elections Archives - State and Federal Communications

December 23, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance New York: “Mayor Adams’ Campaign Faces Potential ‘Breach of Certification’ Finding Over Federal Corruption Case” by Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) for MSN Elections Georgia: “Fani Willis Disqualified from Trump Election Case by Georgia Appellate Court” by Holly Bailey (Washington Post) […]

December 20, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – December 20, 2024

National/Federal A Constitutional Convention? Some Democrats Fear It’s Coming. DNyuz – Heather Knight and Katr Selig (New York Times) | Published: 12/16/2024 As Republicans prepare to take control of Congress and the White House, among the many scenarios keeping Democrats up at […]

National/Federal

A Constitutional Convention? Some Democrats Fear It’s Coming.

DNyuz – Heather Knight and Katr Selig (New York Times) | Published: 12/16/2024

As Republicans prepare to take control of Congress and the White House, among the many scenarios keeping Democrats up at night is an event that many Americans consider a historical relic: a constitutional convention. The 1787 gathering in Philadelphia to write the Constitution was the only time state representatives have convened to work on the document. But a line in the Constitution allows Congress to convene a rewrite session if two-thirds of state Legislatures have called for one. Most states have long-forgotten requests that could be enough to trigger a new constitutional convention, some scholars and politicians believe.

New Watchdog Group Seeks Records About Efficiency Department’s Talks with Agencies

DNyuz – David Fahrenthold (New York Times) | Published: 12/18/2024

A watchdog nonprofit said it was asking 16 federal agencies to detail any interactions they have had with Elon Musk’s new budget-cutting effort. The State Democracy Defenders Fund was founded by Norman Eisen, who was an ethics official during the Obama administration. The group says its initial focus during the Trump administration will be the Department of Government Efficiency Department, which is not a government department, but a loosely organized effort run by Musk and another wealthy entrepreneur, Vivek Ramaswamy.

Justice Dept. Is Examining Special-Counsel Team That Investigated Trump

MSN – Perry Stein and Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) | Published: 12/18/2024

The Justice Department is conducting an internal review to determine whether special counsel Jack Smith and his team of prosecutors ran afoul of any agency regulations when prosecuting Donald Trump. The Office of Professional Responsibility opened the review after a prosecutor reported a defense attorney in one of Trump’s cases had accused him of misconduct. It is standard procedure for Justice Department prosecutors to make such reports when wrongdoing is alleged. The initiation of an internal review does not suggest the Justice Department believes any wrongdoing occurred.

More Former Members of Congress Win Election for Lower Office This Year

MSN – Nathan Gonzales (Roll Call) | Published: 12/18/2024

While hundreds of candidates spend tens of millions of dollars trying to get to Capitol Hill, a handful of lawmakers willingly leave Congress each cycle and run for state or local office. Inside the Beltway, the move is often portrayed as a demotion, but some of these former members find themselves representing more people in their new roles, along with having more influence and a better quality of life than when they served in Washington.

Opaque Nonprofit Donation to Shadowy Super PAC Raises ‘Several Red Flags’

MSN – Taylor Giorno (The Hill) | Published: 12/12/2024

The super PAC Save Western Culture drew scrutiny ahead of the election as it spent nearly $1.4 million on controversial ads, mailers, and robocalls that boosted libertarian candidates and attacked Republicans in battleground Senate and House races, helping Democrats clinch some key seats. A $1.6 million donation the super PAC’s sole source of funding, from a newly formed nonprofit called Stop China Now Inc. was not disclosed until after Election Day.

Thirteen 2020 Fake Electors Will Cast Real Electoral College Votes for Trump on Tuesday

MSN – Marshall Cohen (CNN) | Published: 12/17/2024

Thirteen Republicans who participated in the 2020 fake electors plot, including some who are facing criminal charges, cast real Electoral College votes for President-elect Donald Trump, as electors in the states finalize his victory. The voting is largely ceremonial, but serving as an elector is an honor often bestowed upon party leaders and respected community members, not alleged criminals.

Judges Punt Retirement Plans After Trump Win, Raising Ethics Questions

MSN – Ella Lee (The Hill) | Published: 12/18/2024

A handful of federal judges appointed by Democrats have put off retirement plans in the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory, raising questions about the ethics of their decisions as judicial vacancies for the next administration dwindle. Legal experts said judges have discretion to decide when to retire, and while walk-backs are rare, it has become increasingly common to hinge those decisions on who is in the White House to pick their successors and in the Senate to confirm them.

House Ethics Committee Set to Release Investigation Report on Matt Gaetz

MSN – Jacqueline Alemany and Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) | Published: 12/18/2024

The House Committee on Ethic is set to release its report on former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a reversal for the panel that previously voted along party lines not to release the results of a long-running investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use. The committee’s turnaround was the culmination of a contentious debate over whether to release the report after Gaetz had resigned from Congress and withdrawn from consideration for attorney general.

New Charges Target Ex-Miami Congressman for Lobbying on Behalf of Sanctioned Venezuelan Tycoon

MSN – Joshua Goodman (Associated Press) | Published: 12/18/2024

A federal grand jury returned an indictment against former David Rivera for failing to register as a foreign agent of a sanctioned Venezuelan media tycoon on whose behalf the former member of Congress allegedly lobbied the Trump administration. The indictment is the second set of criminal charges to examine Rivera’s relationship with Raúl Gorrín, a billionaire businessperson charged in 2018 and again in 2024 with bribing senior Venezuelan officials in corrupt deals to embezzle state funds from Nicolas Maduro’s administration.

Trump and His Picks Threaten More Lawsuits Over Critical Coverage

Seattle Times – David Enrich (New York Times) | Published: 12/15/2024

A flurry of threatened defamation lawsuits is the latest sign the incoming Trump administration appears poised to do what it can to crack down on unfavorable media coverage. Before and after the election, Trump and his allies have discussed subpoenaing news organizations, prosecuting journalists and their sources, revoking networks’ broadcast licenses, and eliminating funding for public radio and television.

Massages and Country Clubs: Customer bills may be funding power companies’ lavish perks

Yahoo News – Mario Alejandro Ariza (Floodlight) | Published: 12/12/2024

Power companies across the country have been quietly trying to charge their customers for millions of dollars’ worth of luxury expenses, including access to exclusive country clubs and private jet travel, according to a new report from the Energy and Policy Institute , a utility watchdog. The regulated companies are only supposed to charge for expenses that directly benefit customers, such as upgrades to the electric grid. But the regulatory system allows gas and electric companies to also charge nonessential lobbying and advertising costs into customers’ electric bills, the report found.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – GOP-Linked Groups Want Court to End Voter-Approved Campaign Finance Requirements

Arizona Daily Star – Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) | Published: 12/16/2024

Two groups that support Republicans are making a last-ditch effort to have the Arizona Supreme Court end campaign finance requirements that voters have approved. The goal of their legal effort is to let them keep secret who really is funding their efforts to influence elections. Lawyers for the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and the Center for Arizona Policy argue Proposition 211, adopted by voters in 2022, violates the free speech clause in the state constitution.

California – Los Angeles Times Owner Wades Deeper into Opinion Section

DNyuz – Katie Robinson (New York Times) | Published: 12/12/2024

After Donald Trump announced a cascade of cabinet picks, the Los Angeles Times prepared an editorial arguing the Senate should follow its traditional process for confirming nominees, particularly given the editorial board’s concerns about some of his picks and ignore Trump’s call for recess appointments. But the newspaper’s owner, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, told the opinion department’s leaders the editorial could not be published unless the paper also published an editorial with an opposing view.

California – Sales Tax Hike May Head to Special Election in April. Oakland Public Watchdog Funding Will Not

MSN – Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) | Published: 12/16/2024

The Oakland City council voted down a proposal to increase funding for the city’s oversight bodies, which carry out duties ranging from monitoring the police department to enforcing campaign finance rules. The tax would have raised $23.2 million yearly to fund the Public Ethics Commission, the city auditor, and two arms of the Oakland Police Commission. Good government advocates said these groups would be better shielded from political meddling if they had funding from dedicated tax dollars instead of relying on money from the general purpose fund, which the council has significant control over.

California – New Stanton City Council Nixes Tightest Campaign Finance Rules in OC

Voice of OC – Hosam Elattar | Published: 12/17/2024

The Stanton City Council decided to get rid of an ordinance before it went into effect that would have been the strongest campaign finance law in Orange County minutes after two new council members were sworn into office. Mayor David Shawver, who earlier voted in support of the ordinance, argued it was contrary to state law and would leave the city liable to lawsuits.

California – California Lawmaker Questioned in Sprawling Cannabis Corruption Investigation

Yahoo News – Anabel Sosa (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 12/12/2024

Documents made public by federal prosecutors allege a public official who fits the profile of California Sen. Susan Rubio was part of sprawling bribery scheme when she served on the Baldwin Park City Council and campaigned for state office in 2018. The information was revealed in a plea agreement in which former Baldwin Park City Attorney Robert Tafoya admitted his role in a cannabis bribery scheme and agreed to cooperate in ongoing public corruption investigations.

Colorado – Ethics Complaint Filed Against Embattled State Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis Over Alleged Aide Mistreatment

Colorado Sun – Jesse Paul | Published: 12/18/2024

A constituent of embattled Colorado Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis lodged an ethics complaint, alleging Jaquez Lewis has failed to uphold her office with integrity and the public interest by mistreating her Capitol aides. The complaint could lead to the most serious consequences yet for Jaquez Lewis, who has already been stripped of her committee assignments and barred from having state-paid staffers because of the aide allegations.

Colorado – Denver Gave $8M to Political Candidates in 2023. Now, It’s Considering Changes

Denverite – Kyle Harris | Published: 12/18/2024

The Denver City Council is considering changes to the city’s Fair Election Fund, a voter-approved program that gives public money to political candidates. The program has been praised for allowing more people to be competitive in fundraising, but it also has raised concerns as the city has awarded millions of taxpayer dollars to dozens of candidates.

District of Columbia – D.C. Council Committee Recommends Expelling Trayon White Over Rules Violations

MSN – Meagan Flynn and Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) | Published: 12/16/2024

A District of Columbia Council ad hoc committee voted to recommend that council member Trayon White Sr. be expelled from the council after an investigative report found “substantial evidence” he violated ethics rules when he allegedly accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes involving government contracts. The vote means the council may vote to expel White in early 2025. White, who has pleaded not guilty in a federal bribery case, will have at least 30 days to prepare a defense to his proposed expulsion.

Florida – Questions of ‘Pay to Play’ Linger Over Santa Rosa GOP Candidate Forum

MSN – Jim Little (Pensacola News Journal) | Published: 12/16/2024

Some candidates in the special election to fill the congressional seat vacated by Matt Gaetz felt like they had no choice but to donate $1000 to the Santa Rosa County Republican Executive Committee to participate in a candidate forum which has raised allegations of pay-to-play from one local lawmaker. State Rep. Alex Andrade said he is looking into the situation to decide whether to notify the Florida Division of Elections about the donation request he believes violated the law.

Illinois – Judge Denies Acquittal Bid for Ex-AT&T Boss Accused of Bribing Madigan

MSN – Jason Meisner and Megan Crepeau (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 12/12/2024

Three months after his trial ended in a hung jury, ex-AT&T Illinois boss Paul La Schiazza’s bid for acquittal was denied by a federal judge, who ruled prosecutors had shown ample evidence of a quid pro quo scheme to bribe then-House Speaker Michael Madigan. The ruling not only sets the stage for a potential retrial for La Schiazza, but also comes as jurors in Madigan’s own corruption trial are hearing the same evidence of the alleged scheme to steer a do-nothing contract to ex-state Rep. Edward Acevedo to help win the powerful speaker’s support on key legislation in Springfield.

Illinois – Paper Tigers

MSN – Dan Petrella and Gregory Royal Pratt (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 12/15/2024

A key factor in Illinois’ pervasive political corruption is that public officials create systems of oversight that often thwart accountability for elected officials and government employees. A review of Illinois and Chicago ethics laws found consistent weaknesses, including restrictions on the types of misconduct watchdogs are permitted to probe, a lack of transparency when wrongdoing is uncovered because of limitations on how the results of investigations can be made public, and limited ability to impose sanctions on those found to have broken laws or ethics rules.

Iowa – Trump Sues Des Moines Register and Iowa Pollster, Escalating Attacks on Media

MSN – Elahe Izadi, Laura Wagner, and Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 12/17/2024

Donald Trump filed a lawsuit against the Des Moines Register newspaper and its highly respected former pollster, adding to his ongoing legal attacks against news media companies. The suit – which names the newspaper’s parent company, Gannett, its former pollster J. Ann Selzer, and her polling firm – centers on a Selzer poll released three days before the presidential election that showed trailing Vice President Kamala Harris.

Maine – Maine Sued Over New Voter-Approved Campaign Finance Limits

Yahoo News – Randy Billings (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 12/13/2024

A national conservative group is suing to overturn new campaign finance limits approved by Maine voters in November. The Institute for Free Speech argues the initiative violates the Constitution by limiting free speech and forcing groups to disclose their donors, including those who donate less than $50. The Institute says the new law would prevent PACs from spending money they have already raised and unfairly excludes PACs controlled by political parties and those campaigning for ballot questions.

Massachusetts – Boston Considers Ethics Committee After City Councilor’s Arrest on Corruption Charges

MSN – Tréa Lavery (MassLive) | Published: 12/11/2024

At the first Boston City Council meeting since Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson was arrested by federal authorities and accused of running a kickback scheme, fellow Councilor Ed Flynn proposed creating a new committee focused on ethics. The charges are not the first scandal, or even the first arrest, to hit the city council in recent years.

Massachusetts – Fed Subpoena Revealed: Investigators wanted Fernandes Anderson’s notes, chats, images and more

MSN – Gayla Cawley and Joe Dwinell (Boston Herald) | Published: 12/17/2024

The federal grand jury subpoena sent to Boston City Hall in September set forth wide-ranging demands for detailed copies of now indicted Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson’s emails, drafts, and “Lotus notes” in a kickback probe that left no stone unturned. It also lists 22 secretaries and administrative assistants who have served under Fernandes Anderson in some capacity. The subpoena suggests they were at the crossroads of “electronic communications: of Fernandes Anderson’s alleged $7,000 kickback scheme.

Michigan – Lobbyists Spend Millions Wining and Dining Michigan Lawmakers, But Flawed System Prevents Public from Knowing Specifics

Deadline Detroit – Jack Armstrong, Miranda Dunlap, Lily Guiney, Andrew Miller-Thomas, Sarah Moore, and Chloe Trofatter (Eye on Michigan) | Published: 12/17/2024

A media investigation found Michigan’s system for tracking what lobbyists give to lawmakers is flawed, rife with loopholes, and relies on the honor system. Problems with the state’s attempt to bring transparency to officials’ interactions with lobbyists are compounded because many of the lawmakers who took the most gifts refuse to discuss why they accepted hundreds of free meals and trips. Despite the flaws in the system, Eye On Michigan found lobbyists spent more than $6.3 million on state lawmakers and officials between 2001 and 2023.

New York – $100,000 Loan for Porsche at Center of Charges Against Former Adams Aide

DNyuz – William Rashbaum, Dana Rubenstein, and Michael Rothfeld (New York Times) | Published: 12/18/2024

Ingrid Lewis-Martin, the former chief adviser to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, is expected to surrender on bribery charges involving two businesspeople who gave her son a $100,000 loan to buy a Porsche, several people with knowledge of the matter said. Her son, Glenn Martin II, and the other two men were also expected to surrender for arraignment on the charges, which are being brought by the Manhattan district attorney. The accusations grew out of a broad corruption investigation focused on Lewis-Martin, who recently announced her resignation hours before it was reported a grand jury was hearing evidence against her.

New York – US Supreme Court Leaves Former New York Lieutenant Governor’s Corruption Case Alive

MSN – Luc Cohen (Reuters) | Published: 12/16/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear former New York Lieutenant Gov. Brian Benjamin’s challenge to corruption charges in a case that involves the scope of federal bribery law, allowing the case to proceed. The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office in 2022 charged Benjamin with funneling a $50,000 state grant to developer Gerald Migdol in exchange for the campaign contributions.

New York – N.Y. Judge Denies Trump’s Motion to Throw Out Hush Money Conviction

MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 12/16/2024

A judge denied a motion by Donald Trump’s lawyers to throw out the president-elect’s 34-count felony conviction based on a broad U.S. Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity. New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan ruled the high court’s expansion of presidential immunity did not negate Trump’s conviction for falsifying business records connected to a hush money payment to an adult-film actress.

New York – New York City Mayor’s Campaign Denied Millions in Public Matching Funds

MSN – Joe Anuta and Jeff Coltn (Politico) | Published: 12/16/2024

The New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) announced it was withholding public matching money from Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection campaign, citing a federal criminal case against Adams involving straw donors and his campaign’s noncompliance with the board’s inquiries. The mayor had asked for $4.5 million. CFB Chairperson Frederick Schaffer noted Adams’ campaign would be able to appeal the decision.

New York – GOP Accuses Democrats of Rigging NY Public Campaign Finance System

MSN – Brendan Lyons (Albany Times Union) | Published: 12/13/2024

State Republican lawmakers are accusing Democrats on the New York Public Campaign Finance Board of ramming through a resolution that changed the rules governing campaign funds to retroactively benefit multiple Democratic candidates who had transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee. Republicans contend the resolution had not been on the board’s agenda. Democrats approved a resolution that allows transfers using non-public matching funds to be included in a surplus calculation for the total campaign expenditures.

North Carolina – NC Settlement with Robinson Campaign Over Errors Revealed

Carolina Public Press – Sarah Michels | Published: 12/18/2024

Nearly four years after it began, an investigation into the financial reporting of North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s campaign in 2020 has been completed, leading to fines and a settlement. Robinson’s campaign committee agreed to pay the State Board of Elections $35,000. In return, the board will not pursue any action against Robinson in court or require his committee to pay for the costs of the multi-year investigation.

North Carolina – NC Groups Host Desirable Trips Where NC Lawmakers, Lobbyists Can Mingle. Who Pays?

MSN – Dan Kane (Raleigh News & Observer) | Published: 12/13/2024

Lobbyists and their clients are generally prohibited from taking North Carolina lawmakers on trips, or even buying them a meal. Legislative scandals 20 years ago pushed state legislators to pass a ban on most gifts from lobbyists and their clients. The law allows for exceptions, such as travel for some educational meetings. But social welfare nonprofits, labeled 501(c)(4)s in the federal tax code, have close ties to some state politicians. This year, two of the nonprofits were found to have hosted out-of-state trips with influential state lawmakers.

Ohio – Jimmy Dimora’s Sentence Commuted by President Joe Biden

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 12/12/2024

President Biden commuted the sentence of disgraced former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, ending his punishment for widespread corruption that landed him in prison for more than a decade and caused a complete overhaul of the county’s government. Dimora’s 2010 arrest exposed a corrupt scheme that he orchestrated with Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo. The duo gave county contracts to companies in exchange for money, trips, gifts, and favors.

Ohio – Republicans Stoked Fears of Noncitizens Voting. Ohio Shows How Rhetoric and Reality Diverge.

MSN – Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) | Published: 12/15/2024

Before the November presidential election, Ohio’s secretary of state and attorney general announced investigations into potential voter fraud that included people suspected of casting ballots even though they were not U.S. citizens. It coincided with a national Republican messaging strategy warning that potentially thousands of ineligible voters would be voting. The outcome and the stories of some of those now facing charges illustrate the gap between the rhetoric about noncitizen voting and reality. It is rare, is caught and prosecuted when it does happen, and does not occur as part of a coordinated scheme to throw elections.

Oregon – Portland Public Campaign Finance Deputy Slams Program Head in Searing Resignation; Director Fires Back

MSN – Shane Dixon Kavanaugh (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 12/17/2024

The deputy director of Portland’s public campaign finance program resigned abruptly in November, accusing his boss of bullying behavior and widespread mismanagement. Daniel Lewkow alleged Small Donor Elections head Susan Mottet fostered a toxic work environment that made his job untenable. Mottet characterizing her former deputy as a disgruntled subordinate who repeatedly failed “to perform his job competently.” The allegations mark the latest in a series of setbacks that have dogged the program.

Pennsylvania – Campaign Funds, Secretive Nonprofit Pay for Josh Shapiro’s Sports Tickets

Spotlight PA – Stephen Caruso | Published: 12/17/2024

Gov. Josh Shapiro viewed a Villanova University basketball recently alongside a coach who has won two national championships. A few days later, he watched the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Shapiro paid for neither ticket out of pocket. He attended the Villanova game on the dime of Team PA, a nonprofit that spent at least $12,000 last year on sports tickets for Shapiro. Its donors are anonymous. The NFL ticket was “covered with campaign funds,” said Shapiro spokesperson Manuel Bonder, who did not answer a question about whether the governor used money from his campaign fund to buy the ticket or if the ticket itself was donated.

South Carolina – ‘Questionable’ Transactions and Bowl Games. USC Office Misspent $1.7M in Public Funds, Audit Says

MSN – Alexa Jurado (The State) | Published: 12/11/2024

Using public funds for trips to the 2022 Gator Bowl, consistent overspending, and “questionable” financial transactions by a University of South Carolina office and its affiliates, are among findings in a critical new report by the state;s Legislative Audit Council. An investigation spanning 26 months found that the university’s Office of Economic Engagement misspent $1.7 million of grant money and potentially violated state ethics codes.

Texas – Watson, Greco Ethics Complaints Dismissed a Month after Austin’s Mayoral Election

Yahoo News – Kate Winkle (KXAN) | Published: 12/13/2024

The Austin Ethics Review Commission ruled Mayor Kirk Watson and mayoral candidate Doug Greco did not break campaign finance rules during the recent election. Watson and Greco were accused of exceeding the amount of money they can accept from those outside the city: $46,000. Because there is no requirement for donors to tell campaigns their home address, tracking whether campaigns are in compliance can be a challenge, according to James Cousar, who represented Watson in his preliminary hearing.

December 18, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance New York: “US Supreme Court Leaves Former New York Lieutenant Governor’s Corruption Case Alive” by Luc Cohen (Reuters) for MSN Elections National: “Thirteen 2020 Fake Electors Will Cast Real Electoral College Votes for Trump on Tuesday” by Marshall Cohen (CNN) for MSN […]

December 13, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – December 13, 2024

National/Federal A Century-Old Law’s Aftershocks Are Still Felt at the Supreme Court DNyuz – Adam Liptak (New York Times) | Published: 12/9/2024 In February 1925, Chief Justice William Howard Taft persuaded Congress to grant the Supreme Court an extraordinary power: to pick […]

National/Federal

A Century-Old Law’s Aftershocks Are Still Felt at the Supreme Court

DNyuz – Adam Liptak (New York Times) | Published: 12/9/2024

In February 1925, Chief Justice William Howard Taft persuaded Congress to grant the Supreme Court an extraordinary power: to pick which cases it would decide. Most courts do not get to choose the cases they will hear, and their central task is to resolve disputes one at a time. The Supreme Court understands its job to be different – to announce legal principles that will apply in countless cases. The law effectively changed the court into a policymaking body, and the nation has yet to come to terms with “the immense powers of this new role,” Yale Law School professor Robert Post wrote in a new study.

Realtors’ Nonprofit Is Politically Motivated, Some Say

DNyuz – Debra Kamin (New York Times) | Published: 12/9/2024

The National Association of Realtors (NAR), the largest trade organization in the U.S., wields substantial influence over the American housing industry. To help hold on to that power, it also runs one of the biggest PACs, routinely outspending corporations. The PAC supports candidates who are in line with NAR’s positions, regardless of party, and its spending is bipartisan. But about five years ago, NAR quietly created an affiliate nonprofit called the American Property Owners Alliance, and its spending tells a different story.

After N.R.A.’s Supreme Court Win, a Dispute Over Key Facts

DNyuz – Danny Hakim (New York Times) | Published: 12/9/2024

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the National Rifle Association (NRA) could pursue its claim that a New York regulator had infringed on its First Amendment rights when she sought to discourage insurers and banks from doing business with the group after the 2018 school massacre in Parkland, Florida. But the two women said to be the primary participants in a secret meeting described in the complaint, and pivotal to the Supreme Court ruling, say it never took place. The case before the high court was a test of how far government advocacy could go before crossing a line into coercion.

FBI Director Christopher Wray Says He Will Resign Before Trump Takes Office

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 12/11/2024

FBI Director Christopher Wray announced he would resign from his position at the end of the Biden administration, stepping down as the leader of the 35,000-person law enforcement bureau before Donald Trump takes office and can fire him. Wray’s resignation comes seven years into his 10-year term, a tenure that is meant to span multiple administrations and is intentionally longer than other executive branch appointments to avoid politicization of the FBI. Trump had announced he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel to serve as FBI director, sending a message to Wray that he should either resign or prepare to be fired.

Supreme Court Divided Over Government Contracting Fraud Conviction

MSN – Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 12/9/2024

The Supreme Court appeared divided over whether to uphold the conviction of a government contractor found guilty of defrauding a state transportation program intended to promote diversity. The court has repeatedly expressed skepticism of federal prosecutions for too broadly applying criminal statutes to combat public corruption and other white-collar crimes. The ruling in the contracting case could affect how federal prosecutors pursue other fraud cases.

Judge Rejects Sale of Alex Jones’ Infowars to The Onion in Dispute Over Bankruptcy Auction

MSN – Dave Collins (Associated Press) | Published: 12/11/2024

A federal judge rejected the auction sale of Alex Jones’ Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet, criticizing the bidding process as flawed and the amount of money that families of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting stood to receive. The Onion had been named the winning bidder over a company affiliated with Jones, whose conspiracy theory platform was put up for sale as part of his bankruptcy case stemming from the nearly $1.5 billion that courts have ordered him to pay over falsely calling one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history a hoax.

House Rejects Democratic Efforts to Force Release of Matt Gaetz Ethics Report

MSN – Farnoush Amiri (Associated Press) | Published: 12/5/2024

The House shut down Democrats’ efforts to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, pushing the fate of any resolution to the years-long investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty. The nearly party-line votes came after Democrats had been pressing for the findings to be published even though Gaetz left Congress and withdrew as Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general for attorney general. Rep. Tom McClintock was the sole Republican to support the effort.

White House Weighs Preemptive Pardons for Potential Trump Targets

MSN – Tyler Pager and Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 12/5/2024

President Biden is weighing whether to grant preemptive pardons to individuals who might be targeted by the incoming Trump administration. Biden’s senior staffers have been increasingly alarmed by Trump’s picks for key law enforcement positions, such as Kash Patel, the choice for FBI director, who has urged retribution against Trump’s adversaries and critics. Other Democrats worry that Biden risks muddying the waters and leading voters to conclude both sides are simply using the legal system for their own ends.

Elon Musk Is Now America’s Largest Political Donor

MSN – Trisha Thadani and Clara Ence Morse (Washington Post) | Published: 12/6/2024

Elon Musk gave at least $277 million in campaign donations this year to back Donald Trump and other Republican candidates, making him the largest political donor in the 2024 election cycle. Musk’s total for the cycle is the largest from a single donor since at least 2010, outside of candidates funding their own campaigns.

Bill to Protect Journalists from Revealing Sources Is ‘on Life Support’

MSN – Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 12/11/2024

Legislation that would create a federal shield law protecting journalists from being forced to reveal their confidential sources, the Protect Reporters From Exploitative State Spying Act, is facing a dim future after an attempt in the Senate to expeditiously pass the bill failed. The bill passed the House in January but has been stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee. It has been championed by a coalition of press advocacy groups and news organizations that view it as essential for safeguarding the use of confidential sources in public interest reporting.

Watchdog Faults DOJ in Trump’s First Term for Secretly Obtaining Records of Lawmakers and Journalists

MSN – Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 12/10/2024

The Justice Department during Donald Trump’s first term failed to comply with its own procedures when it sought journalists’ phone and email records in leak investigations, according to a watchdog report. The department also never conducted any high-level review as it swept up the records of 43 congressional staffers and two Democratic House members, the report found. Inspector General Michael Horowitz said he found no evidence that federal prosecutors got express approval from then-Attorney General Bill Barr or told federal courts the subpoenas were for records of lawmakers and their aides.

Foster Advocacy Group Denies That Arrested Member Assaulted Rep. Nancy Mace

MSN – Peter Hermann and Keith Alexander (Washington Post) | Published: 12/11/2024

The head of a foster-care advocacy group is disputing allegations that one of its members assaulted U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace during a reception at the Rayburn House Office Building, saying the two merely shook hands during what appeared to be an amicable greeting. Capitol Police said James McIntyre, co-founder of the Illinois chapter of Foster Care Alumni of America, was charged with assaulting a government official.

Trump May Have Dodged His Criminal Case – but a Slew of Civil Lawsuits Loom

MSN – Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 12/8/2024

Donald Trump is not off the hook for January 6 just yet. Though the criminal cases against him are all but dead, Trump is likely to be fighting eight civil lawsuits, from members of Congress and injured police officers, deep into his second term. They may be the last form of legal redress Trump faces for his role in spurring the Capitol riot. Trump’s election effectively scuttled special counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution of Trump, but a Supreme Court ruling says civil litigation can proceed against a sitting president.

Supreme Court Justice Recuses Himself from Utah Railroad Case Tied to Colorado Billionaire

Salt Lake Tribune – Charlie Savage (New York Times) | Published: 12/6/2024

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch recently recused himself from a case after ethics watchdogs and Democratic lawmakers urged him to step aside because the outcome will likely affect the financial interests of a billionaire to whom he has long-standing ties. Legislation to impose an ethics code on the justices has stalled, but in 2023, the court unanimously adopted its first code of conduct. The New York Times has reported that in internal debate over the code, Gorsuch insisted it contain no enforcement mechanism beyond voluntary compliance.

From the States and Municipalities

California – Inside a Campaign Donor’s Journey to Get Her Money Back from Nathan Fletcher

KPBS – Scott Rodd | Published: 12/9/2024

San Diego resident Yvonne Elkin was determined to get her $100 dollars back. Elkin gave the money to former San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher last year when he announced his run for the California Senate. Then Fletcher dropped out of the race amid allegations of sexual assault. It was enough to change Elkin’s mind about Fletcher. But getting back a campaign contribution is not so simple. Political donors in California can ask for their donations back. But in nearly all cases, under state law, it is up to the candidate to decide.

California – S.F. Agencies Cuts Ties with Major Nonprofit Accused of Enriching a Former Department Head

MSN – St. John Barned-Smith and Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 12/10/2024

San Francisco city officials are cutting ties with a major nonprofit contractor after an investigation found the organization enriched a former department head who directed more than $1 million in city funds to the group. Two city departments canceled various contracts with Collective Impact over what officials described as “significant conflicts of interest” between the nonprofit and Sheryl Davis, the former executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.

California – LA Times Owner Plans to Add AI-Powered ‘Bias Meter’ on News Stories, Sparking Newsroom Backlash

MSN – Liam Reilly and Jon Passantino (CNN) | Published: 12/5/2024

Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong, who blocked the newspaper’s endorsement of Kamala Harris and plans to overhaul its editorial board, says he will implement an artificial intelligence-powered “bias meter” on the paper’s news articles to provide readers with “both sides” of a story. Soon-Shiong said major publishers have so far failed to adequately separate news and opinion, which he suggested “could be the downfall of what now people call mainstream media.”

Colorado – Ethics Commission: Rick Palacio violated state law by contracting with Gov Jared Polis’ office

Colorado Politics – Marianne Goodland | Published: 12/10/2024

The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission ruled Rick Palacio, a former chief of staff to Gov. Jared Polis, violated state law by contracting with the governor’s office within six months of his departure. The commission did not fine Palacio and dismissed another claim that he had “double-dipped” as both a contractor and state employee.

Colorado – Colorado Court Rules Ethics Commission Can’t Assert Jurisdiction Over Local Governments

Colorado Politics – Marianne Goodland | Published: 12/9/2024

A Denver District Court judge upheld a decision of the state Court of Appeals regarding whether the Colorado Ethics Commission can assert jurisdiction over local governments that have their own ethics code. The decision could end an eight-year fight over ethics complaints filed against the mayor of Glendale, the origin of the city’s challenge to the commission’s claims of jurisdiction. It could also end the ethics commission’s decisions to assert jurisdiction over home rule governments on ethics.

Colorado – State Sen. Jaquez Lewis Removed from Committees; Dems Plan Ethics Investigation Over Treatment of Staff

Colorado Public Radio – Bente Birkeland | Published: 12/8/2024

Colorado Senate leaders said they would approve an ethics investigation next session into state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis’ treatment of legislative aides and are removing her from serving on any committees when lawmakers return to the Capitol in January. Democratic leaders recently banned Jaquez Lewis from receiving state funds to hire staff following a recent complaint that she used campaign funds to pay aides to do personal work.

Connecticut – ‘Not a Dirty Word’: State ethics office tracks lobbyists; $34.8M spent in 2024 as of mid-Nov.

Hartford Business Journal – David Krechevsky | Published: 12/9/2024

Among other things, the Connecticut Office of State Ethics regulates and enforces the rules on the people and organizations that register each year to lobby state legislators and agencies. It also conducts audits and imposes penalties on those who fail to comply. “Our role is simply to provide transparency to the process,” said Pete Lewandowski, executive director of the ethics agency.

District of Columbia – D.C. Council Quietly Renames Bills to Avoid Scrutiny from Trump, Congress

MSN – Emily Davies and Meagan Flynn (Washington Post) | Published: 12/8/2024

Before Republicans won control of the House, Senate, and presidency in November, the District of Columbia Council was preparing to pass several pieces of legislation that threatened to draw the ire of the GOP. Now, with Donald Trump headed back to the Oval Office and his party set to control Congress, the city’s lawmakers are quietly making edits to the titles. It is part of a strategic effort across the government to adopt a more neutral posture on sensitive issues in hopes of avoiding a GOP backlash, according to Council Chairperson Phil Mendelson.

Florida – Mayor’s Office: Attending party on Shad Khan’s Kismet allowed by gift law restrictions

MSN – David Bauerlein (Florida Times-Union) | Published: 12/6/2024

The value of the food and beverages served by the Jacksonville Jaguars during a holiday party on team owner Shad Khan’s yacht fits within what elected officials such a Mayor Donna Deegan and city council members can accept for complying with gift law restrictions, according to a ethics watchdog who advises Deegan. Florida law allows Deegan and council members to accept gifts from entities that do business with the city or lobby the city, such as the Jaguars, but the value of a gift cannot exceed $100, said Carla Miller, who previously spent years as the city’s ethics director.

Florida – Moms for Liberty Co-Founder Selected as Vice Chair of Florida Commission on Ethics

Tallahassee Democrat – Douglas Soule (USA Today) | Published: 12/11/2024

Not waiting to see if the Senate confirms her appointment, the Florida Commission on Ethics unanimously selected conservative Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich as its new vice-chairperson. Descovich, a former Brevard County School Board member, has served on the commission since Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed her last year. The Senate did not confirm her during the 2024 legislative session. Concerns were raised that Descovich’s work counted as lobbying, which would conflict with a role on the commission.

Georgia – Atlanta’s Inspector General Sued by City Contractor Over Investigation

WAGA – Staff | Published: 12/10/2024

Atlanta Inspector General Shannon Manigault is being sued by a city contractor whose name surfaced during a year-long investigation by her office. The vendor’s attorney says Manigault overstepped her boundaries and is not following the law while trying to investigate possible financial connections between vendors and Atlanta officials. The city council unanimously renewed Bernie Tokarz’s contract, and the state ethics commission dismissed Manigault’s complaint.

Illinois – AT&T’s Involvement in Illinois Politics Takes Focus in Mike Madigan Corruption Trial

Courthouse News – Dave Byrnes | Published: 12/11/2024

The corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan continued as U.S. attorneys probed the extent of AT&T’s involvement with the state’s politics. The government claims AT&T Illinois offered ex-state Rep. Eddie Acevedo a do-nothing subcontractor gig worth $22,500 in April 2017, through a firm owned by lobbyist Tom Cullen, also a longtime Madigan ally and political operative. Internal AT&T documents stated the funds were meant to cover Cullen’s firm taking on “an additional asset.” Prosecutors say that asset was Eddie Acevedo.

Louisiana – Former State Legislator from Gov. Landry’s Home Parish Nominated for Ethics Board

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 12/11/2024

The Louisiana House of Representatives has nominated only one person so far to fill its open ethics board seat – former state Rep. Mike Huval, who is friends with Gov. Jeff Landry. Other than the one late campaign finance report, which is not unusual for elected officials, Huval said he has not had any run-ins with the ethics board. The governor and legislators rewrote state law earlier this year to change the board’s makeup.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Hires New Top Staff Member on a Temporary Basis after Pushback

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 12/6/2024

The Louisiana Board of Ethics voted one of its own staff attorneys in as the state’s new ethics administrator after unprecedented pushback from legislative leaders and Attorney General Liz Murrill to filling the position. The appointment of David Bordelon was made on an interim basis, however, allowing the board to reverse itself when new members that Gov. Jeff Landry and lawmakers appoint join the board in 2025. Bordelon will start the job after December 27, when longtime ethics administrator Kathleen Allen retires.

Massachusetts – Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson Arrested by Feds on Corruption Charges

MSN – Chris Van Buskirk, Gayla Cawley, and Joe Dwinell (Boston Herald) | Published: 12/6/2024

Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson was indicted on five counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud and one count of aiding and abetting theft concerning a program receiving federal funds. The councilor hired a staff member in 2022 who was related to her and agreed to give the person a $13,000 bonus, most of which they would kickback to Fernandes Anderson, according to the indictment. Fernandes Anderson is paid $115,000 a year as a city councilor, but the feds say she was having money problems.

Missouri – Kansas City Mayor Accused of Skirting City Gift Ban by Using Nonprofit to Pay for Travel

Yahoo News – Allison Kite (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 12/5/2024

The cost of a trip to the Super Bowl in Arizona for Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, a top aide, and two members of the mayor’s security detail was covered by a $24,000 check from the Heavy Constructors Association, a politically connected trade group. The price of the trip and the payment were never made public. That is because the mayor and his now-former chief of staff, Morgan Said, ran the spending and donation through the Mayors Corps of Progress for a Greater Kansas City Inc., a nonprofit that helps attract economic development to the city and is not required to disclose its financials.

Missouri – Missouri Ethics Commission Fines Past SPS Board Candidates for Campaign Finance Violations

Yahoo News – Claudette Riley (Springfield News-Leader) | Published: 12/10/2024

The Missouri Ethics Commission found “reasonable grounds” that Springfield school board candidates Landon McCarter and Chad Rollins violated campaign finance laws in connection with billboards placed around the city on their behalf. McCarter and Rollins each reported an in-kind contribution of $7,500 in January. The limited liability company that contributed was not classified as a corporation under federal tax code, and it was not registered with the Ethics Commission, a required step.

Missouri – Missouri Judge Dismisses Whistleblower Lawsuit Against Top Republican Lawmaker

Yahoo News – Kacen Bayless (Kansas City Star) | Published: 12/11/2024

A judge dismissed a whistleblower lawsuit filed against Speaker Dean Plocher that alleged he used his power to retaliate against a top employee of the Missouri House. The lawsuit by Dana Miller, chief clerk of the House, alleged a damning portrait of Plocher, arguing he threatened and retaliated against Miller and other staffers amid a slew of scandals Plocher faced in his final session as speaker.

Montana – Auditors Say Montana’s System of Tracking Lobbyists Broken

Yahoo News – Darrell Ehrlick (Daily Montanan) | Published: 12/5/2024

A report from the Legislative Audit Division said Montana lagged behind most states when it comes to tracking activity by lobbyists. It found there is no mechanism to check the accuracy of disclosure reports, and the system’s two databases often had conflicting or inconsistent information. Moreover, the Commissioner of Political Practices Office has never used the auditing power granted to it by state law to investigate lobbyist’s reports or enforce penalties on those who did not conform to state law.

New York – Half of Mayor Adams’ Latest Matching Campaign Fund Claims Deemed ‘Invalid’

Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 12/10/2024

Half of the claims for public matching funds that Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection campaign submitted in the most recent reporting period were deemed “invalid” by the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB), the highest rejection rate that the mayor’s team has faced to date. The CFB is weighing whether to give Adams’ 2025 campaign any matching funds at all amid his federal indictment on charges alleging he took illegal political donations and bribes, mostly from Turkish government operatives.

North Carolina – Public Left in the Dark After NC Legislators Made Campaign Donation Probes Secret

MSN – Dan Kane (Raleigh News & Observer) | Published: 12/12/2024

A bill passed in 2018 funneled campaign finance investigations in North Carolina into a new, secret, and drawn-out process. In the six years since the law passed, not a single campaign finance charge has been filed by a state prosecutor, state election officials and campaign watchdogs say. In the six years prior, state election board hearings on campaign finance complaints were steps to criminal convictions against two lawmakers.

North Carolina – North Carolina GOP Changes Election Rules Before Losing Supermajority

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 12/11/2024

Republicans in North Carolina’s Legislature overrode a veto to give one of their allies control over the state’s elections board, rewrite ballot-counting rules, and chip away at the power of the incoming Democratic governor. The move came as Republicans sought to claim three seats in the Legislature and a spot on the state Supreme Court by throwing out tens of thousands of ballots in races they lost in November. The state Democratic Party is fighting that effort by asking a federal judge to ensure votes do not get tossed because of administrative errors.

Oklahoma – Roundup: Turnpike Authority considers toll hikes, Ethics Commission mulls rule changes, Hiett still besieged

NonDoc – Michael McNutt | Published: 12/9/2024

A new state database used for reporting and tracking campaign financial information and lobbyist registrations is expected to be ready for use by June 2025. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission gave the agency’s executive director approval to sign a contract with RFD & Associated to replace the outdated and antiquated “Guardian” electronic filing system. Commissioners also held a hearing on 13 proposed ethics rule amendments, several of which were generated from a report of a campaign finance task force created by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Tennessee – Tennessee Sen. Yager to Refund Campaign Account for State-Paid Mileage ‘Oversight’

Yahoo News – Cassandra Stephenson (Tennessee Lookout) | Published: 12/11/2024

Tennessee Sen. Kenneth Yager’s recent arrest while driving a campaign-funded car on a vacation in Georgia sheds renewed light on the pitfalls of lawmakers’ not-uncommon practice of dipping into campaign finances to lease or purchase vehicles. State law does not prohibit this but does require lawmakers to keep records of vehicle use and reimburse their campaign accounts for any mileage payments they receive from the state and any personal use of the vehicle.

Virginia – Va. Library Survived Battle Over LGBTQ+ Books. Now, It Faces a New Threat.

MSN – Gregory Schneider (Washington Post) | Published: 12/11/2024

The Warren County Board of Supervisors voted to take greater control over Samuels Public Library, which was honored as Virginia’s 2024 Library of the Year but has clashed with conservative county leaders over LGBTQ+-themed books and now finds its future plunged into uncertainty. The supervisors voted to create a new library board to oversee policy and budget. The effort to exert political control over the independent, nonprofit library drew national attention last year when a small group of residents waged a campaign against LGBTQ+ books primarily aimed at young readers.

Wisconsin – Trump Lawyers and Aide Hit with 10 Additional Charges in Wisconsin Over 2020 Fake Electors

MSN – Scott Bauer (Associated Press) | Published: 12/10/2024

Wisconsin prosecutors filed 10 additional felony charges against two attorneys and an aide to Donald Trump who advised Trump in 2020 as part of a plan to submit paperwork falsely claiming he won the battleground state that year. The amended charges against Jim Troupis, who was Trump’s attorney in Wisconsin, Kenneth Chesebro, an attorney who advised the campaign, and Mike Roman, Trump’s director of Election Day operations in 2020, are for using forgery to defraud each of the 10 Republican electors who cast their ballots for Trump that year.

December 12, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance North Carolina: “Public Left in the Dark After NC Legislators Made Campaign Donation Probes Secret” by Dan Kane (Raleigh News & Observer) for MSN Elections North Carolina: “North Carolina GOP Changes Election Rules Before Losing Supermajority” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for […]

December 6, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – December 6, 2024

National/Federal Inside the Supreme Court Ethics Debate: Who judges the justices? DNyuz – Jodi Kantor and Abbie VanSickle (New York Times) | Published: 12/3/2024 In the summer of 2023, the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court began trading confidential memos, avoiding their […]

National/Federal

Inside the Supreme Court Ethics Debate: Who judges the justices?

DNyuz – Jodi Kantor and Abbie VanSickle (New York Times) | Published: 12/3/2024

In the summer of 2023, the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court began trading confidential memos, avoiding their standard email list and instead passing paper documents in envelopes to each justice. Faced with ethics controversies and a plunge in public trust, they were debating rules for their own conduct. Weeks later, as a united front, they announced the results: the court’s first-ever ethics code. While the court was praised for setting ethics rules, the lack of an enforcement provision has been criticized. One year later, the justices’ internal debate has spilled into a wider, more fractious one.

Trump Organization Plans an Ethics Policy Without Banning Foreign Deals

DNyuz – Eric Lipton, Ben Protess, and David Yaffe-Bellany (New York Times) | Published: 12/5/2024

In the wake of Donald Trump’s election victory, his family business is poised to capitalize on his presidency with a variety of new ventures, according to a review of financial records and interviews with people knowledgeable about his finances. And unlike in his first term, the people said, the Trump Organization aims to issue a more limited ethics plan that is unlikely to significantly curb its growth.

Amid Worry About Trump, Calls for Career Justice Dept. Staff to Stay

MSN – Perry Stein and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 12/2/2024

Attorney General Merrick Garland and top Justice Department officials are encouraging career staffers to remain in their jobs through the next administration, stressing that institutional knowledge is important as new leaders take hold. The weeks since Donald Trump’s victory have been filled with uncertainty and tumult for many of the more than 100,000 individuals who work at the nation’s largest law enforcement agency. As top officials inside the department have led meetings about transition protocols, Trump and his allies have continued their vows to fire career staffers and seek retribution on those they consider their political enemies.

Supreme Court to Examine Power of Congress to Delegate Authority

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 11/22/2024

The Supreme Court announced it will hear a pair of cases that will examine how far Congress can go in delegating powers to federal agencies, decisions that could chip away at the authority of the executive branch. The cases explore whether Congress violated the Constitution when it allowed the Federal Communications Commission to gather fees to help pay for critical telecommunications service in communities that might not otherwise have it.

As His Power Grows, D.C. Wonders: How do you lobby a man like Elon Musk?

MSN – Cat Zakrzewski, Faiz Siddiqui, and Pranshu Verma (Washington Post) | Published: 12/1/2024

Unlike many chief executives in the tech industry, who prefer to keep an arm’s length distance from the nation’s capital and rely on a cadre of lobbyists, communications staff, and political consultants to shape their message, Elon Musk has viewed himself as his own best advocate in Washington. Musk’s rise has set off a scramble among lobbyists to curry favor with the “first buddy.” But many are finding it challenging to open a line of communication because of his unconventional political and public affairs team.

Trump Transition Team Ethics Pledge Appears to Exclude President-Elect

MSN – Betsy Klein, Steve Contorno, and Arlette Saenz (CNN) | Published: 11/27/2024

Donald Trump’s team submitted an ethics plan guiding the conduct of its members throughout the transition period that does not appear to include provisions for one key member of the team: the president himself. During his first term, Trump was repeatedly criticized by ethics groups for potential conflicts-of-interest relating to his businesses and brands. Both Trump’s and his family’s foreign business ties have also come under scrutiny throughout his time in office and on the campaign trail.

Biden Pardons His Son Hunter Despite Previous Pledges Not To

MSN – Zeke Miller, Alanna Durkin Richer, and Colleen Long (Associated Press) | Published: 12/1/2024

President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, sparing the younger Biden a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions and reversing his past promises not to use the powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family. The president’s sweeping pardon covers not just the gun and tax offenses against the younger Biden, but also any other “offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.”

Lauren Boebert Briefly Joins Cameo, Charging $250+ for Personalized Video Messages

MSN – Nick Coltrain (Denver Post) | Published: 11/25/2024

Rep. Lauren Boebert broke new ground when she became the first sitting member of Congress to offer personalized messages for sale, starting at $250, through the video platform Cameo. But her Cameo page appears to have shut down later that same day. A version of her Cameo page listed Boebert as a politician and categorized her as a political commentator, but it was updated to list her under the influencers category.

Potential Conflicts of Interest May Haunt Dr. Oz’s Confirmation to Run Medicare, Medicaid

MSN – Desmond Butler, Lauren Weber, and Caitlin Gilber (Washington Post) | Published: 12/2/2024

In a 2019 production of his television show, Dr. Mehmet Oz extolled the transformational results of Ozempic. The nine-minute infomercial embedded into Oz’s daytime talk show was sponsored by the drug’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, which Oz twice referred to as a “trusted partner.” The segment showcases the financial ties between the heart surgeon’s media business and companies whose fortunes he would have a hand in influencing as Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Creator of ‘2000 Mules’ Apologizes to Man Falsely Accused of Ballot Fraud in the Film

NPR – Kate Brumback (Associated Press) | Published: 12/2/2024

Filmmaker and conservative pundit Dinesh D’Souza, the creator of the debunked film “2000 Mules,” issued a statement saying “inaccurate information” was provided to him about ballot box surveillance videos featured in the film and apologizing to a Georgia man in one of those videos who was falsely accused of ballot fraud during the 2020 election. Mark Andrews is seen in one of the videos, his face blurred, putting five ballots in a drop box as D’Souza says: “What you are seeing is a crime. These are fraudulent votes.”

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Watchdog to Tighten Rules on Lobbying of Ministers and MPs by Corporations

Toronto Globe and Mail – Marie Woolf | Published: 11/27/2024

Canada’s lobbying watchdog is planning to tighten the rules to force corporations to be more transparent about the people they are trying to influence in the federal government. In an interview at the start of her second term in office, Nancy Bélanger said one of her priorities will be to make corporations more fully register their lobbying of ministers, Members of Parliament, and federal officials.

California – Assessor Reports $1M Behested Payment, Biggest Charitable Donation Made at a Local Elected Official’s Request

MSN – Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 11/30/2024

What appears to be the single largest behested payment recorded in San Diego County history was solicited by a relatively obscure elected official and awarded to an even lesser-known local nonprofit to help flood victims. But Jordan Marks, the assessor-recorder-county clerk, said he had almost nothing to do with the more than $1 million donation by a national real estate agents’ relief fund and only disclosed it in an “abundance of caution.”

California – County Supervisors Approve External Forensic Audit of Contracts Affiliated with Andrew Do, Ethics Policy Updates

MSN – Destiny Torres (Orange County Register) | Published: 12/3/2024

The Orange Board of Supervisors approved hiring an external auditor to review possibly thousands of county contracts directed or influenced by former Supervisor Andrew Do, as well as updates to the county’s code of ethics to improve transparency and oversight. The updated ethics policy will apply to county employees, supervisors, and contractors. Possible consequences include censure if a board member violates the policy, and a vendor could be permanently banned from doing business with the county.

Colorado – Former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock Is Now a Lobbyist for Companies That Made Hundreds of Millions During His Tenure

Denverite – Kyle Harris | Published: 11/29/2024

Former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has a new lobbying firm, Hancock Global, serving companies that do big business with the city. He is registered as a lobbyist in the city and county of Denver. While a few of his clients are obscure, many were major contractors on projects the Hancock administration oversaw. Hancock was able to make the transition quickly because Denver does not have any limits on “revolving door” lobbying by former elected officials.

Florida – Patronis, Fine Jump in Congressional Races. What Happens to Their State Campaign Money?

MSN – Gary Rohrer (USA Today) | Published: 11/29/2024

Two Republican candidates for open U.S. House seats in Florida got a boost when Donald Trump endorsed them. But if they want to use their considerable funds in state-level political committees to campaign for federal office, they can thank Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a U.S. Supreme Court precedent, and loopholes in campaign finance laws.

Florida – Tickets to Master’s Tournament Trigger Feud in Hillsborough County Politics

MSN – Jack Evans and Justin Garcia (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 11/25/2024

Three Hillsborough County government and school district leaders attended the Masters golf tournament in Georgia this year. The trip was arranged by Jonathan Graham, president of HORUS Construction Services, which in May secured a deal to build the school district a new warehouse. Commissioner Ken Hagan later reported the trip as a gift from Graham, valued at $6,500. About two million people enter the Masters ticket lottery each year. The chance of being picked is less than one percent.

Florida – State Ethics Board Worried That Lawsuit May Upend Key Part of Florida Open Government Law

MSN – John Kennedy (USA Today) | Published: 11/29/2024

The Florida Commission on Ethics is choosing to wait for a court ruling on a challenge to a new financial disclosure requirement that led to mass resignations of city and small-town officials across the state last year. The commission rejected a proposal to begin discussing a settlement with attorneys for 26 cities and 74 public officials who sued the state, arguing the new disclosure standard violates the constitutional right to free speech.

Florida – Council Member Ron Salem’s Political Committee Paid for Trip to Watch Jags Game in London

Yahoo News – David Bauerlein (Florida Times-Union) | Published: 12/3/2024

Jacksonville City Councilperson Ron Salem’s political committee paid $12,200 to Delta Airlines and another $1,028 for transportation and accommodations when he traveled to London for a trip in October to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars play overseas at Wembley Stadium. To meet the legal requirements for tapping into the political committee for his trip’s expenses, Salem held a fundraiser while he was in London. Unlike candidate campaign accounts that have $1,000 limits on donations per election cycle, campaign finance law has no restrictions on how much contributors can give to committees such as Moving Jacksonville Forward.

Georgia – Trump Moves to Throw Out Criminal Case in Georgia, Citing Election Win

MSN – Holly Bailey (Washington Post) | Published: 12/4/2024

Attorneys for Donald Trump asked a Georgia appellate court to consider the “unconstitutionality” of the ongoing 2020 election interference case against him now that he is the nation’s president-elect and order the presiding judge to dismiss all charges against him. The motion asks the Georgia Court of Appeals to find it no longer has legal jurisdiction over the matter because it is unconstitutional to prosecute a sitting president “in any way.”

Georgia – Legislative Policy Watchdog Sues Georgia Conservative Nonprofit in Lobbyist Filing Dispute

Yahoo News – Ross Williams (Georgia Recorder) | Published: 11/25/2024

The Frontline Policy Council is a conservative Christian nonprofit that holds a lot of sway around the Georgia Capitol. In 2024, Frontline representatives testified in state committees around 60 times, supporting legislation on issues like school vouchers. But Frontline’s president and founder Cole Muzio and general counsel Chelsea Thompson have come under fire for allegedly lobbying elected officials without properly registering with the state.

Hawaii – Former State Archaeologist Faces Ethics Probe into Revolving Door Allegation

Honolulu Civil Beat – Stewart Yerton | Published: 11/27/2924

A former State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) archaeologist faces an ethics investigation into an allegation he violated Hawaii’s “revolving door” policy by going to work for a private business before a required one-year waiting period. The complaint alleges Andrew McCallister stepped down as an archaeologist on Maui in April, and soon after went to work for the development consulting firm AECOM, in some cases on the same projects he oversaw at SHPD.

Illinois – Ex-Ald. Daniel Solis, a Historic FBI Mole, Exits Stage Alone After Testimony in Madigan Corruption Trial

MSN – Jason Meisner and Megan Crepeau (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 12/3/2024

After six days of testimony in ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s corruption trial, former Chicago Ald. Daniel Solis was off the witness stand and out of the public eye, perhaps this time for good. His cooperation with prosecutors changed the state’s political trajectory, contributing to Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s improbable election, putting former Ald. Edward Burke in prison, and helping dethrone Madigan, the longest serving state legislative leader in the country when he resigned in 2021 before being charged.

Indiana – Nonprofit Braun Transition Group Follows Former Governors’ Model

Yahoo News – Leslie Bonilla Muñiz (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 11/25/2024

“Social welfare” nonprofits, typically with undisclosed donor lists, have funded at least Indiana’s last three gubernatorial transitions. Now, Gov.-elect Mike Braun is following that model. Political scientists and others were skeptical of the role of Hoosiers for Opportunity, Prosperity and Enterprise (HOPE), asserting it is operating in a gray area between politics and governance. But HOPE and those involved in past administrative changeovers defended the group’s activities as by-the-book, critical to day-one readiness, and a boon for taxpayers.

Louisiana – Judge Dismisses Louisiana Legislators’ Lawsuit Over Ethics Board Hire

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 12/2/2024

A judge dismissed a lawsuit from state lawmakers meant to block the Louisiana Board of Ethics from hiring its new administrator. The decision paves the way for the board to move forward with replacing longtime administrator Kathleen Allen. Judge Kelly Balfour said the search for an ethics administrator should have been more transparent. But he saw no state law violation that would allow him to stop the board from moving forward with the hiring.

Massachusetts – Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson Subject of Federal Investigation

MSN – Gayla Cawley (Boston Herald) | Published: 12/3/2024

Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson is the subject of a federal investigation, and subpoenas have been issued to City Hall in relation to the probe. The existence of a federal probe is the latest controversy for the councilor since taking office roughly three years ago.

Michigan – Benson Says Campaign Funds Can Be Used for Child Care and Caregiving Costs

Yahoo News – Anna Liz Nichols (Michigan Advance) | Published: 11/26/2024

Elected officials and candidates for office are permitted to use money from their campaign finances to pay caregiving costs including childcare under an interpretive statement from Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Women are expected to be primary caretakers and the challenges and lack of infrastructure in government for a person to be a primary parent has kept women out of office, said Liuba Grechen Shirley, founder of Vote Mama, a political organization working to increase the number of moms in office.

Montana – Montana Legislators Vote Down Capitol Bathroom Rule Change Aimed at Transgender Lawmakers

Yahoo News – Blair Miller (Missoula Current) | Published: 12/3/2024

The Montana Legislature’s Joint Rules Committee voted down a proposed rule targeted at a Rep. Zoey Zephyr, a Democratic transgender representative, that sought to designate the use of private restrooms shared by the two chambers based on a lawmakers’ sex chromosomes at birth. Zephyr won re-election this year after she was censured by Republicans and banished from the House floor for telling Republican lawmakers they had blood on their hands for passing a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors.

New York – N.Y. Ethics Commission Faces New Constitutional Challenge

Albany Times Union – Brendan Lyons | Published: 11/29/2024

A lawsuit challenges new regulations being implemented by the New York Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government that prohibit lobbyists from hiring a third-party designee to prepare and submit their disclosure statements. The suit alleges the regulations would interfere with lobbying firms’ right to do their work and increase their exposure to civil fines and penalties. This is the third court case challenging the constitutionality of the commission.

New York – Campaign Board Head Hints Eric Adams Could Be Denied Reelection Matching Funds

MSN – Katie Honan (The City) | Published: 12/4/2024

New York City Mayor Eric Adams will know soon if his reelection bid will qualify for millions of dollars in public matching funds as the Campaign Finance Board (CFB) votes on the first tranche of payments for the 2025 contest. At a hearing, city Councilperson Lincoln Restle pushed CFB Executive Director Paul Ryan on why the board would give Adams more money when a federal indictment alleges that he obtained $10 million in 2021 matching funds fraudulently.

North Dakota – North Dakota Senate Rejects Conflict of Interest Rules While House Adopts Modified Version

Yahoo News – Michael Achterling (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 12/4/2024

The North Dakota House adopted new conflict-of-interest rules, but the Senate rejected those same rules. They were created through consultation with the state Ethics Commission after the Legislative Procedures and Arrangements Committee finished its business during the interim. The rules were designed to promote transparency and provide a clearer path for lawmakers to recuse themselves from votes in which they had a perceived conflict.

Ohio – Ex-PUCO Chairman Sam Randazzo’s Company Pleads Guilty in Bribery Scheme; Penalty Could Reach $2.26 Million

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 12/3/2024

Two companies that prosecutors say a former utility regulator used to secretly accept a $4.3 million bribe from FirstEnergy will pay as much as $2.26 million in penalties and restitution in a deal struck with prosecutors. A judge approved the deal between the state and the Sustainability Funding Alliance of Ohio and the Industrial Energy Users of Ohio Administration Co. Sam Randazzo, former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, was the sole owner of both entities. State and Federal authorities over the past year each indicted Randazzo on an array of financial crimes.

Oregon – The City’s Public Campaign Financing Program Allowed Candidates with Little Support to Snag Taxpayer Dollars

Willamette Week – Sophie Peel | Published: 11/27/2024

Two candidates for the Portland City Council this November achieved something unusual and, at first glance, illogical. Chris Henry and Moses Ross each received more individual campaign contributions than they did first-place votes on Election Day. The case of Henry and Ross, coupled with other examples of candidates mining taxpayer dollars by boasting grassroots support that was not there, shows the city’s public finance system buckled under the weight of 75 candidates attempting to tap in. A media examination, which exposed abuses of the system, raises questions whether Portland’s campaign financing is functioning as intended.

Pennsylvania – A Trio of Convicted Former Elected Officials Have Landed New City Jobs in Philadelphia

MSN – Ryan Briggs (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 11/19/2024

Three former Philadelphia elected officials who were convicted on corruption charges and left office in disgrace have found a second chance – with taxpayer-funded jobs. Former Traffic Court Judge Willie Singletary and former State Rep. Leslie Acosta both landed positions in Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration. Former State Rep. Movita Johnson-Harrell is now working under Sheriff Rochelle Bilal.

Tennessee – Tennessee State Sen. Ken Yager Arrested, Charged with DUI, Hit and Run in Georgia on Tuesday

MSN – Evan Mealins (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 12/4/2024

Tennessee Sen. Ken Yager was arrested, booked into a Georgia jail, and accused of getting into a hit and run while driving under the influence while on vacation on Jekyll Island. He is said to have been driving a Ford Edge at the time of his arrest. Finance records show Yager regularly uses his campaign accounts to make lease payments on a Ford.

Tennessee – Gov. Bill Lee Repays Travel Expenses Following New Tennessee Ethics Commission Opinion

Yahoo News – Vivian Jones (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 12/3/2024

The Tennessee Ethics Commission said Gov. Bill Lee violated a state law prohibiting elected officials from taking gifts from lobbyists when the nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) paid for him to attend their conference in Florida. ADF, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, and its partner 501(c)4 organization, both employ Matthew Lorimer, a registered lobbyist in Tennessee. The commission determined the expenses paid by the nonprofit that shares resources with an employer of a lobbyist constituted an indirect gift to the governor.

Texas – Texas Politicians Must Disclose Known Blind Trust Properties, Rental Income Details

KUT – Lauren McGaughty | Published: 12/5/2024

The Texas Ethics Commission adopted a rule that requires officials to disclose properties they hold in a blind trust if they have “actual knowledge” of the properties. If politicians have a rental property, they will also have to disclose the address and renter’s name. The new rules come after it was reported that state Attorney General Ken Paxton did not disclose several properties owned by him or his blind trust in his 2023 0r 2024 personal financial statements.

Texas – A Conservative Nonprofit Got $80k for a Texas Book-Ban Battle. Llano County Hasn’t Seen It

MSN – Bayliss Wagner (Austin American Statesman) | Published: 12/2/2024

Several prominent conservative figures traveled from across the country to Texas to raise money for Llano County’s legal defense in a federal book ban case. At least, that is what attendees believed they were raising money for. But one year after the event, Llano County still has not seen a dime of the funds collected. Instead, the money went to conservative nonprofit America First Legal, which has no present role in litigating or funding the case. The nonprofit has never contacted county leadership in writing.

Utah – Complaints About Shadowy Anti-Trans PAC’s Financial Reporting Referred to Utah Attorney General

MSN – Emily Anderson Stern (Salt Lake Tribune) | Published: 12/4/2024

The small number of Democratic lawmakers in Utah were dogged with anti-transgender ads in the weeks leading up to the November election by a PAC that had disclosed little information about its organizers and funding to the public. Now, complaints about the PAC’s alleged campaign finance law violations have been forwarded to the state attorney general’s office for investigation.

Washington – Meta Faces $35M Judgment for Campaign Finance Violations in Washington State

Courthouse News – Monique Merrill | Published: 12/2/2024

The state Court of Appeals upheld a $35 million penalty against Meta for violating Washington’s campaign finance law. The Public Disclosure Commission found the company violated the law 822 times. Under the Fair Campaign Practices Act, social media platforms are required to maintain records of the political ads hosted on their sites, such as the cost and sponsor of the ad and information about ad targeting and reach.

Wisconsin – Wisconsin’s Campaign Finance Regulators Ask to Triple Their Staff

The Cap Times – Andrew Bahl | Published: 12/5/2024

The agency that oversees Wisconsin’s campaign finance laws is asking for millions of dollars in added funding to triple its staff, warning that without more resources it cannot serve the public in the way a new law requires. The budget request comes after the state Legislature enacted a law that will task the Wisconsin Ethics Commission with collecting campaign finance filings from county and municipal candidates across the state. Previously, those duties were handled by local clerks.

December 5, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Florida: “Council Member Ron Salem’s Political Committee Paid for Trip to Watch Jags Game in London” by David Bauerlein (Florida Times-Union) for Yahoo News Utah: “Complaints About Shadowy Anti-Trans PAC’s Financial Reporting Referred to Utah Attorney General” by Emily Anderson Stern (Salt […]

December 4, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Michigan: “Benson Says Campaign Funds Can Be Used for Child Care and Caregiving Costs” by Anna Liz Nichols (Michigan Advance) for Yahoo News Washington: “Meta Faces $35M Judgment for Campaign Finance Violations in Washington State” by Monique Merrill for Courthouse News Elections […]

November 25, 2024 • Written by George Ticoras, Esq.

By-Election for Lethbridge-West, Alberta to be Held on December 18

Flag of Alberta

On December 18, a by-election will be held for the Lethbridge-West seat to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The seat became vacant in July following the resignation of Shannon Phillips, who began employment at the University of Lethbridge’s Department of […]

November 22, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – November 22, 2024

National/Federal Chauffeured Cars and Broadway Tickets: Inside the national realtors group DNyuz – Debra Kamin (New York Times) | Published: 11/18/2024 Interviews with current and former employees, members, and elected leaders of the National Associated of Realtors (NAR), as well as tax […]

National/Federal

Chauffeured Cars and Broadway Tickets: Inside the national realtors group

DNyuz – Debra Kamin (New York Times) | Published: 11/18/2024

Interviews with current and former employees, members, and elected leaders of the National Associated of Realtors (NAR), as well as tax records and employment contracts, paint a portrait of a nonprofit organization where leaders have come to expect lavish spending and benefits the day they step into the job. The group’s president, president-elect, and first vice president are elected by members and receive annual six-figure payments. The NAR refers to officers as “volunteers.” They have been given corporate credit cards, and on work trips, they have racked up charges from expensive dinners, golf outings, spa treatments, and sports tickets.

Senate Confirms Biden’s Ethics Czar, Who Will Remain Under Trump

Government Executive – Eric Katz | Published: 11/14/2024

The Senate confirmed President Biden’s nominee to serve as head of the Office of Government Ethics, giving him a term that will last through Donald Trump’s tenure. David Huitema, currently a State Department ethics official, will now serve in the governmentwide ethics czar role in a five-year term. Senate Democrats sought to prioritize his confirmation in the waning days of the Biden administration and their control of the chamber before Trump’s inauguration.

Trump Picks Brendan Carr as FCC Chairman

MSN – Eva Dou and Cristiano Lima-String (Washington Post) | Published: 11/17/2024

Donald Trump said he was naming Brendan Carr as the next Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairperson, positioning the regulatory agency to do battle against social media companies and television broadcasters that Republicans portray as too liberal. Carr, the senior Republican among the FCC’s five commissioners, has vowed in recent days to take on what he called a “censorship cartel” including Facebook, Google, Apple, and Microsoft.

Go Bags, Passports, Foreign Assets: Preparing to be a target of Trump’s revenge

MSN – Stanley-Becker and Ellen Nakashima (Washington Post) | Published: 11/14/2024

Unlike the ordinary Americans who joke each election cycle about leaving the country when their preferred candidate loses, a group of anxious retired officers or government officials includes people whom the incoming president and his allies have subjected to withering criticism. Even before the election, some were subpoenaed by Trump-aligned members of Congress. Others were placed on watch lists compiled by pro-Trump activists. Scarcely any described firm plans to leave the country. But they are also not brushing off the threats as they keep track of personnel named to influential government jobs.

How a Brutally Repressive African Country Freely Raises Money in the U.S.

MSN – Katharine Houreld (Washington Post) | Published: 11/20/2024

Three years ago, The U.S. imposed sanctions against the ruling party of Eritrea, a repressive country in the Horn of Africa. Yet, Eritrea’s embassy in Washington helped raise millions of dollars on behalf of the country since then, while Eritrean officials acknowledge the government and the ruling party are one. Earlier this year, about 100 Eritreans living in the U.S. joined a Zoom call co-hosted by officials from the Eritrean Embassy to raise money to fund the struggle against its opponents. Any group acting on behalf a foreign government must register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. None of the groups represented on the call have done so.

Speaker Johnson Restricts Use of Capitol Bathrooms by Transgender People

MSN – Maegan Vazquez and Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 11/20/2024

House Speaker Mike Johnson said transgender individuals would not be allowed into restroom facilities in the Capitol and House office buildings that do not correspond with their sex assigned at birth, announcing the rule change after Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender individual elected to Congress. Asked by reporters for details on how the House could enforce such a restriction, Rep. Nancy Mace said the House sergeant at arms “can enforce it.”

Trump Picks People Who Worked on Project 2025 Despite Distancing Himself

MSN – Patrick Svitek (Washington Post) | Published: 11/20/2024

Donald Trump is assembling an administration that includes some picks for key positions that stand in stark contrast to his repeated efforts to distance himself from Project 2025, the conservative blueprint for a second Trump term that had become a political liability for him. Trump has named at least four other nominees who are credited by name in Project 2025, a product of the conservative Heritage Foundation.

House Panel Was Told Gaetz Paid Two Women $10,000, in Part for Sex

MSN – Jacqueline Alemany, Liz Goodwin, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Meryl Kornfield, and Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) | Published: 11/20/2024

House Committee on Ethics investigators probing sexual misconduct allegations against former Rep. Matt Gaetz obtained records showing he paid more than $10,000 to two women who testified before the panel. The news came as the committee declined to release its report on misconduct allegations against Gaetz after a closed-door meeting, and as Donald Trump’s embattled attorney general pick attempted to sell himself on Capitol Hill to skeptical Republican senators.

Trump’s Incoming Chief of Staff Is a Former Lobbyist. She’ll Face a Raft of Special Interests

MSN – Brian Slodysko, Joshua Goodan, and Alan Suderman (Associated Press) | Published: 11/21/2024

As incoming White House chief of staff, one of Susie Wiles’ vexing challenges will be policing the buffet line of powerful interests who want something from Donald Trump. During Trump’s first presidency, she lobbied for many of them. Trump was first elected on a pledge to “drain the swamp” in Washington. But his transactional approach to the presidency ushered in a lobbying boom that showered allies, including Wiles, with lucrative contracts and empowered wealthy business associates.

Trump Win Poised to Bolster Congressional Investigative Power

MSN – Michael Macagnone (Roll Call) | Published: 11/20/2024

House Republicans are looking forward to pursuing their congressional investigations next year with a friendlier Justice Department (DOJ) under the Trump administration, one that could pursue contempt of Congress charges to give teeth to congressional subpoenas. Some of the most prominent probes in the current Congress came from the House Judiciary and House Oversight and Accountability committees, whose chairpersons frequently worked hand-in-hand on investigations of officials in the Biden administration and clashed with the DOJ over access to documents and interviews.

Donations Improved Odds of Avoiding Trump Tariffs, Study Finds

MSN – Shawn Donnan (Bloomberg) | Published: 11/20/2024

Public companies whose executives donated to Republican candidates had a higher chance of winning exclusions from Donald Trump’s first-term tariffs on China, while those that gave to Democrats saw their odds fall, according to a study into thousands of applications for relief. Stephen Vaughn, who oversaw the exclusion process during the Trump administration, said any suggestion of partisan bias in the process was “utterly false” and it was designed to be apolitical.

Democrats Draw Up an Entirely New Anti-Trump Battle Plan

Seattle Times – Lisa Lerner and Reid Epstein (New York Times) | Published: 11/17/2024

Locked out of power next year, Democrats are hatching plans to oppose Donald Trump that look nothing like the liberal “resistance” of 2017. As they face this tough political landscape, Democratic officials, activists, and ambitious politicians are seeking to build their second wave of opposition to Trump from the places they still control: deep-blue states. Democrats envision flexing their power in these states to partly block the Trump administration’s policies and to push forward their vision of governance.

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – US Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to Alaska Campaign Finance Law

MSN – Nate Raymond (Reuters) | Published: 11/18/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to a campaign finance law in Alaska that required greater public disclosure of certain political contributions. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit said the restrictions adopted in 2020 are some of the most stringent disclosure requirements in the country on political donors. The law requires anyone who contributes $2,000 or more annually to a group making independent expenditures to, within 24 hours, report their donation or face a penalty of up to $1,000 per day, among other provisions.

California – Ex-L.A. City Hall Fundraiser Sentenced in Huizar Bribery Case

MSN – City News Service | Published: 11/15/2024

A former City Hall fundraiser was sentenced to a year of home detention for arranging a $500,000 bribe for now-imprisoned ex-Los Angeles City Councilperson José Huizar to “grease the wheels” for a proposed condominium project. Justin Kim was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service as part of his three-year probationary sentence. He pleaded guilty in to a single count of federal program bribery and agreed to cooperate with investigators.

California – Council Approves New San Diego Ethics Commission Executive

MSN – Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 11/20/2024

Career prosecutor Bryn Kirvin was approved to take over as executive director of the San Diego Ethics Commission once current leader Sharon Spivak steps away early next year. The change in leadership comes weeks after voters approved Measure D, which included several important modifications to the Ethics Commission.

California – Anaheim Kicks Discussion on Gift Ban in Wake of Corruption Scandal

Voice of OC – Hosam Elattar | Published: 11/18/2024

A majority of Anaheim City Council members say they are not ready to implement a proposed law that would ban them from accepting gifts worth more than $50 per year from a lobbyist or contractor in the aftermath of one of Orange County’s largest corruption scandals. The council narrowly voted to kick the discussion to implement the restrictions to an undetermined date following hypothetical situation based questions about the proposal from Councilperson Norma Campos Kurtz and concerns from city officials.

Florida – Republicans Target Social Sciences to Curb Ideas They Don’t Like

DNyuz – Vimal Patel (New York Times) | Published: 11/21/2024

Florida has become a testing ground for a raft of conservative policies meant to limit or expunge what Republicans describe as “woke” indoctrination in the state’s schools and colleges. Faculty and student critics have said this latest effort infringes on university autonomy and could reduce students’ exposure to courses they believe are necessary for a well-rounded education. Academic freedom advocates worry that it marks a new, more organized approach.

Florida – Broward Commission Relaxes Rules on Food and Drink Gifts

MSN – Lisa Huriash (South Florida Sun-Sentinel) | Published: 11/13/2024

Broward County commissioners voted to relax the rules surrounding accepting gifts of food and drinks from lobbyists, vendors, and contractors when they are on the job. Commissioner Mark Bogen proposed creating a $25 cap on soft drinks, which would be inclusive of any food given at the same time. That also means raising the maximum on food from five dollars to $25.

Florida – Ex-State Sen. Artiles Sentenced to 60 Days for Campaign Violations, but Appeal to Delay Start

MSN – Charles Rabin (Miami Herald) | Published: 11/18/2024

Frank Artiles, a former Florida senator convicted of orchestrating a ghost candidate scheme that likely stole an election from a Democrat, was sentenced to 60 days in jail, five years of probation, and 500 hours of community service. Judge Miguel de la O agreed to stay the order until after the defense appeals the verdict. Assistant State Attorney VanderGiesen told jurors how a shadowy but powerful Republican Party operative reached out to Artiles for help in the 2020 race for the District 37 Senate seat.

Florida – Prosecutors Drop Charges Against Former Miami City Commissioner and Lobbyist

Yahoo News – Tess Riski (Miami Herald) | Published: 11/20/2024

The Broward State Attorney’s Office dropped criminal charges against former Miami City Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla and lobbyist Bill Riley Jr., putting an end to a high-profile corruption case that was set for trial in December. Attorney Jared Whaley, who represents Riley, alleged that Miami-Dade Ethics Commission investigator Karl Ross made “material misrepresentations and omissions” in the arrest affidavit.

Georgia – Georgia Appeals Court Cancels Arguments on Trump Appeal on Willis

MSN – Holly Bailey (Washington Post) | Published: 11/18/2024

The Georgia Court of Appeals abruptly canceled oral arguments on Donald Trump’s appeal of a state court ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue prosecuting the 2020 election interference case against the president-elect and several of his allies. The notice gave no reason for the cancellation. It comes amid lingering questions about the future of the Georgia case against Trump as he prepares to return to the White House after his election victory.

Illinois – ‘Magic List’ of Madigan-Connected Lobbyists Shown to Jury in Ex-Speaker’s Corruption Trial

Yahoo News – Jason Meisner and Megan Crepeau (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 11/18/2024

The FBI in a raid on the home of Michael McClain seized handwritten notes listing the names of allies of then-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan who had gone on to lucrative lobbying careers. Federal prosecutors in Madigan’s corruption trial say the “Magic Lobbyist List.” is evidence that McClain was secretly helping a select group of former Madigan staffers, associates, and allies get business and the speaker was aware of the effort.

Indiana – Former Evansville Mayoral Candidate Ordered to Pay $400K in Defamation Case

Yahoo News – Jon Webb (Evansville Courier & Press) | Published: 11/18/2024

A former Evansville mayoral candidate has been ordered to pay $400,000 in damages after reportedly writing blogs and social media posts falsely accusing an Indianapolis lawyer and journalist of pedophilia and stealing taxpayer money. A judge ordered Gabriel Whitley to hand over $400,000 to Abdul Hakim-Shabazz. In a complaint, Shabazz said has never been accused or charged with any of those crimes and vehemently denies the allegations.

Louisiana – Louisiana Legislators Threaten to Remove State Ethics Board Members, Issue Subpoenas

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/13/2024

State legislators threatened to subpoena and remove members of the Louisiana Board of Ethics in an intensification of the fight over enforcement of the state ethics code. Members of the House Governmental Affairs Committee lashed out at the board for not heeding legislative requests to hold off on hiring a new administrator until January. At that point, Gov. Jeff Landry gains more control of the board through a new set of appointees.

Maine – Portland’s Ethics Commission Still Isn’t Ready After 2 Years. It May Not Be What Voters Thought.

Yahoo News – Grace Benninghoff (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 11/20/2024

An effort to establish an ethics commission in Portland has been derailed after city councilors realized some people, including the city manager, would have been exempt. Councilor Kate Sykes raised concerns that the ordinance drafted by the city was not what voters intended when they approved the referendum calling for an ethics panel in 2022.

Michigan – Ex-CFO Admits to Stealing $40M from Detroit Nonprofit in ‘Astonishing’ Scheme

MLive – Rose White | Published: 11/16/2024

William Smith, the former chief financial officer for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, admitted to stealing $44 million from the nonprofit group in an embezzlement scheme. Over nearly a decade, Smith transferred $24.4 million from the Conservancy’s bank accounts to an account titled “The Joseph Group, Inc.” This entity, which was owned by Smith, provided no goods or services to the organization. Smith also used $14.9 million to pay off purchases made on four American Express credit cards.

Michigan – Panel Pushes Out Lobbying Reform as Clock Runs Down on Legislative Session

Yahoo News – Kyle Davidson (Michigan Advance) | Published: 11/14/2024

The Michigan House Ethics and Oversight Committee continued to push forward on laws addressing outside financial influences in Lansing politics. The committee heard testimony on the Bringing Reforms in Integrity, Transparency, and Ethics Act introduced by House Democrats in March. One bill bars lawmakers, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, or attorney general from lobbying any sooner than a year after their term ends. A second bill would require the disclosure of gifts from lobbyists to legislative staff.

Minnesota – CenterPoint Lobbyist Ghostwrote Comments to Support Gas Appliance Rebates

Energy and Policy Institute – Karlee Weinman | Published: 11/19/2024

Comments submitted to Minnesota regulators that support CenterPoint Energy’s controversial push to skew customer rebates toward gas furnaces rather than electric air source heat pumps appear to have been created and ghostwritten by a CenterPoint lobbyist, not the people who signed them, data attached to the documents show. The Minnesota Department of Commerce, a state agency that oversees the customer-funded rebate program, will decide in early December whether to allow the utility to offer hefty rebates for furnaces, which critics say is out of step with state law and is an improper use of customer money.

Missouri – ‘A Little Goofy’: Loopholes allow millions to flow around Missouri campaign donation limits

Yahoo News – Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) | Published: 11/15/2024

Missouri voters in 2016 approved a constitutional amendment capping donations to candidates, outlawing direct contributions from corporations and labor unions, and banning efforts to conceal where money is coming from. It spurred a lawsuit and a rush to grab big donations before the limits took effect. But it did not take long for consultants to find ways around contribution limits, forging a trail to unlimited giving by having candidates set up affiliated committees alongside their campaign committees.

New Jersey – Vote to Name N.J. School After Top Politician Violated State Ethics Code, Panel Says

MSN – Adam Clark (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 11/20/2024

The chief of staff for New Jersey’s former lieutenant governor violated the state ethics code by using her local board of education seat to help rename a school after her boss, according to a state ethics panel. Terry Swanson-Tucker was president of East Orange’s Board of Education when she cast two votes to help put then-Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver’s name on a $41 million elementary school that was under construction.

New Jersey – Campaign Finance Watchdog Approves Higher Contribution Limits

Yahoo News – Nikita Biryukov (New Jersey Monitor) | Published: 11/19/2024

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission approved hikes to campaign contribution limits that will raise caps for next year’s legislative and other non-gubernatorial races by more than five percent. The adjustments are the first made under the Elections Transparency Act that approved dramatic increases to the limits and requires the commission to index donation caps for inflation every two years.

New York – N.Y. Prosecutors Appear Open to Yearslong Delay in Trump Hush Money Case

MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 11/19/2024

Manhattan prosecutors said they will oppose a request by Donald Trump’s lawyers to dismiss his 34-count felony conviction but suggested they were open to postponing proceedings in the case until after the president-elect’s second term in the White House. Trump, who will take office January 20 and serve until early 2029, had been scheduled for sentencing November 26 and faced up to four years in prison.

New York – Want to Be a Judge in the Bronx? Better Pay These Firms.

New York Focus – Sam Mellins and Chris Bragg | Published: 11/13/2024

Over the past three years, nearly every civil court judge in the Bronx has hired a political consulting firm directly tied to the leader of the Bronx Democratic Party. The pattern raises concerns about a pay-to-play element within Bronx judicial elections, low-profile contests where the county political machine’s muscle can prove decisive. An analysis of campaign disclosures found political firms London House and Collado Consultants & Company have collected nearly half of the total campaign spending by winning Bronx Civil Court candidates since 2021.

North Carolina – Republicans in North Carolina Push Sweeping Changes to Consolidate Power

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 11/20/2024

Republicans in North Carolina are rushing a bill through the Legislature before they lose their supermajority to give their party more control over elections, eliminate the jobs of judges who have ruled against them, and limit the authority of the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general. They loaded up a $227 million Hurricane Helene relief package with an array of provisions that weaken the hand of Democrats in the battleground state.

Ohio – State Prosecutors Nix Ex-FirstEnergy Executive’s Deposition, Leaving Criminal Charges on the Table

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 11/19/2024

State prosecutors moved to squash a looming deposition of a former top official of FirstEnergy Corp., signaling they are considering new charges in a bribery investigation. Eileen Mikkelsen, formerly the company’s vice president of rates and regulatory affairs, is scheduled to testify under oath in a regulatory investigation in December, one of seven since-ousted company officials subpoenaed in the case before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. But Deputy Attorney General Carol O’Brien asked the regulators to back off, warning the deposition could grant her immunity, preventing prosecutors from charging her with any crimes.

Oregon – Portland Mayoral Candidate Rene Gonzalez Fined $9,000 for New Set of Campaign Finance Violations

MSN – Shane Dixon Kavanaugh (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 11/14/2024

Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez, who finished third in his bid for mayor, broke city campaign finance laws after he repeatedly failed to return donations that exceeded Portland’s strict contribution limits in a timely manner, the city auditor’s office ruled. Gonzalez was fined $9,180 – three times the $3,060 in illegal funds his campaign collected but was too slow to refund to donors.

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania’s High Court Sides with Republicans on Misdated Mail Ballots

NPR – Hansi Lo Wang | Published: 11/18/2024

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court directed all the state’s county election officials not to count certain mail-in ballots for this year’s general election that arrived on time but in envelopes without the correct dates handwritten by voters. The order is the latest development in a long-running legal battle over what to do when absentee voters do not follow an artifact of the state’s election rules. It is a major victory for Senate candidate David McCormick, who holds a narrow lead over U.S. Sen. Bob Casey ahead of a statewide recount.

Pennsylvania – Pa. Lawmakers Say Candidates Choose to Pay $250 Late Fee to Avoid Revealing Donors

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Ford Turner | Published: 11/19/2024

A Department of State report shows sixty-six candidates for the Pennsylvania Legislature, including 22 incumbents, missed a deadline for filing campaign finance reports just before the November 5 election, a dynamic that has sparked bipartisan condemnation and calls for bigger penalties. Rep. Valerie Gaydos noted some campaigns are pulling in hundreds of thousands of dollars in short periods of time, and the state-set maximum penalty of $250 for missing a report filing deadline is, in comparison, a pittance. “That means the general public will have no way of knowing who is bankrolling these campaigns,” said Gaydos.

Tennessee – Nashville Transit Campaign Donors Revealed, Include Big Business, Dark Money Group

Yahoo News – Evan Mealins (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 11/19/2024

The group that funded Nashville’s successful campaign to pass a $3.1 billion transit plan finally disclosed its donors, revealing a broad base of commercial support from big business, law, and real estate, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars from a dark money group. The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance called out the pro-transit campaign’s initial lack of financial transparency ahead of Election Day and ordered the group file disclosures that revealed the source of its financial backing.

Wisconsin – Former Wisconsin Justice Accused of Ethics Violations Over 2020 Election Probe

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 11/19/2024

Legal regulators filed a 10-count ethics complaint against former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who oversaw a problem-plagued review of the 2020 presidential election in the battleground state. Republicans who control the Legislature hired Gableman to review the election after Donald Trump lost Wisconsin. Gableman consulting with conspiracy theorists as he conducted a secretive, shambolic investigation that culminated with him telling lawmakers they should consider revoking the state’s 10 electoral votes.

November 21, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Tennessee: “Nashville Transit Campaign Donors Revealed, Include Big Business, Dark Money Group” by Evan Mealins (Nashville Tennessean) for Yahoo News Elections Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania’s High Court Sides with Republicans on Misdated Mail Ballots” by Hansi Lo Wang for NPR Ethics National: “House Panel Was […]

November 20, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance New Jersey: “Campaign Finance Watchdog Approves Higher Contribution Limits” by Nikita Biryukov for New Jersey Monitor Pennsylvania: “Pa. Lawmakers Say Candidates Choose to Pay $250 Late Fee to Avoid Revealing Donors” by Ford Turner for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Elections Florida: “Ex-State Sen. Artiles Sentenced […]

November 15, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – November 15, 2024

National/Federal A Spike in Demand, and Fees, for Lobbyists with Ties to Trump DNyuz – Kenneth Vogel and Kate Kelly (New York Times) | Published: 11/7/2024 In corporate boardrooms and foreign capitals, there is a scramble to sign lobbyists who could help […]

National/Federal

A Spike in Demand, and Fees, for Lobbyists with Ties to Trump

DNyuz – Kenneth Vogel and Kate Kelly (New York Times) | Published: 11/7/2024

In corporate boardrooms and foreign capitals, there is a scramble to sign lobbyists who could help navigate an incoming administration viewed with uncertainty and concern. Companies and foreign countries have long relied on lobbyists to guide them through the shifts in power on Capitol Hill or the White House. But since Donald Trump first upended global politics in 2016, he has continued to confound establishment gatekeepers on K Street. It has led to a delicate dance in which a relatively small group of lobbyists have sought to demonstrate their value to him and to cautious clients, without running afoul of the sensitivities of either.

Nonprofits Vow a New Resistance. Will Donors Pay Up?

DNyuz – David Fahrenthold and Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 11/13/2024

In Donald Trump’s first term as president, some of his toughest opponents were left-leaning nonprofit groups. They bogged down his immigration and environmental policies with lawsuits and protests and were rewarded with a huge “Trump bump” in donations. Some of those groups are promising to do it all over again, but this time it could be a lot harder. Trump’s administration could learn from past mistakes and avoid the procedural errors that made its rules easier to challenge, and the higher courts are seeded with judges appointed by Trump. Nonprofits are also finding some supporters are not energized by another round of resistance.

Gaetz Resigned Days Before Ethics Investigation Report Expected

MSN – Marianna Sotomayor, Jacqueline Alemany, and Marianne Levine (Washington Post) | Published: 11/13/2024

The House Committee on Ethics was set to vote on releasing a report about U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, who resigned from Congress after being picked as Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Gaetz has been under investigation by the bipartisan ethics panel for allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct and illegal drug use and accepted improper gifts. If a lawmaker is under investigation by the committee and resigns, is expelled, or leaves Congress, the committee immediately ceases any ongoing investigation.

Neera Tanden’s X Posts Violated Ban on Political Fundraising, Government Watchdog Alleges

MSN – Adam Cancryn (Politico) | Published: 11/7/2024

A government ethics watchdog agency formally accused White House domestic policy chief Neera Tanden of repeatedly violating the Hatch Act by soliciting political contributions on social media in the months before the election. It appears to be the first time a White House official has faced such a complaint after Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger warned in May that he would eliminate the custom of sending such accusations to the president to deal with at his discretion.

Some Ethics Experts Raise Concerns Over Musk and Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency Roles

MSN – Soon Rin Kim (ABC News) | Published: 11/13/2024

Donald Trump’s announcement that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a newly formed advisory Department of Government Efficiency has alarmed some government ethics experts, who say the pair’s deep financial interests could lead to potential conflicts-of-interest. Some ethics experts are particularly alarmed that Musk and Ramaswamy’s roles have been described as “outside of government,” an arrangement that could potentially mean they would not be subject to normal financial disclosure rules.

The Onion Wins Auction to Take Control of Alex Jones’s Infowars

MSN – Kim Bellware (Washington Post) | Published: 11/14/2024

The satirical news site The Onion won a bankruptcy auction to acquire the media company of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The bid was sanctioned by the families of the victims of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, who in 2022 won a $1.4 billion defamation lawsuit against Jones and his company for claiming the massacre was a hoax. The takeover of comes with a multi-year agreement with the nonprofit group Everytown for Gun Safety, which will serve as the exclusive advertiser during the Onion-led relaunch of Infowars.

Trump Could Pick Government’s Top Ethics Official – After Key Ally Blocked Biden’s Choice

MSN – Fredreka Schouten (CNN) | Published: 11/8/2024

Donald Trump could be in a position to select the government’s top ethics czar when he assumes office in January after a key ally in the Senate blocked President Biden’s pick to head the Office of Government Ethics. Sen. Mike Lee objected to the confirmation of David Huitema to the post, a little more than a year after he was first nominated by Biden. Lee said the vote should be delayed until after the presidential election, citing what he called the “political weaponization of the US government against Donald Trump by the Biden-Harris administration.”

Trump, Allies Signal They Will Try to Call the Shots for Republican-Led Senate

MSN – Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 11/10/2024

Donald Trump and his allies signaled they will try to call the shots in the Republican-led Senate, pushing the candidacy of Sen. Rick Scott for GOP leader and demanding that Republicans allow Trump to make appointments to his administration and the courts without Senate approval. Next year, Republicans are on track to have at least 53 senators, a comfortable majority to approve nominations, but Trump seemed to indicate that was not sufficient for his choices for federal jobs and judicial vacancies.

Elon Musk’s $1M Voter Giveaways Were Fixed Lotteries, Lawsuits Say

MSN – Kyle Melnick (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

When Robert Alvarez heard that Elon Musk was giving away $1 million in a lottery each day to a swing-state voter, he signed a petition from Musk’s super PAC in hopes of winning. But in a lawsuit filed against Musk and America PAC, Alvarez said he never had a chance of winning. America PAC, which Musk created to campaign for Trump, did not select winners by chance, but instead by vetting candidates’ social media presence for pro-GOP values, Alvarez’s lawsuit said.

Minority-Owned Firms Face ‘Crisis’ as Affirmative Action Programs Fall

MSN – Julian Mark (Washington Post) | Published: 11/11/2024

Minority- and women-owned businesses are bracing for the end of affirmative action in federal contracting, and the potential loss of contracts worth at least $70 billion a year, as government programs for “disadvantaged” firms have fallen to legal attack over the past year. A series of court rulings have held some of the federal government’s largest diversity programs violate the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. As a result, key agencies have dropped race and gender preferences born in the Civil Rights era and intended to level the playing field by setting aside billions each year in contracting dollars for minority- and women-owned firms.

Republicans Win House, Delivering Trump a Trifecta

MSN – Emily Brooks (The Hill) | Published: 11/12/2024

Republicans are projected to keep control of the U.S. House, handing the party total control of Washington with Donald Trump back in the White House in January. Decision Desk HQ projected the GOP would hold the House by winning its 218th seat, the number needed for a majority in the chamber. The final breakdown is uncertain, with ballots still being counted for several races in California. Those exact numbers will matter a lot for Speaker Mike Johnson’s political future, for which policies Republicans can enact, and how the lower chamber will function – or not function.

How ‘Urgent’ Texts Pushed These Donors to Give Thousands of Times to Political Candidates

MSN – Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 11/12/2024

There is a new kind of political donor: one who gives in fairly small amounts, sometimes as little as a dollar, over and over. More than 13,500 Americans are frequent donors who have made one or more contributions per day, on average, in this cycle. Campaigns do not stop sending fundraising messages to donors, even after they have hit contribution limits. Joint fundraising committees allow for complex ways of shifting money between participating committees to increase the amount that a donor can give after hitting the limit on any individual committee.

Elon Musk’s PAC Spent an Estimated $200 Million to Help Elect Trump, AP Source Says

MSN – Dan Merica (Associated Press) | Published: 11/11/2024

Elon Musk’s super PAC spent around $200 million to help elect Donald Trump, according to a person familiar with the group’s spending, funding an effort that set a new standard for how billionaires can influence elections. America PAC’s work was aided by an FEC ruling that paved the way for super PACs to coordinate their canvassing efforts with campaigns, allowing the Trump campaign to rely on the near-unlimited money of the nation’s most high-profile billionaire to boost turnout.

Four States Reject Ranked-Choice Voting, Approved in District

MSN – Tim Craig (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon rebuffed efforts to adopt ranked choice voting in their future elections, dealing a setback to those who wanted to dramatically change how Americans choose their elected officials. The one bright spot for advocates of ranked-choice voting was the District of Columbia, where a referendum was approved by a wide margin. The practice is already in use in Alaska and Maine. But Alaska voters, who initially approved ranked choice voting in a 2020 referendum, are considering a referendum to undo the change.

Special Counsel Jack Smith Plans to Quit; Cannon Appeal May Continue

MSN – Perry Stein and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 11/13/2024

Special counsel Jack Smith plans to resign and wrap up his federal prosecutions of Donald Trump before the president-elect takes office and can fire him. Trump’s election victory prompted Smith to start winding down the prosecutions instead of continuing court proceedings until Inauguration Day. Ending the two federal cases could allow Smith to deliver a final report detailing his findings before Trump becomes the 47th president. Smith appears to still be considering how to handle an ongoing appeal in Trump’s classified documents case.

Legal Questions Surround Trump’s Talk of Political Prosecutions

Roll Call – Ryan Tarinelli | Published: 11/8/2024

Donald Trump expressed support for criminal charges to be filed against his political opponents on the campaign trail, but former Justice Department officials and legal experts say there are various guardrails set up to prevent retribution through the criminal process. But former Trump administration officials have warned publicly that people who once aimed to stop Trump’s worst impulses will not be there to rein him in during a second term. Trump will also be immune from federal prosecution for official acts after a Supreme Court decision earlier this year.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Judge Recuses from Arizona Case Over His Email Denouncing Attacks on Harris

MSN – Annabelle Timsit and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 11/13/2024

The judge overseeing the criminal election-interference case in Arizona against some of Donald Trump’s supporters recused himself from the case. Maricopa County Judge Bruce Cohen had emailed colleagues urging them to speak out against conservative attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris’s gender and racial identity. An attorney for one of the defendants said the emails showed the judge “bears a deep-seated personal political bias” against Trump and the defendants.

California – Criminal Prosecutor Tapped to Lead San Diego Ethics Panel, as Voters Hand It More Power

MSN – Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 11/8/2024

A committee of the San Diego Ethics Commission selected an outsider to take over the regulatory office after current Executive Director Sharon Spivak steps away early next year. The full commission will now Consider appointing longtime prosecutor Bryn Kirvin to run the department charged with enforcing city campaign finance laws and lobbying rules. Voters approved Measure D, which strengthens the agency’s authority in several important ways, including awarding the commission authority to name its executive director.

California – In a Historic Shift, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors Will Nearly Double in Size

MSN – Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 11/11/2024

Voters approved a proposal to add four more members to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors as part of a massive overhaul of the county government’s structure. Measure G’s passage marks a dramatic reshaping of a government that has not fundamentally changed for over a century, as the county’s population exploded from 500,000 to roughly 10 million. The ballot measure also calls for the creation of an independent ethics commission by 2026.

California – Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao Concedes Recall Defeat, Ending Tenure Marked by City’s Struggles

San Jose Mercury News – Shomik Mukherjee | Published: 11/9/2024

Oakland voters have recalled Mayor Sheng Thao. It was a resounding victory for a fierce recall campaign bankrolled almost entirely by a single hedge-fund manager, Philip Dreyfuss, who spent over $1.9 million in Alameda County politics this year. City Council president Nikki Fortunato Bas will serve as the interim mayor until a special election can be held. Thao’s professional future seems uncertain amid a sprawling FBI investigation into Oakland that in June led federal agents to raid her home and several other addresses.

California – Newsom Fined $13,000 for Failing to Report on Time Payments Made at His Request

Yahoo News – Sandra McDonald (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 11/8/2024

Gov. Gavin Newsome agreed to a $13,000 fine from the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for not meeting deadlines to report charitable contributions made at his request. State law requires elected officials to report donations made on their behalf within 30 days. The FPPC said on 18 occasions, Newsom and his 2018 campaign committee failed to make those reports on time, often submitting them several months late.

Delaware – Delaware’s Campaign Finance Law Sees Small Changes with a Potential Overhaul on the Horizon

Delaware First Media – Sarah Petrowich | Published: 11/10/2024

Delaware Gov. John Carney signed House Bill 291 into law, requiring the Department of Elections to provide a phone number and online form for reporting alleged campaign financing violations in the state, among other provisions. State Attorney General Kathy Jennings has indicated she is already working on additional reform recommendations to propose to the Legislature in the new year.

District of Columbia – Trayon White Sr., Facing Bribery Charge, Is Reelected to D.C. Council

MSN – Michael Brice-Saddler and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2024

District of Columbia Council member Trayon White Sr. sailed to a third term even as he faces a federal bribery charge. For White, who lacked serious opposition, the outcome is illustrative of the enduring support of his base. While some voters expressed reservations about voting for White, a vast majority made it clear that they still have his back.

Florida – Lobbying Firm Promotes Katie Wiles as Her Mother Becomes Trump’s Chief of Staff

MSN – David Bauerlein (Jacksonville Florida Times-Union) | Published: 11/8/2024

A day after Donald Trump named Susie Wiles as his chief of staff, Continental Strategy promoted Wiles’ daughter Katie to be the director of its lobbying and consulting offices in Jacksonville and the District of Columbia. The announcement said Wiles will continue to provide communications work for Continental Strategy’s federal and state operations while adding lobbying and business development to her role in the firm’s offices.

Florida – Suspended Miami-Dade Commissioner Martinez Convicted of Taking $15K to Help Constituent

MSN – Charles Rabin (Miami Herald) | Published: 11/7/2024

Joe Martinez, whose 17-year law enforcement career led to five terms in elected office as a county commissioner, was convicted of accepting $15,000 in payments in exchange for helping with legislation that would have benefited a constituent. Prosecutors argued Martinez accepted three $5,000 payments in 2016 and 2017 from Extra Supermarket owner Jorge Negrin in exchange for pushing legislation that would have permitted much needed large-refrigerated containers on the property.

Georgia – Supreme Court Squashes Mark Meadows’ Push to Move Georgia Election Charges

Yahoo News – Maureen Groppe and Bart Jansen (USA Today) | Published: 11/12/2024

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows lost his bid to move his Georgia election interference case to federal court, where it might have been easier to avoid prosecution. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a lower court’s rejection of Meadows’ attempt. Meadows, who was charged with Donald Trump and 17 others in what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to reverse Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in Georgia, argued the crimes he is accused of committing involved actions that were part of his federal job at the White House.

Indiana – Police: Shoulders spent thousands in campaign dollars on baseball cards, IU season tickets

Yahoo News – Jon Webb (Evansville Courier & Press) | Published: 11/7/2024

Former Vanderburgh County Commissioner Ben Shoulders used tens of thousands of dollars in campaign money to buy baseball cards and basketball season tickets, among other purchases, and then tried to report the expenditures as fraudulent in an effort to recoup some of the money, Evansville police say. Shoulders spent more than $41,000 on eBay purchases using a debit card assigned to his “Shoulders for Commissioner” account. He would then list the buys on his campaign finance forms as something else.

Kentucky – Grand Jury Declines to Indict Beshear Backer in Investigation of Straw Donations

Yahoo News – Tom Loftus (Kentucky Lantern) | Published: 11/8/2024

A Franklin County grand jury declined to indict prominent Louisville attorney Sam Aguiar in an investigation into whether Aguiar made excessive campaign contributions in the names of straw donors to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s 2019 campaign. Special prosecutor Rob Sanders said Aguiar admitted to doing so but did not know his behavior was a crime. Commonwealth’s Attorney Larry Cleveland recommended the matter be referred to the Kentucky election registry for a civil investigation.

Louisiana – Federal Judge Blocks Louisiana Law That Requires Classrooms to Display Ten Commandments

MSN – Sara Cline and Kevin McGill (Associated Press) | Published: 11/12/2024

A Louisiana requirement that the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public classrooms is “unconstitutional on its face,” a federal judge ruled, ordering state education officials not to take steps to enforce it and to notify all local school boards in the state of his decision. U.S. District Court Judge John deGravelles said the law had an “overtly religious” purpose, and rejected state officials’ claims the government can mandate the posting of the Ten Commandments because they hold historical significance to the foundation of U.S. law.

Louisiana – Judge Agrees to Temporarily Halt Louisiana Ethics Administrator Hiring, Attorney Says

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/11/2024

A judge issued a temporary restraining order that blocks the Louisiana Board of Ethics from picking a new administrator. The judge granted the stay at the request of Sens. Regina Barrow and Stewart Cathey. They are suing to halt the board from filling that position over the agency in 2025. Landry and lawmakers have had a fraught relationship with the ethics board in recent years.

Maryland – Former Prince George’s County Councilmember Sentenced 1 Year in Prison for Embezzlement

MSN – Randi Ayala, Samantha Gilstrap, and Matt Pusatory (WUSA) | Published: 11/13/2024

Former Prince George’s County Councilperson Jamel Franklin was sentenced to one year in prison after pleaded guilty to felony theft and perjury. Franklin admitted to stealing $124,450.10 from his campaign committee and using those funds to pay for, among other things, his credit card debt, personal rent, and personal subscriptions. He also admitted to concealing his use of campaign funds and falsifying information on reports he signed under the penalties of perjury and submitted to the State Board of Elections.

Michigan – Baum, Altoon Get Vastly Different Sentences in Taylor Public Corruption Case

MSN – Tresa Baldas (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 11/7/2024

The last two defendants in a public corruption scheme in Taylor, Michigan, involving bribes, a crooked mayor, and perverted housing deals were sentenced recently. Taylor’s former Community Development Manager Jeffrey Baum was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his role in helping two businesspeople secure contracts in exchange for bribes of all sorts. Real estate developer Haidir Altoon was sentenced to one day in prison followed by two years of supervised release for his role in a scheme that involved him paying bribes to Baum and former Taylor Mayor Richard Sollars.

New Jersey – Murphy Signs Law Allowing Office Holders, Candidates to Use Campaign Funds for Child Care

Bergen Record – Ashley Balcerzak | Published: 11/8/2024

Public officials and candidates running for office in New Jersey will soon be able to use campaign funds to pay for certain childcare expenses, after Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law. Under the law, a candidate or officeholder can use money raised by donors to pay for childcare the person would not have needed if they weren’t running for office or in public life.

New York – Emboldened by Re-election, Trump Renews Bid to Overturn His Conviction

DNyuz – Ben Protess, Kate Christobek, and Jonah Bromwich (New York Times) | Published: 11/12/2024

Donald Trump’s lawyers moved in recent days to throw out his criminal conviction in New York in the wake of his electoral victory, hoping to clear his record of 34 felonies before returning to the White House. The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which prosecuted Trump, then asked to pause decisions in the case so it could weigh how to respond. The judge overseeing the case, Juan Merchan, granted the pause, effectively freezing any progress until November 19.

New York – NYC Mayor Adams’ Girlfriend Tracey Collins Retires from DOE Amid Department of Investigation Inquiry Into ‘No-Show’ Job Claim

MSN – Chris Sommerfeldt and Cayla Bamberger (New York Daily News) | Published: 11/8/2024

Tracey Collins, Mayor Eric Adams’ longtime girlfriend retired from her high-ranking position in the New York City public school system. The departure comes as the system’s internal watchdog and the Department of Investigation are probing claims that her position amounted to a “no show” job with a six-figure salary. A former Department of Education employee alleged Collins has rarely shown up in person to work and keeps a light schedule mostly made up of virtual appointments.

New York – Eric Adams Reaped Public Dollar from a So-Called Small-Donor ‘Barbecue.’ Video Shows a Lavish Long Island Soiree Instead.

The City – George Joseph (The Guardian), Alyssa Katz, Yoav Gonen, and Katie Hogan | Published: 11/13/2024

A 2021 fundraiser on Long Island for then-mayoral nominee Eric Adams booked 231 donations, many of them from supermarket cashiers, delivery people, and other low wage workers at the New World Mall in Queens, each listed as having made contributions of $249 or $250. The campaign sought $362,000 in matching funds from New York City on the basis of the $55,000 it raised, entirely in small donations. But a video reveals an event, hosted by New World Mall president Lian Wu Shao and his family at their Long Island mansion, that does not appear to have been a grassroots fundraiser.

Ohio – Ex-FirstEnergy Lobbyist Pleads Fifth in Regulatory Investigation, Citing Self-Incrimination Risk

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealwr) | Published: 11/13/2024

A former FirstEnergy lobbyist who worked closely on the company’s scandal ridden lobbying and self-professed bribery campaign in Ohio invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination roughly 100 times during a recent deposition. Joel Bailey, lobbyist who reported to FirstEnergy’s now-indicted government affairs head Mike Dowling, was questioned under oath in a long-stalled state regulatory investigation into the bribery scheme.

Oregon – City Council Candidate Allegedly Offered Patrons Free Bar Entry in Exchange for Campaign Contributions

Willamette Week – Sophie Peel | Published: 11/13/2024

On a Saturday night at Fortune, a popular Portland bar, a city council candidate Ben Hufford allegedly gave bargoers waiting in line a proposal: donate $10 to his campaign, and they would not have to pay the $20 cover charge. Others recall he said they could not enter the bar unless they donated to his campaign. Hufford is a co-owner of Fortune. Campaign finance records show Hufford received 170 campaign donations that night. Nearly all were $10, or multiples of $10.

South Dakota – South Dakota Breaks Record for Number of Women Elected to the State Legislature

MSN – Makenzie Huber (Sioux Falls Argus Leader) | Published: 11/8/2024

A record number of women will serve in the South Dakota Legislature in 2025. Thirty-nine female lawmakers plan to arrive in Pierre when the legislative session starts in January, besting the previous record from the 2023-2024 Legislature by eight. The growth in female representation in South Dakota is part of a trend nationally, though most Legislatures do not have gender parity. In 2023, women represented at least half of the lawmakers in two states, Nevada and Colorado.

Texas – Audit: Former Austin city manager paid two consultants $554K in 2023, violating city ethics rules

KUT – Andrew Weber and Luz Moreno-Lozano | Published: 11/8/2024

Former interim City Manager Jesús Garza violated Austin’s ethics rules when he hired two former City Hall staffers to serve as consultants after the 2023 winter storm, a report commissioned by the city auditor found. The report said Laura Huffman and Joe Canales were paid $200 and $190 an hour respectively over their 10 months at City Hall. Garza skirted rules requiring a vote from the city council on contracts over $76,000 a year. The audit found both were effectively full-time assistant city managers.

November 14, 2024 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Maryland: “Former Prince George’s County Councilmember Sentenced 1 Year in Prison for Embezzlement” by Randi Ayala, Samantha Gilstrap, and Matt Pusatory (WUSA) for MSN New York: “Eric Adams Reaped Public Dollar from a So-Called Small-Donor ‘Barbecue.’ Video Shows a Lavish Long […]

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

News You Can Use Digest – December 20, 2024

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By-Election for Lethbridge-West, Alberta to be Held on December 18

News You Can Use Digest – November 22, 2024

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News You Can Use Digest – November 15, 2024

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