National/Federal

A Conspiracy of Hunches: Roger Stone trial set to start this week
San Francisco Chronicle – Devlin Barrett, Spencer Hsu, and Manuel Roig-Franzia (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2019

Roger Stone is on trial in federal court, where prosecutors plan to dive back into an episode of political chicanery, alleged lies, and conspiratorial texts that parallels the nascent impeachment inquiry into his longtime friend President Trump. Stone has long cultivated a public image as a dirty trickster on the edges of mainstream politics. He has been charged with lying to Congress and trying to tamper with a witness during a congressional investigation into interference in the 2016 election. His trial offers the possibility of fresh insights into the strange quest by some in Trump’s orbit for a kind of political kryptonite to use against Hillary Clinton – secret emails that would, they hoped, destroy her candidacy.

Advocacy Groups Fear Impact of Twitter Political Ad Ban
The Hill – Alex Gangitano | Published: 11/1/2019

Advocacy groups and trade associations are worried that Twitter’s decision to ban all political advertisements could hurt their efforts to use digital marketing to promote their issues. One source told The Hill the Twitter announcement sent “shock waves” through public affairs professionals in Washington, D.C. While Twitter is still working to finalize its rules, the changes are likely to force those groups to rework how they speak to elected officials, stakeholders, and the public through social media. There are still many questions about the scope of Twitter’s ban. Some asked how Twitter will deal with companies who are politically active.

As Trump Moves to Bully Witnesses and Derail Impeachment, Democrats See Obstruction
Anchorage Daily News – Phillip Rucker, Rachael Bade, and Roisalind Helderman (Washington Post) | Published: 11/1/2019

The centerpiece of House Democrats’ eventual impeachment charges is widely expected to be President Trump’s alleged abuse of power over Ukraine. But obstruction of Congress is now all but certain to be introduced as well, just as it was five decades ago when the House Judiciary Committee voted for articles of impeachment against then-President Richard Nixon. Democrats argue the Trump administration’s stonewalling –including trying to stop subpoenaed witnesses from testifying and blocking the executive branch from turning over documents – creates a strong case the president has infringed on the separation of powers and undercut lawmakers’ oversight duties as laid out in the Constitution.

Giuliani: I never lobbied or represented foreigners
Roll Call – Kate Ackley | Published: 10/31/2019

Rudolph Giuliani, who spent more than a dozen years with two well-known K Street firms, has deep ties to the influence industry. The former New York mayor logged a decade with the law and lobbying firm then known as Bracewell & Giuliani and a two-year stint after that with Greenberg Traurig. Giuliani never registered to lobby and has never disclosed work as a foreign agent, though it is his international portfolio that has generated attention from federal prosecutors. Though Bracewell appears not to have registered to do foreign influence work, Giuliani’s name appears in Foreign Agent Registration Act filings during his time there.

Higher Earning ‘Elite’ Political Lobbyists Overstate Their Own Achievements, Study Shows
Phys.org – University of Exeter | Published: 11/6/2019

Research from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom shows high-earning lobbyists living in Washington, D.C. with congressional experience, and who engage in a broader range of activities, were more likely than other lobbyists to inflate their success. Lobbyists who have a smaller salary and work in specialist areas or for public interest groups are less overconfident, or even underestimate their success. Researchers said this suggests overconfidence can help lobbyists make connections with important people but does not necessarily lead to them being able to influence policies. The research examined whether a lobbyist’s perception of their own success was accurate, compared to legislative outcomes, and if their measure of their own success was in line with other lobbyists who worked on the same issues.

Inside Adam Schiff’s Impeachment Game Plan
MSN – Adam Zengerle (New York Times) | Published: 11/5/2019

After Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the House was moving forward with an “official impeachment inquiry,” she said U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff would be leading the investigation. Schiff’s initial reluctance to pursue impeachment, paradoxically, has made him a particularly effective advocate for it in the past month. In his interviews and news conferences, he strikes a more-in-sorrow-than-in-anger tone, in keeping with Pelosi’s interest in presenting impeachment as a “prayerful, solemn, difficult” process. Schiff has come to occupy a unique and privileged place in the Democratic firmament. His Ukraine investigation has now been invested with all the hopes and dreams that Democrats once placed in the special prosecutor Robert Mueller’s Russia probe. In Schiff, Democrats believe they have found a more reliable vessel than Mueller and an opportunity for a do-over of sorts.

K Street’s Newest Star Built Business on Dubious Claims of Trump Ties
Laredo Morning Times – Beth Reinhard and Jonathan O’Connell (Washington Post) | Published: 11/1/2019

Since President Trump took office, the lobbyist Michael Esposito has been wildly successful, turning a family business that once focused on municipal transportation issues into one of the fastest-growing lobbying firms in Washington, D.C. Fueling that rise, at least in part, are Esposito’s claims that he is uniquely positioned: a former Capitol Hill staffer who is close to centers of power in the Trump administration. Some of those very people, however, said Esposito’s claims are greatly embellished, or simply not true. Esposito, whose firm says it employs a half-dozen other lobbyists, some of whom have White House and congressional experience, said his clients had scrutinized his record and would have detected any falsehoods.

Lobbyists’ Revolving Door Leads Back to Capitol Hill Jobs
Bloomberg Government – Megan Wilson | Published: 11/5/2019

More than 100 staff members traded in jobs with high-paying K Street firms, corporations, trade associations, or nonprofits for long hours on Capitol Hill beset by partisan brawls and legislative gridlock. Nearly 60 percent of the 110 people who have moved to the Hill from the influence industry since the midterm election went to work for House Democrats, a likely result of the flurry of new jobs available after the party regained control of the chamber. Republican offices in both the House and Senate hired 31 ex-lobbyists, or 28 percent of the total number who moved over. Some say they are doing it out of a desire to be in public service or because they have a longtime loyalty to their congressional bosses. Congress has made no conflict-of-interest rules limiting the interactions of lobbyists returning to Capitol Hill.

Sondland Updates Impeachment Testimony, Describing Ukraine Quid Pro Quo
MSN – Michael Schmidt (New York Times) | Published: 11/5/2019

A critical witness in the impeachment inquiry offered Congress substantial new testimony, revealing he told a top Ukrainian official that the country likely would not receive American military aid unless it publicly committed to investigations President Trump wanted. The disclosure from Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, in four new pages of sworn testimony, confirmed his involvement in laying out a quid pro quo to Ukraine that he had previously not acknowledged. The issue is at the heart of the impeachment investigation into Trump, which turns on the allegation the president abused his power to extract political favors from a foreign power. Trump has consistently maintained that he did nothing wrong and that there was no quid pro quo with Ukraine.

The Hottest Stop for Candidates on the 2020 Campaign Trail? The Picket Line.
Washington Post – Eli Rosenberg | Published: 11/2/2019

The road to the presidential nomination next year is sure to be full of unforeseen twists and potholes as a crowded field of Democratic contenders dukes it out in a volatile political climate. But about a year into their race, one thing is clear: It leads through a thicket of striking workers, in a number of states, whether they are in front of a grocery store, an automotive factory, or an elementary school. This push comes as they try to dislodge some of the support President Trump has found in states that have lost tens of thousands of union jobs in recent years, including Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Political observers said the rush by 2020 hopefuls to embrace striking workers marks a new chapter, although unions have been nominally aligned with Democratic politicians on and off for years.

The Messy Politics of Voter Purges
Pew Charitable Trusts – Matt Vasilogambros (Stateline) | Published: 10/25/2019

With a year until the 2020 presidential election, many states are still crafting ballot access policies that will shape their electorate. Decisions about voter list maintenance, one of the most essential bureaucratic duties of state election officials, received intense scrutiny in several states this year. While federal law mandates a certain level of voter roll maintenance, states differ on how they manage their registration databases. Most state officials are just trying to keep voter lists clean, said David Becker, executive director and founder of the Center for Election Innovation and Research. Inevitably, however, dropping voters from the rolls inspires forceful political pushback, as many voting rights activists fear it is a form of voter suppression.

Trump Lures GOP Senators on Impeachment with Cold Cash
Politico – Alex Isenstadt | Published: 10/31/2019

President Trump is rewarding senators who have his back on impeachment and sending a message to those who do not to get on board.  Trump is tapping his vast fundraising network for a handful of loyal senators facing tough reelection bids in 2020. Each of them has signed onto a Republican-backed resolution condemning the inquiry as “unprecedented and undemocratic.” Republican senators on the ballot next year are lagging in fundraising, stoking uncertainty about the GOP’s hold on the chamber, and could use the fundraising might of the president. Trump’s political operation has raked in over $300 million this year.

Trump Wanted Barr to Hold News Conference Saying the President Broke No Laws in Call with Ukrainian Leader
MSN – Matt Zapotosky, Josh Dawsey, and Carol Leonnig (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2019

President Trump wanted Attorney General William Barr to hold a news conference declaring that the president had broken no laws during a phone call in which he pressed his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate a political rival, though Barr ultimately declined to do so, people familiar with the matter said. The request from Trump traveled from him to other White House officials and eventually to the Justice Department. The president has mentioned Barr’s demurral to associates in recent weeks, saying he wished Barr would have held the news conference, Trump advisers say. Those close to the administration concede the department has made several recent maneuvers putting it at odds with the White House at a particularly precarious time for Trump.

Canada

Canada – Alberta Businessman, Company Fined $25,000 Over Donations to Jeff Callaway Campaign
Globe and Mail – James Keller | Published: 11/4/2019

Alberta’s election commissioner fined a Calgary businessperson and a company he controls over allegations they illegally gave $60,000 to a failed contender for the leadership of the provincial United Conservative Party (UCP), who then used that money to reimburse straw donors to his campaign. Robyn Lore and Agropyron Enterprises were fined a combined total of $25,000 for their involvement in Jeff Callaway’s UCP leadership campaign in 2017. The elections commissioner has issued more than $200,000 in fines, including to many of Callaway’s donors and several members of his staff as part of an investigation into how the campaign was financed.

Canada – ‘Deep State’ Lobbying a Growing Tactic of Fossil Fuel Industry, Report Finds
The Narwhal – Sharon Riley | Published: 11/5/2019

Since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s took office in 2015, lobbyists in Ottawa have focused more attention on the nation’s bureaucrats, rather than elected office holders, representing what one researcher is calling a troubling “fusion of private interest and public bodies.” A new report from the Corporate Mapping Project documents the reach of the fossil fuel industry when it comes to lobbying the federal government, raising red flags about what it calls a “troubling shift in lobbying patterns.” The report’s findings suggest industry lobbyists are increasingly focusing on developing closer, long-term relationships with federal bureaucrats rather than elected officials.

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – Anchorage Judge Orders Alaska Campaign Contribution Limit to Be Reinstated
KTUU – Sean Maguire | Published: 11/6/2019

A Superior Court judge in Anchorage issued a ruling that may hobble the independent expenditure groups that have come to dominate elections in Alaska. Judge William Morse said the Alaska Public Office Commission (APOC) should reinstate the $500 annual per-person contribution limit to PACs that is in state law. APOC stopped enforcing it following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Harrow says APOC went too far in its interpretation.

Arkansas – Indictment Says Couple Bought Legislation Tweaks
Arkansas Democrat Gazette – Eric Besson | Published: 11/7/2019

Former executives of the nonprofit at the heart of a sweeping federal political corruption probe in Arkansas face new wire-fraud charges after a federal grand jury produced a fresh allegation involving former state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson. He pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in connection to payments made by a nonprofit run by the married couple, Bontiea and Tom Goss. The new indictment says Hutchinson added language, at Bontiea Goss’ request, to a Senate bill he sponsored. The language, which remained when the bill became law, helped the Gosses’ nonprofit “because it provided an advantage to the charity when competing for valuable [Arkansas] contracts,” the indictment says. The aim was to help the firm win approval to create a “pay-for-success program.”

California – Donations to Anderson’s 2020 County Supervisor Campaign Draw Questions
San Diego Union-Tribune – Jeff McDonald | Published: 11/4/2019

Ten years ago, when he was a California Assembly member, Joel Anderson was the subject of an investigation into questionable campaign contributions that ended with election regulators fining him $20,000 and the legislator admitting he made a mistake. Now running for a seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Anderson is under a new investigation involving more recent contributions by some of the same donors from a decade ago. Anderson set up two different campaign committees for the 2020 race, the first nearly five years ago and the second in April 2016. Campaign records show the two committees accepted contributions from at least 11 people who, when their donations are combined, exceeded the county limit of $850 per individual contribution for primary and general elections.

California – SF Voters Pass Prop. F, the ‘Sunlight on Dark Money’ Measure
San Francisco Chronicle – Trisha Thandani | Published: 11/5/2019

A San Francisco ballot measure intended to increase the transparency of who pays for campaign ads won easily on November 5. The passage of Proposition F, called “Sunlight on Dark Money,” means campaigns will be forced to more prominently disclose who donates money to a cause. Proposition F is targeted at independent PACs, which can raise an unlimited amount of money from corporations, unions, and individuals. Those committees can then donate to individual candidate committees, which makes it less obvious who is behind the contributions.

California – Travel, Furniture, ‘Lavish’ Meals: Nonprofit head misspent $1.7 million, filing alleges
Los Angeles Times – David Zahniser | Published: 11/6/2019

The former head of the Los Angeles-based anti-poverty nonprofit Youth Policy Institute improperly used the organization’s funds to pay the property taxes on his house, buy furniture for his home office, and make national political donations, the group alleged in court documents. Dixon Slingerland, who was fired as the group’s chief executive in September, spent the nonprofit’s money on an array of unauthorized and personal expenses, including private tutoring for his children, contributions to his wife’s pension, and “lavish” dining, travel, and entertainment, according to a bankruptcy filing lodged by the nonprofit.

Florida – A Library Wanted a New York Times Subscription. Officials Refused, Citing Trump and ‘Fake News.’
MSN – Antonia Noori Farzan (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2019

The board of commissioners in Citrus County, Florida, said it will no longer pay for the county library’s digital subscription to The New York Times, with one commissioner citing President Trump’s claim that the newspaper’s reporting was “fake news” as justifying the decision. On the same day the commissioners met, the White House said it was planning to order that federal agencies end their subscriptions to The Times and the Washington Post, two news outlets often criticized by Trump. “Someone’s personal political view does not have a place in deciding what library resources are available for the entire county,” said Sandy Price, chairperson of the library’s board. “Libraries have to ensure all points of view are represented.”

Georgia – DeKalb County Voters Reject Ballot Referendum to Restructure Ethics Board
Emory Wheel – Ninad Kulkarni | Published: 11/6/2019

A ballot referendum to restructure the DeKalb County Ethics Board failed to pass. The referendum proposed the establishment of a new ethics board for the county and replaced the position of ethics officer with an “ethics administrator.” DeKalb County legislators can vote on a new bill in the 2020 legislative session to address the ethics board. County residents in 2015 voted to make the ethics board more independent and to allow outside groups to appoint a majority of the board members, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The ethics board had not been functional since a 2018 Georgia Supreme Court ruling mandated that a majority of the members must be appointed by public officials.

Illinois – Pritzker Promises Lobbying Reforms as ‘Small Start’ to End Corrupt ‘Old Way of Doing Politics’
Chicago Sun-Times – Staff | Published: 11/6/2019

Vowing to help lift the cloud of “pay-to-play” politics over Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker told Cook County Democrats he plans to help craft legislation that would shed more light on lobbyists as the first in “a series of ethics reforms that are frankly long overdue.” Expressing his anger over corruption has become a recurring theme for the governor as a sprawling federal investigation ensnares state legislators, Chicago aldermen, and county officials. After general vows to help “root” out illegal activity, Pritzker pledged to take the first step in the upcoming fall veto session.

Illinois – Rep. Luis Arroyo Resigns After Being Charged with Bribery
Chicago Tribune – Dan Petrella and Jamie Munks | Published: 11/1/2019

State Rep. Luis Arroyo resigned from the Illinois House, one week after being arrested on a federal bribery charge. His resignation came hours before a legislative committee was set to meet to consider his ouster. Arroyo is accused of paying a bribe to a state senator in exchange for support of a gambling bill that would have benefited a lobbying client of Arroyo’s. His arrest followed a federal raid on the Capitol office of Sen. Martin Sandoval in September and the indictment of Sen. Thomas Cullerton in August on embezzlement charges in connection with an alleged union ghost payrolling scheme.

Kansas – Fight Over $70M Kansas Prison Health Care Contract Turns Bitter Amid Ethics Concerns
Wichita Eagle – Jonathan Shorman | Published: 11/5/2019

The Tennessee company criticized for providing substandard medical care to Kansas’s 10,000 prison inmates now finds itself at the center of fresh controversy over the future of its $70 million-plus annual contract. Corizon Health alleges the Kansas Department of Corrections put the massive prison health care contract up for bid in a way that eases the path for a competitor who employs the former head of the corrections system. At the same time, a top official in Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration said a Corizon executive made political threats against the current leader of the Department of Corrections over the contract.

Kentucky – Kentucky Outcome Embarrasses Trump and Worries Many Republicans Ahead of 2020
MSN – Robert Costa (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2019

Democrats’ claim of victory in Kentucky’s gubernatorial race, as well as the Democratic takeover of the Virginia Legislature, left Republicans stumbling and increasingly uncertain about their own political fates next year tied to an embattled and unpopular president. Many allies of President Trump rushed to explain away the poor performance of incumbent Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin as an anomaly, while other GOP veterans expressed alarm about the party’s failure in a state where Trump won by nearly 30 percentage points in 2016. Bevin’s attempt to nationalize his cause by stoking conservative grievances about the impeachment process was not enough to overcome his problems nor was Trump’s raucous rally for the governor, raising questions about Trump’s political strength as he faces a barrage of challenges and a difficult path to reelection.

Maine – Vacancy on State Ethics Panel Poses Election-Year Risks
Portland Press Herald – Scott Thistle | Published: 11/3/2019

Leaders of the Maine Legislature have yet to fill a seat that opened on the state ethics board 19 months ago, leaving the public’s only watchdog for campaign finance accountability in a weakened state as candidates begin collecting cash for the next election. Only five people serve on the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, and by law no more than two members can belong to the same political party. As a result, one of the seats is usually held by an independent. The last independent commissioner stepped down in March 2018, leaving decisions in the hands of four commissioners who must set aside party loyalties – and who face no prohibition on making political donations themselves.

Missouri – Federal Appeals Court Says Missouri Lobbying Rules Don’t Apply to Activist
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Erin Heffernan | Published: 11/3/2019

The Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that requiring Ron Calzone to sign up as a lobbyist in Missouri unjustly limits his First Amendment rights because he is not paid to press his views with members of the state Legislature and offers them nothing of value. The ruling overturned a decision by a three-judge panel of the same court. That panel had declared the Missouri Ethics Commission could require Calzone to register in the name of transparency and preventing corruption. Calzone, the president and sole officer of the nonprofit Missouri First organization, frequently speaks to lawmakers at the Capitol, often at public hearings. But he says he does not buy food or gifts for legislators.

Nevada – Group Seeks to End Gerrymandering with Independent Commission
Las Vega Review-Journal – Colton Lochhead | Published: 11/4/2019

A group looking to end partisan gerrymandering in Nevada is taking the issue to the voters in hopes of creating a bipartisan independent commission to draw political boundaries in the state instead of lawmakers. The League of Women Voters Nevada is expected to file a constitutional amendment with the secretary of state that, if approved by voters in 2020 and again in 2022, would create a commission that would have the sole authority to draw state legislative and congressional boundaries. According to the description of the proposal, the commission would ensure that districts have roughly equal populations, are “geographically compact and contiguous,” provide equal opportunities for minorities to participate in the process, and do not give an unwarranted advantage to one political party.

New York – Council Approves Fine, Suspension and Monitor for Andy King
Politico – Joe Anuta | Published: 10/28/2019

The New York City Council voted to level the most severe punishment in the panel’s history against Andy King, who was found by investigators to have misused council resources and then retaliated against staff members who he thought were cooperating with the ensuing probe. King’s colleagues voted to suspend him for 30 days, install a monitor for the remainder of his term, fine him $15,000, and strip him of his committee assignments. In addition, staffers who were pressured by King to leave would be allowed to return to work, employees would not be required to chauffeur King around in their personal vehicles without compensation, and King’s wife, an employee of the Service Employees International Union, would be prohibited from conducting council business.

New York – Trump Taxes: Appeals court rules president must turn over 8 years of tax returns
MSN – Benjamin Weiser (New York Times) | Published: 11/4/2019

A federal appeals court ruled President Trump cannot block the Manhattan district attorney’s office from subpoenaing his accounting firm for tax returns and financial records, delivering a blow to the president’s claim that he is immune to criminal investigations. But the court noted they were not ruling on all of the sweeping assertions of immunity the president’s lawyers have claimed. During a hearing before the panel, Trump’s personal lawyer had argued that a sitting president enjoys blanket immunity from criminal prosecution and even investigations while in office. The president’s legal team has already made clear that they intend to bring their case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

North Carolina – Is Dan Forest Owed $80,000 in Damages Over a 2012 Political Ad?
Raleigh News and Observer – Will Doran | Published: 11/4/2019

A group that lobbies for state employees could have to pay North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest nearly $80,000 because of a campaign finance violation from 2012. The North Carolina Supreme Court heard arguments on both sides of that debate recently, years after Forest’s political committee first sued the political arm of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, which is known as EMPAC, The dispute involves political ads and a since-repealed state law that said political ads had to include a large photograph of either the treasurer or chief executive of the group paying for it. Forest claims he is owed $78,000 in damages, even though he won the 2012 election and went on to serve two terms as lieutenant governor. EMPAC says even if there were technical violations in the ads, it should not have to pay Forest any money because he cannot prove he was harmed.

North Carolina – Senate Leader Using Campaign Cash to Buy Raleigh Home
WRAL – Travis Fain | Published: 11/6/2019

Senate Majority Leader Phil Berger’s campaign is buying him a home in Raleigh, and the State Board of Elections told him that is allowed under North Carolina’s campaign finance law. Berger’s campaign has paid at least $55,000 to a company he created called YPD Properties LLC. YPD is a property management company, and it appears to be a pass-through entity for campaign rent payments that ultimately pay the mortgage for a townhome that Berger and his wife bought in May of 2016. Watchdog Bob Hall filed a formal complaint with the elections board, which enforces campaign finance rules. While others use campaign money to rent apartments or pay hotel bills, Hall said this is different because Berger’s buying an appreciating asset.

Tennessee – Judge Orders State Officials to Reduce Jeremy Durham’s Record-Setting Campaign Finance Penalty to $110,000
The Tennessean – Joel Ebert | Published: 11/4/2019

Administrative Law Judge Steve Darnell said former state Rep. Jeremy Durham’s fine of $465,000 for violating Tennessee’s campaign finance law should be reduced to $110,000. The initial fine was the single-largest civil penalty ever assessed by the Registry of Election Finance. Darnell wrote that the Legislature did not “give the registry an unbridled right to dole out civil penalties.” The judge pointed to legal precedent while saying prohibitions on excess civil penalties are covered by the U.S. Constitution. The ruling could further undermine the statute, giving lawmakers, many of whom spend donors’ money in in questionable ways, even more latitude.

Tennessee – State Sen. Brian Kelsey Faces Federal Probe Over Complicated Trail of Campaign Donations, Current and Former Lawmakers Say
The Tennessean – Joel Ebert and Adam Tamburin | Published: 11/5/2019

Tennessee Sen. Brian Kelsey is the subject of a grand jury probe into a complicated money trail related to his failed congressional bid in 2016. The investigation comes more than two years after The Tennessean reported unusual interactions between Kelsey’s state campaign account, a private Nashville club with a PAC, a federal advocacy organization, and the senator’s congressional bid. In a Campaign Legal Center complaint, the group accused Kelsey of violating straw donor prohibitions by purportedly orchestrating the money trail from his state campaign account to the American Conservative Union. He may have also violated straw donor laws when he gave campaign contributions to lawmakers who provided donations to his federal campaign.

Texas – Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen Won’t Face Criminal Prosecution, Brazoria County DA Says
Texas Tribune – Cassandra Pollock | Published: 10/24/2019

Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen will not be criminally prosecuted for the things he said during a secretly recorded meeting with a hardline conservative activist, the district attorney in his hometown announced. Bonnen has said he will not seek reelection after activist Michael Quinn Sullivan secretly recorded a meeting with Bonnen in June. In the meeting, Bonnen and a top lieutenant asked Sullivan’s group, Empower Texans, to target a list of 10 House Republicans in the upcoming primary elections, and said he could get Empower Texans media access to the House floor. Bonnen also made a handful of disparaging comments about House Democrats and local leaders.

Virginia – Democrats Flip Virginia Senate and House, Taking Control of State Government for the First Time in a Generation
Washington Post – Gregory Schneider and Laura Vozzella | Published: 11/6/2019

Democrats gained control of both houses of the Virginia General Assembly, tapping strength in the suburbs to consolidate power for the first time in a generation and deliver a rebuke to President Trump. Officials reported unusually high turnout in an election that served as an opening salvo in next year’s presidential showdown, a test of Democratic defiance and Republican resolve in the era of Trump. The sweep completed a dramatic political conversion, from red to blue, of a Southern state on Washington, D.C.’s doorstep.

Virginia – Virginia Cyclist Who Flipped Off Trump Wins Loudoun County Seat Representing His Golf Club
Danbury News Times – Paul Schwartzman (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2019

Juli Briskman, the cyclist who was photographed giving President Donald Trump the finger two years ago and found herself without a job and at the center of a national uproar, got a new job on November 5, winning a seat on the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, ousting a Republican in the process. Briskman raised her middle finger as she rode a bicycle alongside the presidential motorcade as Trump departed his golf club in Sterling, Virginia. Briskman said she was intent on basing her campaign on issues and not the incident involving her finger. But she acknowledged her notoriety helped her raise $150,000 for the race.

Washington – Washington High Court Probes Food Industry’s Speech Rights
Capital Press – Don Jenkins | Published: 10/22/2019

A Washington Supreme Court hearing on a record $18 million fine against the food industry touched on boycotts, death threats, and whether companies have the same free-speech protection as civil rights workers. The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) faces the penalty for failing to timely report the names of the companies that contributed $11 million in 2013 to defeat a GMO-labeling initiative. An appeals court upheld the conviction, but found the violations were not intentional and slashed the penalty to $6 million, still by far the largest fine ever in the U.S. for a campaign violation. At the heart of GMA’s case to overturn the fine is whether companies and executives faced retaliation by engaging in political speech. After a tough initiative battle in California in 2012, the GMA set up a separate account to take in money from members. The group then contributed $11 million under its name to the “no” campaign.

Washington DC – D.C. Lawmaker Jack Evans Used Office to Benefit Private Clients, Probe Finds
Washington Post – Fenit Nirappil | Published: 11/4/2019

District of Columbia Councilperson Jack Evans repeatedly used his office on behalf of private clients who paid him hundreds of thousands of dollars, failing to recognize the conflicts and never properly disclosing the payments, according to an investigation by a law firm hired by the council. The confidential report identified 11 instances since 2014 in which Evans violated the council’s rules governing ethics. It marks the first time the council has detailed ethical lapses by Evans, the city’s longest-serving lawmaker. His business interests and his public actions have been the target of a federal investigation, as well as a probe by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

In a historic ruling, the nonprofit group Equal Citizens obtained a judicial ruling that, for the first time since Citizens United, could restore limits on donations to independent groups and Super PACs.

Anchorage Superior Court Judge William F. Morse ordered the state to impose limits on donations to political groups in Alaska.

Morse said that the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC), which handles election enforcement, should reinstate enforcement of the annual per person $500 contribution limit to independent expenditure groups.

In Alaska, independent expenditure groups function like Super PACs. Groups can advocate and raise money for a candidate while remaining unaffiliated with the candidate.

Attorneys for the Alaska Department of Law, appearing on behalf of APOC, appealed the case to the Alaska Supreme Court.

The hope for Equal Citizens is the case makes its way to the U.S. Supreme Court to clarify aspects of Citizens United and how limits are enforced on contributions made to political groups.

A San Francisco ballot measure intended to increase the restrictions on political contributions for campaign ads won easily on Tuesday.

Proposition F, the Sunlight on Dark Money measure, passed by 76% of the votes.

The proposition only needed a simple majority to pass.

The measure’s passage means greater disclosure of who is behind campaign advertisements paid for by PACs.

The top three largest donors of the committee paying for the advertisement must now disclose the name and amount contributed to the committee.

Proposition F will take effect 10 days after the election results are certified.

Campaign Finance

Alaska: “Group Wins Landmark Case Against Super PACs in Alaska” by Jacob Walinsky for ValueWalk

California: “SF Voters Pass Prop. F, the ‘Sunlight on Dark Money’ Measure” by Trisha Thandani for San Francisco Chronicle

North Carolina: “Senate Leader Using Campaign Cash to Buy Raleigh Home” by Travis Fain for WRAL

Elections

Kentucky: “Kentucky Outcome Embarrasses Trump and Worries Many Republicans Ahead of 2020” by Robert Costa (Washington Post) for MSN

Virginia: “Democrats Flip Virginia Senate and House, Taking Control of State Government for the First Time in a Generation” by Gregory Schneider and Laura Vozzella for Washington Post

Virginia: “Virginia Cyclist Who Flipped Off Trump Wins Loudoun County Seat Representing His Golf Club” by Paul Schwartzman (Washington Post) for Danbury News Times

Lobbying

National: “Higher Earning ‘Elite’ Political Lobbyists Overstate Their Own Achievements, Study Shows” by University of Exeter for Phys.org

Illinois: “Pritzker Promises Lobbying Reforms as ‘Small Start’ to End Corrupt ‘Old Way of Doing Politics’” by Staff for Chicago Sun-Times

Procurement

Kansas: “Fight Over $70M Kansas Prison Health Care Contract Turns Bitter Amid Ethics Concerns” by Jonathan Shorman for Wichita Eagle

Campaign Finance

California: “Donations to Anderson’s 2020 County Supervisor Campaign Draw Questions” by Jeff McDonald for San Diego Union-Tribune

Tennessee: “State Sen. Brian Kelsey Faces Federal Probe Over Complicated Trail of Campaign Donations, Current and Former Lawmakers Say” by Joel Ebert and Adam Tamburin for The Tennessean

Ethics

National: “Inside Adam Schiff’s Impeachment Game Plan” by Adam Zengerle (New York Times) for MSN

National: “Sondland Updates Impeachment Testimony, Describing Ukraine Quid Pro Quo” by Michael Schmidt (New York Times) for MSN

New York: “Council Approves Fine, Suspension and Monitor for Andy King” by Joe Anuta for Politico

Washington DC: “D.C. Lawmaker Jack Evans Used Office to Benefit Private Clients, Probe Finds” by Fenit Nirappil for Washington Post

Lobbying

National: “Lobbyists’ Revolving Door Leads Back to Capitol Hill Jobs” by Megan Wilson for Bloomberg Government

Redistricting

Nevada: “Group Seeks to End Gerrymandering with Independent Commission” by Colton Lochhead for Las Vega Review-Journal

Campaign Finance

North Carolina: “Is Dan Forest Owed $80,000 in Damages Over a 2012 Political Ad?” by Will Doran for Raleigh News and Observer

Tennessee: “Judge Orders State Officials to Reduce Jeremy Durham’s Record-Setting Campaign Finance Penalty to $110,000” by Joel Ebert for The Tennessean

Ethics

National: “A Conspiracy of Hunches: Roger Stone trial set to start this week” by Devlin Barrett, Spencer Hsu, and Manuel Roig-Franzia (Washington Post) for San Francisco Chronicle

Maine: “Vacancy on State Ethics Panel Poses Election-Year Risks” by Scott Thistle for Portland Press Herald

New York: “Trump Taxes: Appeals court rules president must turn over 8 years of tax returns” by Benjamin Weiser (New York Times) for MSN

Texas: “Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen Won’t Face Criminal Prosecution, Brazoria County DA Says” by Cassandra Pollock for Texas Tribune

Lobbying

National: “Advocacy Groups Fear Impact of Twitter Political Ad Ban” by Alex Gangitano for The Hill

Missouri: “Federal Appeals Court Says Missouri Lobbying Rules Don’t Apply to Activist” by Erin Heffernan for St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Campaign Finance

National: “Trump Lures GOP Senators on Impeachment with Cold Cash” by Alex Isenstadt for Politico

Washington: “Washington High Court Probes Food Industry’s Speech Rights” by Don Jenkins for Capital Press

Elections

National: “The Messy Politics of Voter Purges” by Matt Vasilogambros (Stateline) for Pew Charitable Trusts

National: “The Hottest Stop for Candidates on the 2020 Campaign Trail? The Picket Line.” by Eli Rosenberg for Washington Post

Ethics

National: “As Trump Moves to Bully Witnesses and Derail Impeachment, Democrats See Obstruction” by Phillip Rucker, Rachael Bade, and Roisalind Helderman (Washington Post) for Anchorage Daily News

Illinois: “Rep. Luis Arroyo Resigns After Being Charged with Bribery” by Dan Petrella and Jamie Munks for Chicago Tribune

Lobbying

National: “Giuliani: I never lobbied or represented foreigners” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call

National: “K Street’s Newest Star Built Business on Dubious Claims of Trump Ties” by Beth Reinhard and Jonathan O’Connell for Washington Post

National/Federal

AP Exclusive: Middleman helped Saudi give to Obama inaugural
AP News – Alan Suderman and Jim Mustian | Published: 10/29/2019

When President Barack Obama was reelected in 2012, a Saudi tycoon and his business associate sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to the U.S. to help pay for the inaugural celebration and get a picture with the president. American election law prohibits foreign nationals from making those sorts of contributions. But the donations Sheikh Mohammed Al Rahbani tried to send to Obama’s inaugural committee were funneled through a seasoned straw donor. That intermediary, Imaad Zuberi, agreed to plead guilty to making illegal campaign contributions to several American political candidates on behalf of foreign nationals. The prosecution is the latest in a string of cases that highlight the prevalence of banned foreign money in American politics and the often lax approach campaigns take in vetting contributions.

Before Deadly Crashes, Boeing Pushed for Law That Undercut Oversight
Seattle Times – Natalie Kitroeff and David Gelles (New York Times) | Published: 10/27/2019

For years, the government has been handing over more responsibility to aerospace manufacturers as a way to reduce bureaucracy. A recent bill cemented the industry’s power, allowing manufacturers to challenge regulators over safety disputes and making it difficult for the government to usurp companies’ authority. Although the law applies broadly to the industry, Boeing is the biggest beneficiary. An examination by The New York Times found Boeing and its allies helped craft the legislation to their liking, shaping the language of the law and overcoming criticism from regulators. Weeks after the law was passed, a Boeing 737 Max jet crashed off the coast of Indonesia, killing everyone on board. A second Max crashed in Ethiopia less than five months later, and the plane was grounded.

Civil Rights Leaders Thought They’d Figured Out How to Deal with Facebook. But Now They Are ‘Livid.’
Washington Post – Craig Timberg | Published: 10/25/2019

Before a recent town hall event featuring Facebook’s second-in-command Sheryl Sandberg, civil rights activists were optimistic that company officials would address concerns about racism on the platform. Near the top of the list were the voter suppression messages that flooded Facebook during the 2016 presidential election and, the civil rights leaders feared, would do so again in 2020. But that hope turned to outrage as civil rights leaders learned Facebook had announced what many now call “the Trump Exemption,” meaning the policy allowing any politician to lie freely in ads or free posts without consequences. Though Facebook has portrayed this decision as reflecting the nation’s ideals of unfettered political speech, civil rights leaders say they see Facebook’s quest to profit from political advertising.

Corporate Political Transparency: It’s optional
Center for Public Integrity – Dave Levinthal | Published: 10/24/2019

The disparity in the disclosure of political donations by corporations, detailed in a new report by the Center for Political Accountability and Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, underscores the flaccidity of federal laws and regulations governing what public companies must publicly disclose about their political activity. As the nation enters the teeth of the election season, corporations are again largely allowed to volunteer as much, or little, information as they please about, for example, how much cash they are infusing into “dark money” nonprofits that may in turn advocate for the election or defeat of candidates.

Federal Judge Holds DeVos in Contempt in Loan Case, Slaps Education Department with $100,000 Fine
Seattle Times – Danielle Douglas-Gabriel (Washington Post) | Published: 10/24/2019

A federal judge held Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in contempt for violating an order to stop collecting loan payments from former Corinthian Colleges students. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim of the U.S. District Court in San Francisco slapped the Education Department with a $100,000 fine for violating a preliminary injunction. Money from the fine will be used to compensate the 16,000 people harmed by the federal agency’s actions. Some former students of the defunct for-profit college had their paychecks garnished. Others had their tax refunds seized by the federal government.

For Impeachment Witnesses, Testifying Can Cost $15,000
MSN – Sharon LaFraniere (New York Times) | Published: 10/24/2019

As a parade of State Department officials began trooping to Capitol Hill to testify in the impeachment inquiry imperiling President Trump, officials from the department’s employee association dispatched an appeal to its nearly 17,000 members. Send money, they pleaded. For the second time since Trump took office, an investigation into his conduct has set off a scramble across Washington, D.C. for lawyers to represent witnesses, and for the money to pay them. Many of the witnesses are career government workers who helped shape or carry out policy toward Ukraine. On civil-servant salaries, they have racked up bills of $15,000 or more for lawyers who can guide them through the sessions before congressional inquisitors.

Justice Dept. Is Said to Open Criminal Inquiry into Its Own Russia Investigation
MSN – Katie Benner and Adam Goldman (New York Times) | Published: 10/24/2019

For more than two years, President Trump has repeatedly attacked the Russia investigation, portraying it as a hoax and illegal even months after the special counsel closed it. Now, Trump’s own Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into how it all began. Justice Department officials have shifted an administrative review of the Russia investigation closely overseen by Attorney General William Barr to a criminal inquiry. The move gives the prosecutor running it the power to subpoena for witness testimony and documents, to convene a grand jury, and to file criminal charges. The opening of a criminal investigation is likely to raise alarms that Trump is using the Justice Department to go after his perceived enemies.

K Street Executives Under Pressure on Diversity
The Hill – Alex Gangitano | Published: 10/30/2019

Overall, at least 22 corporate heads of companies’ K Street offices are people of color, according to data from the Washington Heads of Office, a group made up of senior government affairs executives of color. But those in the lobbying world say the numbers should be higher. Trade associations, lobbying shops, and law firms say they are working to diversify their ranks after growing pressure amid the most diverse Congress in history. But critics say the top lobbying jobs at companies do not see frequent turnover, and they say companies need to better nurture their talent pipeline. Some companies are flush with minority and female lobbyists, but just not at the top spot.

Payday Lenders Discussed Raising Money for Trump’s Campaign to Fend Off Regulation, Audio Reveals
Washington Post – Renae Merle | Published: 10/29/2019

A recent webinar sponsored by Borrow Smart Compliance, an industry consultant, gives surprisingly frank insight into the payday lending industry’s strategy to push for weaker government regulations by forging a tight relationship with the Trump administration and the president’s campaign. The payday lending industry, made up of businesses that make short-term loans to consumers at high interest rates, is awaiting new rules that could weaken Obama administration requirements. Michael Hodges, who billed himself as one of President Trump’s top fundraisers, said contributions to the president’s reelection campaign could be leveraged to gain access to the Trump administration.

Rep. Katie Hill to Resign Amid Allegations of Inappropriate Relationships with Staffers
Politico – Heather Caygle, John Bresnahan, and Kyle Cheney | Published: 10/27/2019

U.S. Rep. Katie Hill is resigning from Congress after facing allegations of inappropriate sexual relationships with staff members in her office and on her congressional campaign. Hill’s announcement capped a tumultuous 10-day episode that shook the Democratic Caucus. Hill was a prominent figure in the historic Democratic freshman class, and her resignation was a blow to the colleagues who defended her. Hill was under investigation by the House ethics committee for allegations of an improper sexual relationship with a male congressional staffer, a claim she denied. Hill admitted to and apologized for an “inappropriate” relationship with a female campaign staffer earlier.

Rep. Lori Trahan Says $300,000 of Campaign Funds Came from Husband, Calls It ‘Gray Area in Campaign Finance Law’
MassLive.com – Benjamin Kail | Published: 10/30/2019

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan defended loaning her 2018 campaign $300,000 of her husband’s income, calling it “our money.” The Boston Globe reported that Trahan had far outspent peers on legal bills, with $167,000 paid to Perkins Coie to manage financial disclosures. The Globe reported Trahan repeatedly claimed that $371,000 she loaned her campaign came from her own funds, and Trahan did not disclose a joint bank account with her husband as a funding source until after she won her election, sparking complaints from watchdog groups. Trahan said she now realized the move constituted “a gray area in campaign finance law,” but cited multiple FEC rulings suggesting “what I did was not a violation.”

Twitter to Ban All Political Ads Amid 2020 Election Uproar
Duluth News Tribune – Tony Romm and Isacc Stanley-Becker (Washington Post) | Published: 10/30/2019

Twitter, reacting to growing concern about misinformation spread on social media, is banning all political advertising from its service. Its move strikes a contrast with Facebook, which continues to defend running paid political ads, even false ones, as a free speech priority. The move drew a mixed reception, with some critics highlighting that it would not affect what users can tweet and share on their own. The political ad ban also might not have much impact on widely followed accounts, including President Trump’s, whose tweets already reach more than 66 million users each day. Twitter’s new policy takes effect November 22.

White House Ukraine Expert Sought to Correct Transcript of Trump Call
MSN – Julian Barnes, Nicholas Fandos, and Danny Hakim (New York Times) | Published: 10/29/2019

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council, told House impeachment investigators that the White House transcript of a July call between President Trump and Ukraine’s president omitted crucial words and phrases, and his attempts to include them failed, according to people familiar with the testimony. The omissions, Vindman said, included Trump’s assertion there were recordings of former Vice President Joe Biden discussing Ukraine corruption, and an explicit mention by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky of Burisma, the energy company whose board employed Biden’s son. His testimony is likely to drive investigators to ask further questions about how officials handled the call, including changes to the transcript and the decision to put it into the White House’s most classified computer system.

From the States and Municipalities

Alabama – Birmingham Water Board Member Guilty on Ethics Charges
AL.com – Ivana Hrynkiw | Published: 10/30/2019

A member of the Birmingham Water Works Board has been jailed after being found guilty on ethics charges. The case centered around allegations that Sherry Lewis used her position on the board to get free trips and meals, along with jobs for her son from water board contractors. Lewis was found guilty of using her position for personal gain or for the gain of a family member and voting on matters in which she or her family members had financial interest.

Arizona – Effort Underway to Significantly Change Elections in Arizona
Arizona Republic – Andrew Oxford | Published: 10/30/2019

Arizonans for Fair Elections launched a ballot initiative drive that proposes to lower the state’s campaign contribution limits and set up a system during election seasons for every voter to get vouchers from the state for up to $50 they could then give to the candidates of their choice. This model of publicly financing campaigns, which has already been adopted at the local level in Seattle, is just one piece of the sprawling proposed ballot measure that would also allow same-day and automatic voter registration while tightening the limits on political donations and restricting lobbying.

Arizona – Elected Arizona Official Accused of Selling Babies Suspended
AP News; Staff –   | Published: 10/28/2019

An elected official in Arizona was suspended after he was charged with running a human smuggling scheme that brought pregnant women from the Marshall Islands to the U.S. to give birth and then paid them to give up their children for adoption. Leaders in Arizona’s most populous county suspended Assessor Paul Petersen without pay for 120 days. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors does not have the power to permanently remove him from his office, which determines the value of properties for tax purposes in Phoenix and its suburbs. Petersen, who is in federal custody, has so far refused to resign since his arrest on October 8. His lawyer, Kurt Altman, said Petersen will fight to keep the $77,000-a-year job he was last elected to in 2016.

Arkansas – State Ethics Panel Member on Job After Term Ends
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette – Michael Wickline | Published: 10/27/2019

A member of the Arkansas Ethics Commission has served 10 months past the expiration of her appointment because state Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has yet to appoint a replacement – who, by law, must be a Democrat and of a minority race. Commissioner Sybil Jordan Hampton is not grumbling about continuing to serve on the commission. If she resigned, Hampton said, the five-member commission could have problems getting a quorum because another member was injured in a car accident in January and has not been able to attend meetings since then.

California – A ‘Straight Frickin’ Arrow’ or Not? Some Say California Democratic Fundraiser Walks a Fine Line
Sacramento Bee – Hannah Wiley | Published: 10/28/2019

When state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara became embroiled in a deluge of questions and criticism this year for breaking a campaign promise not to accept industry donations, he promised Californians he would make it up to them. To start, he fired his longtime fundraiser, Dan Weitzman.  Lara said he would institute “rigorous vetting protocols” built by experts familiar with “best practices,” seemingly a deviation from the fundraising system he had set up with Weitzman at the helm. But Weitzman is no rookie. Top Democrats have for two decades invested their fundraising trust in Weitzman, whose ability to inspire cash flow has launched political careers and his own prominence in Sacramento since the 1990s.

California – Times Investigation: L.A. councilman Wesson helped apartment executives while his son received rent break
Los Angeles Times – David Zahniser and Emily Alpert Reyes | Published: 10/24/2019

Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson helped shepherd a residential tower through the city’s review process amid opposition from city staff and the planning commission. During the same period, his son was living in a building owned by Rosewood Corp., a company headed by tower developer Michael Hakim. The councilperson’s son, Herb Wesson III, went more than five years without a rent increase at the apartment building, even as many other tenants saw their rent go up. Three other people who lived in the building at the time said they were aware he was receiving a rent break, and that it was provided because his father is a council member. One of them said Wesson III explained during a private conversation that he had received a discount because of “business his father was doing with the owners of the building.”

Colorado – Emails from 600 Colorado State Employees Are Slated to Vanish from Public Record
Denver Post – Alex Burness | Published: 10/30/2019

Email inboxes are slated to be purged for hundreds of state employees, in Colorado, a move that promises to eliminate access to government records that would otherwise be public. The impacted employees work for the Department of Regulatory Agencies, divisions of which regulate key industries, including insurance, electric utilities, banks, real estate, and telecommunications. Colorado law gives state departments broad discretion in crafting their policies for keeping or deleting the recorded history of public business they conduct.

Florida – City Commission Votes for Tougher Ordinance, Ethics Board Gets More Power
Tallahassee Reports – Steve Stewart | Published: 10/28/2019

The Tallahassee City Commission voted to move forward with ethics proposals that will give the city’s Independent Ethics Board more power. Together, the adopted amendments give the board expanded authority to investigate ethics charges and levy higher fines. The Commission also adopted other reforms which address financial disclosure and lobbyist registration. Commissioners voted to increase fines for lobbyists that fail to register. The penalties will start at $1,000 for the first violation and increase with each additional violation by $500. City Attorney Cassandra Jackson said a draft ordinance would be presented to the commission in November.

Illinois – Ethics Board Reaffirms Fine Against Operative Who Supplied Solis with Viagra, Sex Acts; Goes after Company That Hired Roberto Caldero
Chicago Sun Times – Fran Spielman | Published: 10/29/2019

The Chicago Board of Ethics reaffirmed its $25,000 fine against the political operative who supplied former Ald. Danny Solis with Viagra and sex acts and moved to hold Elgin Sweeping Services responsible for hiring Roberto Caldero.  he finding of probable cause will require Elgin to explain why it hired Caldero to promote the company’s interests at City Hall when he was not a registered lobbyist. Caldero has already been slapped with a $25,000 fine that was reaffirmed after the board rejected his appeal. Elgin Sweeping faces a lesser fine, ranging from $500 to $2,000.

Illinois – Feds Allege State Rep. Luis Arroyo Caught on Undercover Recording Paying $2,500 Bribe. ‘This is the Jackpot.’
Chicago Tribune – Jason Meisner, Jamie Munks, and Dan Petrella | Published: 10/29/2019

Illinois Rep. Luis Arroyo bribed a legislative colleague with an offer of $2,500 a month in exchange for support of sweepstakes-related legislation, according to a federal complaint. Arroyo made the offer on August 2 and handed over an initial check on August 22 for the unidentified lawmaker’s backing of the legislation in the Illinois Senate, the complaint says. It describes Arroyo as having a vested interest in the arrangement as manager of Spartacus 3 LLC, a lobbying company, which included as its clients the owner of a firm that deals in video sweepstakes machines. The complaint describes the moment Arroyo gave the check to his colleague in a suburban Chicago restaurant, citing a federal wiretap that allegedly captured their conversation. “… This is, this is, this is the jackpot,” Arroyo told the senator.

Illinois – Former Lake Forest City Manager Indicted for Role in Paying Lobbyists Over Controversial Rail Project
Chicago Tribune – Daniel Dorfman (Pioneer Press) | Published: 10/24/2019

A former city manager in Lake Forest was indicted for official misconduct after he was accused of exceeding his authority as an administrator for his role in paying a lobbying firm without the city council’s approval. According to the indictment, Bob Kiely exceeded his $20,000 purchasing authority without council approval between January 1, 2016, and March 1, 2017, when payments were sent to the lobbying firm, and engaged in the contract knowing he was forbidden to do so under the law.

Maryland – Daughter of Ex-Md. Lawmaker Charged with Federal Wire Fraud Days After Mother’s Guilty Plea
Washington Post – Lynh Bui | Published: 10/29/2019

Anitra Edmond, the daughter and campaign treasurer of longtime Maryland Del. Tawanna Gaines, was charged with federal wire fraud, accused of funneling money from her mother’s campaign funds to a personal bank account. The charge against Edmond was filed less than two weeks after Gaines appeared in the same courthouse and pleaded guilty to the same charge. Gaines has resigned her seat.

Maryland – Maryland’s Online Political Ad Law Debated in Fourth Circuit
Courthouse News Service – Brad Kutner | Published: 10/30/2019

Maryland’s effort to regulate online political ads was met with skepticism by an appeals court judge, as a state attorney defending against a challenge by The Washington Post and other newspapers argued the law does not violate digital publishers’ right to free speech. The Online Electioneering Transparency and Accountability Act was blocked by a federal judge who found it would impose undue burden on publishers. The law requires platforms with more than 100,000 monthly visitors to publish the names and contact information for any purchaser of a “qualifying paid digital communication,” along with the price paid, and requires them to maintain a publicly available database with relevant information about the ad.

Maryland – Online Portal Will Publicly Display Baltimore Lobbying Disclosures
Baltimore Sun – Colin Campbell | Published: 10/31/2019

Baltimore has set up a public online portal where lobbyists can register and file disclosure forms to the city Ethics Board twice a year, instead of annually, as a result of a recent law to tighten lobbying rules. The law requires lobbyists approaching city government officials to “affirmatively identify” who they represent. It requires the Ethics Board to post those reports online, disclosing who paid lobbyists and how much. Those who fail to report could face a $1,000 penalty for each violation and a three-year ban from lobbying at City Hall. The reports must include any gifts of $100 or more given to a public servant or their family members.

Michigan – How a Tax Break to Help the Poor Went to NBA Owner Dan Gilbert
ProPublica – Jedff Ernsthausen and Justin Elliott | Published: 10/24/2019

Billionaire Dan Gilbert has spent the last decade buying up buildings in downtown Detroit, amassing nearly 100 properties and so completely dominating the area, it is known as Gilbertville. In the last few years, Gilbert, the founder of Quicken Loans and owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers, has also grown close to the Trump family. Quicken gave $750,000 to President Trump’s inaugural fund. Gilbert’s cultivation of the Trump family appears to have paid off: Three swaths of downtown Detroit were selected as opportunity zones under the Trump tax law, extending a valuable tax break to Gilbert’s real estate empire. Gilbert’s relationship with the White House helped him win his desired tax break, an email obtained by ProPublica suggests. The area made the cut even though it did not meet the poverty requirements of the program.

Nevada – Reno City Attorney Karl Hall Kept His Property Deal Quiet During Strip Club Fight
Renp Gazette Journal – Anjeanette Damon | Published: 10/29/2019

At the height of the Reno City Council’s campaign to oust strip clubs from downtown, City Attorney Karl Hall worked to sell an office building less than a block away from the Wild Orchid Gentleman’s Club but did not disclose the possible conflict-of-interest. Although the property was included on his annual financial disclosure form, Hall never disclosed his ownership or the fact it was on the market during the debate over whether the council should force the Wild Orchid and other strip clubs to move out of downtown. Nevada’s ethics law, which requires council members to read aloud a disclosure when they consider policies that might affect their personal finances, also applies to Hall.

New York – De Blasio Presidential Campaign Bankrolled by Donors with City Interests
Politico – Joe Anuta and Sally Goldenberg | Published: 10/29/2019

Despite disavowing the role of big money in politics, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio relied primarily on donors who have business dealings with the city, are often wealthy, and are rarely motivated by ideology, something reinforced by his presidential campaign’s most recent federal filings. People who have a business stake in the policies and actions of his administration largely underwrote the $1.4 million he raised to bankroll his candidacy, including at least eight who appeared on the “doing business” list –people and companies with active financial dealings before the city whose donations would represent a conflict-of-interest.

New York – Kat Sullivan Sues JCOPE Over Lobbying Allegations
Albany Times Union – Chris Bragg | Published: 10/24/2019

Kat Sullivan, the alleged rape victim who has been extensively targeted by state ethics regulators in New York for failing to register as a lobbyist, filed a lawsuit arguing she never conducted lobbying work and the law under which she is being pursued is unconstitutional. The lawsuit alleges the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) is conducting an “improper and abusive” investigation into Sullivan over her efforts to raise awareness about sexual assault and support for passing the Child Victim’s Act in 2018. Sullivan’s lawsuit challenges JCOPE to prove the definition of “lobbying” it is applying in her case adheres to state law. She also is challenging whether the underlying law is valid.

North Carolina – State Court Bars Using North Carolina House Map in 2020 Elections
MSN – Michael Wines (New York Times) | Published: 10/28/2019

A state court effectively threw out North Carolina’s map of congressional districts, saying critics were poised to show “beyond a reasonable doubt” that it was an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander favoring Republicans. The ruling, by a three-judge panel in Superior Court, technically imposes a temporary ban on using the map in primary elections next spring. But the judges signaled they were unlikely to change their minds by inviting plaintiffs in the case to seek a summary judgment ending the case in their favor. The judges also said they were prepared to postpone primary elections should that prove necessary to further litigate the case or draw new House districts.

Oregon – Struggling Oregon County Spent $43,000 Traveling to D.C. to Lobby. It Wants $2,000 to Hand Over the Receipts.
Portland Oregonian – Rob Davis | Published: 10/25/2019

In the last four years, leaders of a struggling Oregon timber county have repeatedly traveled to Washington, D.C. to lobby President Trump and other top federal officials to increase timber harvests. Douglas County commissioners spent at least $43,000 on their lobbying trips using federal money awarded to the county. Yet after three formal requests and numerous questions from The Portland Oregonian, the county has only accounted for how commissioners spent $579.57. County officials want to charge the newsroom more than $1,900 and spend nearly a full week’s worth of clerical time to find 170 pages they say itemize the other $42,500.

Pennsylvania – Citing Spotlight PA/Caucus Probe, Top Lawmaker Pushes Limits on Campaign Donations, Stricter Disclosure Rules
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Sam Janich (The Caucus) and Angela Couloumbis (Spotlight PA) | Published: 10/25/2019

Pennsylvania Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa is proposing sweeping campaign finance reforms that would set limits on contributions, increase transparency, and ban candidates from using campaign money for their personal benefit, issues at the heart of a yearlong investigation published by The Caucus and Spotlight PA. Costa said his bill would, among other changes, establish contribution limits for the first time in the state, and impose more accountability for spending by elected officials and others running for office. For instance, the measure would require candidates to submit credit-card statements with their regularly filed campaign finance reports and ban the use of gift cards that can be used to further shield expenses.

Pennsylvania – House Panel Says Lobbyist Disclosure Law Should Be Improved
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Mark Scolforo (Associated Press) | Published: 10/30/2019

A new state House investigative committee’s first report said Pennsylvania’s lobbyist disclosure law should be overhauled so lobbyists, rather than the entities they work for, report meals, gifts, and other spending meant to influence government. The House Government Oversight Committee voted unanimously for the report that also recommended changes to how lobbyist spending reports are audited. The committee said identifying and punishing lobbyist registration violations is difficult under the current law, and it was not able to determine what percentage of principals, lobbying firms, and lobbyists are in compliance.

Pennsylvania – Inside the FBI Investigation into Philly Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, His Wife, and Kenny Gamble’s Nonprofit
Philadelphia Inquirer – Jeremy Roebuck and Chris Brennan | Published: 10/25/2019

Philadelphia City Councilperson Kenyatta Johnson has found himself dogged for the past three years by FBI scrutiny of his tenure. But while much of that investigation has taken place behind closed doors, details are beginning to emerge. Sources familiar with the probe described a sweeping examination into everything from the council member’s involvement in the bargain-rate sale of city-owned land to the work of his wife, Dawn Chavous, as an education consultant, campaign adviser, and charter school advocate.

Rhode Island – IGT Discloses Additional $600,000 Spent on Lobbying Campaign
Providence Journal – Katherine Gregg | Published: 10/24/2019

International Game Technology (IGT) has publicly acknowledged an additional $600,000 in spending on its campaign for a 20-year, no-bid extension of its Rhode Island Lottery contract, in response to a notice from Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea’s office that it was obliged to disclose the amount it gave Keeping Jobs in Rhode Island to run ads touting IGT and criticizing its rivals in the contract fight. The disclosure, in an amended lobbyist-disclosure report, raised the amount the United Kingdom-based gambling technology company and its affiliate, Keeping Jobs in Rhode Island, have spent on lobbyists and advertising and public-relations in a single three-month period to an unmatched $1.8 million. Gorbea raised the specter of penalties of up to $5,000 and revocation of IGT’s right to lobby in Rhode Island if it did not make a complete disclosure.

Rhode Island – Who is Brett Smiley? A Look at the Top Aide to Governor Raimondo Who Is Accused of Threatening a Casino Executive
Boston Globe – Dan McGowan | Published: 10/30/2019

Brett Smiley, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo’s chief of staff, allegedly tried to persuade the Twin River casino to not oppose a proposed 20-year, no-bid contract extension for one of its rivals, IGT, to run the state lottery and operate most video lottery terminals at the state’s two casinos. Marc Crisafulli, Twin River’s executive vice president, claims Smiley warned him the Twin River casino could face regulatory problems if the company fought the highly contentious contract proposal for IGT. Twin River waged a public relations and lobbying campaign opposing the deal anyway, and later was forced to pay a $180,000 fine to the state taking on too much debt from a series of transactions in 2019.

Virginia – Ex-Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe Indicted on Federal Corruption Charges
The Virginian-Pilot – Scott Daugherty and Tim Eberly | Published: 10/24/2019

Former Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe was indicted on 11 federal corruption charges, accused of taking bribes over more than two decades in exchange for steering millions of dollars in city contracts to friendly businesses. McCabe was charged along with Gerard Boyle, the founder of firms that have long provided health care services for Norfolk jail inmates. Prosecutors say the longtime sheriff took bribes – including an unreported $6,000 loan, gift cards to Todd Jurich’s Bistro, Washington Redskins tickets, and free catering for his annual golf tournament – in exchange for ensuring government contracts went to Boyle’s firm and another that did business with the jail. The indictment does not name the second company, but details in the document match the jail’s food services provider, ABL Food Management.

Washington – Despite Promising to Stop, Facebook and Google Are Still Selling Political Ads in Washington State
Seattle Times – David Gutman | Published: 10/28/2019

Facebook and Google announced they would stop selling political ads in Washington after a lawsuit accused them of not obeying the state’s rules on transparency. But search Facebook’s ad library and you will find paid ads for candidates for Olympia mayor and Seattle School Board, among many others. Google has sold at least $25,000 worth of ads about state and local elections in the state. Although the amounts represent only a fraction of the millions of dollars flooding Seattle’s city council elections and other campaigns, they are still reaching hundreds of thousands of potential voters. And candidates and PACs certainly think they are effective as they continue to buy the ads that the companies have claimed they do not sell, even though the platforms claim they remove the ads as soon as they realize what they have done.

Campaign Finance

National: “AP Exclusive: Middleman helped Saudi give to Obama inaugural” by Alan Suderman and Jim Mustian for AP News

Ethics

National: “White House Ukraine Expert Sought to Correct Transcript of Trump Call” by Julian Barnes, Nicholas Fandos, and Danny Hakim (New York Times) for MSN

Arizona: “Elected Arizona Official Accused of Selling Babies Suspended” by Staff for AP News

Maryland: “Daughter of Ex-Md. Lawmaker Charged with Federal Wire Fraud Days After Mother’s Guilty Plea” by Lynh Bui for Washington Post

Nevada: “Reno City Attorney Karl Hall Kept His Property Deal Quiet During Strip Club Fight” by Anjeanette Damon for Renp Gazette Journal

Lobbying

National: “K Street Executives Under Pressure on Diversity” by Alex Gangitano for The Hill

Illinois: “Ethics Board Reaffirms Fine Against Operative Who Supplied Solis with Viagra, Sex Acts; Goes after Company That Hired Roberto Caldero” by Fran Spielman for Chicago Sun Times

Pennsylvania: “House Panel Says Lobbyist Disclosure Law Should Be Improved” by Mark Scolforo (Associated Press) for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Campaign Finance

National: “Payday Lenders Discussed Raising Money for Trump’s Campaign to Fend Off Regulation, Audio Reveals” by Renae Merle for Washington Post

New York: “De Blasio Presidential Campaign Bankrolled by Donors with City Interests” by Joe Anuta and Sally Goldenberg for Politico

Pennsylvania: “Citing Spotlight PA/Caucus Probe, Top Lawmaker Pushes Limits on Campaign Donations, Stricter Disclosure Rules” by Sam Janich (The Caucus) and Angela Couloumbis (Spotlight PA) for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Elections

North Carolina: “State Court Bars Using North Carolina House Map in 2020 Elections” by Michael Wines (New York Times) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Federal Judge Holds DeVos in Contempt in Loan Case, Slaps Education Department with $100,000 Fine” by Danielle Douglas-Gabriel (Washington Post) for Seattle Times

Florida: “City Commission Votes for Tougher Ordinance, Ethics Board Gets More Power” by Steve Stewart for Tallahassee Reports

Lobbying

Michigan: “How a Tax Break to Help the Poor Went to NBA Owner Dan Gilbert” by Jedff Ernsthausen and Justin Elliott for ProPublica

Oregon: “Struggling Oregon County Spent $43,000 Traveling to D.C. to Lobby. It Wants $2,000 to Hand Over the Receipts.” by Rob Davis for Portland Oregonian

Campaign Finance

California: “A ‘Straight Frickin’ Arrow’ or Not? Some Say California Democratic Fundraiser Walks a Fine Line” by Hannah Wiley for Sacramento Bee

Washington: “Despite Promising to Stop, Facebook and Google Are Still Selling Political Ads in Washington State” by David Gutman for Seattle Times

Ethics

National: “Rep. Katie Hill to Resign Amid Allegations of Inappropriate Relationships with Staffers” by Heather Caygle, John Bresnahan, and Kyle Cheney for Politico

Arkansas: “State Ethics Panel Member on Job After Term Ends” by Michael Wickline for Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Illinois: “Feds Allege State Rep. Luis Arroyo Caught on Undercover Recording Paying $2,500 Bribe. ‘This is the Jackpot.’” by Jason Meisner for Chicago Tribune

Virginia: “Ex-Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe Indicted on Federal Corruption Charges” by Scott Daugherty and Tim Eberly for The Virginian-Pilot

Lobbying

National: “Before Deadly Crashes, Boeing Pushed for Law That Undercut Oversight” by Natalie Kitroeff and David Gelles (New York Times) for Seattle Times

Rhode Island: “IGT Discloses Additional $600,000 Spent on Lobbying Campaign” by Katherine Gregg for Providence Journal

Campaign Finance

National: “Corporate Political Transparency: It’s optional” by Dave Levinthal for Center for Public Integrity

Elections

National: “Civil Rights Leaders Thought They’d Figured Out How to Deal with Facebook. But Now They Are ‘Livid.’” by Craig Timberg for Washington Post

Ethics

National: “For Impeachment Witnesses, Testifying Can Cost $15,000” by Sharon LaFraniere (New York Times) for MSN

National: “Justice Dept. Is Said to Open Criminal Inquiry into Its Own Russia Investigation” by Katie Benner and Adam Goldman (New York Times) for MSN

California: “Times Investigation: L.A. councilman Wesson helped apartment executives while his son received rent break” by David Zahniser and Emily Alpret Reyes for Los Angeles Times

Pennsylvania: “Inside the FBI Investigation into Philly Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, His Wife, and Kenny Gamble’s Nonprofit” by Jeremy Roebuck and Chris Brennan for Philadelphia Inquirer

Lobbying

Illinois: “Former Lake Forest City Manager Indicted for Role in Paying Lobbyists Over Controversial Rail Project” by Daniel Dorfman (Pioneer Press) for Chicago Tribune

New York: “Kat Sullivan Sues JCOPE Over Lobbying Allegations” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union

National/Federal

‘C’est Moi’: Mitt Romney admits to running secret Twitter account under the alias ‘Pierre Delecto’
MSN – Allyson Chiu (Washington Post) | Published: 10/21/2019

For years, Pierre Delecto’s presence on Twitter largely went unnoticed. Operating a bare-bones account with the handle @qaws9876, the user’s limited activity revealed only an interest in politics – namely, supporting Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah). So, when “Pierre Delecto” started trending recently on the social media platform, people were understandably confused. But they learned Pierre Delecto was not a bot or a random Romney superfan, but an account run by the senator himself. As Delecto, Romney, who has become one of President Trump’s most vocal GOP critics, used the account to like critical tweets about the president, while also occasionally defending himself against detractors.

Congress Has Long Sought to Bar Foreign Campaign Contributions
Roll Call – Todd Ruger | Published: 10/18/2019

In the decades before President Trump asked Ukraine to launch an investigation into his main political rival in the upcoming presidential election, Congress tried again and again to keep foreign nationals out of American elections and government decisions. The lawmakers’ adversaries over the years sound as if they come straight out of Hollywood scripts: the Nazi party in the 1930s, the Philippine sugar industry in the 1960s, a Greek industrialist in the 1970s, an international businessperson turned Chinese government agent in the 1990s. Congress passed laws to ban what they saw as threats to the integrity of elections, foreign policy, and national security. Foreign nationals found loopholes or new ways to contribute to campaigns.

Conservative Political Fundraiser Pleads Guilty to Felony
Center for Public Integrity – Sarah Kleiner | Published: 10/22/2019

One of Washington, D.C.’s most controversial political fundraisers pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to the FEC. Scott Mackenzie “caused the submission of a number of materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations” to the FEC from 2011 to 2018 on behalf of two PACs: Conservative StrikeForce and Conservative Majority Fund. Mackenzie has for years served as treasurer of more than 50 PACs, about a dozen of which purport to raise money for political and social causes but spend most of the money they raise from donors on fundraising, salaries, and overhead. “… The publicly available evidence shows [Mackenzie] has been at the heart of many of the worst scam PACs …,” said Adav Noti of the Campaign Legal Center.

Contradicting Trump, Ukraine Knew of Aid Freeze Before It Became Public
MSN – Andrew Kramer and Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 10/23/2019

To Democrats who say that President Trump’s decision to freeze a $391 million military aid package to Ukraine was intended to bully Ukraine’s leader into carrying out investigations for Trump’s political benefit, the president and his allies have had a simple response: There could not have been any quid pro quo because the Ukrainians did not know the assistance had been blocked. But in fact, word of the aid freeze had gotten to high-level Ukrainian officials by the first week in August, according to interviews and documents obtained by The New York Times. The problem was not a bureaucratic glitch, the Ukrainians were told then. To address it, they were advised, they should reach out to Mick Mulvaney, the acting White House chief of staff, according to the interviews and records.

Facebook Takedowns Show New Russian Activity Targeted Biden, Praised Trump
MSN – Tony Romm and Isaac Baker-Stanley (Washington Post) | Published: 10/21/2019

Facebook introduced new efforts meant to fine-tune its defenses against disinformation ahead of the presidential election. They seek to remedy some vulnerabilities that malicious actors have tapped in recent months to spread false or misleading posts, photographs, and videos. Facebook also said it removed a network of Russian-backed accounts that posed as locals weighing in on political issues in swing states, praising President Trump and attacking former Vice President Joe Biden, illustrating the familiar threat of Russian interference looms over the next U.S. presidential race. Researchers said the efforts demonstrated how those seeking to interfere in American politics continue to exploit contentious topics, including racial and religious fault lines.

Family Ties Have Troubled Many National Politicians
Newsday – Tom Brune | Published: 10/21/2019

Former Vice President Joe Biden is not the only national politician who has been accused of having a conflict-of-interest involving a family member. He joins a long list that includes some of the nation’s earliest leaders and President Trump. It is a thorny problem, lawyers and experts specializing in government ethics said, as family members find ways to cash in on their ties to politicians’ prominence and power despite attempts to curb that exploitation with laws and federal personnel restrictions. Over the past 50 years, family scandals, many involving siblings, have erupted on presidents, prompting public outcry, investigations, and eventually new laws.

‘Get Over It’: Defiant chief of staff rides out storm over Ukraine remarks
Minneapolis Star Tribune – Michael Crowley and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) | Published: 10/19/2019

On the day after he made more news than any chief of staff in recent White House history, Mick Mulvaney went about his business as usual. But Mulvaney’s job has been anything but normal since the news conference at which he seemingly undermined the Trump administration’s strategy for avoiding impeachment by acknowledging the president had sought a quid pro quo for providing Ukraine with American aid. In the chaotic aftermath, Trump’s Republican allies are questioning Mulvaney’s savvy and intelligence. As he approaches his anniversary in the White House, Mulvaney finds himself in a strange netherworld.

How a Beltway Power Couple and a Political Newcomer Learned to Thrive in the Trump Era
Houston Chronicle – Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Michael Scherer, Josh Dawsey, and Anu Narayanswamy (Washington Post) | Published: 10/23/2019

When Brad Parscale was looking for advice about how to navigate Washington. D.C. after running the digital strategy for Donald Trump’s upstart presidential campaign in 2016, the political newcomer turned to a Beltway power couple. Katie Walsh and Mike Shields, both former chiefs of staff at the Republican National Committee, advised him on how to make the most of his new perch, he said. Since then, the three have helped each other flourish inside the Republican Party ecosystem, recommending each other’s services to top party officials and candidates. Together, the trio have broad influence across the GOP, drawing millions of dollars from 23 party committees and organizations since the beginning of 2017. Their dominance has alarmed other GOP strategists, who say the three have a disproportionate amount of sway and have helped each other sustain that power.

Lobbying Business Booms Despite Gridlock and Investigations
Bloomberg Law – Megan Wilson | Published: 10/21/2019

Lobbying revenue continued to increase throughout 2019, despite turbulence surrounding the Trump administration and partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill. The third quarter of 2019 was lucrative for many K Street firms, with 20 reporting an uptick in revenue, compared to the same time last year. In addition, 16 of those firms also had increased lobbying fees from January through September of this year, compared to 2018. It is a continuation of a growth in lobbying fees since President Trump took office.

Man to Plead Guilty to Funneling Foreign Money to US Campaigns
Courthouse News Service – Nathan Solis | Published: 10/22/2019

A California venture capitalist agreed to plead guilty to falsifying records to hide his work as a foreign agent and making illegal campaign contributions on behalf of foreign entities seeking to influence U.S. elections. Imaad Zuberi has donated large sums of money to both Republicans and Democrats, including $900,000 to President Trump’s inauguration committee and $600,000 to then-candidate Hillary Clinton. Zuberi told foreign nationals and representatives from foreign governments that he could influence American policies in their favor through his influence in Washington and flaunted his apparent sway to create business and investment opportunities for clients and himself, federal prosecutors say.

New EPA Chief in New England Barred from Many Decisions Because of Conflicts
Boston Globe – Dave Abel | Published: 10/22/2019

A former chemical industry lobbyist who was recently appointed as regional administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency has been barred from overseeing a range of vital issues in New England because of conflicts-of-interest that could compromise his public duties. Dennis Deziel, who spent five years as director of federal government affairs for Dow Chemical before his appointment in August, must recuse himself from decisions involving nearly one-fifth of the region’s Superfund toxic waste sites, the agency’s ethics office said. The scope of Deziel’s entanglements has alarmed environmental groups, who say his years at Dow potentially undermine his ability to regulate certain industries. Dow is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of chemicals and has a history of violating environmental rules.

Rep. Katie Hill Investigated Over Allegations of Improper Relationship with Staffer
Politico – John Bresnahan | Published: 10/23/2019

The House ethics committee announced it has launched an investigation into U.S. Rep. Katie Hill following allegations she engaged in an improper sexual relationship with a male congressional staffer. Hill denied that allegation and she blamed the controversy on an “abusive husband” whom she is in the midst of divorcing. But in a letter to her constituents sent out just before the committee announcement, Hill admitted to having an “inappropriate” relationship with a female campaign staff member during her run for Congress in 2018. Hill apologized for the relationship.

Republicans Storm Closed-Door Impeachment Hearing as Escalating Ukraine Scandal Threatens Trump
Washington Post – Toluse Olorunnipa, Josh Dawsey, and Mike Debonis | Published: 10/23/2019

Republicans’ defense of President Trump grew more frantic with House members storming a closed-door meeting, delaying the testimony of an impeachment witness as the GOP grappled with a growing abuse-of-power scandal centered on the president. A group of Trump’s congressional allies escalated their complaints about the impeachment inquiry by barging into a secure facility on Capitol Hill where a Pentagon official was to testify before the House Intelligence Committee. Their intrusion, which caused the testimony to be delayed for about five hours over security concerns, came a day after the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine testified under oath that the White House had threatened to withhold military aid unless the Ukrainian government announced investigations for Trump’s political benefit.

The Student Vote Is Surging. So Are Efforts to Suppress It.
MSN – Michael Wines (New York Times) | Published: 10/24/2019

After decades of treating elections as an afterthought, college students have begun voting in force. Their turnout in the 2018 midterms was more than double the rate in the 2014 midterms, easily exceeding an already robust increase in national turnout. Energized by issues like climate change and the Trump presidency, students have suddenly emerged as a potentially crucial voting bloc in the 2020 general election. And almost as suddenly, Republican politicians around the country are throwing up roadblocks between students and voting booths. Students overwhelmingly lean Democratic, with three in four supportive of impeaching President Trump, according to a recent poll.

The Trump Administration Says It Has Violated Its Own Ethics Pledge
ProPublica – Derek Kravitz | Published: 10/23/2019

A government-wide review has acknowledged for the first time that at least several Trump political appointees violated the administration’s ethics pledge, which was put in place to try to “drain the swamp” by imposing lobbying restrictions and penalties. The details are tucked away in the Office of Government Ethics’ (OGE) latest annual report, which attracted little notice when it was released this summer. While President Trump’s ethics pledge was weaker than previous rules, the OGE still found violations in 2018 at three federal agencies: The Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, and the National Labor Relations Board. No federal agency reported a violation of the Trump ethics pledge in 2017.

Trump Lawyer Says Even if He Shot Someone on Fifth Ave., He Can’t be Prosecuted
MSN – Benjamin Weiser and Azi Paybarah (New York Times) | Published: 10/23/2019

A federal appeals panel expressed skepticism that President Trump had a right to block state prosecutors in Manhattan from enforcing a subpoena that sought his personal and corporate tax returns for the last eight years. The judges peppered a lawyer for Trump with questions, expressing skepticism about the president’s argument that he was immune from criminal investigation. A lower court judge earlier rejected Trump’s claim, which has not previously been tested in the courts. A deal struck with the district attorney’s office will allow the president time to seek a speedy review of the appellate ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court on the condition he ask that the court hear the case in its current term, which ends in June.

Trump’s Cabinet Meetings Have Become About Everything but the Business of His Cabinet
Stamford Advocate – Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 10/21/2019

Under President Trump, Cabinet meetings have become less about the business of his Cabinet than an opportunity for the president to invite in the assembled press to boast of his own accomplishments, lash out at his critics, and to hear the praise flow forth from advisers. The gatherings, with the press in attendance, often stretch for 60 to 90 minutes. Much of the most recent Cabinet meeting seemed about self-validation as Trump’s allies describe a presidency under siege, and a president frustrated with an onslaught of criticism.

U.S. Envoy Says He Was Told Release of Ukraine Aid Was Contingent on Public Declaration to Investigate Bidens, 2016 Election
MSN – Anne Gearan, Rachael Bade, Karoun Demirjian, and John Wagner (Washington Post) | Published: 10/22/2019

The senior U.S. diplomat in Ukraine said he was told release of military aid was contingent on public declarations from Ukraine that it would investigate the Bidens and the 2016 election, contradicting President Trump’s denial that he used the money as leverage for political gain. Acting Ambassador William Taylor Jr. testified in the House impeachment probe of Trump that he stands by his characterization that it was “crazy” to make the assistance contingent on investigations he found troubling. Taylor walked lawmakers through a series of conversations he had with other U.S. diplomats who were trying to obtain what one called the “deliverable” of Ukrainian help investigating Trump’s political rivals.

Why Trump Dropped His Idea to Hold the G7 at His Own Hotel
MSN – Maggie Haberman, Eric Lipton, and Katie Rogers (New York Times) | Published: 10/20/2019

He knew he was inviting criticism by choosing his own luxury golf club in Miami for the site of a gathering of world leaders at the Group of 7 summit in June, President Trump told his aides opposed to the choice, and he was prepared for the inevitable attack from Democrats. But what Trump was not prepared for was the reaction of fellow Republicans who said his choice of the club, the Trump National Doral, had crossed a line, and they could not defend it. So, Trump did something that might not have been a surprise for a president facing impeachment but was unusual for him: he reversed course, abruptly ending the uproar touched off earlier by the announcement of his decision by Mick Mulvaney, the acting chief of staff.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Company at Center of Insurance Commissioner’s Contributions Scandal Sold Without California Approval
San Diego Union-Tribune – Jeff McDonald | Published: 10/18/2019

The insurance conglomerate behind tens of thousands of dollars in political donations to California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has been sold, even though state regulators say they have not approved the transaction. Applied Underwriters was purchased for $920 million by its founder, Steven Menzies. The agreement is significant because Menzies is a central figure in a scandal surrounding Lara, who met privately with the insurance executive multiple times and accepted more than $46,000 in campaign donations from people connected to his company.

California – Former Mayor Anthony Silva Sentenced, Charges Dismissed Against Sharon Simas
Stockton Record – Nicholas Filipas | Published: 10/21/2019

Former Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva was formally sentenced to one felony conflict-of-interest charge that closed a three-year financial-malfeasance case. A judge sentenced Silva to 90 days in county jail. Silva was also ordered to pay $19,783 in restitution, be under three years of formal probation, and was given a lifetime ban on owning guns or ammunition. The conflict-of-interest charge stemmed from Silva’s decision to direct $5,000 in public money from a mayoral discretionary fund to the Kids Club of Stockton before leaving office in 2013.

California – Glendale Officials Take First Steps to Regulate Lobbying
Los Angeles Times – Lila Seidman | Published: 10/17/2019

Glendale City Council members directed the city attorney’s office to draft an ordinance that would require lobbyists to identify themselves, who they are working for, and how much they are being compensated. Each year, lobbyists would need to register with the city for a fee or face possible civil or criminal penalties. Quarterly reports with the information would be available to Council members and the public, under the tentative regulations. If the ordinance is adopted, Glendale would join cities like Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood, which all regulate how lobbyists interact with local elected officials in Southern California.

California – Real-Estate Company Admits Violating Campaign-Finance Rules with $7,000 in Contributions to LA Council District 4 Candidate
Los Angeles Daily Breeze; City News Service –   | Published: 10/22/2019

Hillcrest LLC, a company owned by real estate developer Bruce Makowsky, was fined $71,000 for reimbursing donors to a Los Angeles City Council candidate during the 2015 election. City law prohibited individuals from contributing more than $700 to a council candidate in 2015. Campaign donors are barred from giving in the name of someone else, a practice that can be used to sidestep limits on how much each person can donate. Ethics Commission staffers recommended a penalty of $71,000 for the company, the maximum it could have been fined, because reimbursing donors is “an extremely serious violation,” they wrote in a report.

Connecticut – State Says Pols Missed Deadline to Have Their Day in Court
Connecticut Mirror – Mark Pazniokas | Published: 10/22/2019

State Sen. Rob Sampson and his predecessor, Joe Markley, wanted a legal debate over political speech and campaign finance law; all they got before the Connecticut Supreme Court were arguments over missed deadlines. They say the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) violated their First Amendment rights by imposing fines of $5,000 on Sampson and $2,000 on Markley over campaign mailers promoting them in 2014 as reliable defenders against the policies of Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat. At issue was the question of whether the mailers were just a benefit to Sampson and Markley, who disagreed with Malloy on everything from taxation to criminal justice? Or did they also benefit Tom Foley, the Republican nominee for governor in 2014? The SEEC viewed the attacks on Malloy by Sampson and Markley as at least partially benefitting Foley, making the mailers an improper contribution to Foley.

Florida – Being Poor Shouldn’t Stop Florida Felons from Voting, Judge Rules in Amendment 4 Case
Tampa Bay Times – Lawrence Mower | Published: 10/19/2019

Florida must allow felons to vote if they cannot afford to pay back their court-ordered fees, fines, and restitution, a federal judge ruled in a case challenging the Legislature’s crackdown on Amendment 4. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle wrote in his decision that the historic amendment voters passed in 2018 allowing felons to vote does require they pay back their financial obligations to have their voting rights restored. But if they are too poor to pay those costs, the judge ruled, that should not keep them from voting. The judge granted a preliminary injunction that prevents Florida officials from using the bill to keep the 17 plaintiffs suing the state from voting. But the ramifications of Hinkle’s ruling is expected to affect other felons seeking to vote.

Florida – Tallahassee Ethics Officer Demands $450,000 and An Apology in Exchange for Early Exit
USA Today – Jeff Burlew (Tallahassee Democrat) | Published: 10/23/2019

Julie Meadows-Keefe, Tallahassee’s independent ethics officer, announced in July she was planning to step down in February 2020, a move that came after mounting criticism over a personal relationship she had with an appointed city official and other matters. Mayor John Dailey questioned her during a recent city commission meeting and later wrote an opinion piece in a local newspaper, accusing her of “unethical behavior.” Meadows-Keefe is now demanding that Dailey apologize to her and the city pay her $450,000 in exchange for her stepping down by the end of the year. “[The mayor] has pushed publicly and privately for her termination in a malicious and calculated way,” Marie Mattox, a lawyer for Meadows-Keefe, wrote in a letter to the city attorney.

Maine – Candidate for Maine Governor Paid Clean Elections Money to Future Employer
Portland Press Herald – Scott Thistle | Published: 10/20/2019

Former state Sen. Garrett Mason, who is running as a Clean Elections candidate for governor last year, directed taxpayer money to a consulting firm that hired him just after he lost the primary election in June. Mason spent just over $100,000 in taxpayer funds with Eaton River Strategies, a firm headed by lobbyist Kathie Summers-Grice. Although the move does not violate any state campaign finance laws or ethics rules, it raises concerns that Clean Elections funds could be used by candidates for personal financial gain or as a gateway to lucrative employment when they lose an election or leave public office.

Maine – Ethics Commission Staff Recommends Against Investigating Sara Gideon for Finance Violation
WGME – Caitlin Andrews (Bangor Daily News) | Published: 10/23/2019

The staff of Maine’s ethics commission is recommending against investigating state House Speaker Sara Gideon for her past use of a partially corporate-funded committee to reimburse herself for political contributions, saying Gideon, who is running to replace U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, did not violate state law because she did not intend to conceal the true source of the donations. Gideon’s use of her state political committee, which has since dissolved, to reimburse herself for political contributions came to light over the summer and became the subject of a campaign finance complaint.

Michigan – Judge Weighs Rep. Larry Inman Fundraising: Bribery or protected speech?
MLive.com – John Agar | Published: 10/17/2019

A federal judge refused to dismiss bribery and extortion charges against Michigan Rep. Larry Inman. He contends he accepted legal campaign contributions. Prosecutors allege Inman appeared willing to sell his vote – and influence others, if they received campaign contributions, too – in repealing Michigan’s prevailing-wage law. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Jonker said the case “inevitably raises First Amendment issues about the line between criminal bribery or extortion, on the one hand, and protected political activity on the other hand.” He thinks the issue should be left to a jury.

Michigan – Report: Duggan gave Make Your Date favor; chief of staff ordered emails deleted
Detroit News – Christine Ferretti and George Hunter | Published: 10/21/2019

Detroit’s inspector general released a scathing report that found Mayor Mike Duggan “unilaterally” directed city resources toward assisting a nonprofit, and his chief of staff and other top aides abused their authority by directing staff to delete emails detailing those efforts, undermining “the public’s trust in an open and transparent government.” The finding of preferential treatment for Make Your Date, a nonprofit aimed at addressing preterm births, is the culmination of a sixth-month probe by the inspector general’s office, which is calling on the city to reform its policies and staff training, and take disciplinary action against three employees, including Alexis Wiley, the mayor’s chief of staff.

New York – Campaign Panel Weighs Bigger Public Match for Local Donations
Newsday – Michael Gormley | Published: 10/22/2019

The commission charged with implementing the public funding of political campaigns in New York moved away from a straight six-to-one match of state funds to all donations toward an idea proposed by an Uber driver that would provide a far greater match to contributions from within a candidate’s legislative district. The commission voted analyze a twenty-to-one match for donations made by constituents from within the legislative district the candidate seeks to represent, and no match for contributions from outside the district. The concept would apply only to state legislative races, not statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller, or attorney general.

New York – Council Refers King Ethics Complaints to Outside Authorities
Politico – Joe Anuta and Sally Goldenberg | Published: 10/23/2019

Outside enforcement organizations may be looking into ethics allegations against New York City Councilperson Andy King, meaning the Bronx lawmaker could face further reckoning beyond the suite of sanctions his colleagues are set to vote on. A report by the Committee on Standards and Ethics paints a damning portrait of King’s conduct over the last several years. The document alleges King misused city resources to benefit himself and his wife, who works for influential healthcare workers union. In one instance, city resources were allegedly used to support a retreat and a family wedding in the Virgin Islands. The report also accused King of mounting a campaign of retaliation and intimidation against staffers he believed were cooperating with council investigators.

New York – NY Ethics Agency Defends Probe of Rape Survivor
New York Post – Carl Campanile | Published: 10/23/2019

The New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) is standing by its decision to investigate a rape survivor for violating lobbying laws by taking out billboards supporting a new sex abuse victims’ law. Kat Sullivan had allegedly used cash from the legal settlement in her rape case to pay $5,000 for the ads backing the Child Victims Act. The probe of an average person like Sullivan drew criticism from lawmakers. But JCOPE says the lobbying laws apply to everyone equally, correspondence reveals. “The Commission cannot pick and choose who is covered out of sympathy or hostility. Efforts to query a source or to urge compliance is mandated by the Legislature …,” JCOPE Chairperson Michael Rozen wrote in a letter to lawmakers.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma PAC Accused of Repeated Violations of Campaign Finance Laws
The Oklahoman – Nolan Clay | Published: 10/19/2019

A PAC secretly and illegally funneled thousands of dollars from a wealthy Missouri businessperson’s companies to Oklahoma politicians, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission alleged after an investigation. The commission sued Oklahoman’s For Healthy Living for financial penalties, saying it “repeatedly and intentionally violated the campaign finance laws of Oklahoma.” The only donors to the PAC over the last four years were two Missouri companies, Capital Health Management and Affordable Equity Partners Inc. The commission alleged Capital Health Management donated $35,000 and Affordable Equity Partners donated $8,000 in that time period in violation of state ethics rules against corporate donations. The president of both companies is Jeffrey Smith.

Pennsylvania – New Oversight Committee Examines Flaws in Pennsylvania’s Lobbying Disclosures
The Center Square – Dave Lemery | Published: 10/22/2019

Politicians and voters of all political stripes have lamented the influence of lobbying on governmental policy, with accusations that lawmakers’ votes can be bought for the right price. The members of the new House Oversight Committee in Pennsylvania sought to examine that issue in their first meeting when they convened to discuss a forthcoming report on lobbying disclosures in the state. Witnesses described a system where individuals or entities that want to get the attention of lawmakers – known as “principals” – can hire lobbying firms to bring their issue to the attention of lawmakers. If the lobbying firm uses gifts, trips to restaurants, or other forms of entertainment in an attempt to influence policy, that has to be reported to the state.

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania State Lawmakers Are Hiding Millions in Campaign Spending. And It’s All Legal.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Angela Couloumbis (Spotlight PA), Mike Wereschagin, Brad Bumsted, Paula Knudson, Sam Janesch, and Alyssa Bierdeman (The Caucus) | Published: 10/22/2019

An investigation found Pennsylvania lawmakers are shielding sometimes lavish campaign spending by not reporting the details to the public, making it difficult to assess if those expenditures was appropriate. From 2016 through 2018, state House and Senate candidates spent nearly $3.5 million that cannot be fully traced based on the information they disclosed. Charges included foreign trips, country club memberships, and a DNA test kit. In many cases, the expenditures were listed on publicly available documents with entries such as “meals” or “travel,” and a total amount, with no other details. Lawmakers have dismissed efforts to impose more restrictions, arguing they are unnecessary as long as details about where the money comes from, and how it is spent, are available to the public.

Rhode Island – Ex-Mattiello Operative Charged with Money Laundering; Says He’s Been Made ‘Fall Guy’
Providence Journal – Katherine Gregg | Published: 10/18/2019

Political operative Jeffrey Britt was indicted on a money-laundering charge in connection with his work on Rhode Island House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello’s 2016 reelection campaign. The indictment charges Britt with one felony count of money laundering and one misdemeanor count of making a prohibited campaign contribution and “disguising it as the contribution of someone else,” state Attorney General Peter Neronha said at a news conference. The grand jury investigated alleged shenanigans in the final weeks of Mattiello’s tough 2016 campaign in his Cranston home district, and specifically the roles played by Britt and potentially other aides in arranging and financing a mailer endorsing Mattiello.

Texas – Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen Says He Won’t Seek Re-Election After Scandal
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – Tessa Weinberg | Published: 10/22/2019

Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen announced he will not seek re-election to the Legislature or as leader of the House following growing calls for his resignation. The announcement comes three months after conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan alleged Bonnen offered writers of the group’s news site long sought-after House press credentials in exchange for the organization’s firepower in targeting 10 Republican incumbents in their re-election bids. In July, Sullivan revealed he had secretly recorded the meeting. The audio appears to largely support Sullivan’s allegations and spurred a flood of renewed calls from House members for Bonnen to step down.

West Virginia – Billionaire Governor’s Family Farms Get Subsidy
AP News – Anthony Izaguirre | Published: 10/17/2019

A farming business owned by the family of West Virginia’s billionaire governor has received $125,000 in soybean and corn subsidies, the maximum allowed from a federal program meant to help American farmers through the U.S. trade war with China. There is no evidence Gov. Jim Justice did anything illegal. But at least one analyst said the payments to the richest man in West Virginia are unseemly, given his wealth. And the subsidies have thrown the spotlight again on his business empire and the potential conflicts-of-interest it poses.

Wyoming – Wyoming’s First Public Records Ombudsman Aims to Boost Transparency
Laramie Boomerang – Tom Coulter (Wyoming Tribune Eagle) | Published: 10/21/2019

After working for nearly 30 years in Washington, D.C., Ruth Van Mark was not expecting to take on a new job in Wyoming. Instead, she was planning to retire back in the state where she grew up. A few months later, Van Mark was announced as the state’s first public records ombudsman. In the position, she will settle disputes over records requests, determine the scope of what can be redacted in requests, and coordinate with state agencies to make the process for submitting requests more straightforward. The position was created this year. Cassie Craven, a lobbyist with the Wyoming Liberty Group, said there was lot of testimony last session about records disputes between state agencies and citizens that had gone wrong in court.

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