Campaign Finance

Alaska: “How Alaska Wound Up with No Limits on Campaign Donations – and How Some Hope to Restore Them” by Eric Stone for Alaska Public Media

National: “Feds Ask Ted Cruz’s Campaign to Explain Dozens of Illegal Donations It Received” by Sanford Nowlin for San Antonio Current

Oklahoma: “Corporation Commissioners Have Accepted Thousands in Donations, Raising Ethical Questions” by Kennedy Thomason (The Oklahoman) for MSN

Elections

National: “Pro-Israel PAC Notches Striking Electoral Victories with Bush, Bowman Defeats” by Patrick Svitek (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Man Who Violently Fought Cops Gets 2nd-Longest Jan. 6 Sentence: 20 years” by Tom Jackman (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Nonprofit Linked to OC Supervisor’s Daughter Says It Won’t Refund $2.2M in Taxpayer Funds Demanded by County” by Nick Gerda (LAist) for MSN

Kentucky: “Louisville Official Says She Was in the Process of Filing Ethics Complaints When Fired” by Eleanor McCrary (Louisville Courier Journal) for MSN

Lobbying

North Carolina: “Group That Took NC Legislators on Bourbon Tour Violates Ethics Rules, Complaint Says” by Dan Kane and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi (Raleigh News and Observer) for MSN

National/Federal

How an Elon Musk PAC Is Using Voter Data to Help Trump Beat Harris in 2024 Election

CNBC – Brian Schwartz | Published: 8/2/2024

The combination of owning a social media company that gives him an enormous platform to push his political views, and creating a PAC with effectively unlimited resources, has made Elon Musk a major force in an American presidential election. The America PAC has spent more than $800,000 on digital ads that target voters in battleground states. Many of the ads encouraged people to register to vote at America PAC’s website. The PAC’s effort to collect information from people using the idea of “voter registration” is a critical piece to its plan to make personal contact with these voters.

Hearing Set to Discuss Next Steps in Trump’s Federal Election Case

DNyuz – Alan Feurer (New York Times) | Published: 8/3/2024

The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s federal election interference case scheduled a hearing for August 16 to discuss next steps. The Supreme Court granted Trump broad immunity against criminal prosecution for acts arising from his presidency. A key element of that decision requires U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to sort through the indictment accusing Trump of plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election and decide which of its many allegations can move forward to trial and which will have to be tossed out.

Justice Thomas Failed to Reveal More Private Flights, Senator Says

DNyuz – Abbie VanSickle (New York Times) | Published: 8/5/2024

Justice Clarence Thomas failed to publicly disclose additional private travel provided by the wealthy conservative donor Harlan Crow, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said. Customs and Border Protection records revealed the justice and his wife, Virginia Thomas, took a round trip between Hawaii and New Zealand in November 2010 on Crow’s private jet. Wyden, writing to Crow’s lawyer, demanded he supply more information about the financial relationship between the two men.

Harris Decides on Tim Walz as Running Mate

MSN – John King, Jeff Zeleny, Jamie Gangel, MJ Lee, Daniel Strauss, Gregory Krieg, and Kristen Holmes (CNN) | Published: 8/6/2024

Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, elevating the former teacher and Army National Guard veteran to help lead the party’s fight to defeat Donald Trump. Walz is in his second term as governor and chairs the Democratic Governors Association. He previously served 12 years in Congress, representing a conservative-leaning rural district. Walz has delivered a handful of memorable haymakers against Republicans, especially its presidential ticket of Trump and Sen. JD Vance. Walz has referred to the duo as “weird dudes.” The phrase has stuck, becoming a central meme in the campaign.

FBI Searches Rep. Ogles’s Phone as Part of Campaign Finance Probe, Lawyer Says

MSN – Perry Stein and Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) | Published: 8/6/2024

FBI agents used a court order to search and seize U.S. Rep. Andrew Ogles’s cellphone as part of federal campaign finance probe. A complaint stated Ogles did not include that he reportedly used a $320,000 loan to fund his 2022 campaign. He also allegedly failed to report a $700,000 line of credit that he opened in 2022. The complaint from the Campaign Legal Center alleged that, in all, Ogles’s financial report contained more than $1 million in discrepancies.

Elon Musk’s X Accused of Bias After Pro-Harris Accounts Labeled as ‘Spam’

MSN – Trisha Thadani (Washington Post) | Published: 8/7/2024

Prominent X accounts advocating for Vice President Kamala Harris have been labeled as spam and restricted in recent weeks, triggering alarm among some Democrats that Elon Musk’s social media platform is tilted in favor of his chosen candidate, Donald Trump. The recurring issues are raising questions about whether Musk’s platform is intentionally censoring the pages, or if the deep staff cuts that he made after buying the company in 2022 have left the platform ill-equipped for the surge in political speech ahead of the November election.

About Half of US State AGs Went on France Trip Sponsored by Group with Lobbyist and Corporate Funds

MSN – Geoff Mulvihill (Associated Press) | Published: 8/3/2024

Many state attorneys general traveled to France on a recent trip cosponsored by the Attorney General Alliance (AGA). The trip illuminates how corporate lawyers and lobbyists can gain access to officials who regulate their businesses with help from the AGA. Companies that have picked up the bill and sent representatives in recent years have been from the pharmaceutical, financial, and tech industries, among others.

$10M Cash Withdrawal Drove Secret Probe into Whether Trump Took Money from Egypt

MSN – Aaron Davis and Carol Leonnig (Washington Post) | Published: 8/2/2024

Five days before Donald Trump became president in January 2017, a manager at a bank branch in Cairo received an unusual letter from an organization linked to the Egyptian intelligence service. It asked the bank to “kindly withdraw” nearly $10 million from the organization’s account, all in cash. Four men arrived and carried away the bags. The discovery intensified a secret criminal investigation, with classified U.S. intelligence indicating Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi sought to give Trump $10 million to boost his 2016 presidential campaign, a Washington Post investigation found.

Without ‘Zuckerbucks,’ Limited Private Funding Available for Elections

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 8/2/2024

In 2020, a group funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife gave $332 million to local governments to run the presidential election amid a global pandemic, prompting a Republican backlash that led to more than two dozen states banning or limiting private funding for elections. The Center for Tech and Civic Life is again awarding grants this fall but in much smaller amounts. The grants will have nowhere near the nationwide effect they did in the last presidential election but could nonetheless spark controversy.

Court Rules Against Black and Hispanic Voters in Redistricting Case

MSN – Patrick Marley and Maegan Vazquez (Washington Post) | Published: 8/1/2024

A federal appeals court made it harder for Black and Hispanic voters to form coalitions to elect the candidates they prefer in three southern states, overruling long-standing precedents. For decades, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held the Voting Rights Act allows voting districts that give Black and Hispanic voters the ability to elect candidates of their choice when they have common interests and can form coalitions.

Trump Took a Private Flight with Project 2025 Leader in 2022

MSN – Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dawsey, and Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) | Published: 8/7/2024

Donald Trump has denied knowing about the Project 2025 policy blueprint or the people behind it. But in April 2022, Trump shared a private flight with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts. They flew together to a Heritage conference where Trump delivered a keynote address that gestured to the organization’s forthcoming policy proposals. The flight and Trump’s speech cut against the former president’s efforts to distance himself from Project 2025 once Democrats turned some of its most controversial proposals into a frequent campaign attack.

Drag Queens Unite to Form Political Action Committee Ahead of 2024 Election

OpenSecrets – Albert Sema Jr. | Published: 7/26/2024

A new political committee is bringing together some of the biggest names in drag to push back against anti-LGBTQ legislation and politicians. As a hybrid PAC, Drag PAC can make limited donations to politicians from one account but raise and spend unlimited money to make independent expenditures from another. FEC filings show that the PAC has raised more than $140,000 so far, with long-time Democratic donor Dylan Bulkeley-Krane contributing $60,000 since March.

Conway Registers as Lobbyist for Ukrainian Billionaire with Past Ties to Trump

Yahoo News – Soo Rin Kim, Lalee Ibssa, and Kelsey Walsh (ABC News) | Published: 8/4/2024

Former Trump administration official Kellyanne Conway registered as a foreign agent representing Ukrainian billionaire Victor Pinchuk’s foundation. In 2015, the Ukrainian steel magnate donated $150,000 to Donald Trump’s charitable organization to book the then-presidential candidate to speak at a conference in Kyiv. The donation was later reportedly investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Arizona Judges Allow More Access to Voting, Much to Republicans’ Dismay

KAWC – Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) | Published: 8/3/2024

Arizonans who lack proof of citizenship can again sign up to vote in this year’s presidential and congressional races. A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals restored an order issued last year by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton who concluded federal law specifically allowed people to register to vote in federal elections without the same kind of proof that Arizona requires of those wanting to cast ballots in state or local elections.

Arizona – Arizona Grand Jurors Discussed Indicting Trump, but Prosecutors Urged Them Not To

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 8/6/2024

An Arizona grand jury that indicted 18 allies of Donald Trump for their role in efforts to overturn the 2020 election had expressed interest in possible charges against the former president, according to a legal motion. It is unclear how many of the jurors were in favor of indicting the former president, who by then had been federally charged for his attempts to subvert Joe Biden’s win in a case brought by special counsel Jack Smith. The interest prompted the Arizona case’s lead prosecutor to give a PowerPoint presentation and request that jurors not indict Trump, according to the motion.

California – What Does a California Lobbyist Do?

Comstock’s Magazine – Laurie Lauletta-Boshart | Published: 8/5/2024

Lobbyists who spend their day impacting legislation and regulatory decisions in California work long, frenetic days and no two look alike. They come from a myriad of different backgrounds: law, political science, government affairs, and communications, with outliers in engineering, psychology, and education. But most share similar character traits: good analytical, networking, relationship, and communication skills, with a side of political savvy and a desire to get the best possible outcome for their clients, even when politics prevail.

California – SF Political Group That Bankrolled DA Recall on Hook for $54K Ethics Fine

Mission Local – Joe Rivano Barros | Published: 8/5/2024

The San Francisco Ethics Commission will consider levying a $53,916 fine against the powerful political group Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy and its president, Jay Cheng. Ina negotiated stipulation, both the Ethics Commission and Cheng agreed the group failed to disclose payments it made to a campaign spokesperson who was working to recall then-District Attorney Chesa Boudin in 2021 and 2022.

California – Govern for California, Group Under Investigation by State, Bundling Donations to SF Candidates

Mission Local – Joe Rivano Barros | Published: 8/6/2024

In San Francisco, supervisor races have strict $500 contribution limits per donor. But a nonprofit called Govern for California, which has historically financed state races, has employed eight of its different chapters to give $500 each to six supervisor candidates and District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. Each of the candidates has collectively received $4,000 from the group’s chapters. Govern for California is currently being investigated by the California Fair Political Practices Commission after a media investigation into its use of local chapters as “force multipliers” to influence politics.

California – County Demands Refund of Millions OC Supervisor Awarded to His Daughter’s Group

MSN – Nick Gerda (LAist) | Published: 8/2/2024

Orange County officials are demanding the refund of millions of dollars in tax dollars that county Supervisor Andrew Do gave to a nonprofit linked to his daughter, saying Viet America Society (VAS) failed to show it did the work it was paid to do. The repayment demands come after the nonprofit failed to meet a deadline to submit an audit, which was supposed to answer how the money was spent. VAS fired the auditors it hired for the work the day after those auditors said they would find the group failed to follow requirements to track what it did with the money.

California – LA Council Member Kevin de Leon’s Ballot Measure Shell Game

MSN – Will McCarthy (Politico) | Published: 8/5/2024

Los Angeles City Councilperson Kevin de León is playing a shell game with three different campaign accounts as he fights for his political life. He moved $550,000 from an account created to back a 2026 run for lieutenant governor to a newly formed Kevin de León Believing in a Better California Ballot Measure Committee. It’s all likely designed to help him win a tough race for another term on the city council. Unlike with his campaign fund, de León can raise and spend from his ballot measure committee with few constraints.

California – California Lawmakers Got Ticket Freebies as They Cracked Down on Ticketmaster’s Taylor Swift Debacle

MSN – Lara Korte (Politico) | Published: 8/5/2024

An investigation by Politico found 66 state lawmakers in California received more than $30,000 total worth of free tickets last year. The giveaways included entrance to Disneyland, passes to a country music festival, and San Francisco 49ers seats. The gifts came the same year some lawmakers mounted bids to loosen the power of the ticketing giant Ticketmaster and other elected officials sought to limit third-party resellers like StubHub.

California – Ex-L.A. Sheriff’s Corruption Squad Targeted Kuehl. Now State Has Dropped the Case

Yahoo News – Keri Blakinger (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 8/7/2024

Two years after Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies showed up for an early morning raid on former county Supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s home, the investigation is officially over and there will be no criminal charges. Instead, a judge approved an agreement in which the California Department of Justice said there was a “lack of evidence of wrongdoing.” The department had taken over the politically charged investigation originally launched by then-Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s controversial public corruption squad.

Colorado – Divided Appeals Court Strikes Down Campaign Disclosure Requirement in Colorado Law

Colorado Politics – Michael Karlik | Published: 8/1/2024

Colorado’s second-highest court said the state’s requirement that ballot issue advocacy groups disclose the name of their legal representative on their election communications violates the First Amendment. A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals believed there was no material benefit to the public from knowing who the registered agents are for groups that advocate for or against ballot measures. Judge Jerry Jones, writing for the majority, noted Colorado is the only state with such a requirement in its campaign finance laws.

District of Columbia – D.C. Buildings Official Resigns After Probe Finds She Had 2nd Full-Time Job

MSN – Maegan Flynn (Washington Post) | Published: 8/7/2024

A top official at the District of Columbia Department of Buildings resigned after an investigation found she was secretly working a separate full-time private-sector job on her city “telework” days, violations that resulted in a $25,000 fine from the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability. The official, Deputy Director Caroline Lian, is a Falls Church City Council member and allegedly performed council business when she should have been working for the District of Columbia.

Florida – Miami Ballot Measures Propose New, More Robust Inspector General’s Office

Yahoo News – Catherine Odom (Miami Herald) | Published: 8/7/2024

Miami voters will decide if they want to do away with the auditor general’s office and install a new, more powerful watchdog in its place. The new office would be tasked with investigating legal and ethical violations by city employees, agencies with ties to the city, and candidates running for office in Miami. The office could initiate these investigations itself and would be required to report any wrongdoing it finds to the appropriate authorities, city Commissioner Manolo Reyes said.

Georgia – Federal Election Commission Fines Georgia Republicans for Illegal Campaign Coordinating

MSN – Dave Williams (Columbus Ledger-Inquirer) | Published: 8/6/2024

The FEC fined the Georgia Republican Party $14,500 for failing to report a contribution from a nonprofit during the 2021 U.S. Senate runoff elections. The fine settled a complaint targeting an in-kind contribution the group True the Vote made to the state GOP. In this case, True the Vote and the state Republican Party collaborated on election-related activities, including challenging voter eligibility and monitoring drop boxes, and failed to report those activities.

Georgia – Georgia Election Board Clears County Officials to Delay Vote Certification with Information Demands

Yahoo News – Stanley Dunlap (Georgia Recorder) | Published: 8/7/2024

The Georgia State Election Board pushed through new election rules that have sparked fierce debates over giving county officials greater authority to refuse to certify voter tallies. Today, certification by local election boards is considered an administrative task that does not allow members to delay as they investigate results provided to them by county officials. The new process could delay the certification of a Georgia election in a large county if a single board member called for an investigation into equipment or administration of the vote.

Hawaii – Hawaii Carpenters Union PACs Are Training Candidates to Run for Office

Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair and Blaze Lovell | Published: 8/6/2024

A political organization with connections to the local construction industry has found a new tool to help candidates get elected: train them. Over the past two election cycles, four PACs with ties to the Hawaii Carpenters Union have spent more than $70,000 to instruct 17 people in running for office. Several of the candidates running for office this year praised the program, crediting it with teaching the basics of campaigning such as running phone banks, mailing fliers, and improving public speaking. The training is done through in-kind contributions.

Louisiana – Making Room for Landry’s Expanded Ethics Board Requires a Costly Upgrade

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 8/8/2024

The Louisiana Board of Ethics expects the state will have to spend $50,000 to more than $100,000 to accommodate four more board members in its meeting room in Baton Rouge.  In January, the ethics board will grow from 11 to 15 members at the behest of Gov. Jeff Landry. The governor is in an ongoing dispute with current board members over his failure to disclose flights he took on a campaign donor’s private plane while he was attorney general. “They decided to pass this legislation, but yet they want us to pay the cost,” ethics board Chairperson La Koshia Roberts.

Maryland – Fired Health Commissioner May Have Violated Baltimore’s Ethics Laws

Baltimore Banner – Lee Sanderlin and Adam Willis | Published: 8/1/2024

Baltimore’s former health commissioner, Dr. Ihuoma Emenuga, who is the subject of a criminal investigation, may have also violated city ethics laws when she was working for Chase Brexton while also a city employee. While some City Hall personnel, like council members, work outside jobs, the law makes clear that employees are prohibited from working for or receiving payment from organizations that have contracts with their agency, as Chase Brexton does with the health department. Even organizations that are in negotiations for a city contract are off limits.

Maryland – Baltimore County Executive Appointed Employee of Firefighter Who Received Secret Settlement [from] Ethics Commission

MSN – Lia Russell and Cassidy Jensen (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 8/1/2024

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. appointed a high school classmate and real estate agent to the county ethics commission in 2020, the same year her boss, former county firefighter Philip Tirabassi, received a secret $83,675 settlement from the county. Tirabassi also helped handle Olszewski’s personal real estate transactions. County spokesperson Erica Palmisano said Laura Ray’s nomination to the commission was based on her credentials and her party affiliation.

New Mexico – Federal Judge Sends Dark Money Group Lawsuit Back to State Court

Source New Mexico – Marjorie Childress (New Mexico In Depth) | Published: 8/7/2024

A federal judge rejected a nonprofit group’s bid to move to federal court a campaign finance case brought against it by New Mexico’s Ethics Commission. Chief U.S. District Court Judge William Johnson said his court lacked jurisdiction over the question of whether the New Mexico Project, a nonprofit formed last year, must register as a political committee and disclose its donors.

New York – Former Addison Clerk Forfeits Pension After ‘Stunning,’ ‘Shameless’ Theft of $1.1 Million

Corning Leader – Jeff Smith | Published: 8/2/2024

Ursula Stone, the former clerk-treasurer of the Village of Addison, will be sentenced to between three and nine years in state prison and ordered to pay back $1.1 million stolen from taxpayers. Stone will also forfeit her public pension, marking the first pension forfeiture in New York state.

New York – Mayor Adams’ 2021 Campaign Flagged for $2.3 Million Gap in Fundraising Records

Gothamist – Brigid Bergin | Published: 7/31/2024

The New York City Campaign Finance Board’s 900-page draft audit provides an unprecedented look at extensive problems with Mayor Eric Adams’ record-keeping. Experts say the sheer length of the report suggests careless financial management by the campaign and a failure to comply with laws and rules required of candidates who take taxpayer-funded matching funds. The Board flagged 22 separate categories of financial discrepancies, prohibited donations, straw donors, and other issues with the Adams campaign.

New York – Asian Americans Mobilize After NY Lawmaker Allegedly Bites Cop

MSN – Emily Ngo (Politico) | Published: 8/5/2024

An under-the-radar bloc of Asian Americans is ready to test its political clout after a New York City Council member of Chinese descent allegedly bit a police officer during a recent protest. The bite was a moment that energized a movement, they say. Supporters have rallied by the thousands to defend council member Susan Zhuang, and by extension themselves. Zhuang’s treatment by tabloid news outlets, political rivals, and police has galvanized predominantly Chinese, immigrant, and working-class New Yorkers who have long felt invisible.

New York – Non-Profit Started by Eric Adams’ Brother Auctioned Off Dinner with the Mayor During Hamptons Party

MSN – Craig McCarthy (New York Post) | Published: 8/5/2024

A charitable organization co-founded by Mayor Eric Adams’ brother auctioned off a dinner with the mayor during a Hamptons fundraiser, raising eyebrows with ethics watchdogs. But Angels Helpers, a non-profit that provides city youngsters access to arts and culture, said it would be pulling the prize. Asked whether the nonprofit cleared the dinner prize with the city’s Conflict of Interest Board, co-founder Alisa Roever called it an “oversight.”

New York – Supreme Court Nixes Effort to Stall Trump’s Sentencing in Hush Money Case

MSN – Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 8/5/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a bid by Missouri to block the sentencing of Donald Trump in his New York hush money case. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Trump ally, filed an unusual set of motions asking the justices to postpone the sentencing until after the November election and to lift the gag order the judge imposed in the case. Missouri’s bid was styled as a lawsuit against New York. Missouri claimed the prosecution violated the rights of the state’s voters by preventing them from “fully engaging with and hearing from a major-party Presidential candidate in the run up to the November election.”

Ohio – An Ousted FirstEnergy CEO Signed a Deal Blaming His Mentor for a Bribery Scheme. He Said the Feds Never Talked to Him

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 8/1/2024

Steven Strah, thrust into the role of chief executive officer ahead of schedule, in 2021 signed a contract similar to a plea agreement with federal prosecutors on FirstEnergy’s behalf. The agreement depicted his predecessor, Chuck Jones, as the architect of a scheme to bribe two top state government officials. But Strah said during a newly revealed deposition from 2023 that he has never been interviewed by federal authorities investigating what they have described as the biggest public corruption scheme in Ohio history.

Pennsylvania – Pa. Lawmakers Moonlight as Lawyers, Landlords, and Even as a Pilot. Advocates Say It’s a Conflict of Interest.

Philadelphia Inquirer – Sarah Nicell | Published: 8/5/2024

More than half of the Pennsylvania General Assembly reports an outside business interest or alternative forms of income, according to an analysis of state lawmakers’ statements of financial interest. Other states restrict or ban secondary employment, but Pennsylvania is one of 25 states allowing legislators to take on other careers with no limitations. Pennsylvania is the third highest-paid Legislature in the country with a $102,000 annual salary for lawmakers. Even so, the General Assembly gathers fewer than 50 days a year, giving some members time to partake in personal endeavors, which has raised ethical concerns.

Tennessee – TN Education Chief Repaid $2k in Travel, Attorney Says Complaint Politically Motivated

MSN – Vivian Jones (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 8/8/2024

Tennessee Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds repaid ExelinEd, her former employer, for travel and expenses for two out-of-state conferences after an ethics complaint said the expenditures constituted an illegal gift. State ethics law prohibits public officials from accepting gifts from lobbyists or employers of lobbyists. ExcelinEd employs a lobbyist registered in Tennessee who advocated for Gov. Bill Lee’s statewide universal school voucher proposal.

Campaign Finance

California: “Govern for California, Group Under Investigation by State, Bundling Donations to SF Candidates” by Joe Rivano Barros for Mission Local

National: “FBI Searches Rep. Ogles’s Phone as Part of Campaign Finance Probe, Lawyer Says” by Perry Stein and Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) for MSN

Hawaii: “Hawaii Carpenters Union PACs Are Training Candidates to Run for Office” by Chad Blair and Blaze Lovell for Honolulu Civil Beat

New Mexico: “Federal Judge Sends Dark Money Group Lawsuit Back to State Court” by Marjorie Childress (New Mexico In Depth) for Source New Mexico

Elections

Arizona: “Arizona Grand Jurors Discussed Indicting Trump, but Prosecutors Urged Them Not To” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) for MSN

Georgia: “Georgia Election Board Clears County Officials to Delay Vote Certification with Information Demands” by Stanley Dunlap (Georgia Recorder) for Yahoo News

National: “Elon Musk’s X Accused of Bias After Pro-Harris Accounts Labeled as ‘Spam'” by Trisha Thadani (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

Florida: “Miami Ballot Measures Propose New, More Robust Inspector General’s Office” by Catherine Odom (Miami Herald) for Yahoo News

Campaign Finance

California: “SF Political Group That Bankrolled DA Recall on Hook for $54K Ethics Fine” by Joe Rivano Barros for Mission Local

California: “LA Council Member Kevin de Leon’s Ballot Measure Shell Game” by Will McCarthy (Politico) for MSN

National: “Drag Queens Unite to Form Political Action Committee Ahead of 2024 Election” by Albert Sema Jr. for OpenSecrets

Elections

National: “Harris Decides on Tim Walz as Running Mate” by John King, Jeff Zeleny, Jamie Gangel, MJ Lee, Daniel Strauss, Gregory Krieg, and Kristen Holmes (CNN) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Justice Thomas Failed to Reveal More Private Flights, Senator Says” by Abbie VanSickle (New York Times) for DNyuz

New York: “Non-Profit Started by Eric Adams’ Brother Auctioned Off Dinner with the Mayor During Hamptons Party” by Craig McCarthy (New York Post) for MSN

New York: “Supreme Court Nixes Effort to Stall Trump’s Sentencing in Hush Money Case” by Josh Gerstein Politico) for MSN

Lobbying

California: “What Does a California Lobbyist Do?” by Laurie Lauletta-Boshart for Comstock’s Magazine

Elections

Arizona: “Arizona Judges Allow More Access to Voting, Much to Republicans’ Dismay” by Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) for KAWC

New York: “Asian Americans Mobilize After NY Lawmaker Allegedly Bites Cop” by Emily Ngo (Politico) for MSN

Ethics

California: “California Lawmakers Got Ticket Freebies as They Cracked Down on Ticketmaster’s Taylor Swift Debacle” by Lara Korte (Politico) for MSN

National: “Hearing Set to Discuss Next Steps in Trump’s Federal Election Case” by Alan Feurer (New York Times) for DNyuz

Maryland: “Fired Health Commissioner May Have Violated Baltimore’s Ethics Laws” by Lee Sanderlin and Adam Willis for Baltimore Banner

Pennsylvania: “Pa. Lawmakers Moonlight as Lawyers, Landlords, and Even as a Pilot. Advocates Say It’s a Conflict of Interest.” by Sarah Nicell for Philadelphia Inquirer

Lobbying

National: “Conway Registers as Lobbyist for Ukrainian Billionaire with Past Ties to Trump” by Soo Rin Kim, Lalee Ibssa, and Kelsey Walsh (ABC News) for Yahoo News

National: “About Half of US State AGs Went on France Trip Sponsored by Group with Lobbyist and Corporate Funds” by Geoff Mulvihill (Associated Press) for MSN

On August 5, a proposed rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) concerning transparency when using artificial intelligence(AI)-generated content in political advertising was published in the U.S. Federal Register.

The FCC’s proposal would require broadcasters to provide an on-air announcement for any political ad containing AI-generated content disclosing the use of such content in the ad.

This includes advertising for candidates and for issues.

The rule would apply to broadcast and satellite radio and television stations and services, cable operators, and certain permit holders transmitting programming.

The Commission is also proposing to require these licensees and regulatees to include a notice in their online political files for all political ads that include AI-generated content disclosing that the ad contains such content.

Public comments can be made on or before September 4, 2024, by mail or at the FCC’s website at https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.

Campaign Finance

Colorado: “Divided Appeals Court Strikes Down Campaign Disclosure Requirement in Colorado Law” by Michael Karlik for Colorado Politics

New York: “Mayor Adams’ 2021 Campaign Flagged for $2.3 Million Gap in Fundraising Records” by Brigid Bergin for Gothamist

Elections

National: “Without ‘Zuckerbucks,’ Limited Private Funding Available for Elections” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “$10M Cash Withdrawal Drove Secret Probe into Whether Trump Took Money from Egypt” by Aaron Davis and Carol Leonnig (Washington Post) for MSN

Maryland: “Baltimore County Executive Appointed Employee of Firefighter Who Received Secret Settlement [from] Ethics Commission” by Lia Russell and Cassidy Jensen (Baltimore Sun) for MSN

New York: “Former Addison Clerk Forfeits Pension After ‘Stunning,’ ‘Shameless’ Theft of $1.1 Million” by Jeff Smith for Corning Leader

Ohio: “An Ousted FirstEnergy CEO Signed a Deal Blaming His Mentor for a Bribery Scheme. He Said the Feds Never Talked to Him” by Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Redistricting

National: “Court Rules Against Black and Hispanic Voters in Redistricting Case” by Patrick Marley and Maegan Vazquez (Washington Post) for MSN

National/Federal

K Street Pivots for a Possible Harris Administration

DNyuz – Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 7/26/2024

Vice President Kamala Harris has forsworn direct donations from lobbyists, but they are welcoming her candidacy and Washington’s influence industry has quietly jockeyed to position itself with her team. Officials at some of the biggest law and lobbying firms have endorsed her presidential campaign and are raising money for it, using loopholes to get around the campaign’s policy of not accepting donations from lobbyists. Some lobbying firms have highlighted their connections to Harris, drawing the ire of allies seeking to avoid the perception that she is beholden to special interests.

Judge Throws Out Gateway Pundit’s Bankruptcy Claim

MSN – Sarah Ellison (Washington Post) | Published: 7/25/2024

A federal judge threw out a bankruptcy case filed by the Gateway Pundit, ruling the site, which is known for spreading conspiracy theories, sought bankruptcy protection in “bad faith” to avoid having to pay potential damages in defamation suits related to the site’s reporting on the 2020 election. The ruling means that defamation cases from two Georgia election workers, as well as one from a former Dominion Voting Systems executive, can proceed. The defamation cases had been held up while the bankruptcy case was ongoing.

Biden Endorses Supreme Court Reforms, Amendment to Limit Immunity

MSN – Tyler Pager (Washington Post) | Published: 7/29/2024

President Biden endorsed sweeping changes to the U.S. Supreme Court, calling for 18-year term limits for the justices and a binding, enforceable ethics code for the high court. He is also pushing for a constitutional amendment that would prohibit blanket immunity for presidents, a rebuke of the court after it ruled former President Trump is immune from prosecution for official acts.

Trump Faces Backlash for ‘In Four Years, You Don’t Have to Vote Again’ Remark

MSN – Maegan Vazquez and Sarah Ellison (Washington Post) | Published: 7/27/2024

Democratic lawmakers and Vice President Harris’s campaign joined a chorus of online critics in calling out remarks Donald Trump aimed at a Christian audience, arguing the former president had implied he would end elections in the United States if he won a second term. At the conclusion of his speech, Trump said, “Christians, get out and vote, just this time. You won’t have to do it anymore. … You got to get out and vote. In four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good you’re not going to have to vote.”

Justice Dept. Settles with Ex-FBI Officials Over Leak of Anti-Trump Texts

MSN – Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 7/26/2024

The Justice Department agreed to settle claims by former senior FBI special agent Peter Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page, who had filed lawsuits accusing the government of violating their privacy rights by leaking their politically charged text messages criticizing Donald Trump. Strzok will receive a $1.2 million settlement and Page $800,000.

A Parody Ad Shared by Elon Musk Clones Kamala Harris’ Voice, Raising Concerns About AI in Politics

MSN – Ali Swenson (Associated Press) | Published: 7/29/2024

A video that uses an artificial intelligence (AI) voice-cloning tool to mimic the voice of Vice President Kamala Harris saying things she did not say is raising concerns about the power of AI to mislead with Election Day about three months away. The video gained attention after Elon Musk shared it on his social media platform X without noting it was originally released as parody. The video uses many of the same visuals as a real ad that Harris released launching her presidential campaign. But the fake ad swaps out Harris’ voice-over audio with an AI-generated voice that convincingly impersonates Harris.

Trump Media Quietly Enters Deal with a Republican Donor Who Could Benefit from a Second Trump Administration

MSN – Justin Elliott, Robert Faturechi, and Alex Mierjeski (ProPublica) | Published: 7/30/2024

Donald Trump’s media company made its first major purchase: technology to help stream TV on Truth Social from an obscure entity called JedTec LLC. The company has virtually no public footprint and no website, and it is unknown to streaming technology experts. The man behind JedTec is energy magnate James Davison, a major Republican donor. The acquisition will put Trump’s company in a business relationship with someone with numerous interests before the federal government.

More Congressional Staff? Conservatives Are Coming Around to the Idea

MSN – Jim Saska (Roll Call) | Published: 7/30/2024

Thanks to a conservative Supreme Court, Congress may do something it has not done in living memory: dramatically increase the size of the legislative branch. A handful of decisions, most notably one that ended the practice of judges deferring to federal agencies’ interpretations of ambiguous statutes, have set the stage for a tsunami of litigation challenging regulations and administrative rulings in the coming years. One potential response that seems to have consensus is that Congress needs more expertise and capacity, and that means more staff.

Project 2025 to End Policy Work after Democratic Attacks Angered Trump

MSN – Isaac Arnsdorf and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 7/30/2024

The right-wing policy operation that became a rallying cry for Democrats and a nuisance for Republican nominee Donald Trump is trying to escape the public spotlight and repair relations with Trump’s campaign. Project 2025, a collaboration led by the Heritage Foundation among conservative groups to develop a blueprint for the next Republican administration, is winding down its policy operations. The Heritage Foundation also recently distributed new talking points encouraging participants to emphasize that the project does not speak for Trump.

Justice Kagan Calls for a Way to Enforce Supreme Court Ethics Code

MSN – Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 7/25/2024

Justice Elena Kagan said she would support the creation of a committee of judges to examine potential violations of the Supreme Court’s new ethics code, speaking out on a contentious subject as President Biden and others called for reform at the high court. Kagan suggested Chief Justice John Roberts could appoint an outside panel of respected, experienced judges to review allegations of wrongdoing by the justices, some of whom have faced questions in recent years over unreported gifts of luxury travel, book deals, and potential conflicts-of-interest in key cases.

States Break Out New Tactics to Thwart Abortion Ballot Measures

MSN – Alice Miranda Ollstein (Politico) | Published: 7/31/2024

In nearly every state where the question of abortion rights could be put to a popular vote this November, conservatives are deploying several strategies, from suing to have signatures thrown out in Montana and South Dakota to refusing to count signatures in Arkansas, as they attempt to block ballot initiatives that would restore or expand access to the procedure. The moves underscore the challenging position anti-abortion activists face. They suffered losses in in red and purple states that voted decisively in favor of abortion rights.

Four Years Later, IG Report Says Barr Did Not Order Lafayette Square Cleared

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 7/31/2024

An internal Justice Department probe has found that Trump administration Attorney General William Barr did not personally order protesters cleared from the park near the White House during the 2020 racial justice protests, despite the agency’s claim at the time he did. The inspector general report released more than four years after the protests concluded the police response was hampered by miscommunication, poor leadership, and unprepared law enforcement officers.

In an Attempt to Reverse the Supreme Court’s Immunity Decision, Schumer Introduces the No Kings Act

MSN – Mary Clare Jalonick (Associated Press) | Published: 8/1/2024

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced legislation reaffirming that presidents do not have immunity for criminal actions, an attempt to reverse the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling. The No Kings Act would attempt to invalidate the decision by declaring that presidents are not immune from criminal law and clarifying that Congress, not the Supreme Court, determines to whom federal criminal law is applied.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Audit Finds Horizon Ottawa Apparently Violated Campaign Finance Rules During 2022 Municipal Election

CTV – William Eltherinton | Published: 7/30/2024

An election compliance audit into spending of third-party advertiser Horizon Ottawa found the organization appears to have violated campaign finance rules during the 2022 Ottawa municipal elections. The audit was called following a complaint accusing the group of benefiting from an event called “Horizonfest” in September 2022.

Arizona – Arizona County Official Who Took on Election Skeptics Loses Primary

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 7/31/2024

A top Republican election official in Arizona’s most populous county known for his vigorous defense of elections lost his primary election to a state lawmaker who called elections in the county “a laughingstock.”  Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, who faced death threats and endless harassment for doing his job, lost his reelection bid to Rep. Justin Heap, an attorney aligned with the state Legislature’s ultraconservative Freedom Caucus. Heap has voted for legislation that grew out of false election theories.

California – Boost in Power for San Diego Ethics Commission Heading to November Ballot

MSN – David Garrick (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 7/30/2024

San Diego voters will get a chance in November to boost the independence and power of the city’s Ethics Commission. The city council voted unanimously to place on the ballot a measure that would bar elected leaders from eliminating the commission and require them to adequately fund it. The measure would also change who appoints the panel’s executive director. Instead of being chosen by elected leaders, the executive director would be selected by members of the commission.

California – Shelter Lease Negotiator’s Dual Roles Raise Questions About Conflicts of Interest

MSN – Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 7/28/2024

The architect of the decades-long proposed lease for a massive warehouse that would shelter homeless people is a local business icon who has served on more public and nonprofit boards than he can count. He is also a sitting member of the San Diego Housing Commission, which could lose millions of dollars a year in revenue if the city council approves Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposal for the long-vacant warehouse. Stephen Cushman was quietly hired as a paid consultant to the Gloria administration in June. The two roles Cushman is now performing may present a conflict that has yet to be publicly discussed.

California – Judge Overseeing Sheng Thao Recall Campaign Lawsuit Suddenly Recuses

MSN – Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) | Published: 7/26/2024

A judge who ruled in favor of the recall campaign targeting Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao recused herself from the case shortly before a key hearing. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Julia Spain’s abrupt decision came two days after she issued a tentative ruling siding with the recall campaign and quashing a subpoena from Oakland’s Public Ethics Commission seeking access to the recall campaign’s records.

California – Will Irvine Tighten Lobbying Rules?

Voice of OC – Angelina Hicks | Published: 7/29/2024

Irvine city officials have been eyeing their lobbying regulation, looking for ways to tighten rules nearly a year after Anaheim’s corruption scandal demonstrated a lack of lobbyist oversight in that city. Irvine’s current lobbying rules are not as strong as some other cities in California, leaving opportunities for loopholes and lacking oversight.

Delaware – Audit Finds Hall-Long’s Campaign Finances ‘Incomplete, Inaccurate, Misleading’

MSN – Amanda Fries (Delaware News Journal) | Published: 7/27/2024

A forensic audit finding Delaware gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long’s campaign finance reporting to be incomplete, inconsistent, inaccurate, and misleading has prompted state attorneys to seek reform to Delaware’s election laws. The state Department of Elections hired Forensic Litigation Consultants’ Jeffrey Lampinski to audit Hall-Long’s campaign finances as concerns mounted over the campaign committee’s handling of the finances.

Florida – Fitting or Chilling? Miami-Dade Ethics Panel Issues First-Ever Fine for ‘Frivolous’ Complaint

Florida Politics – Jesse Scheckner | Published: 7/29/2024

The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust in July did something it has never done in its nearly three decades of existence. The commission ordered Juan-Carlos Planas, a candidate for supervisor of elections, to pay $5,675 to cover the legal fees of former Miami Beach City Commissioner Michael Góngora. Some say it represents the first step toward stopping people from using the panel to generate negative headlines about political opponents. Others believe it will cast a chilling effect on people who would otherwise file valid complaints in the future.

Florida – Why an Ethics Agency Says DeSantis Didn’t Need to Disclose Donor’s $28K Golf Simulator

Miami Herald – Alexandra Glorioso | Published: 7/31/2024

Gov. Ron DeSantis did not need to disclose that a $28,000 golf simulator installed in the Governor’s Mansion had been provided by a longtime political donor because the equipment was, in fact, a gift to the state, the Florida Commission on Ethics determined. The decision hinged in part on an interview with the donor, Morteza Hosseini, who said he initially intended for the governor to use the equipment but eventually wanted the simulator to be used more broadly by public employees, including the governor’s security detail.

Illinois – Who’s Paying for Chicago’s DNC? Voters Won’t Have the Full Picture till It’s Long Over

WBEZ – Mitchell Armentrout | Published: 7/29/2024

Once subsidized by taxpayers, major-party national conventions are now almost fully funded by wealthy donors, corporations, labor unions, and other influential groups. But who is chipping in to cover the potentially record-breaking bill for Chicago’s Democratic National Convention will not be fully known until two months after the convention ends.

Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Political Campaign Paid a Firm for Fundraising Help While It Lobbied City Hall, Spurring Calls for Reform

Yahoo News – Alice Yin (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 7/28/2024

Mercury Public Affairs, a New York City-based political strategy firm, has been lobbying Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson since July 2023 on economic and labor causes. Starting this year, the company’s consulting division also worked for Johnson’s political fund. Wearing both hats, though uncommon, is not a violation of state or city ethics codes. But it is a dynamic that good government watchdogs said raises concerns about the appearance of a conflict-of-interest for a firm seeking to influence the mayor’s office while also working to raise money for him.

Kansas – Why ‘A’ Versus ‘The’ Makes Big Difference in Court for Kansas Campaign Finance Law

MSN – Jason Alatidd (Topeka Capital-Journal) | Published: 8/1/2024

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order that blocks Kansas from requiring a neighborhood nonprofit to disclose its donors until a trial is held on the constitutionality of the state’s definition of a PAC. Under the order, the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission cannot require Fresh Vision OP to file as a political committee based on express political advocacy being “a major purpose” instead of “the major purpose” of the organization.

Kentucky – Sources: KY representative under investigation for inappropriate interactions with women

MSN – Alex Acquisto and Austin Horn (Lexington Herald-Leader) | Published: 7/30/2024

State Rep. Daniel Grossberg is under investigation by the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission for inappropriate interactions with women. Three women said they have been asked about specific actions, questionable behavior, and text messages sent by Grossberg. The women shared text messages from Grossberg they described as “weird” or “creepy.” They often came late at night, and Grossberg remarked on their physical looks.

Maine – Maine Gets Tougher on the Spending for Small Town Ballot Measures

Bangor Daily News – Jules Walkup | Published: 7/29/2024

Campaign finance regulators in Maine are starting to investigate violations of a new law passed last year that requires people and groups who pay to influence ballot questions in small towns to disclose their names and addresses. The law was passed in response to the recent efforts of Maine’s largest internet provider, Charter Communications, to use big campaign tactics to quash municipal broadband proposals in communities such as Southport and Readfield.

Michigan – Federal Judges Approve New State Senate Map After Court-Ordered Redraw

Detroit News – Beth LeBlanc | Published: 7/26/2024

A federal appeals court panel signed off on a redrawn Michigan Senate political map that was reworked after judges ruled that six Detroit-area districts were unconstitutional because they were drawn on the basis of race. Members of the redistricting commission celebrated the decision. “I think we have done a good job of giving the citizens of Michigan a fair, nonpartisan map that they can have complete confidence in,” said Commissioner Donna Callaghan.

Missouri – Federal Court Strikes Down Missouri Lobbying Ban for Former Lawmakers as Rights Violation

Yahoo News – Jonathan Shorman (Kansas City Star) | Published: 7/29/2024

A federal appeals court panel struck down a Missouri law that prohibits current lawmakers and employees of the General Assembly from paid lobbying during their time of service and for two years after they leave office. The judges found the ban is too broad and the state failed to clear the high bar required for restrictions of First Amendment rights.

New Jersey – Judge Throws Out Corruption Case Against N.J. Rabbi Before Jurors Begin to Deliberate

MSN – Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 7/31/2024

In a surprise move that called into question a nearly decade-long pursuit by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office of Osher Eisemann, charged with pocketing public funds from his private school for children with developmental disabilities, a judge tossed out all charges against the rabbi. The decision followed a long-fought battle that saw Eisemann convicted in 2019 before having that verdict overturned on appeal. During the second trial, his lawyers argued no crime had been committed. One of the state’s detectives testified there had been no crime and that he had “no idea why any of us are here.”

New Mexico – City Ethics Board Member Resigns Following Complaint Over Prohibited Campaign Donation

Santa Fe New Mexican – Carina Julig | Published: 7/29/2024

A member of the Santa Fe Ethics and Campaign Review Board stepped down days after a complaint called for her and other board members to be removed over a campaign donation she made last year. Kristina Martinez, an attorney who has served on the ethics board for years, donated $500 to city council candidate Geno Zamora’s campaign. Board members are prohibited from making donations to municipal candidates.

New York – NY Judge Hands Former NRA Head Wayne LaPierre a 10 Year Ban but Declines to Appoint Monitor

MSN – Jake Offenhartz (Associated Press) | Published: 7/29/2024

A New York judge banned Wayne LaPierre, the former head of the National Rifle Association, from holding a paid position with the organization for a decade but declined to appoint an independent monitor to oversee the gun rights group. The first phase of the trial, decided in February by a jury, found LaPierre and another deputy liable for misspending millions of dollars on lavish trips and other personal expenses.

New York – Prosecutors Say Immunity Ruling Has No Bearing on Trump’s Conviction

Spokane Spokesman-Review – Ben Protess and Jesse McKinley (New York Times) | Published: 7/25/2024

Manhattan prosecutors are urging the judge who oversaw Donald Trump’s criminal hush-money trial to uphold his conviction, seeking to cast doubt on the former president’s long-shot bid to overturn the case because of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Although the high court’s ruling was a blow to a separate criminal case against Trump in Washington, the Manhattan charges did not hinge on official acts. Instead, the Manhattan prosecutors noted, he was convicted of covering up a sex scandal that had threatened to derail his 2016 campaign, a personal and political crisis that did not involve his conduct as president.

Ohio – FirstEnergy ‘Successfully Completed’ Terms of Its Deal with Feds Over Bribery Schemes, Prosecutors Say

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 7/22/2024

Prosecutors said FirstEnergy “successfully completed” the terms of a deal struck when the company admitted to separate schemes to bribe a top state regulator and the Ohio House speaker. Prosecutors released the utility from some of its obligations under its deferred prosecution agreement. But they are not dropping the charge of honest services wire fraud against the company until the completion of any investigation, criminal prosecution, or civil lawsuit related to the bribery scandal.

Ohio – Republican Ohio Lawmakers Ponder Proposing Second Redistricting Amendment to Foil Another One They Don’t Like

MSN – Andrew Tobias (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 7/25/2024

Ohio Republicans are considering trying to foil a redistricting reform amendment that recently qualified for the November ballot by putting up a separate redistricting proposal of their own to compete with it, according to a state lawmaker who said she has discussed the plans with legislative leadership. The “Citizens Not Politicians” amendment would replace the Ohio Redistricting Commission, a panel of elected officials that is currently controlled by Republicans, with a citizen’s commission that would be made up of equal parts Republicans, Democrats, and independents.

Oklahoma – Despite Support from AG, Legislators Once Again Barred from Board Executive Session

MSN – Murray Evans (Oklahoman) | Published: 7/31/2024

Sen. Mary Boren is weighing her legal options after the state Board of Education, for a second straight month, denied her entry into an executive session, despite support from Oklahoma’s attorney general. The attorney general’s office has been clear that lawmakers should be allowed to attend at least some executive sessions, pointing to a section of the state’s Open Meetings Act.

Oregon – Portland Withdraws Lobbying Violation Against Shelter Operator Urban Alchemy

Oregon Public Broadcasting – Alex Zielinski | Published: 7/24/2024

City Auditor Simone Rede walked back her recent ruling that a California-based contractor hired by the city to run several outdoor homeless shelters violated Portland’s lobbying rules. Rede announced in May her office found Urban Alchemy failed to report spending nearly $4,000 when it dispatched a team of employees in 2022 to pitch Portland officials on choosing it as an alternative shelter operator for the city.

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania Presidential Election Results Could Again Take Days to Count

MSN – Colby Itkowitz and Derek Hawkins (Washington Post) | Published: 7/27/2024

When the polls closed on election night in 2020, Donald Trump appeared to be winning Pennsylvania. But over the next several days, as officials counted mail-in ballots, his lead shrunk and then disappeared. By Saturday, Joe Biden was the clear winner of Pennsylvania and with it, the presidency. The delay was caused by a quirk of Pennsylvania’s election law, which forbids the opening of mail-in ballots until seven a.m. on the day of the election.

Tennessee – What Can a City Do When Neo-Nazis Start Marching Down Its Streets?

Yahoo News – Emily Cochrane | Published: 8/1/2024

Neo-Nazi groups descended on Nashville recently, parading along the city’s famed strip of honky-tonks and celebrity-owned bars. The neo-Nazis disrupted a city council meeting, harassed descendants of Holocaust survivors, and yelled racist slurs at Black children performing on a street. The appearance of white nationalists on the streets of a major American city laid bare the growing brazenness of the Patriot Front and the Goyim Defense League. Their provocations enraged and alarmed civic leaders and residents in Nashville, causing the city to grapple with how to confront the groups without violating free speech protections.

Wisconsin – Andre Jacque May Be Using His State Campaign Fund to Help Out with His Congressional Race

Yahoo News – Lawrence Andrea and Daniel Bice (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) | Published: 7/29/2024

As Andre Jacque struggles to gain fundraising steam in his Wisconsin congressional primary race, he appears to be turning to his old state Senate campaign coffers for help. Campaign finance records show that, beginning in March, Jacque doled out $23,500 from his state Senate campaign account to friends, family, and fellow lawmakers, who then donated that amount and more to his federal congressional campaign.

Elections

Arizona: “Arizona County Official Who Took on Election Skeptics Loses Primary” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Project 2025 to End Policy Work after Democratic Attacks Angered Trump” by Isaac Arnsdorf and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “States Break Out New Tactics to Thwart Abortion Ballot Measures” by Alice Miranda Ollstein (Politico) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Justice Kagan Calls for a Way to Enforce Supreme Court Ethics Code” by Ann Marimow (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “Fitting or Chilling? Miami-Dade Ethics Panel Issues First-Ever Fine for ‘Frivolous’ Complaint” by Jesse Scheckner for Florida Politics

Kentucky: “Sources: KY representative under investigation for inappropriate interactions with women” by Alex Acquisto and Austin Horn (Lexington Herald-Leader) for MSN

New York: “Prosecutors Say Immunity Ruling Has No Bearing on Trump’s Conviction” by Ben Protess and Jesse McKinley (New York Times) for Spokane Spokesman-Review

Redistricting

Ohio: “Republican Ohio Lawmakers Ponder Proposing Second Redistricting Amendment to Foil Another One They Don’t Like” by Andrew Tobias (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Campaign Finance

New Mexico: “City Ethics Board Member Resigns Following Complaint Over Prohibited Campaign Donation” by Carina Julig for Santa Fe New Mexican

Elections

National: “A Parody Ad Shared by Elon Musk Clones Kamala Harris’ Voice, Raising Concerns About AI in Politics” by Ali Swenson (Associated Press) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Boost in Power for San Diego Ethics Commission Heading to November Ballot” by David Garrick (San Diego Union-Tribune) for MSN

National: “Trump Media Quietly Enters Deal with a Republican Donor Who Could Benefit from a Second Trump Administration” by Justin Elliott, Robert Faturechi, and Alex Mierjeski (ProPublica) for MSN

New York: “NY Judge Hands Former NRA Head Wayne LaPierre a 10 Year Ban but Declines to Appoint Monitor” by Jake Offenhartz (Associated Press) for MSN

Legislative Issues

National: “More Congressional Staff? Conservatives Are Coming Around to the Idea” by Jim Saska (Roll Call) for MSN

Lobbying

California: “Will Irvine Tighten Lobbying Rules?” by Angelina Hicks for Voice of OC

Missouri: “Federal Court Strikes Down Missouri Lobbying Ban for Former Lawmakers as Rights Violation” by Jonathan Shorman (Kansas City Star) for Yahoo News

On September 16, federal by-elections will be held in the electoral districts of Elmwood–Transcona (Manitoba) and LaSalle–Émard–Verdun (Quebec) to fill vacancies in the Canadian House of Commons.

On February 1, 2024, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Stéphane Perrault, received official notice from the Speaker of the House of Commons that the seat for LaSalle–Émard–Verdun (Quebec) was vacant.

Perrault subsequently received official notice of the vacancy of the federal seat for Elmwood–Transcona on April 3, 2024.

However, the dates for the election were not announced until Sunday, July 28.

David Lametti, who held the seat in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun (Quebec), had announced his retirement in January.

Daniel Blaikie resigned his seat for Elmwood–Transcona (Manitoba) at the end of March to work as an advisor to Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew.

The announcement date of the by-elections signals the start of the by-election period.

Campaign Finance

California: “Judge Overseeing Sheng Thao Recall Campaign Lawsuit Suddenly Recuses” by Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) for MSN

Illinois: “Who’s Paying for Chicago’s DNC? Voters Won’t Have the Full Picture till It’s Long Over” by Mitchell Armentrout for WBEZ

Maine: “Maine Gets Tougher on the Spending for Small Town Ballot Measures” by Jules Walkup for Bangor Daily News

Wisconsin: “Andre Jacque May Be Using His State Campaign Fund to Help Out with His Congressional Race” by Lawrence Andrea and Daniel Bice (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) for Yahoo News

Elections

National: “Judge Throws Out Gateway Pundit’s Bankruptcy Claim” by Sarah Ellison (Washington Post) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Presidential Election Results Could Again Take Days to Count” by Colby Itkowitz and Derek Hawkins (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Shelter Lease Negotiator’s Dual Roles Raise Questions About Conflicts of Interest” by Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) for MSN

National: “Justice Dept. Settles with Ex-FBI Officials Over Leak of Anti-Trump Texts” by Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Delaware: “Audit Finds Hall-Long’s Campaign Finances ‘Incomplete, Inaccurate, Misleading'” by Amanda Fries (Delaware News Journal) for MSN

Kansas: “Judge Issues Temporary Order Blocking Enforcement of a Kansas Campaign Finance Law” by Tim Carpenter for Kansas Reflector

Elections

National: “Trump Faces Backlash for ‘In Four Years, You Don’t Have to Vote Again’ Remark” by Maegan Vazquez and Sarah Ellison (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Biden Endorses Supreme Court Reforms, Amendment to Limit Immunity” by Tyler Pager (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Political Campaign Paid a Firm for Fundraising Help While It Lobbied City Hall, Spurring Calls for Reform” by Alice Yin (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

Ohio: “FirstEnergy ‘Successfully Completed’ Terms of Its Deal with Feds Over Bribery Schemes, Prosecutors Say” by Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “K Street Pivots for a Possible Harris Administration” by Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) for DNyuz

Oregon: “Portland Withdraws Lobbying Violation Against Shelter Operator Urban Alchemy” by Alex Zielinski for Oregon Public Broadcasting

National/Federal

Can Robert Menendez’s Bribery Conviction Survive an Appeal?

DNyuz – Benjamin Weiser (New York Times) | Published: 7/22/2024

With U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, found guilty of corruption charges, his lawyers say they will appeal his conviction aggressively and believe he will be vindicated. Defense lawyers make such claims routinely, but in the realm of federal corruption cases, they may have reason to be optimistic. The U.S. Supreme Court, in rulings since 2010, has narrowed the legal definition of corruption, resulting in a number of convictions of political figures being overturned.

The Secret Battle for the Future of the Murdoch Empire

DNyuz – Jim Rutenberg and Jonathan Mahler (New York Tims) | Published: 7/24/2024

Rupert Murdoch is locked in a legal battle against three of his children over the future of the family’s media empire, as he moves to preserve it as a conservative political force after his death. Murdoch made a surprise move to change the terms of the irrevocable family trust to ensure his eldest son and chosen successor, Lachlan, would remain in charge of his collection of television networks and newspapers. He is arguing in court that only by empowering Lachlan to run the company without interference from his more politically moderate siblings can he preserve its conservative editorial bent, and thus protect its commercial value for all his heirs.

Corporate Donors Swarm GOP Convention: ‘It’s like a cocktail party’

MSN – Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 7/18/2024

Many corporate donors treated Trump as a pariah after attack on the Capitol and decried his efforts to overturn the election. But now that Trump is the Republican standard-bearer, more than 300 executives and lobbyists attended the convention as guests of his campaign. Lobbyists from more than a dozen prominent firms attended the convention as guests of the Trump campaign’s host committee. To get in the boxes, donors must have written large checks or have promised big donations.

Election Officials Frustrated Trump Allies Suddenly Care About Rhetoric

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 7/19/2024

Soon after Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt, many of his prominent supporters placed blame not on the gunman who pulled the trigger but on President Biden, other Democrats. or journalists who have described the former president as a threat to democracy. But for years, election workers felt ignored as they described how Trump’s verbal attacks on the nation’s election systems resulted in threats of violence and terrorizing harassment. Now, Trump’s prominent supporters were paying attention to the potential ramifications of rhetoric but without acknowledging how their words had contributed to the nation’s toxic divisions.

Democrats Coalesce Around Harris, as She Kicks Off Bid with Attacks on Trump

MSN – Toluse Olorunnipa (Washington Post) | Published: 7/22/2024

The Democratic Party largely coalesced around Vice President Kamala Harris as its likely new presidential nominee as she kicked off her campaign by promising to prosecute a forceful case against Donald Trump and defend the legacy of President Biden. Harris secured pledges of support from a majority of Democratic National Convention delegates, a strong show of unity behind her presidential campaign that signals she is likely to officially become the party’s nominee in August.

FCC Commissioner Wrote a Project 2025 Chapter – Democrats Want Him Investigated Over It

MSN – Alison Durkee (Forbes) | Published: 7/17/2024

House Democrats called for an ethics investigation into Federal Communications Commission leader Brendan Carr, arguing he improperly used his office after he authored a chapter in the controversial Project 2025 policy agenda that lays out a blueprint for former Donald Trump to overhaul the executive branch. Carr’s actions may have violated ethics laws for federal employees and the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from using their office for political activities, the lawmakers argued.

Secret Service Director Cheatle Resigns with ‘Heavy Heart’ After Trump Rally Shooting

MSN – Maria Sacchetti, Carol Leonnig, Nick Miroff, and Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 7/23/2024

U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump. The attack was the first against a U.S. leader on the elite protective agency’s watch in more than 40 years. Cheatle, a veteran Secret Service agent, had called the security failure involving a gunman shooting from an apparently unsecured roof at a Trump campaign rally on July 13 unacceptable and acknowledged “the buck stops with me.”

$30 Million Gift Will Fund Center to Push for Supreme Court Overhaul

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 7/23/2024

A business executive and philanthropist pledged $30 million to launch a first-of-its-kind center pushing to overhaul the Supreme Court, after a series of ethics controversies and conservative rulings prompted rising scrutiny of the justices. The major gift from Jim Kohlberg, chairperson of a private equity firm, will fund research, public outreach, and policy advocacy over a decade at the Brennan Center for Justice. The announcement comes amid a flurry of Democratic activity related to reshaping the court.

Bob Menendez to Resign Senate Seat Following Federal Bribery Conviction

MSN – Abbie Cheeseman and Nicole Markus (Washington Post) | Published: 7/23/2024

Sen. Bob Menendez plans to resign effective August 20. He was convicted of taking bribes from three businesspeople who showered him and his wife with cash, gold bars, and a Mercedes-Benz, an extravagant bounty for his help securing deals with foreign officials and trying to derail several criminal investigations in New Jersey. A jury found Menendez guilty on 16 felony counts, including bribery, extortion, and working as a foreign agent on behalf of Egypt.

Trump Allies Crush Misinformation Research Despite Supreme Court Loss

MSN – Cat Zakrzewski and Naomi Nix (Washington Post) | Published: 7/24/2024

A legal campaign led by allies of Donald Trump is attempting to cast the study of misinformation as part of a broader conspiracy to censor conservative voices online. It has transformed the daily life and work of those who worked at tracking election misinformation online, a field now reeling as the 2024 presidential race enters its final months. False rumors and disinformation have proliferated online as the nation reels from the assassination attempt on Trump and President Biden’s withdrawal from the race.

GOP Eyes Legal Challenges as Harris Assumes Control of Biden’s War Chest

MSN – Maeve Reston (Washington Post) | Published: 7/21/2024

Within hours of President Biden announcing his decision to leave the race, his reelection committee submitting an amended filing to the FEC changing its name to “Harris for President” so Vice President Harris would have access to the millions of dollars in the fund. Several campaign finance lawyers aligned with Republicans argue the campaign does not have legal authority to do that and the maneuver is all but certain to be challenged before the FEC or in court.

Biden’s 50 Years in Politics Defined by Triumph, Tragedy and a Reluctant Exit

MSN – Toluse Olorunnipa (Washington Post) | Published: 7/21/2024

President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race marks the sunset of a consequential career in public service that spanned more than 50 years. The move caps a turbulent journey in Washington for a self-described “great respecter of fate” who acquiesced to the conclusion drawn by many Democratic leaders and allies that, at 81 and showing increasing signs of aging, he did not have a viable path to defeating Donald Trump.

DOJ Review Blames Stone Sentencing Flip on Poor Leadership, Not Politics

MSN – Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 7/24/2024

The Justice Department’s inspector general blamed “ineffectual leadership” and not political interference for the softening of Roger Stone’s sentencing recommendation in February 2020 after his conviction for lying to Congress. The report upheld an account by then-Attorney General William Barr but also found that line prosecutors’ suspicions of political meddling by Donald Trump’s administration were not unreasonable.

Ex-Mass. Congressional Candidate Sentenced for Using Campaign Donations to Pay Debts

MSN – Susannah Sudborough (MassLive) | Published: 7/23/2024

Abhijit Das, a former Massachusetts congressional candidate, was sentenced to 21 months in prison with a fine of $25,000 for breaking federal campaign finance law, including by using political donations to pay back money he owed from running his hotel business. While running for office in December 2017, he devised a scheme to inflate his fundraising numbers that involved asking for personal loans from friends over the $2,700 limit set by federal law.

Ethics Commissions: Obliging government to control itself

National Conference of State Legislatures – Helen Brewer and Adam Kuckuk | Published: 7/23/2024

Government makes rules for the people, but who makes the rules for the government? In the Federalist Papers, James Madison saw this issue as one of the greatest challenges in creating a republic: “You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself.” One of the many ways state governments are obliged to control themselves is through ethics commissions. How these commissions are structured, the jurisdiction they have, how they operate, and what they cover varies greatly by state.

Campaign Finance Watchdog Raises Alarm About Recent FEC Super PAC Decisions

Ohio Capital Journal – Nick Evans | Published: 7/24/2024

Some campaign finance experts argue the FEC is fundamentally broken and is taking a wrecking ball to campaign spending rules. For years, the agency moved at a glacial pace and often deadlocked when it came to enforcement decisions. But more recently, a majority of commissioners have begun issuing decisions that consistently roll back political spending restrictions.

Activist Group Files Ethics Complaint After Member Accused of Accosting GOP Lawmaker

Yahoo News – Yash Roy (The Hill) | Published: 7/18/2024

Activist group Code Pink submitted a complaint against U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden to the House ethics committee over now-dismissed battery charges. The Milwaukee County district attorney’s office dismissed the misdemeanor battery charge against Code Pink activist Nour Jaghama after Van Orden accused her in a social media post of assaulting him outside the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Influencers Put on Notice, Guelph Lobbyist Registry Moves Forward

Guelph Today – Richard Vivian | Published: 7/24/2024

The Guelph City Council voted to establish a municipal lobbyist registry. The registry, which will come into being on October 1 but not be enforced until January 1, requires lobbyists with a financial interest to publicly report each time they attempt to influence a council member, along with identifying their employer and details about the subject at hand.

California – Democrats Run the California Capitol. When the Party Backs a Bill, Lawmakers Pay Attention

CalMatters – Ryan Sabalow | Published: 7/22/2024

The California Democratic Party is a multimillion-dollar powerhouse whose endorsements and campaign money can make or break a politician’s aspirations for state or federal office. The party also regularly throws its weight around on individual pieces of legislation in the state Capitol, where Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers. Few other organizations have weighed in on more legislation, making the party, whose primary function is electing Democrats, one of the most prolific, and successful, lobbying organizations at the statehouse.

California – Mark Farrell Doubles Down on Practice of Commingling Campaign Funds

Mission Local – Kelly Waldron | Published: 7/24/2024

San Francisco mayoral candidate Mark Farrell has continued a practice his opponents say amounts to skirting campaign finance limits. He pooled $160,895 in expenses between his mayoral race and a ballot measure he is backing. Rival campaigns allege this effectively allows Farrell to access larger sums from big-money donors, who are not hamstrung by the city’s contribution limits on giving to candidates directly.

California – Stockton Drafting Possible Transparency Rules for Political Consultants After Grand Jury Report

MSN – Aaron Leathley (Stockton Record) | Published: 7/18/2024

The Stockton City Council members took a first step toward creating new transparency rules for political consultants and possibly establishing a city ethics commission. The council’s legislative committee told interim City Clerk Katherine Roland to draft policies that would require consultants working with local candidates and politicians to reveal basic information about their businesses and clients.

California – LA County Supervisors Back a Ballot Measure to Add 4 Seats, Elect a County CEO

MSN – Steve Scauzillo (Los Angeles Daily News) | Published: 7/23/2024

Despite mounting opposition, a ballot measure that would increase the number of Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from five to nine members, create an elected, not appointed, county executive officer, and establish an ethics commission received its first vote of approval. It needs a second and final vote that is set for July 30 and the sweeping governance reform, the first multi-pronged charter reform package in more than 100 years that will change the face of county government, will go before voters on November 5.

California – Rep. Ken Calvert Has Secured Millions for His Riverside County District. Do His Own Properties Benefit?

Yahoo News – Laura Nelson (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 7/22/2024

Since Congress brought back the legislative process known as earmarking in 2022, few lawmakers have been as successful at securing funds for their district as Rep. Ken Calvert, who has been in Congress longer than any other California Republican. He has funneled more than $100 million since then into projects in his Riverside County district. The earmarks include $16 million in planned transportation improvements that fall within several miles of rental properties Calvert owns, raising questions about the extent to which he personally benefits from the earmarks he has secured.

Colorado – Colorado Campaign Donation Limits Case to Be Decided Later This Year

Colorado Sun – Sandra Fish | Published: 7/24/2024

A federal judge will decide after the November 5 general election whether Colorado’s political donation limits for candidates are legal. Three Republicans are challenging the limits enacted by voters in 2002 claiming they violate the First Amendment by limiting donors’ freedom of speech. Senior U.S. District Court Judge John Kane rejected their attempt to suspend the limits immediately.

District of Columbia – D.C. Prosecutor Accused of Misconduct at Trials of Anti-Trump Protesters

MSN – Peter Herman (Washington Post) | Published: 7/24/2024

A federal prosecutor who oversaw sweeping arrests of anti-Trump demonstrators in the nation’s capital manipulated evidence alongside a District of Columbia police detective in an apparent attempt to strengthen the case, according to an office that investigates misconduct complaints against attorneys in the city. Jennifer Kerkhoff Muyskens worked with a detective, Greggory Pemberton, to edit video of people planning protests of the president’s 2017 inauguration, and later falsely told the court about it, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel alleges.

Georgia – Georgia Democrats Sue to Overturn Law Allowing Unlimited Campaign Cash, Saying GOP Unfairly Benefits

MSN – Jeff Amy (Associated Press) | Published: 7/19/2024

Georgia Democrats are suing to overturn the ability of Gov. Brian Kemp and others to raise unlimited political contributions and spend them on behalf of any political cause. The Democratic Party of Georgia filed a federal lawsuit that asks a judge to declare a 2021 law that created leadership committees is unconstitutional because it unfairly gives unlimited fundraising powers to some people but not others.

Hawaii – Hawaii Contractors Are Still Big Contributors to Political Campaigns, Thanks to Loopholes in State Law

Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 7/24/2024

Hawaii banned contributions from contractors in 2005, but the Legislature wrote a loophole into the law that allowed officers, owners, employees, and family members to continue donating. A media investigation this year found nearly one-fifth of all campaign donations made since 2006 came from people tied to contractors. Efforts to close the loophole failed in the last two legislative sessions. Citing the New York Times and Honolulu Civil Beat investigation, lawmakers and government watchdog groups have said they will take up the issue again next year.

Illinois – Madigan Crony Asks for Severance from Upcoming Corruption Trial, Claiming Ex-Illinois Speaker’s Legal Team Could ‘Ambush’ Him

MSN – Jason Meisner, Ray Long, and Megan Crepeau (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 7/22/2024

Attorneys for Michael McClain asked that he be severed in his upcoming racketeering trial with former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, revealing for the first time that Madigan’s legal team may be planning to throw McClain under the bus. The motion said McClain’s right to a fair trial was in peril due to a theory of Madigan’s defense that would essentially make them “second prosecutors,” putting McClain in the position of having to defend himself not only from government accusations but his co-defendant too.

Maine – Republican Lawmaker Escapes Penalty for Repeatedly Missing Campaign Finance Deadlines

Yahoo News – Randy Billings (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 7/24/2024

A state lawmaker will not face any penalties for routinely failing to file timely campaign finance reports for his PAC. The Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices ruled Rep. Richard Campbell violated state law. But commissioners were not able to assess a financial penalty because Campbell’s Building the Maine House PAC has not actively raised or spent money for the last four years.

Maine – Maine Lawmakers Want to Rein in Vague ‘Concept Bills,’ Late-Night Votes

Yahoo News – Randy Billings (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 7/19/2024

A group of Maine lawmakers is considering a list of proposals to improve transparency and efficiency in the Legislature following the chaotic conclusion of this year’s session. The potential rule changes include capping the number of bills that can be submitted, limiting the use of placeholder bills that lack policy specifics, and putting an end to late-night votes, especially on the state budget.

Maryland – Baltimore County Spending $550K to Shield 2020 Settlement to Brother of County Executive’s Friend

MSN – Cassidy Jensen and Lia Russell (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 7/17/2024

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr.’s administration secretly paid his friend’s brother an $83,675 settlement after backing out of an agreement to increase the retired firefighter’s pension, which county lawyers said would have violated state law. Now, the administration could pay more than $500,000 in a court fight to keep secret details about the settlement. Former County Administrative Officer Fred Homan sued the county, alleging officials violated the Maryland Public Information Act by withholding documents he requested related to the settlement.

Mississippi – Mississippi Ordered to Create More Black Districts, Hold Special Elections Next Year

MSN – Taylor Vance (Biloxi Sun Herald) | Published: 7/19/2024

The Mississippi Legislature must adopt new state Senate and House maps with Black-majority districts during its 2025 session and conduct elections to fill those new seats, a federal three-judge panel ruled. The judges previously ruled the districts drawn in 2022 by the Legislature diluted Black voting strength. The State Board of Election Commissioners argued the elections should take place next year because it would be nearly impossible to redraw the districts in time for November elections.

Missouri – Kehoe Campaign for Missouri Governor Riding on Bus Owned by Lobbyist for Chinese Pork Producer

Yahoo News – Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) | Published: 7/21/2024

In his campaign for governor, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe has promised voters he will stop China “from buying up our farmland.” He is doing so while traveling the state in a bus owned by Jewell Patek, a former legislator who is the only Missouri lobbyist employed by the Chinese business that owns a significant chunk of agricultural land in the state. The cost of using Patek’s bus is not listed among the expenses reported in Kehoe’s latest campaign finance report.

Montana – Montana Attorney General Didn’t Violate Campaign Finance Rules, Elections Enforcer Says

MSN – Amy Beth Hanson (Associated Press) | Published: 7/19/2024

Commissioner of Political Practice Chris Gallus said Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen did not violate any laws after he was reported to have recruited Logan Olson to run against him for campaign finance purposes. The contribution limit for the attorney general’s race is $790, but candidates can receive twice that from individuals if they have a primary opponent. Gallus said did not have evidence to show Olson was not a “bona fide” candidate or that he was offered any “payment or promise” for running.

New York – Elected Official Charged with Biting NYPD Officer

MSN – Jeff Coltin (Politico) | Published: 7/17/2024

New York City Council member Susan Zhuang was arrested on charges she bit a deputy police chief while protesting a planned homeless shelter in her Brooklyn district. Zhuang’s communications director, Felix Tager, said “Zhuang was arrested after trying to protect an 80-year-old woman” who was being pushed up against the barricades. NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell disagreed, saying the woman had laid herself under the barricade.

New York – Contributions That Exceed Legal Limits Poured into Eric Adams’ Campaign

The City – Greg Smith | Published: 7/19/2024

Individuals on New York City’s official “doing business” list donated more than the limit to Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign and now his 2025 bid for re-election. Donors who exceeded the $400 cap have had the excess money refunded following review by the Campaign Finance Board well after the campaign has touted its fundraising hauls in competitive races. In addition to banning corporate contributions, amendments to the city charter gave the board the power to regulate donations from individuals involved in city business.

Ohio – Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens Scores Temporary Legal Win in Fight Over Campaign Account

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 7/23/2024

Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens scored an unexpected legal win as a state appeals court temporarily held up a lower-court injunction stripping him of control over the chamber’s campaign arm. It throws an unexpected hurdle in the way of attempts by a majority of Republicans to wrest control of the Ohio House Republican Alliance’s from Stephens, who was elected speaker last year with the support of only about one-third of his caucus as well as every Democrat.

Oregon – The Feds Warned Oregon Officials That a Report on Alcohol Taxes Was Fundamentally Flawed

Willamette Week – Lucas Manfield | Published: 7/24/2024

The director of the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Dr. Sejal Hathi, told lawmakers, advocates, and business leaders on a state Liquor and Cannabis Commission task force that her agency was wrong to bury a report that showed increasing taxes on beer and wine would do little to curb excessive drinking. The shelving of that report left the impression the OHA withheld it because it clashed with the agency’s desire to hike taxes to reduce excessive drinking. The report was not just politically inconvenient. According to some scientists, it was also flawed because it was based on research funded by the alcohol industry.

Tennessee – Tennessee Election Finance Board to Subpoena Members of Constitutional Republicans

Tennessee Lookout – Sam Stockard | Published: 7/24/2024

Dissatisfied with a state attorney general’s investigation, the Registry of Election Finance is set to subpoena members of the Tennessee and Sumner County Constitutional Republicans to have them explain how they operate without registering as a PAC. A complaint accuses the groups of acting like a PAC by making expenditures for candidates or issues but refusing to register with the state. Five people spoke to a state investigator, but three others declined.

Texas – In Texas, Violating Campaign Ethics Laws Rarely Yields Repercussions. The Attorney General’s Office Is to Blame.

MSN – Zach Despart (Texas Tribune) | Published: 7/23/2024

Three decades following its inception, the Texas Ethics Commission is toothless. Compliance with ethics laws is largely voluntary. That is because the agency relies on the Texas attorney general to enforce payment of fines for violations. Under Ken Paxton, who himself owes $11,000 in ethics fines, that has rarely happened. A review by The Texas Tribune found the number of politicians, lobbyists, and PACs that owe fines for breaking state campaign finance laws has exploded in recent years.