSN – Eric Cortellessa (Time Magazine) | Published: 5/8/2025
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed into law a bipartisan overhaul of the state’s ethics laws requiring future governors to put their financial holdings in a blind trust or disinvest from them entirely. During former Gov. Larry Hogan’s eight years in office, nearly 40 percent of the competitive affordable housing awards overseen by the governor went to developers listed as clients on Hogan’s real estate firm’s website. A media report found one of the projects Hogan approved was being developed on his family’s property.
Massachusetts – Boston City Councilor Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Corruption Charges
MassLive – Ryan Mancini | Published: 5/5/2025
Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson pleaded guilty to two of the six federal corruption charges in federal court – one count of wire fraud and one count of theft involving federal funds. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop four of the charges against her and recommended she serve 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and pay $26,000, as well as an additional fine set by the court.
Michigan – Michigan Lawmakers Hear Out Testimony on Rules to Close the Lobbyist Gift Loophole
Michigan Advance – Anna Liz Nichols | Published: 5/7/2025
Michigan lawmakers heard testimony on rules currently being considered that would halt elected officials from working around state prohibitions on accepting gifts from lobbyists. State law bars elected officials from accepting gifts like sports tickets or flights valued above $79. The change being considered by the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules, would ban public officials from reimbursing lobbyists for the value of a gift that exceeds the maximum allowed limit.
Montana – Montana Republicans Dominated the 2024 Election. Things Got ‘Weird’ as Some Sided with Democrats
MSN – Matthew Brown and Hannah Schoenbaum (Associated Press) | Published: 4/30/2025
Montana lawmakers meet for just a few months every two years. It remains a true citizen Legislature, opening the playing field for compromise, said political analyst Jeremy Johnson. Minority Democrats took full advantage, remaking legislative committees and banding with a handful of moderate Republicans to thwart GOP leaders’ efforts to make Montana’s judicial system more partisan. Similar alliances bolstered Medicaid expansion, raised teacher pay, and passed a state budget increase that includes investments in affordable housing and health care.
New York – Andrew Cuomo Warned: Don’t pass notes to super PAC
MSN – Jeff Coltin and Nick Reisman (Politico) | Published: 5/5/2025
Campaign finance regulators sent a warning shot to Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic front-runner in the New York City mayoral race, over a recent practice that raised concerns. The New York City Campaign Finance Board emailed all city campaigns noting the board adopted new rules in November, strengthening those outlawing coordination between candidates and super PACs. That followed reporting last week that Cuomo was using an increasingly common legal practice known as “redboxing” to communicate his preferred messaging and advertising strategy.
New York – NYC Mayor Adams’ Appeal of Matching Campaign Funds Ruling Denied, Can’t Try Again Until Mid-July
Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 5/7/2025
New York City’s Campaign Finance Board is sticking to its guns in denying Mayor Eric Adams more than $4 million in public matching funds for his reelection run and will not give him another chance to challenge the decision until mid-July. The board first denied Adams the matching funds in December 2024, citing compliance issues, including his federal corruption indictment accusing him of taking bribes and illegal campaign cash from Turkish government operatives. After the Department of Justice secured a controversial dismissal of Adams’ indictment, his campaign filed a formal petition urging the board to reconsider its denial of funds.
North Carolina – Republican Concedes Long-Unsettled North Carolina Court Election to Democratic Incumbent
MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 5/7/2025
Jefferson Griffin, the Republican challenger for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat, conceded last November’s election to incumbent Allison Riggs two days after a federal judge ruled that potentially thousands of disputed ballots challenged by Griffin must remain in the final tally. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Myers ordered the State Board of Elections to certify results showing Riggs is the winner by 734 votes. Democrats and voting rights groups called Griffin’s efforts an attack on democracy that would serve as a road map for the GOP to reverse election results in other states.
North Dakota – Effort to Improve North Dakota Campaign Finance Reporting Fails
Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 5/3/2025
A stripped-down campaign finance bill failed in the North Dakota Senate after a prolonged disagreement between chambers. Some lawmakers hoped House Bill 1377 would be a vehicle for ambitious changes in campaign spending transparency, as well as for streamlining financial disclosure regulations for candidates.
North Dakota – North Dakota Lawmakers Approve Ethics Commission Bill with Deadline Removed
Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 5/2/2025
State lawmakers approved a North Dakota Ethics Commission budget full of major policy changes, though they abandoned a controversial proposal that would have imposed a deadline for complaints. Legislators agreed to fund a $50,000 case management system to help the commission track filings, which staff say will help them work more efficiently. Other noteworthy provisions in the budget include a handful of changes intended to fix bottlenecks in the Ethics Commission’s complaint process.
Ohio – Court Upholds Racketeering Convictions of Ex-Ohio House Speaker and Lobbyist in $60M Bribery Scheme
MSN – Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) | Published: 5/6/2025
A federal appeals court upheld the racketeering convictions of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and a one-time lobbyist in a $60 million bribery scandal described as the largest corruption scheme in state history. Householder was sentenced to 20 years in prison , and lobbyist and former Ohio Republican Party Chairperson Matt Borges was sentenced to five years in prison.
Ohio – Ohio Elections Commission Urges State Senators to Restore Funding in Budget
Ohio Capital Journal – Nick Evans | Published: 5/6/2025
The future is far from certain for the Ohio Elections Commission after House budget drafters moved to eliminate the agency. Now the state Senate gets its turn to tweak the two-year spending plan. Commission Executive Director Phil Richter went before a Senate committee to make the case for his agency. Richter warned that turning campaign finance laws over to an official appointed by the secretary of state or the county board of elections will create chaos.
Oklahoma – Oklahoma Ethics Commission Clears Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett
Oklahoman – Nolan Clay | Published: 5/2/2025
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission cleared Corporation Commission member Todd Hiett after an investigation into accusations he violated a conflict-of-interest rule. The allegations arose because Hiett continued to vote on rate hikes despite disclosures about his drunken behavior at a regulatory conference in Minnesota last year.
Oregon – Former OLCC Director to Pay $500 Ethics Fine for Pappy Van Winkle Diversion
MSN – Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 5/5/2025
Steve Marks, the former executive director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, agreed to pay a $500 civil penalty to the state’s ethics commission for using his position to obtain a prized bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon. It mirrors those reached by two other commission executives in April. In all, six managers received reprimands after an internal investigation found they had used their positions for personal gain when they had scarce bourbon set aside for themselves. They were subsequently fired or stepped down.
Oregon – Former Oregon Secretary of State Faces $1,600 Fine for Ethics Violations
MSN – Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 5/4/2025
Former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan agreed to pay $1,600 in civil fines to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission for using her position to obtain a $10,000-a-month side job and for seeking state reimbursement for roomier accommodations on work trips where she was accompanied by her children and the family dog. In 2023, the commission opened its investigation into whether Fagan violated ethics rules for her side job with an associated company of La Mota, which operates cannabis stores in Oregon.
Oregon – Oregon’s Most Populous County Moves Forward with Lobbying Rules
MSN – Austin De Dios (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 5/1/2025
In a unanimous vote, the Board of Commissioners gave final approval to an ordinance that establishes Multnomah County’s first-ever lobbying reporting requirements and other transparency measures. It requires lobbyists to register and report quarterly on any efforts to influence policy and any gifts they give over $50. The ordinance takes effect on July 1.
Texas – Fifth Circuit Signals Support for Free Speech Claims in Legal Services Dispute
Courthouse News Service – Cameron Thompson | Published: 4/28/2025
A Fifth Circuit panel appeared likely to side with a campaign finance advocacy group in a dispute over a small piece of Texas election law. The Institute for Free Speech appealed to the three-judge panel that the Texas Election Commission’s advisory opinion on providing free legal services to candidates unfairly restricted their First Amendment rights. The institute wanted to represent a city council candidate who wanted to challenge a separate piece of the election code related to a warning printed on political signs. When they asked the commission if that conduct would violate the law, the commission ruled it would be a form of in-kind contribution.
Texas – Texas’ Highest Criminal Court Rehears Houston-Area Case That Could Impact Enforcement of Ethics Laws
Houston Public Media – Natalie Weber | Published: 5/1/2025
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals heard oral arguments in a case that could determine how the state’s ethics laws are enforced. In September, Texas’ highest criminal court ruled the state Ethics Commission had exclusive authority over certain ethics, campaign finance, and political advertising laws. In practice, the ruling meant prosecutors had to seek permission from the commission before bringing criminal charges against politicians and lobbyists. The debate centers on whether state lawmakers intended for the ethics commission to have exclusive authority over this area.
Texas – Texas Republican Lawmakers May ‘Financially Handcuff’ Cities That Don’t Play by Their Rules
MSN – Joshua Fechter (Texas Tribune) | Published: 5/5/2025
Two years after Texas lawmakers enacted a sweeping law aimed at sapping authority from the state’s urban areas, GOP legislators once more advanced bills intended to stop local governments from adopting progressive policies. Republicans in the Legislature want to give the state the authority to effectively torpedo cities’ budgets if they pursue local rules that might conflict with state law, intended to deter them from adopting left-leaning ideas in the first place.
Washington – Seattle City Council to Consider Changing Ethics Code for Votes
Seattle Times – David Kroman | Published: 5/1/2025
The Seattle City Council will soon consider a law changing the city’s ethics code and making it easier for members to vote on legislation even if they have a possible financial conflict-of-interest. A year after several perceived conflicts among council members altered the path of a number of bills, the proposed change could clear the way for how this council considers laws regulating landlord-tenant relations and business in the city.
May 7, 2025 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance New York: “Andrew Cuomo Warned: Don’t pass notes to super PAC” by Jeff Coltin and Nick Reisman (Politico) for MSN North Dakota: “Effort to Improve North Dakota Campaign Finance Reporting Fails” by Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News Ohio: “Ohio Elections […]
Campaign Finance
New York: “Andrew Cuomo Warned: Don’t pass notes to super PAC” by Jeff Coltin and Nick Reisman (Politico) for MSN
North Dakota: “Effort to Improve North Dakota Campaign Finance Reporting Fails” by Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News
Ohio: “Ohio Elections Commission Urges State Senators to Restore Funding in Budget” by Nick Evans for Ohio Capital Journal
Elections
North Carolina: “Judge Orders Officials to Certify Democrat’s Win for N.C. Supreme Court” by Patrick Marle and Niha Masih (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
Louisiana: “As Charges Linger Over Landry, Louisiana House Votes to Overhaul Ethics Investigations” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News
National: “Abbe Lowell Launches His Own Law Firm” by Daniel Barnes (Politico) for MSN
National: “Trump’s Return to Power Elevates Ever Fringier Conspiracy Theories” by Emily Cochrane (New York Times) for Seattle Times
Lobbying
Georgia: “Another Ethics Complaint Filed Against Conservative Lobbying Group with Influence at Georgia Capitol” by Ross Williams (Georgia Recorder) for Yahoo News
May 5, 2025 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Oklahoma: “Ryan Walters to Pay $18,300 Settlement to Resolve Fundraising Accusations” by Nolan Clay for Oklahoman Texas: “Fifth Circuit Signals Support for Free Speech Claims in Legal Services Dispute” by Cameron Thompson for Courthouse News Service Elections North Carolina: “GOP Takes Over N.C. […]
Campaign Finance
Oklahoma: “Ryan Walters to Pay $18,300 Settlement to Resolve Fundraising Accusations” by Nolan Clay for Oklahoman
Texas: “Fifth Circuit Signals Support for Free Speech Claims in Legal Services Dispute” by Cameron Thompson for Courthouse News Service
Elections
North Carolina: “GOP Takes Over N.C. Elections Board, Boosting Chances of Reversing High Court Race” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
California: “China Allegedly Tried to Influence This Politician. She Says She’s Not Going Anywhere” by Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) for MSN
National: “Judge Strikes Down Trump Order Punishing Law Firm Perkins Coie” by Mark Berman (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Orders to Investigate Columbia Protesters Raised Alarms in Justice Dept.” by Devlin Barrett (New York Times) for DNyuz
Washington: “Seattle City Council to Consider Changing Ethics Code for Votes” by David Kroman for Seattle Times
Lobbying
Oregon: “Oregon’s Most Populous County Moves Forward with Lobbying Rules” by Austin De Dios (Portland Oregonian) for MSN
May 2, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 2, 2025

National/Federal Paramount Board Clears Possible Path for Settling Trump’s ’60 Minutes’ Lawsuit DNyuz – Benjamin Mullin, Lauren Hirsch, and Michael Grynbaum (New York Times) | Published: 4/29/2025 Lawyers for President Trump and Paramount, the parent of CBS News, are set to begin […]
National/Federal
Paramount Board Clears Possible Path for Settling Trump’s ’60 Minutes’ Lawsuit
DNyuz – Benjamin Mullin, Lauren Hirsch, and Michael Grynbaum (New York Times) | Published: 4/29/2025
Lawyers for President Trump and Paramount, the parent of CBS News, are set to begin mediation over a lawsuit brought by Trump that accuses “60 Minutes” of deceptively editing an interview with his 2024 Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris. Paramount’s interest in settling has dismayed CBS’s news division, in particular the “60 Minutes” staff. Legal experts have called the suit baseless and an easy victory for CBS. But Paramount is entering the talks prepared to make a deal.
Secret Deals, Foreign Investments, Presidential Policy Changes: The rise of Trump’s crypto firm
DNyuz – Eric Lipton, David Yaffee-Bellany, and Ben Protess (New York Times) | Published: 4/29/2025
Donald Trump’s return to the White House has opened lucrative new pathways for him to cash in on his power, whether through his social media company or new overseas real estate deals. But none of the Trump family’s other business endeavors pose conflicts-of-interest that compare to those that have emerged since the birth of World Liberty Financial, the cryptocurrency firm started by Trump and his sons. The president is now not only a major crypto dealer; he is also the industry’s top policy maker.
Judge Rejects Efforts to Free F.B.I. Informant Who Lied About Hunter Biden
DNyuz – Devlin Barrett (New York Times) | Published: 4/30/2025
A federal judge rejected a bid by the Justice Department to free a former FBI informant who had pleaded guilty to lying about Hunter Biden and evading his taxes, saying that nothing about the facts of the case had changed and the man might still flee if released. The longtime informant, Alexander Smirnov admitted he lied when he claimed to have information about a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
Civil Rights Lawyers Leave En Masse as Justice Dept. Mission Shifts
MSN – Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 4/28/2025
Harmeet Dhillon, the new head of the Justice Department’s civil rights division, is reshaping the office to propel President Trump’s social agenda, prompting the departure of about half of the division’s lawyers. Dhillon redirected her staff to focus on combating antisemitism, the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, and what Trump and his allies have described as anti-Christian bias and the Democrats’ “woke ideology.” The division changed mission statements across its sections to focus less on racial discrimination and more on fighting diversity initiatives.
Drugmakers Have Spent Millions Targeting ‘Middlemen’ – and It’s Paying Off
MSN – Josh Dawsey, Kristina Peterson, and Maggie Severns (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 4/30/2025
Donald Trump’s second term has upended the business of K Street, with many industries feeling left in the cold. An exception is the drug industry’s campaign against so-called middlemen, or pharmacy-benefit managers, which manage prescription-drug benefits for health insurers. Drugmakers spent a record $31 million to lobby in Washington last year, and about $13 million in the first quarter of 2025. Millions more went to donations to political groups and ads, many of which blamed benefit managers for the high price of drugs.
Federal Campaign Finance Agency Won’t Have Enough Members to Enforce the Law
MSN – Jessica Piper (Politico) | Published: 4/30/2025
The FEC is again without enough members to take official action after a Republican commissioner announced his departure. Allen Dickerson is the second commissioner to willingly leave the agency this year, following Sean Cooksey’s resignation in January. The agency is paralyzed without a quorum and cannot vote on things like the outcomes of investigations, citing committees for campaign finance violations, and issuing advisory opinions.
Fox’s False Claims About 2020 Race Were an Audience Strategy, Smartmatic Says
MSN – Sarah Ellison and Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 4/30/2025
Smartmatic accused Fox News in a court filing of embracing false claims that the voting technology company had helped steal the 2020 election for Joe Biden only after the network endured an audience backlash for calling the race in Arizona for Biden. Smartmatic, which makes voting machines and election management systems, has been engaged in a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News and its parent company since 2021.
Trump Company Strikes Qatari Golf Resort Deal in a Sign It’s Not Holding Back from Foreign Business
MSN – Bernard Condon (Associated Press) | Published: 4/30/2025
The Trump family company struck a deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar in a sign it has no plans to hold back from foreign dealmaking during a second Trump administration, despite the danger of a president shaping U.S. public policy for personal financial gain. The project is the first foreign deal by the Trump Organization since Donald Trump took office and unlike any done in his first ter
Trump and GOP Ramp Up Investigations on Democrats’ Top Fundraising Platform
MSN – Maeve Reston and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 4/24/2025
President Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate fundraising platforms such as ActBlue, the central fundraising apparatus of the Democratic Party, escalating his effort to use his powers to target his political opponents and, in this case, the core machinery of the opposition party. Trump campaigned extensively on a promise to exact revenge on his political adversaries and frequently made unsubstantiated claims about corrupt Democratic fundraising practices.
Judge Blocks Part of Trump’s Order Requiring Citizenship Proof to Vote
MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 4/24/2025
A federal judge temporarily blocked election officials from implementing parts of President Trump’s executive order to require people to prove they are citizens when they fill out federal voter registration forms. The sweeping order sought to overhaul how the 2026 midterm elections are run, even though the Constitution says voting policies are to be set by the states and Congress. Democrats and voting rights groups quickly sued, leading to the preliminary injunction.
Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft
MSN – Philip Marcello (Associated Press) | Published: 4/25/2025
Disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos was sentenced to over seven years in prison, sobbing as he learned his punishment for the crimes that led to his expulsion from Congress. Santos served in Congress barely a year before becoming just the sixth member of the House to be ousted by colleagues. He admitted to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of nearly a dozen people to fund his campaign. His plea deal included agreeing to pay roughly $580,000 in penalties.
Reporters’ Phone Records Could Again Be Searched, Justice Dept. Says
MSN – Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 4/25/2025
The Justice Department rescinded a Biden-era policy that prevented officials from searching reporters’ phone records when trying to identify government personnel who have leaked sensitive information to news organizations. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an internal memo that the media should not be afforded such protections, noting leaks of government information during the Trump administration.
Elon Musk’s Conflicts of Interest: $2.37 billion in potential federal penalties, report says
MSN – Laurence Darmiento (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 4/28/2025
Elon Musk and his companies faced at least $2.37 billion in potential federal fines and penalties the day President Trump took office, according to a congressional report that highlights the possible conflicts-of-interest posed by the billionaire’s cost-cutting work in government. The memo by the minority staff of the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations is the most exhaustive attempt yet to detail Musk’s alleged conflicts as an advisor to Trump and chief promoter of his team called the Department of Government Efficiency.
The MAGA Lobbyists Upending Washington with McDonald’s and Bear Hunting
MSN – Kristina Peterson and Maggie Severns (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 4/28/2025
Many high-profile lobbyists steered clear of Donald Trump in the days after the Capitol riot and skipped fundraising for him during the 2024 election. Now, as the Trump administration seeks to upend industries across America with tariffs and legal threats, it is also upending the business of lobbying, by rewarding loyalty and making K Street the latest battleground for Trump’s war on elites. The shift is reshaping the pecking order in Washington’s influence industry.
Grants Tie Trump’s Anti-DEI Order to Election Security Money
MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 4/29/2025
Federal election officials are suggesting states must pledge to follow President Trump’s directive curbing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs as a condition for receiving $15 million in election security funding. The new requirement has sent Democratic secretaries of state around the nation scrambling to assess the financial, legal, and operational implications of accepting the money. The dispute is complicated by the vagueness of the revised grant agreement, which some state officials fear could be turned against them.
From the States and Municipalities
Europe – European Commission Bans Lobbyists Vouching for Huawei Amid Corruption Probe
MSN – Edith Hancock (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 4/24/2025
The European Commission banned officials from meeting with lobbyists acting on behalf of Huawei Technologies after a bribery scandal rocked Brussels this year. It was reported that prosecutors suspected Huawei representatives of lobbying European Parliament members with payments, food, and travel gifts, and invitations to watch soccer matches to promote the company’s interests in the region.
Canada – In Stunning Comeback, Carney’s Liberals Win Canada’s Federal Election
MSN – Amanda Coletta (Washington Post) | Published: 4/28/2025
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals were set to win a federal election in an extraordinary comeback that was fueled in part by President Trump’s tariff policies and attacks on Canada. Just months ago, Carney’s party was headed for a potentially historic defeat. Amid the U.S. president’s trade war and threats to annex its northern neighbor, voters flocked to Carney, a political novice who led the Bank of Canada during the global financial crisis. He pitched himself as a steady hand at a destabilizing time.
Alaska – With Lawmakers’ Help, Alaska Political Donation Limits Could Come Before 2026 Election
Alaska Beacon – James Brooks | Published: 4/29/2025
Four years after a federal appeals court eliminated Alaska’s limits on campaign contributions, lawmakers took a step toward reimposing them. The House approved legislation which mirrors the language of a ballot measure slated to go before voters in 2026. Alaskans are expected to approve the upcoming measure by a wide margin, but that approval would bring new limits into effect for the 2028 elections at the earliest. If the Legislature approves a substantially similar bill, it would allow limits for the 2026 election and remove the upcoming initiative from the ballot.
Arizona – Kari Lake’s Campaign Debt Is Unlike Most Former Senate Candidates. Here’s What to Know
Arizona Republic – Ronald Hansen | Published: 4/27/2025
Kari Lake’s $1 million campaign debt to others easily exceeds that of other former U.S. Senate candidates who do not hold elected office and raises concerns about how she can repay her creditors while working for the Trump administration. Records show the Arizona Republican is one of 23 Senate candidates whose campaigns have debts totaling at least seven figures, but in most cases that is for loans the politicians owe themselves. That is not the case for Lake, who did not loan her campaign any of her own money.
Arizona – Trump Wants Voters to Prove Citizenship. Arizona Tried That and Bungled It.
MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 5/1/2025
Donald Trump and Republicans want to require voters to prove their citizenship as they claimed without proof that large numbers of noncitizens were illegally casting ballots. It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections, and glitches with Arizona’s registration system illustrate the risks of enacting policies that may keep eligible voters from participating in the democratic process.
Florida – Tina Descovich Must Leave Ethics Commission After Senate Again Fails to Take Up Nomination
Florida Politics – Jacob Ogles | Published: 4/25/2026
The Florida Senate is again declining to take up two of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s state ethics commission appointees, including Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich. That means neither can be reappointed and must leave their posts at the end of legislative session. Descovich had been unanimously elected as Vice Chair of the Ethics Commission. But her involvement in the politically active Moms for Liberty has made her a subject of public controversy.
Hawaii – Hawai’i Lawmakers Kill Pay-to-Play Bill – Again
Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 4/25/2025
The Legislature refused to close a loophole in state law that has allowed millions of dollars to flow to Hawaii campaigns from people who get big state contracts. House Bill 371 would have prohibited donations from the executives of state and county contractors and grantees as well as their immediate family members. The bill had cruised through the session, winning a unanimous vote in both chambers. But legislative leaders injected last-minute amendments that sought to weaken the measure.
Illinois – Jury Deadlocks, Mistrial Declared in Federal Bribery Case of Sen. Emil Jones III
NPR Illinois – Hannah Meisel (Capitol News Illinois) | Published: 4/25/2025
A judge declared a mistrial in the case of Illinois Sen. Emil Jones III after a jury deadlocked over whether Jones agreed to take bribes from red-light camera entrepreneur-turned-government cooperator Omar Maani then lied to the FBI. The federal government’s wide-ranging public corruption probe first made public in 2018 has mostly resulted in elected officials either resigning or pleading guilty after being hit with charges. It is also the third high-profile public corruption trial in seven months in Illinois to end in a hung jury.
Indiana – Former Indiana Congressional Candidate Gets Prison Sentence in Campaign Finance Fraud Case
Yahoo News – Casey Smith (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 4/29/2025
Former Indiana congressional candidate Gabriel Whitley was sentenced to three months in federal prison Tuesday after he falsified campaign finance records and lied about raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions ahead of the May 2024 primary. “We need to have confidence in the process and the integrity of the system, even if the political candidate doesn’t have that same integrity,” said U.S. District Court Judge James Sweeney.
Kentucky – Former Kentucky Secretary of State Wins Ethics Case
Yahoo News – Jack Brammer (Kentucky Lantern) | Published: 4/29/2025
After years of legal wrangling, former Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is free of any state ethics violation charges. The Executive Branch Ethics Commission, which brought charges against her in 2021, has decided not to appeal a decision by the Court of Appeals that cleared Grimes of any wrongdoing. The end of the legal case could open the door for a possible run for another political office.
Michigan – Hall Calls for Oversight Committee Investigation into Michigan’s New Campaign Finance Portal
Yahoo News – Kyke Davidson (Michigan Advance) | Published: 4/30/2025
As the Michigan Department of State works to transition its campaign finance data into another system, Speaker Matt Hall is slamming the new platform, prompting the House Oversight Committee to look into how the funding for the system was being spent. The department launched its new personal financial disclosure system on March 14, 2025, and has faced criticism since its launch from reporters, campaigns, and transparency advocates.
Minnesota – Ethics Panel: MN Senate President must disclose possible future conflicts
Yahoo News – Alex Derosier (Pioneer Press) | Published: 4/24/2025
The Senate Subcommittee on Ethics advised Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion to disclose potential conflicts-of-interest in future bills he sponsors. Though in that same motion, the panel made no finding on whether Champion had a conflict when he carried a 2023 bill that gave state money to a nonprofit whose founder he had done free legal work for in the past.
Nevada – Wife of Top Clark County Official on Team of Lucrative Government Project
MSN – Mary Hynes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 5/1/2025
The wife of a key Clark County public works official is part of a team that received a multi-million-dollar contract from the department, fueling concerns about a potential conflict-of-interest in the bidding process and a failure of transparency in the use of public funds. The county awarded a $10 million construction management contract to Diversified Consulting Services, which teamed up on its proposal with Rock Solid Project Solutions. Rock Solid is owned by Raquel Floyd, the wife of Jimmy Floyd, who heads the county’s construction management division and managed the bidding process.
New York – Cuomo Won’t Release Consulting Clients from His Time Out of Public Eye
MSN – Joe Anuta (Politico) | Published: 4/28/2025
New York City mayoral front-runner Andrew Cuomo is pledging to recuse himself, if elected, from potential conflicts-of-interest stemming from his recent legal consulting business. Yet he refuses to disclose his clients, making his guarantee impossible to verify. As the former governor seeks to take over a City Hall beset by corruption scandals, he is effectively setting up an honor system on his promise to avoid conflicts that could arise if his clients at Innovation Strategies have business before the administration.
New York – Andrew Cuomo Is Whispering to His Super PAC
MSN – Jeff Coltin (Politico) | Published: 4/28/2025
New York City mayoral campaigns are not allowed to strategize with super PACs that support their candidates, but Andrew Cuomo has found a way around that. With significantly less cash on hand than he had hoped due to a paperwork error, the Democratic frontrunner is relying on a legal practice known as redboxing to communicate his preferred messaging to anyone reading the fine print at the bottom of his website. If the reader happens to work for a super PAC backing Cuomo, that messaging could find its way into the ads the group is airing on his behalf.
New York – For a Yonkers Political Dynasty, a Succession of Blurred Lines
New York Focus – Chris Bragg | Published: 4/30/2025
Nick Spano faced potential ruin when he was sentenced to prison in 2012 as clients fled his Albany-based lobbying firm. But his younger brother, Mike, had just been elected mayor of New York’s third-largest city. In the years since, Nick Spano’s lobbying firm has been resurrected. His client list has swelled with nearly two dozen companies and interest groups that have business before his brother’s administration.
Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 4/30/2025
Mayor Eric Adams’ federal corruption indictment is dead, but New York City’s Campaign Finance Board is not forgetting about it. The board will continue to deny Adams’ reelection campaign $4 million in public matching funds due to his indictment, as it still has “reason to believe” he and his team broke “various” federal and local laws despite the controversial dismissal of his case, according to communications obtained by the New York Daily News.
North Carolina – North Carolina Judges Block GOP Law to Strip Governor’s Election Board Powers
MSN – Gary Robertson and Makiya Seminera (Associated Press) | Published: 4/24/2025
North Carolina trial judges threw out another Republican attempt to strip the governor of his authority to appoint State Board of Elections members, declaring a law shifting the task to the state auditor is unconstitutional. The governor picks the five board members, three of whom are traditionally members of the governor’s party. Appointments are made from candidates provided by the two major parties. The latest law would have given the responsibility to new GOP Auditor Dave Boliek, with the expectation that Republicans would assume a majority on the board.
Ohio – Judge Grants Immunity to Ex-FirstEnergy Officials, Clearing Path to Testimony on Bribes
MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 4/24/2025
A judge gave legal immunity to four former FirstEnergy officials, all ousted amid criminal investigations into the company’s two bribery schemes of state officials, clearing the way for them to testify to state regulators. The three lobbyists – Joel Bailey, Justin Biltz, and Ty Pine – plus ex-senior vice president Dennis Chack, all previously invoked their constitutional rights against self-incrimination and refused to testify to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio about their own and others’ involvement in the passage of House Bill 6.
Oregon – Two Former OLCC Employees Settle Ethics Investigation in Rare Bourbon Scandal
Salem Statesman Journal – Dianne Lugo | Published: 4/25/2025
Two former Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) employees will each pay a $500 fine for their role in the 2023 rare bourbon scandal, according to final orders issued by the Government Ethics Commission. The commission voted to penalize former budget director Bill Schuette and former information services director Jon-Kai Nakashima as part of a settlement of the commission’s investigation into OLCC executives using their positions for exclusive access to rare bottles of bourbon.
Texas – Fight Over ‘Truth’ in AI Political Ads Heats Up as Texas House Passes Transparency Bill
MSN – Nolan McCaskill (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 4/30/2025
The Texas House passed a bill that would ban the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in political ads “with the intent to influence an election” unless the ad conveys that what is portrayed did not occur in reality. House Bill 366 would require the disclosure of political advertising that uses generative AI technology to alter images, audio, or video of an officeholder or candidate.
Washington – New Washington Energy Chair’s Industry Ties Raise Ethics Question
Cascade PBS – Brandon Block | Published: 4/30/2025
Kurt Beckett’s work at Strategies 360, a Seattle lobbying and public relations firm where he served as chief operating officer, has provided potential conflicts-of-interest in his new job as chairperson of Washington’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council. Some have questioned Beckett’s close ties to permit applicants and whether any safeguards prevent him from influencing his former clients’ projects behind the scenes.
Washington – Spending on Lobbying in Washington State Has Doubled in a Decade. What’s It Buying?
KUOW – Scott Greenstone | Published: 4/25/2025
There were nearly 1,000 lobbyists in Washington state last year. That is more than six for every lawmaker. In the last decade, money spent lobbying in Washington rose more steadily than other U.S. states that track lobbying money, from around $41 million in 2014 to more than $90 million last year. Colorado is the only other state that tracks lobbying spending where it steadily grew to more than double in the same time.
Wisconsin – Wisconsin Supreme Court Suspends Judge Accused of Aiding Man Avoid Immigration Authorities
MSN – Vanessa Swales and Daniel Bice (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) | Published: 4/30/2025
The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended a judge charged with two federal counts on allegations of trying to help an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest after he appeared in her courtroom. Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan is accused of trying to help Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented Mexican immigrant, avoid arrest by federal immigration officials after he appeared for a pretrial conference.
Wyoming – BLM Wyoming Director on Leave After Probe Finds Ethics Violations
WyoFile – Katie Klingsporn | Published: 4/30/2025
Wyoming’s Bureau of Land Management state director was placed on administrative leave after a federal investigation found he violated ethics regulations. The investigation found Andrew Archuleta accepted a gift of dinner and drinks, misused his assistant’s time when he asked her to make travel arrangements for his girlfriend, and drove his girlfriend to and from Buffalo in a government vehicle.
May 1, 2025 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Alaska: “With Lawmakers’ Help, Alaska Political Donation Limits Could Come Before 2026 Election” by James Brooks for Alaska Beacon National: “Federal Campaign Finance Agency Won’t Have Enough Members to Enforce the Law” by Jessica Piper (Politico) for MSN Indiana: “Former Indiana Congressional Candidate […]
Campaign Finance
Alaska: “With Lawmakers’ Help, Alaska Political Donation Limits Could Come Before 2026 Election” by James Brooks for Alaska Beacon
National: “Federal Campaign Finance Agency Won’t Have Enough Members to Enforce the Law” by Jessica Piper (Politico) for MSN
Indiana: “Former Indiana Congressional Candidate Gets Prison Sentence in Campaign Finance Fraud Case” by Casey Smith (Indiana Capital Chronicle) for Yahoo News
New York: “NYC Mayor Adams’ Indictment, Despite Dismissal, Still Grounds for Denying Him $4M in Matching Funds: Records” by Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) for Yahoo News
Ethics
National: “Paramount Board Clears Possible Path for Settling Trump’s ’60 Minutes’ Lawsuit” by Benjamin Mullin, Lauren Hirsch, and Michael Grynbaum (New York Times) for DNyuz
Washington: “New Washington Energy Chair’s Industry Ties Raise Ethics Question” by Brandon Block for Cascade PBS
Lobbying
National: “Drugmakers Have Spent Millions Targeting ‘Middlemen’ – and It’s Paying Off” by Josh Dawsey, Kristina Peterson, and Maggie Severns (Wall Street Journal) for MSN
New York: “For a Yonkers Political Dynasty, a Succession of Blurred Lines” by Chris Bragg for New York Focus
April 30, 2025 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Hawaii: “Hawai’i Lawmakers Kill Pay-to-Play Bill – Again” by Blaze Lovell for Honolulu Civil Beat New York: “Andrew Cuomo Is Whispering to His Super PAC” by Jeff Coltin (Politico) for MSN Elections National: “Grants Tie Trump’s Anti-DEI Order to Election Security Money” by Yvonne […]
Campaign Finance
Hawaii: “Hawai’i Lawmakers Kill Pay-to-Play Bill – Again” by Blaze Lovell for Honolulu Civil Beat
New York: “Andrew Cuomo Is Whispering to His Super PAC” by Jeff Coltin (Politico) for MSN
Elections
National: “Grants Tie Trump’s Anti-DEI Order to Election Security Money” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Secret Deals, Foreign Investments, Presidential Policy Changes: The rise of Trump’s crypto firm” by Eric Lipton, David Yaffee-Bellany, and Ben Protess (New York Times) for DNyuz
National: “Civil Rights Lawyers Leave En Masse as Justice Dept. Mission Shifts” by Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN
Kentucky: “Former Kentucky Secretary of State Wins Ethics Case” by Jack Brammer (Kentucky Lantern) for Yahoo News
Oregon: “Two Former OLCC Employees Settle Ethics Investigation in Rare Bourbon Scandal” by Dianne Lugo for Salem Statesman Journal
Lobbying
Washington: “Spending on Lobbying in Washington State Has Doubled in a Decade. What’s It Buying?” by Scott Greenstone for KUOW
April 29, 2025 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Arizona: “Kari Lake’s Campaign Debt Is Unlike Most Former Senate Candidates. Here’s What to Know” by Ronald Hansen for Arizona Republic Elections Canada: “In Stunning Comeback, Carney’s Liberals Win Canada’s Federal Election” by Amanda Coletta (Washington Post) for MSN Ethics National: “Reporters’ Phone […]
Campaign Finance
Arizona: “Kari Lake’s Campaign Debt Is Unlike Most Former Senate Candidates. Here’s What to Know” by Ronald Hansen for Arizona Republic
Elections
Canada: “In Stunning Comeback, Carney’s Liberals Win Canada’s Federal Election” by Amanda Coletta (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Reporters’ Phone Records Could Again Be Searched, Justice Dept. Says” by Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Elon Musk’s Conflicts of Interest: $2.37 billion in potential federal penalties, report says” by Laurence Darmiento (Los Angeles Times) for MSN
Florida: “Tina Descovich Must Leave Ethics Commission After Senate Again Fails to Take Up Nomination” by Jacob Ogles for Florida Politics
New York: “Cuomo Won’t Release Consulting Clients from His Time Out of Public Eye” by Joe Anuta (Politico) for MSN
Lobbying
Europe: “European Commission Bans Lobbyists Vouching for Huawei Amid Corruption Probe” by Edith Hancock (Wall Street Journal) for MSN
National: “The MAGA Lobbyists Upending Washington with McDonald’s and Bear Hunting” by Kristina Peterson and Maggie Severns (Wall Street Journal) for MSN
April 28, 2025 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance National: “Trump and GOP Ramp Up Investigations on Democrats’ Top Fundraising Platform” by Maeve Reston and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN Elections National: “Judge Blocks Part of Trump’s Order Requiring Citizenship Proof to Vote” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN […]
Campaign Finance
National: “Trump and GOP Ramp Up Investigations on Democrats’ Top Fundraising Platform” by Maeve Reston and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN
Elections
National: “Judge Blocks Part of Trump’s Order Requiring Citizenship Proof to Vote” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN
North Carolina: “North Carolina Judges Block GOP Law to Strip Governor’s Election Board Powers” by Gary Robertson and Makiya Seminera (Associated Press) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft” by Philip Marcello (Associated Press) for MSN
Illinois: “Jury Deadlocks, Mistrial Declared in Federal Bribery Case of Sen. Emil Jones III” by Hannah Meisel (Capitol News Illinois) for NPR Illinois
Minnesota: “Ethics Panel: MN Senate President must disclose possible future conflicts” by Alex Derosier (Pioneer Press) for Yahoo News
Ohio: “Judge Grants Immunity to Ex-FirstEnergy Officials, Clearing Path to Testimony on Bribes” by Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN
Wisconsin: “Wisconsin Judge Arrested by FBI, Charged with Obstructing Immigrant Arrest” by Jeremy Roebuck, Patrick Marley, and Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN
April 25, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – April 25, 2025

National/Federal After Harvard, Liberal Donors and Groups Fear New Scrutiny from Trump DNyuz – Theodore Schleifer and Lisa Friedman (New York Times) | Published: 4/17/2025 The close-knit world of liberal donors and the nonprofit groups they support are worried that President Trump […]
National/Federal
After Harvard, Liberal Donors and Groups Fear New Scrutiny from Trump
DNyuz – Theodore Schleifer and Lisa Friedman (New York Times) | Published: 4/17/2025
The close-knit world of liberal donors and the nonprofit groups they support are worried that President Trump could go after their assets or their tax-exempt status. Trump confirmed he was potentially seeking to pull Harvard’s tax-exempt status, in an apparent act of retaliation for the university’s refusal to bow to a long list of demands. And he said there “could be” others. while some of these donors and their allied groups have cozied up to the Trump administration, more of them have worked diligently to lie low, de-emphasizing viewpoints that could attract scrutiny.
Appeals Court Panel Hears Arguments on AP’s Access to White House
MSN – Hassan Ali Kanu (Politico) | Published: 4/17/2025
A federal appeals court panel appeared skeptical at a hearing of the Trump administration’s request that it immediately lift a lower court’s order restoring the Associated Press to the White House press pool. The panel seemed wary of the administration’s arguments that they must immediately intervene in the case, saying there was not a risk of some imminent harm, especially since the Associated Press already had a longstanding, permanent slot in the small group of reporters who get access to the Oval Office and other White House spaces.
DOJ Questions Science Journal About Bias, Triggering Free Speech Concerns
MSN – Mark Johnson (Washington Post) | Published: 4/18/2025
The acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia sent a letter to the editor of a scientific journal for chest doctors, implying the journal was partisan and asking a series of questions about how the publication protects the public from misinformation, whether it included competing viewpoints, and whether it was influenced by funders. Free speech experts raised alarm over the letter. “The government has no authority under the First Amendment to regulate the editorial decisions of publications, and the letter suggests that’s what Martin intends to do,” said David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition.
The Supreme Court Could Be Poised to Hobble the Trump Resistance
MSN – Hassan Ali Kanu and Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 4/21/2025
The Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments on the extent of lower court judges’ power to block a president’s policies nationwide. If the high court grants the Trump administration’s request to limit or lift three nationwide injunctions blocking the president’s bid to end birthright citizenship, it could cripple the ability of Trump’s opponents to seek, and judges’ ability to grant, such blocks entirely.
Wife of Former Senator Bob Menendez Found Guilty in Corruption Case
MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 4/21/2025
The wife of former U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez was found guilty of helping her husband generate a steady flow of bribes and gifts that totaled about $1 million and included gold bars, cash, and a luxury car. Nadine Menendez was convicted of bribery, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit those crimes, and related counts. She faces the possibility of decades in prison.
Politically Connected Firms Benefit from Trump Tariff Exemptions Amid Secrecy, Confusion
MSN – Robert Faturechi (ProPublica) | Published: 4/22/2025
Critics say the Trump administration’s process for crafting its tariff policy has been opaque. Major stakeholders are in the dark about why certain products face levies and others do not. Tariff rates have been altered without any clear explanation for the changes. Administration officials have given conflicting messages about the tariffs or declined to answer questions at all. The lack of transparency about the process has created concerns among trade experts that politically connected firms might be winning carve-outs behind closed doors.
The Top Producer at ’60 Minutes’ Has Quit. He Says He Can No Longer Run the Show as He Always Has
MSN – David Bauder (Associated Press) | Published: 4/22/2025
With his show involved in a bitter dispute with President Trump, the top executive at the storied CBS News show “60 Minutes”, Bill Owens, abruptly resigned while saying he is losing the freedom to run it independently. Trump sued “60 Minutes” for $20 billion last fall, claiming it deceptively edited an interview with Kamala Harris. CBS denied it had done anything to give an advantage to Harris and released the full transcript of its interview.
Watchdog Agency Tells Fired Workers They Have No Legal Basis for Complaints
MSN – Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 4/21/2025
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) told thousands of probationary federal workers it will not pursue their complaints about their firings. The decision was a reversal of the position of the previous head of the independent office, who was fired by President Trump. The watchdog agency said it does not have the purview to pursue the complaints made by more than 2,000 federal employees. It acknowledged many of the workers disputed the poor performance that was cited in their removals. But the OSC said it was impossible for them to challenge the firings as unlawful.
Jury Finds New York Times Didn’t Defame Sarah Palin
MSN – Corinne Ramey and Isabella Simonetti (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 4/22/2025
A federal jury rejected former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s claims that the New York Times defamed her in an editorial about gun violence. The verdict of not liable was the same conclusion a previous jury had reached in 2022 during the first trial in the case. The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year ordered a new trial, finding the judge acted improperly when he said, during jury deliberations, that he planned to dismiss the case.
Two Major Law Firms Urge Judges to Permanently Block Trump’s Executive Orders
MSN – Eric Tucker (Associated Press) | Published: 4/23/2025
A federal judge expressed deep skepticism over President Trump’s executive order targeting a prominent law firm, signaling she was inclined to grant a request to permanently block its enforcement. U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell grilled a Justice Department lawyer over the government’s plans to suspend security clearances from lawyers at the firm of Perkins Coie and pressed him to explain why the Trump administration was forcing law firms to disavow the use of diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations in its hiring practices.
Elon Musk Had the Government in His Grasp. Then It Unraveled.
MSN – Dan Diamond, Faiz Siddiqui, Trisha Thadani, and Jeff Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 4/24/2025
Elon Musk has had numerous confrontations with top Trump administration appointees in a three-month government stint that has been peppered with controversy. He has rebuked officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and economic adviser Peter Navarro. He also alienated Trump aides with unscripted remarks and abrupt edicts, forcing political appointees to scramble to explain his decisions. With Tesla battered by declining sales, Musk told investors his “time allocation to [the Department of Government Efficiency] will drop significantly,” though he added he will probably stay involved.
From the States and Municipalities
Arizona – Cannabis Company Alleges Gov. Hobbs’ Aide Improperly Intervened in Marijuana License Case
Arizona Capitol Times – Kiera Riley | Published: 4/19/2025
Arizona Wellness Center Springerville filed a lawsuit against state public health department officials, the governor, and her chief of staff, accusing them of improperly issuing a dual-use cannabis license after the statutory deadline to Arizona’s largest cannabis retailer. The company and Cave claim Gov. Katie Hobbs’ chief of staff, Chad Campbell, coordinated with a lobbyist for the cannabis retailer Trulieve to grant a dual license to one of its subsidiaries despite past court orders finding it unlawful to grant a license after the deadline.
California – Former L.A. Councilmember Kevin de León Faces Ethics Fine for Voting on Issues in Which He Had a Financial Stake
MSN – Ben Poston (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 4/19/2025
Former Los Angeles Councilperson Kevin de León is facing an $18,750 ethics fine for voting on council decisions in which he had a financial interest and for failing to disclose income. A report from the city Ethics Commission said that in 2020 and 2021, De León voted on three city council issues that benefited the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and one that helped the University of Southern California, all decisions that were made less than a year after he received income from each.
California – Another Top Staffer Quits Oakland Public Ethics Commission
MSN – Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) | Published: 4/17/2025
Nicolas Heidorn, executive director of the Oakland Public Ethics Commission, is leaving his post in July. Heidorn is the second high-level staffer to leave the agency in recent months. Last September, Simon Russell, the commission’s enforcement chief, announced he was resigning and criticized city officials for refusing to give his team more resources, despite repeated warnings that his staff are overwhelmed with work.
California – $5K in a Coffee Mug: Indictment details Bay Area developers’ alleged bribe to elected official
MSN – Bob Egelko and Molly Burke (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 4/23/2025
The owners of a Bay Area housing development firm, David Sanson and his son, Trent Sanson, were charged with offering bribes to an Antioch City Council member to win approval for a residential project. Prosecutors said Trent Sanson met with the council member and said his father was willing to pay $10,000 to put the project on the council’s agenda and win approval. He told the council member his father would likely give them $5,000 in cash and another $5,000 as a donation to a political action committee or as an independent expenditure.
California – Top S.F. Official Ousted After Probe Finds Misconduct, ‘Unlawful Activities’
MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 4/23/2025
A city commission voted to remove a beleaguered official from her post after an administrative investigation found she committed what San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie described as misconduct and “unlawful activities.” Kimberly Ellis, director of the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women, faced a months-long investigation for secretly working a side job for a political group and directing city money to her friends.
Colorado Politics – Marianne Goodland | Published: 4/22/2025
House Bill 1079, which would add school and special districts to the jurisdiction of Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission, was approved by the House Appropriations Committee. Under the bill, the commission would handle complaints tied to members of 178 school boards and board members for 2,713 special districts, covering fire, water, sanitation, metropolitan, hospitals, libraries, and others. That would also extend to “direct hires” of those boards, such as district directors and school superintendents.
Florida – The $10M Steered to Hope Florida by the State was Medicaid Money, Document Shows
MSN – Alexandra Glorioso and Lawrence Mower (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 4/23/2025
The $10 million that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration diverted to a state-created charity last year consisted of Medicaid dollars owed to state and federal taxpayers, contrary to what the governor and other officials have publicly asserted. The administration sent the $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity overseen by first lady Casey DeSantis. The money was then sent to two nonprofits that are not required to report how they spend their funds. Those dark money groups later gave $8.5 million to a political committee overseen by the governor’s chief of staff.
Florida – Man Detained in Florida on Immigration Hold Despite Being Citizen, Lawyer Says
MSN – Vivian Ho (Washington Post) | Published: 4/18/2025
Florida authorities detained a U.S.-born citizen on the charge of entering the state as an “unauthorized alien,” forcing him to spend more than 24 hours in a county jail on an immigration hold, despite the man having proof of his citizenship through his birth certificate and social security card. His lawyers said Juan Lopez-Gomez was arrested under a law that was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in February but was temporarily blocked in federal court.
Hawaii – Hawai’I County Moves to Adopt Nepotism Rules for Government Employees
Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 4/21/2025
It was an awkward moment for the Hawaii County Council as the board was considering the mayor’s nomination of Rebecca Inaba to serve on the island’s Leeward Planning Commission. The discomfort had nothing to do with her qualifications, experience, or reputation. The issue was that Inaba is the mother of the council chair, Holeka Goro Inaba. That same morning the council considered legislation to update the county code to prohibit nepotism.
Idaho – Woman Seeks $5M in Damages After Removal from GOP Town Hall for Heckling
MSN – Daniel Wu (Washington Post) | Published: 4/22/2025
An Idaho woman who was dragged out of a local Republican town hall in February by private security guards for heckling lawmakers is seeking $5 million in damages after the confrontation drew widespread attention and led city officials to press criminal charges against the guards. Video of plainclothes guards hauling Teresa Borrenpohl out of her seat and forcing her to the ground in an auditorium went viral as stories emerged across the country of constituents speaking out against Republican policies in town halls. Critics saw Borrenpohl’s ejection as an assault on free speech.
Indiana – Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith Signs No-Bid Contract with Law Firm Closely Tied to His Church
Indianapolis Star – Haleigh Columbo | Published: 4/24/2025
Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith’s office signed a no-bid contract with a law firm that is closely affiliated with Life Church, the church where Beckwith still serves as a pastor, a move that has raised red flags for ethics experts and lawmakers. Multiple ethics experts questioned the optics of awarding a no-bid contract to a company that has close ties to Beckwith’s other employer. Adler Attorneys’ chief executive officer, Raymond Adler, is a member of the church, and another attorney at the firm serves on the church’s board of directors. The law firm has also recently represented Life Church in municipal government matters.
Iowa – House Ethics Committee Reprimands Group for Claiming Lawmaker Was a Former Stripper
Iowa Capital Dispatch – Robin Opsahl | Published: 4/23/2025
The Iowa House Ethics Committee voted to publicly reprimand members of the “Bitches Get Stuff Done” organization for publishing content online claiming state Rep. Samantha Fett was a “former stripper.” Fett told the committee she filed the complaint because the group was registered to lobby lawmakers. “When you do register as a lobbyist, you agree to operate at a higher level of professionalism, under rules,” Fett said.
Louisiana – While Facing Ethics Charges, Landry Pushes Overhaul of Investigation Process
Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 4/23/2025
Gov. Jeff Landry wants to reform the Louisiana Board of Ethics’ investigation process. The changes Landry seeks would make it easier for subjects of an ethics complaint – like he is – to avoid charges or a probe into their alleged wrongdoing. House Bill 397 also loosens limits on elected officials and state employees’ state travel, weakens restrictions on government contracts with public officials and their families, and reduces requirements for elected officials and candidates’ disclosure of financial interests.
Maine – Judge Denies Laurel Libby’s Request to Immediately Restore Her Right to Vote in Maine House
Yahoo News – Rachel Ohm (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 4/18/2025
A federal judge denied a request from Rep. Laurel Libby to immediately restore her speaking and voting rights on the floor of the Maine House of Representatives. Libby was censured by House Democrats in February after she used a Facebook post to criticize a transgender athlete’s high school track championship and shared photos of the student without their consent.
Mississippi – House Speaker Jason White, Staff Treated to Super Bowl by Gambling Giant Pushing for Legalized Betting
MSN – Michael Goldberg and Taylor Vance (Mississippi Today) | Published: 4/23/2025
The sports gambling lobby has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Mississippi politicians trying to convince them to legalize mobile sports betting. Part of that effort was a trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans this year for House Speaker Jason White, his staff, and two of their spouses. The trip was paid for, at least in part, by DraftKings, which has lobbied for legal online betting. Thanks to a loophole in Mississippi’s lobbying laws, there is no public account of the expensive weekend in lobbying reports that are supposed to document spending on behalf of state employees.
Missouri – Missouri Campaign Watchdog Is Once Again Unable to Function Due to Vacancies
Yahoo News – Rebecca Rivas (Missouri Independent) | Published: 4/22/2025
Seventeen complaints have been dismissed in the more than 100 business days since the Missouri Ethic Commission last had enough members to reach a quorum. It is the second time in less than a year that the commission has not had enough members to enforce campaign finance and ethics laws. In January, former Gov. Mike Parson withdrew two commissioners who he appointed months earlier but who had not yet been confirmed by the Senate. That left only two of the six seats on the commission filled. The last time the commission had enough members to meet was November 20.
Nevada – Nevada Lawmakers Often Fail to Disclose Rental Property Income, Point to Confusing Forms
Nevada Independent – Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren | Published: 4/20/2025
One-third of Nevada lawmakers who report owning rental properties did not disclose receiving income from them, which could be a violation of campaign finance disclosure laws if they are making money from them. But most of the lawmakers said the omission was an accident or a result of not taking income from the properties. A review of financial disclosure forms shows Nevada’s stipulations for filing are not always clear-cut to lawmakers or detailed about how to report rental income, leaving room for errors.
New Jersey – Racketeering Charges Against George Norcross Should Be Reinstated, N.J. Prosecutors Tell Appeals Court
MSN – Andrew Seidman (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 4/22/2025
State prosecutors urged an appeals court to reinstate criminal racketeering charges against New Jersey power broker George Norcross III, arguing a judge erred in dismissing the indictment without reviewing evidence that was presented to the grand jury. In his decision, prosecutors said Mercer County Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw effectively threw out five months of work by the grand jury, which heard 2,000 pages of testimony and hundreds of exhibits, and reached determinations about Norcross’ motivations through a faulty analysis.
New York – Federal Prosecutors in Eric Adams Case Resign After Being Put on Administrative Leave
MSN – Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 4/22/2025
Three of the Manhattan federal prosecutors who worked on the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams resigned, accusing the Justice Department of trying to force them to admit wrongdoing in connection with their resistance to dropping the charges. The prosecutors, Celia Cohen, Andrew Rohrbach, and Derek Wikstrom, had been placed on administrative leave after they, along with the then-acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, balked at accepting the Justice Department’s orders to drop the corruption case against the mayor.
North Carolina – North Carolina Judges Weigh GOP Law Shifting Election Board Control Away from Democratic Governor
MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 4/16/2025
Judges in North Carolina heard arguments from attorneys for Republican legislative leaders who insist their latest method to attempt to wrest control of the State Board of Elections from a Democratic governor is lawful, this time giving the job of appointing members to the GOP state auditor. But lawyers for Gov. Josh Stein, who sued to stop the changes approved by the General Assembly and begin in earnest in May, contend the alteration suffers constitutional flaws similar to those that caused courts to strike down previous GOP attempts.
North Dakota – North Dakota House Passes Campaign Finance Bill Changing Deadlines, Donor Disclosures
Fargo Forum – Grant Coursey (Bismarck Tribune) | Published: 4/18/2025
The North Dakota House passed a number of changes to campaign finance disclosures. The version passed by the House solidifies reporting deadlines for political candidates, district parties and committees so they are based on dates instead of a certain number of days before or after an election, with the exception of special elections, among other changes.
North Dakota – Ethics Commissioners Say Bill Would Impose an Arbitrary Cutoff for Investigations
Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 4/17/2025
The North Dakota Ethics Commission fears changes approved by state lawmakers could allow alleged ethical violations by public officials to go unaddressed. The House voted to approve a number of amendments to the commission’s budget, Senate Bill 2004, which included a new provision requiring the commission to dismiss ethics complaints older than 180 days. If the bill is signed into law, it would take effect immediately.
MSN – Tyler Carey (WKYC) | Published: 4/21/2025
Kent State University asked the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to investigate head football coach Kenni Burns earlier this year, and its findings eventually contributed to Burns’ recent firing. The probe found Burns accepted a loan of more than $100,000 from Kent State booster and area restaurant owner Mike Awad, and while Burns was found to have paid the money back, the transaction was found to “highly likely” be a violation of Ohio ethics laws.
Oregon – OLCC Manager Who Diverted Bottles of Elmer T. Lee Bourbon Back on the Job
MSN – Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 4/21/2025
Brian Flemming, the retail services manager for the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) who diverted sought-after Elmer T. Lee bourbon for himself, a colleague, and his bosses is back on the job after two years on leave. The allegations that Flemming used his position and insider knowledge of the state’s liquor inventory for his own benefit mirror the findings of a previous human resources investigation into six high-ranking OLCC executives. Those top managers were reprimanded and later resigned or were fired.
Pennsylvania – How the Restoration of Philly’s Historic 30th St. Station Became a Corruption Bonanza
MSN – Andrew Seidman and Chris Palmer (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 4/24/2025
In 2018, Amtrak officials invited the media to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia for a tour of the rail operator’s work on a yearslong project to restore the historic building’s facade. Although the taxpayer-funded project’s cost had nearly doubled to $109 million, the price tag was worth it, said Ajith Bhaskaran, the Amtrak manager overseeing the project, “because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do this work.” What Bhaskaran did not say at the time was that in exchange for signing off on all the extra work, he seized an opportunity to line his own pockets.
Tennessee – Corruption Trial of Ex-House Speaker Casada, Aide Cothren Starts This Week. What to Know
Yahoo News – Evan Mealins (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 4/21/2025
After more than three years of investigation, ex-Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former top aide Cade Cothren are on trial, facing 20 fraud-related charges that could lead to decades in prison. Several current and former state legislators, and alleged co-conspirator Robin Smith are expected to testify that Casada and Cothren orchestrated a scheme to take advantage of a state-funded mailer program through a shadowy company organized under a fake persona.
Washington – Seattle Council Sends Democracy Voucher Renewal to August Ballot
Seattle Times – David Kroman | Published: 4/23/2025
Voters will decide this August whether to continue with Seattle’s experiment in taxpayer-funded Democracy Vouchers that have helped finance the campaigns of local candidates since 2017. The city council signed off on Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed 10-year, $45 million renewal, officially sending the question to the ballot this summer. If approved, the average Seattle homeowner would spend around $13 a year in property taxes on the program.
Washington – As in D.C., a Fight Breaks Out in Washington State Over Who Gets Access to Lawmakers
Spokane Public Radio – Daniel Walters (InvestigateWest) | Published: 4/20/2025
The White House Correspondents’ Association condemned the Trump administration’s move in February to handpick the reporters who get access to the White House, stripping that power from the association. But just eight days later, Washington state’s own Capitol Correspondents Association willingly chose to give up its own influence over which reporters get access to the Legislature, handing that gatekeeping role solely to the same lawmakers they cover.
Wisconsin – Wisconsin Governor Can Lock in 400-Year School Funding Increase Using a Veto, Court Says
MSN – Scott Bauer (Associated Press) | Published: 4/18/2025
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ creative use of his uniquely powerful veto to lock in a school funding increase for 400 years may be “attention grabbing,” but it was constitutional, the state Supreme Court ruled. The ruling affirms the partial veto power of Wisconsin governors, which is the broadest of any state. Wisconsin is the only state where governors can partially veto spending bills by striking words, numbers, and punctuation to create new meaning or spending amounts.
April 24, 2025 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Washington: “Seattle Council Sends Democracy Voucher Renewal to August Ballot” by David Kroman for Seattle Times Elections North Carolina: “North Carolina Judges Weigh GOP Law Shifting Election Board Control Away from Democratic Governor” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for MSN Ethics Colorado: “Bill […]
April 23, 2025 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Missouri: “Missouri Campaign Watchdog Is Once Again Unable to Function Due to Vacancies” by Rebecca Rivas (Missouri Independent) for Yahoo News Ethics Arizona: “Cannabis Company Alleges Gov. Hobbs’ Aide Improperly Intervened in Marijuana License Case” by Kiera Riley for Arizona Capitol Times […]
Campaign Finance
Missouri: “Missouri Campaign Watchdog Is Once Again Unable to Function Due to Vacancies” by Rebecca Rivas (Missouri Independent) for Yahoo News
Ethics
Arizona: “Cannabis Company Alleges Gov. Hobbs’ Aide Improperly Intervened in Marijuana License Case” by Kiera Riley for Arizona Capitol Times
National: “Wife of Former Senator Bob Menendez Found Guilty in Corruption Case” by Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Politically Connected Firms Benefit from Trump Tariff Exemptions Amid Secrecy, Confusion” by Robert Faturechi (ProPublica) for MSN
National: “The Supreme Court Could Be Poised to Hobble the Trump Resistance” by Hassan Ali Kanu and Erica Orden (Politico) for MSN
National: “The Top Producer at ’60 Minutes’ Has Quit. He Says He Can No Longer Run the Show as He Always Has” by David Bauder (Associated Press) for MSN
New Jersey: “Racketeering Charges Against George Norcross Should Be Reinstated, N.J. Prosecutors Tell Appeals Court” by Andrew Seidman (Philadelphia Inquirer) for MSN
New York: “Federal Prosecutors in Eric Adams Case Resign After Being Put on Administrative Leave” by Erica Orden (Politico) for MSN
April 22, 2025 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance North Dakota: “North Dakota House Passes Campaign Finance Bill Changing Deadlines, Donor Disclosures” by Grant Coursey (Bismarck Tribune) for Fargo Forum Ethics California: “Another Top Staffer Quits Oakland Public Ethics Commission” by Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) for MSN Hawaii: “Hawai’i County Moves to Adopt […]
Campaign Finance
North Dakota: “North Dakota House Passes Campaign Finance Bill Changing Deadlines, Donor Disclosures” by Grant Coursey (Bismarck Tribune) for Fargo Forum
Ethics
California: “Another Top Staffer Quits Oakland Public Ethics Commission” by Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) for MSN
Hawaii: “Hawai’i County Moves to Adopt Nepotism Rules for Government Employees” by Chad Blair for Honolulu Civil Beat
Nevada: “Nevada Lawmakers Often Fail to Disclose Rental Property Income, Point to Confusing Forms” by Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren for Nevada Independent
Ohio: “Ethics Probe Set Stage for Kenni Burns’ Firing as Kent State Football Coach, with Independent Firm uncovering $100K Loan from Booster” by Tyler Carey (WKYC) for MSN
Oregon: “Former OLCC Execs Agree to Ethics Fines for Diverting Pappy Van Winkle” by Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) for MSN
Tennessee: “Corruption Trial of Ex-House Speaker Casada, Aide Cothren Starts This Week. What to Know” by Evan Mealins (Nashville Tennessean) for Yahoo News
Legislative Issues
Washington: “As in D.C., a Fight Breaks Out in Washington State Over Who Gets Access to Lawmakers” by Daniel Walters (InvestigateWest) for Spokane Public Radio
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