National/Federal

Trump Spent $10 Million From His PAC on His Legal Bills Last Year

DNyuz – Maggie Haberman (New York Times) | Published: 2/21/2023

Former President Trump spent roughly $10 million from his PAC, Save America, on his own legal fees last year. The money that went to Trump’s legal bills was part of more than $16 million that Save America spent for legal-related payments in 2021 and 2022. Some campaign finance experts are raising questions about whether, as an announced candidate for president, Trump can continue to use the PAC to pay for his personal legal bills.

Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Subpoenaed in Jan. 6 Investigation

DNyuz – Maggie Haberman and Michael Schmidt (New York Times) | Published: 2/22/2023

Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, have been subpoenaed by the special counsel to testify before a federal grand jury about Trump’s efforts to stay in power after he lost the 2020 election and his role in a pro-Trump mob’s attack on the Capitol. The decision by the special counsel, Jack Smith, to subpoena Ivanka Trump and Kushner underscores how deeply into the former president’s inner circle that Smith is reaching and is the latest sign no potential high-level witness is off limits.

Months After Her Trump Indignity, U.S. Judge Aileen Cannon Catches Another Political Hot Potato

Florida Bulldog – Dan Christensen | Published: 2/19/2023

Former U.S. Rep. Rivera was ordered to pay a $456,000 civil penalty to the FEC after the agency showed he secretly financed the primary campaign of another candidate to “weaken” his likely 2012 general election opponent. Rivera has a motion pending before U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon asking her to declare the penalty enhancement provision of the Federal Election Campaign Act as unconstitutional. Cannon’s ruling in the case of missing classified documents found at Donald Trump’s residence was vacated on appeal and questions are likely to arise about her ability to impartially handle another politically charged case.

McCarthy Gives Tucker Carlson Exclusive Access to Jan. 6 Riot Video

MSN – Meryl Kornfield and Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) | Published: 2/21/2023

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy provided exclusive access to a trove of U.S. Capitol surveillance footage from the insurrection to Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who has played down the deadly violence that occurred and claimed it was a “false flag” operation. The decision by McCarthy to provide the video to Carlson raised serious questions about whether the release of the footage would force U.S. Capitol Police to change the location of security cameras and why the speaker would give the material to a Fox News host who has peddled conspiracy theories about the attack and not share it with other news organizations.

50 Years Ago, Depression Ended a Campaign. That’s Changed, Politicians Say.

MSN – Jonathan Edwards and Praveena Somasundaram (Washington Post) | Published: 2/17/2023

When it was revealed that U.S. Sen. Thomas Eagleton, a vice-presidential nominee in 1972, had been hospitalized three times for depression and undergone electroshock therapy, it derailed his chance to be on the Democratic ticket that year. Fifty years later, when U.S. Sen. John Fetterman’s office announced he had voluntarily sought treatment for clinical depression, the reaction was far different, signaling a shift in the way those holding public office talk about mental health.

When Chiefs Play, Lobbyists Pay to Get Missouri and Kansas Politicians into Big Games

MSN – Jonathan Shorman, Kevin Hardy, and Katie Bernard (Kansas City Star) | Published: 2/17/2023

Public officials in Missouri and Kansas have accepted more than $30,000 in football tickets from special interests to Kansas City Chiefs games and related gifts, like parking, since 2017 when the Patrick Mahomes era began, a period capped by the team’s Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Missouri voters in 2018 voted to ban most gifts to state lawmakers. But other public officials like mayors and city council members were not included, leaving lobbyists free to continue giving them tickets, meals, and other items.

Before Ohio Derailment, Norfolk Southern Lobbied Against Safety Rules

MSN – Ian Duncan, Luz Lazo, and Michael Laris (Washington Post) | Published: 2/18/2023

Three months before one of his railroad’s trains derailed and burned in Ohio, Norfolk Southern chief executive Alan Shaw shared a picture of him and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg smiling together after a meeting in Washington. It was an opportunity for Norfolk Southern to raise concerns about a proposed federal rule that would require trains, in most cases, to have two crew members. Federal regulators have argued that two workers could better respond to derailments and other emergencies. Labor leaders say Norfolk Southern resists proposed regulation, opposing new safety standards while searching for loopholes through existing rules.

Fox News Hosts, Execs Privately Doubted 2020 Conspiracy Claims Shared on Air

MSN – Jeremy Barr and Rachel Weiner (Washington Post) | Published: 2/16/2023

George Santos Reported Spreading Campaign Cash to Other Republicans. The Money Never Showed Up.

Yahoo News – Jessica Piper (Politico) | Published: 2/22/2023

One of George Santos’s first acts as a candidate for Congress in 2019, according to his campaign finance filings, was making a series of four-figure contributions from his campaign to a pair of local Republican groups and former President Trump’s reelection committee. But according to those groups’ own filings, the contributions were never received and may not have been donated. The purported donations included $2,800 to Trump’s campaign that is not reflected in his campaign finance disclosures and would have exceeded contribution limits if it did happen as Santos’s campaign reported it.

International

Canada – Lobbying Commissioner Proposes New Rules – but Critics Aren’t Happy

MSN – Darren Major (CBC) | Published: 2/19/2023

Canada’s lobbying commissioner is proposing a new set of guidelines on how lobbyists should conduct themselves when engaging with public officials. Some critics say the changes would eviscerate the guidelines, while others say they go too far. The proposed changes would set monetary limits on what lobbyists should offer officials in the way of gifts and food. They would also reduce the period of time after a person leaves a politician’s employ when they are not supposed to lobby that politician.

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – Alaska House Censures Rep. Eastman for Comments About the Economic ‘Benefit’ of Child Abuse Deaths

KTOO – James Brooks (Alaska Beacon) | Published: 2/22/2023

The Alaska House voted to reprimand state Rep. David Eastman for speculating the state could financially benefit if child abuse victims died of their abuse. Eastman’s remarks, which he said were intended to criticize some arguments in favor of abortion rights, spread on social media, contributing to the public outcry. A censure has no consequences other than putting a formal statement of disapproval or reprimand on the record. But some lawmakers said their vote should be considered an action, not mere words.

Arizona – Arizona’s Top Prosecutor Concealed Records Debunking Election Fraud Claims

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Isaac Stanley-Becker (Washington Post) | Published: 2/22/2023

An investigation found virtually all claims of error and malfeasance in Maricopa County, Arizona, in the 2020 election were unfounded, according to documents. Then-state Attorney General Mark Brnovich, a Republican who launched the probe, kept the findings private. He released an “Interim Report” claiming his office had discovered “serious vulnerabilities.” He left out edits from his own investigators refuting his assertions. The innuendo and inaccuracies, circulated not just in the far reaches of the internet but with the imprimatur of the state’s attorney general, helped make Arizona an epicenter of distrust in the democratic process.

Arizona – ‘Dark Money’ Opponents Want to Block Effort to Quash Law

Sierra Vista Herald Review – Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) | Published: 2/15/2023

The group that convinced voters last year to outlaw “dark money” in Arizona is asking a judge to block a bid by two special interest groups to keep the law from taking effect. In new legal filings, attorney Chanele Reyes told a Superior Court judge there is nothing unconstitutional about ensuring that voters know who is trying to influence elections. Approved by voters in November by a wide margin, Proposition 211 says any organization that spends more than $50,000 on a statewide race – half that for other contests – must publicly disclose anyone who has given at least $5,000.

California – Family Business: Meet the legacy caucus in the California Legislature

CalMatters – Ben Christopher | Published: 2/8/2023

Of the 120 state lawmakers in California, twelve have current or former members in their immediate family. At least 10 percent of the Legislature has been related to at least one current or former state lawmaker since 2001. The ubiquity of political families can shape the culture at the Capitol. At best, it provides a way for institutional knowledge to pass from one generation to the next despite term limits. At worst, it can provide fodder for cynics who believe that political power is only available to those who know the right people.

California – Ethics Commission Set to Recommend Tougher Lobbying Rules

Long Beach Post – Jason Ruiz | Published: 2/19/2023

The Long Beach Ethics Commission could propose dramatic changes to the city’s lobbying rules that would redefine who has to register their activities with the city, lower the threshold for when activity needs to be reported, and require politicians and other officials to self-report contacts with people advocating for policies or projects. The commissioners could formally refer them to the city council for approval at its March 8 meeting.

California – Trial Begins for Former LA Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan on Corruption Charges

Los Angeles Daily News – Fred Shuster (City News Service) | Published: 2/21/2023

A former Los Angeles deputy mayor played a key role in a complex City Hall-based bribery scheme run by ex-city council member José Huizar designed to “get money, keep power, and avoid the feds,” a prosecutor told jurors in Raymond Chan’s trial on corruption charges. Chan is accused of being a member of what prosecutors dubbed the Council District 14 “enterprise,” a conspiracy which operated as a “pay-to-play” scheme in which Huizar, assisted by others, unlawfully used his office to give favorable treatment to real estate developers who financed and facilitated bribes and other illicit benefits.

California – San Jose Mayor’s Chief of Staff Accused of Conflict of Interest

San Jose Spotlight – Jane Kadah | Published: 2/17/2023

While working in the top offices of city government, Jim Reed helped raise six figures to elect San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan. Then he went to work for him. Many say that could be considered a conflict-of-interest. Some in are considering a call to demand Reed step down as Mahan’s chief of staff or at least be investigated by the city’s ethics commission. Government employees such as Reed cannot intermingle official resources with political campaigns, or use public resources including their time or city offices for lobbying or political activities.

Colorado – Denver City Councilmember Forced to Crawl onto Debate Stage Due to Lack of Wheelchair Access

Denver Gazette – Alex Andrews | Published: 2/15/2023

A Denver City Council member who relies on a wheelchair says he was humiliated after being forced to crawl onto a stage to take part in an election debate because the venue did not have a ramp. Hinds participates in the city’s Fair Election Fund program, in which candidates who agree to raise money in lower amounts get a matching disbursement from the city. The program requires candidates to participate in debates or forfeit the funding. Hind’s campaign said he stands to lose $125,000. “People often think that the [Americans with Disabilities Act] solved accessibility problems, but here is a stark reminder that serious issues still persist,” Hinds said.

Florida – Mayor Jane Castor’s Partner Vowed Not to Lobby the City. How’d That Go?

MSN – Charlie Frago and Sue Carlton (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 2/22/2023

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s partner, lobbyist Ana Cruz, has helped run Florida campaigns for Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton. On Twitter, she goes by Tampa’s 1st Lady. When Castor announced she would run for mayor, questions were raised about her connection to Cruz, who is a managing partner at Ballard Partners. The firm, which specializes in governmental and public affairs, has represented clients to the city of Tampa.

Georgia – Georgia Grand Jury: ‘Perjury may have been committed’ in Trump election probe

MSN – Holly Bailey (Washington Post) | Published: 2/16/2023

An special grand jury investigating efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia concluded some witnesses may have lied under oath during their testimony and recommended charges be filed. But those witnesses were not identified in the excerpt of the grand jury report that was made public. The unsealed document offered no major clues about the grand jury’s other findings, although the panel noted it unanimously agreed that Georgia’s 2020 presidential vote had not been marred by “widespread fraud,” contrary to what Trump and many of his allies have claimed.

Hawaii – Should Hawaii’s Legislature Meet Year-Round?

Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 2/21/2023

When Sen. Stanley Chang was elected to the Hawaii Senate in 2016 after serving for four years on the Honolulu City Council, he was surprised by the pace of the legislative session. The council’s schedule of weekly committee hearings and twice-monthly council meetings throughout the year “permitted time for deliberation, consultation with stakeholders and accessibility for the public,” Chang said. On the other hand, “[the Legislature is] just four months of chaos …,” he said. Chang introduced a bill that would eliminate the current 60-day limit on legislative sessions and require lawmakers to meet at least once monthly instead.

Illinois – Lightfoot’s Campaign Sent 9,900 Emails Seeking Support from CPS and City Colleges Staff, Documents Show

WBEZ – Nader Issa (Chicago Sun-Times), Sarah Karp, Tessa Weinberg, and Mariah Woelfel | Published: 2/21/2023

When news broke in January that Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s reelection campaign had solicited help from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and City Colleges of Chicago educators to recruit student volunteers, the incumbent candidate apologized, calling the effort a “bad mistake” by one young staffer. But the campaign had for months been sending CPS and City Colleges staff thousands of other emails unrelated to the student volunteer solicitation, some from multiple campaign staffers. The emails ranged from generic fundraising appeals to invitations to private town halls and requests for help gathering petitions.

Illinois – How Admittedly Corrupt Ex-Illinois Lawmakers Get to Keep Their Pensions

WBEZ – Dave McKinney | Published: 2/16/2023

A media investigation found nearly $2 million in state retirement checks sent to a mix of federally charged, convicted, and self-admitted felons who once served at the Illinois Legislature. In some cases, loved ones were the beneficiaries. All these cases won sign-off from an obscure state panel, often on the advice of Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. His office found the criminal wrongdoing did not disqualify them from their pensions because it was not linked to their work as public officials. That is a legal standard Illinois pension boards rely on to decide who gets a pension.

Illinois – Chicago Board of Ethics Cracks Down on Use of City Property in Campaign Ads

WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 2/20/2023

The Chicago Board of Ethics determined there is probable cause to believe a candidate running in the February 28 election violated the ethics ordinance by using city property in their campaign advertisements. The candidate, who was not named, will have a chance to challenge the board’s determination in March. The board voted to give eight other candidates for city offices 10 days to refute allegations they also violated the city’s ethics law by using city property in their campaign ads.

Illinois – Red-Light Camera Officials Caught on FBI Wire Talking About Giving Perks to Suburban Mayor, Unsealed Document Shows

Yahoo News – Jason Meisner and Joe Mahr (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 2/17/2023

An unsealed court document reveals for the first time that two top officials at a red-light camera company were caught on undercover FBI recordings talking about giving a suburban Chicago mayor campaign contributions and other perks at the same time their firm was pressuring the mayor to increase ticket revenue. The search warrant was part of an investigation into corruption surrounding cameras operated by SafeSpeed LLC, a probe that has netted charges against more than half a dozen public officials, businesspeople, and political operatives.

Indiana – Indiana Secretary of State Hires Brother-in-Law for Top Post

MSN – Associated Press | Published: 2/16/2023

New Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales has hired his brother-in-law for a top position paying a six-figure salary, in a move that has drawn criticism as crossing an ethical line. Shawn Grady is now the co-director of the office’s Auto Dealer Services Division. Grady previously worked as a sales consultant at a car dealership and is married to Morales’ sister. While critics raised questions of nepotism, state law does not prohibit state employees from hiring brothers-in-law or sisters-in-law.

Kansas – Kansas Legislature Considers Bill to Overhaul Ethics Commission as It Probes GOP Officials

MSN – Andrew Bahl (Topeka Capital-Journal) | Published: 2/17/2023

Amid a Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission probe into activities of prominent legislators and state Republican Party officials, lawmakers are considering a massive overhaul of the agency that could limit its ability to conduct future investigations. The agency’s leader said the bill would make Kansas’ ethics laws among the weakest in the nation. House Bill 2391, which was debated in committee would end the agency’s subpoena power unless it has already established probable cause. Its consideration comes after revelations that subpoenas had been issued to prominent interest groups, Republican Party officials and lawmakers.

Maine – Maine Lawmaker Pleads Not Guilty to Fraud Charges, Says He’ll Resign

Yahoo News – Edward Murphy (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 2/16/2023

Maine Rep. Clinton Collamore Sr., who pleaded not guilty to charges he defrauded the state’s clean elections program, announced he is resigning from his seat. His attorney said Collamore filled in the signatures of donors to qualify for matching campaign funds from the state after he neglected to get them to sign, but he did not intend to defraud the program. Collamore also said he will return to the state the salary he has collected since being sworn into office and would reimburse the more than $14,000 in public campaign funding he received.

Maryland – Former Baltimore County Official Charged with Stealing $140k from Campaign Accounts for Councilmember, Slate

Maryland Matters – William Zorzi | Published: 2/16/2023

A former Baltimore County official was charged with stealing more than $140,000 from two campaign accounts, one for a former county councilmember and the other a slate controlled by a former county executive, while he served as their treasurer. William McCollum was charged with felony theft, embezzlement, and perjury. McCollum allegedly took money to pay his personal credit card bill and to travel with a “romantic partner” in Puerto Rico and for flights to Palm Beach.

Massachusetts – The Mass. GOP May Have $600,000 in Debts, Misreported Hundreds of Thousands in Spending, Memo Says

MSN – Matt Stout (Boston Globe) | Published: 2/22/2023

The Massachusetts Republican Party misreported hundreds of thousands of dollars to state campaign finance officials, and may owe vendors more than $600,000, a sum that would far eclipse what party officials had previously disclosed, according to a memo its new leader, Amy Carnevale, sent to party officials. Carnevale, who was recently elected to replace Jim Lyons as party chair, described a party that had fallen in fiscal disarray under her predecessor, telling Republican State Committee members in a letter she and others are trying “get our financial house in order.”

Michigan – New Landlord for Michigan Lawmakers Surfaces, Raising Questions About Secret Deals

GNT News – Craig Mauger (Detroit News) | Published: 2/17/2023

A Michigan lobbyist rented a house across the street from the Capitol to six lawmakers, according to amended disclosures the lobbyist filed weeks after The Detroit News revealed a separate interest group had been former House Speaker Lee Chatfield’s landlord. In less than three months, two different rental arrangements involving lobbyists and seven lawmakers have come to light in Lansing, raising questions about the enforcement of the state’s lobbying requirements and the possibility of other deals between advocates and policymakers remaining hidden.

Mississippi – Miss. Bill Would Create Unelected Court System in Majority-Black Jackson

MSN – Emmanuel Felton (Washington Post) | Published: 2/16/2023

The Washington Post found Jackson, Mississippi, had the highest murder rate in the country. About a quarter of its residents live in poverty, among the highest rates for American cities with more than 100,000 residents. Local officials recently warned the periodic water outages residents have been suffering through for years could continue for another decade. Republicans are now pushing legislation they say is designed to provide needed resources by giving the state more control of an affluent part of the city. But leaders of this majority-Black city are calling it a power grab, rather than a helping hand.

New Jersey – Morristown Mayor’s Wife Stripped of Real Estate License for Her Role in Bribery Scandal

Yahoo News – Kyle Morel (New Jersey Herald) | Published: 2/20/2023

The wife of Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty has been banned from practicing real estate for at least a year after accepting illegal campaign funds during her 2018 run for county office. Mary Dougherty, who eventually pleaded guilty to a charge of falsifying campaign records, will be subject to a two-year probationary period if she obtains another license, and her employer must notify the commission within 72 hours if there is reason to believe she violated the law again.

New York – How Public Money Goes to Support a Hasidic Village’s Private Schools

DNyuz – Jay Root (New York Times) | Published: 2/19/2023

Kiryas Joel, a village near New York City, is populated almost entirely by Hasidic Jews. The village’s unique public school system immediately drew concerns that a school district created for members of a single faith could never separate itself from their religious institutions. In 2009, state auditors found two of the school district’s board members voted to use tens of millions of tax dollars to lease a building from a private religious school organization they also helped run. Since then, the conflicts have grown, with millions in public education dollars continuing to flow into the same religious school organization and its affiliates.

North Dakota – North Dakota House Backs Bill That Would Shine Light on Burgum-Funded Campaign Group

Grand Forks Herald – Jeremy Turley (Forum News Service) | Published: 2/21/2023

The North Dakota House passed legislation that would require multicandidate committees to disclose how they spend their money. House Bill 1441 now moves to the Senate. Multicandidate committees must report their donor list, but they are not legally required to reveal which candidates they support or oppose. The majority of the groups registered under the designation are affiliated with a political party or a series of candidates, but the Dakota Leadership PAC, which derives nearly all of its funding from Gov. Doug Burgum, is a notable exception.

Oklahoma – Pro-Cockfighting Group Has Spent More Than $70K on Effort to Decriminalize Sport in Oklahoma

Yahoo News – Ben Felder (The Oklahoman) | Published: 2/22/2023

A pro-cockfighting organization has donated more than $70,000 to Oklahoma lawmakers in a push to decrease penalties for participating in the illegal sport, although the group does not report the source of its funds. The Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission, a PAC, has donated to dozens of state lawmakers. But because some individuals associated with the organization have been accused of fighting and breeding roosters for cockfighting, which is illegal, opponents of the sport say lawmakers should be skeptical about where the money is coming from.

Oregon – Gunshot Detection Company Investigated for Possible Violations of Portland Lobbying Laws

OPB – Jonathan Levinson | Published: 2/17/2023

The city auditor in Portland has opened an investigation into ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection technology company, for possibly violating lobbying laws. Portland requires private companies to register as a lobbyist once they have spent a minimum of either $1,000 or eight hours on lobbying within a quarter. The law defines lobbying as “attempting to influence the official action of City Officials.” There are a number of exceptions, including the time it takes to submit a bid, respond to information requests, and negotiate the terms of a contract. Much of ShotSpotter’s activity over the past 15 months appears to fall outside those carveouts.

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania Lawmaker Proposes Campaign, Lobbying Reform Bills

WHTM – George Stockburger | Published: 2/21/2023

State Rep. Joe Webster is proposing a new ethics package in the Pennsylvania House focused on campaign and lobbying reform. Webster said current state laws allow for unlimited donations for state and local candidates, the ability for lawmakers to accept gifts, and just a one year prohibition on former lawmakers becoming lobbyists. “Current ethics laws are riddled with loopholes, which leads to corruptive influences controlling our state government,” said Webster.

Pennsylvania – Top Gaming Regulators in Pa. Met with Industry Lobbyists Before Coming Out Against a Casino Competitor

Yahoo News – Angela Couloumbis (Spotlight PA) | Published: 2/16/2023

Lobbyists for Parx Casino met privately with top officials at the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board about unregulated slots-like machines called skill games that were a major competitor. Within weeks, the board shed its neutral stance and aligned with Parx and others in a court fight to declare skill games illegal. Emails and other documents provide a glimpse into the lobbying of public officials in Pennsylvania that the public rarely sees. State law requires lobbyists to disclose only a bare minimum of information about their activities. The emails raise questions about whether the Gaming Control Board should have disclosed the meeting to the public.

Texas – State Rep. Chris Paddie to Stop Lobbying After Regulators Crack Down on Loophole He Used

Texas Tribune – Patrick Svitek | Published: 2/16/2023

Former Texas Rep. Chris Paddie said he will stop lobbying after the state Ethics Commission cracked down on a “revolving-door” loophole in the lobbying law he was using, potentially exposing him to fines. The law says a former lawmaker cannot register to lobby until two years after they last used campaign funds to donate to another politician. Paddie sought to get around that earlier this year by reimbursing his campaign account with personal money to cover political donations that were implicated by the law.

Wisconsin – Strong Democratic Showing in Wisconsin Court Race Sets Up a Frenzied Finish

DNyuz – Reid Epstein (New York Times) | Published: 2/22/2023

The Wisconsin Supreme Court primary election was a triumph for the state’s liberals. Janet Protasiewicz, a liberal Circuit Court judge in Milwaukee County, will face off against Daniel Kelly, a conservative former State Supreme Court justice who lost a 2020 election for his seat by nearly 11 percentage points. With an opportunity to retake a majority on the state Supreme Court that could undo Wisconsin’s ban on nearly all abortions and throw out the state’s gerrymandered legislative maps, Democrats have the general election matchup they wanted.

Campaign Finance National: “George Santos Reported Spreading Campaign Cash to Other Republicans. The Money Never Showed Up.” by Jessica Piper (Politico) for Yahoo News Massachusetts: “The Mass. GOP May Have $600,000 in Debts, Misreported Hundreds of Thousands in Spending, Memo Says” by Matt Stout (Boston Globe) for MSN Elections Arizona: “Arizona’s Top Prosecutor Concealed Records Debunking Election Fraud Claims” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Isaac Stanley-Becker (Washington Post) for MSN Wisconsin: “Strong Democratic Showing in Wisconsin Court Race Sets Up a Frenzied Finish” by Reid Epstein (New York Times) for DNyuz Ethics California: “Trial Begins for Former LA Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan on Corruption Charges” by Fred Shuster (City News Service) for Los Angeles Daily News National: “McCarthy Gives Tucker Carlson Exclusive Access to Jan. 6 Riot Video” by Meryl Kornfield and Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) for MSN Illinois: “Lightfoot’s Campaign Sent 9,900 Emails Seeking Support from CPS and City Colleges Staff, Documents Show” by Nader Issa (Chicago Sun-Times), Sarah Karp, Tessa Weinberg, and Mariah Woelfel for WBEZ New Jersey: “Morristown Mayor’s Wife Stripped of Real Estate License for Her Role in Bribery Scandal” by Kyle Morel (New Jersey Herald) for Yahoo News Pennsylvania: “Pennsylvania Lawmaker Proposes Campaign, Lobbying Reform Bills” by George Stockburger for WHTM Legislative Issues Hawaii: “Should Hawaii’s Legislature Meet Year-Round?” by Blaze Lovell for Honolulu Civil Beat

Campaign Finance

National: “Months After Her Trump Indignity, U.S. Judge Aileen Cannon Catches Another Political Hot Potato” by Dan Christensen for Florida Bulldog

National: “Trump Spent $10 Million From His PAC on His Legal Bills Last Year” by Maggie Haberman (New York Times) for DNyuz

Elections

Illinois: “Chicago Board of Ethics Cracks Down on Use of City Property in Campaign Ads” by Heather Cherone for WTTW

Ethics

Indiana: “Indiana Secretary of State Hires Brother-in-Law for Top Post” by Associated Press for MSN

New York: “How Public Money Goes to Support a Hasidic Village’s Private Schools” by Jay Root (New York Times) for DNyuz

Legislative Issues

California: “Family Business: Meet the legacy caucus in the California Legislature” by Ben Christopher for CalMatters

Lobbying

Canada: “Lobbying Commissioner Proposes New Rules – but Critics Aren’t Happy” by Darren Major (CBC) for MSN

Texas: “State Rep. Chris Paddie to Stop Lobbying After Regulators Crack Down on Loophole He Used” by Patrick Svitek for Texas Tribune

Campaign Finance

Maryland: “Former Baltimore County Official Charged with Stealing $140k from Campaign Accounts for Councilmember, Slate” by William Zorzi for Maryland Matters

Elections

National: “Fox News Hosts, Execs Privately Doubted 2020 Conspiracy Claims Shared on Air” by Jeremy Barr and Rachel Weiner (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

Illinois: “Red-Light Camera Officials Caught on FBI Wire Talking About Giving Perks to Suburban Mayor, Unsealed Document Shows” by Jason Meisner and Joe Mahr (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

Kansas: “Kansas Legislature Considers Bill to Overhaul Ethics Commission as It Probes GOP Officials” by Andrew Bahl (Topeka Capital-Journal) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Maine: “Maine Lawmaker Pleads Not Guilty to Fraud Charges, Says He’ll Resign” by Edward Murphy (Portland Press Herald) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

National: “Before Ohio Derailment, Norfolk Southern Lobbied Against Safety Rules” by Ian Duncan, Luz Lazo, and Michael Laris (Washington Post) for MSN

Michigan: “New Landlord for Michigan Lawmakers Surfaces, Raising Questions About Secret Deals” by Craig Mauger (Detroit News) for GNT News

Oregon: “Gunshot Detection Company Investigated for Possible Violations of Portland Lobbying Laws” by Jonathan Levinson for OPB

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “‘Dark Money’ Opponents Want to Block Effort to Quash Law” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Sierra Vista Herald Review

Elections

Georgia: “Georgia Grand Jury: ‘Perjury may have been committed’ in Trump election probe” by Holly Bailey (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “50 Years Ago, Depression Ended a Campaign. That’s Changed, Politicians Say.” by Jonathan Edwards and Praveena Somasundaram (Washington Post) for MSN

Colorado: “Denver City Councilmember Forced to Crawl onto Debate Stage Due to Lack of Wheelchair Access” by Alex Andrews for Denver Gazette

Illinois: “How Admittedly Corrupt Ex-Illinois Lawmakers Get to Keep Their Pensions” by Dave McKinney for WBEZ

Mississippi: “Miss. Bill Would Create Unelected Court System in Majority-Black Jackson” by Emmanuel Felton (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “When Chiefs Play, Lobbyists Pay to Get Missouri and Kansas Politicians into Big Games” by Jonathan Shorman, Kevin Hardy, and Katie Bernard (Kansas City Star) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “Top Gaming Regulators in Pa. Met with Industry Lobbyists Before Coming Out Against a Casino Competitor” by Angela Couloumbis (Spotlight PA) for Yahoo News

National/Federal

After Helping Prince’s Rise, Trump and Kushner Benefit from Saudi Funds
MSN – Michael Kranish (Washington Post) | Published: 2/11/2023

The day after leaving the White House, Jared Kushner created a company he transformed months later into a private equity firm with $2 billion from a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Kushner’s firm structured those funds in such a way that it did not have to disclose the source. A year after his presidency, Donald Trump’s golf courses began hosting tournaments for the Saudi fund-backed LIV Golf. The Trump Organization secured an agreement with a Saudi real estate company that plans to build a Trump hotel as part of a $4 billion golf resort in Oman.

Biden Fires Architect of the Capitol Over Alleged Abuses
Yahoo News – Lisa Mascaro and Colleen Long (Associated Press) | Published: 2/13/2023

President Biden fired the embattled Architect of the Capitol, Brett Blanton, following a scathing inspector general report on his personal and professional management and calls for his removal. An inspector general report found “administrative, ethical and policy violations” by Blanton, a Trump-era appointee, including that he abused his government vehicle and misrepresented himself as a law enforcement official.

Combating Disinformation Wanes at Social Media Giants
DNyuz – Steven Lee Myers and Nico Grant (New York Times) | Published: 2/14/2023

YouTube, like other social media platforms, spent years expanding its efforts to tackle misinformation after the 2016 election. Not anymore. The company quietly reduced its small team of policy experts in charge of handling misinformation. The cuts, part of the reduction of 12,000 employees by Google’s parent company left only one person in charge of misinformation policy worldwide. The cuts reflect a trend across the industry that threatens to undo many of the safeguards that social media platforms put in place in recent years to ban or tamp down on disinformation.

Election Deniers Face a Nationwide Wave of Pushback
MSN – Amy Gardner, Patrick Marley, and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 2/15/2023

There is a growing effort among state election officials, lawmakers, and private-sector advocates to push back against the wave of misinformation and mistrust of elections that sprang from Donald Trump’s false claim that his 2020 defeat was rigged. Since that vote more than two years ago, election administrators have regularly found themselves fending off false accusations, baseless lawsuits, and violent threats. Election administrators and their advocates say they are motivated to act because election denialism does not appear to be going away, even as the evidence has grown that most Americans have grown tired of it.

FBI Finds One Additional Document with Classified Markings at Pence Home
MSN – Perry Stein and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 2/10/2023

The FBI found one additional document with classified markings during a five-hour search of former Vice President Mike Pence’s Indiana home. The planned search follows revelations in January that Pence had turned over to the FBI “a small number” of documents bearing classified markings that his lawyers discovered at his home. Pence is the latest politician to face scrutiny for potentially mishandling classified materials after leaving elected office.

FEC Tells George Santos to Name Campaign Treasurer or Face Ban on Fundraising and Spending
CNBC – Kevin Breuninger | Published: 2/15/2023

The campaign of scandal-plagued U.S. Rep. George Santos will lose its ability to raise donations or make payments if it fails to appoint a treasurer, the FEC warned. The agency told Santos it “has received no information regarding a new treasurer” since the former person in that role, Nancy Marks, resigned in January. “… Failure to appoint a treasurer will result in the inability of the committee to accept contributions and make disbursements,” the FEC wrote to Santos.

Former FBI Agent’s Side Work Puts Bureau Under New Scrutiny
MSN – Shane Harris, Rosalind Helderman, and Catherine Belton (Washington Post) | Published: 2/13/2023

In January, Charles McGonigal, special agent in charge of counterintelligence for the FBI’s New York field office, was indicted on federal charges of money laundering, violating U.S. sanctions, and making false statements. He is one of the most senior FBI officials ever charged with criminal offenses, and his case has deeply concerned national security professionals, given the extraordinary access he had to sensitive government secrets.

Free Speech vs. Disinformation Comes to a Head
Seattle Times – Steven Lee Myers (New York Times) | Published: 2/9/2023

The attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana, both Republicans, have sued the White House and dozens of officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci, accusing them of forcing social media platforms to stifle the voices of its critics in violation of the constitutional guarantee of free speech. The outcome could help decide whether the First Amendment has become a barrier to virtually any government efforts to stifle a problem that, in the case of a pandemic, threatens public health and, in the case of the integrity of elections, even democracy itself. Government officials have long urged social media companies to fight illegal or harmful content online.

Pence to Fight Special Counsel Subpoena on Trump’s 2020 Election Denial
Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 2/14/2023

Former Vice President Mike Pence plans to fight a subpoena by the special counsel overseeing investigations into efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Pence is set to argue that his former role as president of the Senate – therefore a member of the legislative branch – shields him from certain Justice Department demands. Pence allies say he is covered by the constitutional provision that protects congressional officials from legal proceedings related to their work, language known as the “speech or debate” clause.

Prosecutors Seek Trump Lawyer’s Testimony, Suggesting Evidence of Crime
Seattle Times – Alan Feuer, Maggie Haberman, and Ben Protess (New York Times) | Published: 2/15/2023

Federal prosecutors overseeing the investigation into former President Trump’s handling of classified documents are seeking to pierce assertions of attorney-client privilege and compel one of his lawyers to answer more questions before a grand jury, adding a new dimension to the inquiry and underscoring the legal peril facing Trump. The prosecutors sought approval from a federal judge to invoke what is known as the crime-fraud exception, which allows them to work around attorney-client privilege when they have reason to believe that legal advice has been used in furthering a crime.

Rep. Gaetz Won’t Be Charged in Sex-Trafficking Probe, His Lawyers Say
MSN – Devlin Barrett and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 2/15/2023

Federal prosecutors have closed a long-running sex-trafficking investigation into U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and have decided not to press charges against him, attorneys for Gaetz said. It was reported that career prosecutors had recommended not charging Gaetz, telling Justice Department superiors that a conviction was unlikely in part because of credibility questions with the two central witnesses. Investigators set out to determine if Gaetz paid for sex in violation of federal sex-trafficking laws, people familiar with the matter have said.

Santos Was Charged with Theft in 2017 Case Tied to Amish Dog Breeders
Yahoo News – Jacqueline Sweet (Politico) | Published: 2/9/2023

U.S. Rep. George Santos was charged with theft in Pennsylvania in 2017 after a series of bad checks were written in his name to dog breeders. Just days after $15,125 in checks were made out for “puppies,” according to the memo lines, Santos held an adoption event at a pet store with his animal rescue charity Friends of Pets United. The charge was dismissed, and his record expunged after Santos claimed someone had stolen his checkbook. Santos has said he merely fabricated parts of his résumé and has denied breaking any laws.

They’re Trying to Topple Trump. But They Barely Utter His Name.
Yahoo News – Jonathan Weisman and Maggie Haberman (New York Times) | Published: 2/15/2023

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s entry to the presidential race underscored how difficult it will be for many Republican candidates to persuade the party’s base they should bear the standard for the GOP, not former President Trump, who maintains the loyalties of so many voters. Haley’s announcement seemed like a calculated appeal to Republican voters who are ready to turn the page from the Trump era without burning the book of Trump’s presidency. But she never mentioned Trump by name, much less leveled any direct criticism at the only other major candidate in the presidential race.

Trump Campaign Paid Researchers to Prove 2020 Fraud but Kept Findings Secret
MSN – Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 2/11/2023

Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign commissioned an outside research firm in a bid to prove electoral-fraud claims but never released the findings because the firm disputed many of his theories and could not offer any proof he was the rightful winner of the election. Trump continues to falsely assert the 2020 election was stolen despite abundant evidence to the contrary, much of which had been provided to him or was publicly available before the Capitol assault.

Canada

Canada – Federal Ethics Commissioner Retiring After 5 Years, Citing Health Issues
CTV News – Rachel Aiello | Published: 2/14/2023

Federal Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion announced he is retiring, effective February 21, citing “persistent health issues.” Dion took on the role in 2018 and was set to serve a seven-year term after his predecessor Mary Dawson held the role for more than a decade. In 2019, Dion took a leave of absence from his role for medical reasons, but the work of his office continued.

From the States and Municipalities

Arkansas – GOP Lawmaker Booed for Asking Trans Doctor About Her Genitalia at Public Hearing
MSN – LGBTQNation Staff | Published: 2/14/2023

In 2021, Arkansas became the first state to ban gender-affirming care for people under the age of 18. That law, however, is on hold pending a legal challenge. Pharmacist Gwendolyn Paige Herzig, who is trans, testified against the bill. One lawmaker shocked LGBTQ+ rights advocates and members of the public by asking Herzig whether she has a penis in front of the entire gallery.

California – Fresno Politicians Clash Over Campaign Money Rule That Critics Say Unfairly Protects Incumbents
MSN – Melissa Montalvo (Fresno Bee) | Published: 2/15/2023

County election rules say Fresno City Council candidates cannot transfer their council campaign funds to their supervisor campaign fund accounts. But city council members Garry Bredefeld and Luis Chavez, who are running for county supervisor, said they plan to transfer most or all of the money in their council accounts to their supervisor accounts. Fresno County officials weighed in on this debate, responding to what they called “incorrect and incomplete information about the county’s campaign contribution ordinance.”

California – Midway Rising Fined $5K for Disclosing Lobbying Activities After Selection
San Diego Union Tribune – Jennifer Van Grove | Published: 2/13/2023

The development team selected to lease and redo the city of San Diego’s sports arena site failed to properly report all its lobbying activities, as is required by law. The city Ethics Commission approved a stipulation order fining the Midway Rising development team $5,000 for failing to file on time what is known as expenditure lobbyist disclosure reports, which are required when an entity spends $5,000 or more in a calendar quarter to indirectly influence municipal decisions.

Colorado – 10th Circuit Tosses GOP Challenge to Colorado’s Campaign Spending Limits
Colorado Politics – Michael Karlick | Published: 2/14/2023

A federal appeals court rejected an attempt by a trio of Republicans to temporarily block enforcement of the voluntary campaign spending limits that voters enacted two decades ago as an anti-corruption measure. Article 28 limits donors’ contributions to candidates per election cycle, adjusted for inflation, to $400 per legislative candidate and $1,250 per statewide executive candidate. Candidates may collect twice those amounts per donor in exchange for voluntarily limiting their overall spending. The appeal focused only on the alleged unconstitutionality of the candidates’ spending limits.

Florida – The Rocky Path to the College Board’s A.P. Black Studies Course
DNyuz – Anemona Hartocollis, Dan Goldstein, and Stephanie Saul (New York Times) | Published: 2/13/2023

The College Board finalized its new Advanced Placement course in African American studies, altering an earlier draft that had become a lightning rod for conservative critics. The Florida Education Department asserted the course “lacks educational value” and violates state law amid a national debate over how topics like racism and history are taught. The state of Florida released a chronology of its communications with the College Board, seeming to take credit for the changes. The College Board, which relies on state participation to administer its tests, fired back, saying changes were made after hearing from teachers about what worked.

Hawaii – ‘Pay To Play’: Hawaii moves to expand the ban on contractor campaign donations
Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 2/8/2023

The Hawaii Legislature is setting its sights on campaign donations from state and county contractors, which have been the subject of public corruption cases in recent decades. Now, a law banning donations from government contractors only applies to the contracted business, not the owners, officers, or employees of those companies. Senate Bill 201 would close a loophole and ban owners, officers, employees, and immediate family from donating to campaigns for the duration of a state or county contract.

Illinois – Donors to Political Committee Supporting Paul Vallas Are Secret, but Leadership Has Ties to Current Campaign
MSN – A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 2/9/2023

A recently launched political committee has spent more than $165,000 on television and digital ads for Paul Vallas’ mayoral bid, and while its supporters so far remain a mystery, its spending and leadership have ties to a top Vallas strategist. Like all independent expenditure committees, the new Chicago Leadership Committee is not allowed under Illinois law to coordinate with any candidate or campaign it supports. One of the group’s ads shows it using the same messaging and word-for-word language that Vallas’ campaign has on the media page of its website, along with still images and video from the site.

Illinois – Right After Landing a Big Deal with the CTA, Businessman Helps Lightfoot’s Reelection Effort
WBEZ – Dan Mihalopoulos | Published: 2/10/2023

Less than a month ago, the Chicago Transit Authority – whose leaders are appointed by the mayor – announced a lucrative new contract with a company founded by real-estate magnate Elzie Higginbottom. Another company tied to Higginbottom then gave a $50,000 contribution to a new political fund created by a close ally of Mayor Lori Lightfoot. That independent expenditure committee recently spent more than $70,000 to attack Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, who is one of Lightfoot’s main challengers for mayor. A chain of events like this was supposed to have become a thing of the past.

Iowa – ‘Zoom Bombings’ Disrupt Iowa Senate Meetings with Profanity, Pornography and Racial Slurs
Yahoo News – Katie Akin (Des Moines Register) | Published: 2/13/2023

In the first few minutes of a meeting about restructuring state government in the Iowa Senate, a Zoom user took over the television monitor and showed a sexually explicit video. Garbled racial slurs blared from the monitor’s speaker. “… Just hit the ‘leave meeting,'” said Sen. Jason Schultz, the subcommittee’s chairperson. Schultz said the Senate has taken “all the precautions that we could think of” to prevent future interruptions. But he suggested Zoom access may be sacrificed if issues continue.

Maryland – Gov. Wes Moore Recuses Himself from Under Armour Contract Vote as Team Creates Blind Trust to Manage Financial Assets
MSN – Sam Janesch (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 2/14/2023

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore recused himself from a scheduled vote by the state Board of Public Works to decide whether to extend a warehousing contract with Under Armour. Moore served on the athletic apparel maker’s board, resigning after he won the election in November, and owned thousands of shares of the company’s stock. A millionaire several times over after previous careers that included investment banking and running a national nonprofit, Moore faces numerous potential conflicts-of-interest between his holdings and the business of running the state.

Maryland – Judge Upholds Two Ethics Violations Against Nick Mosby, but Rules Council President Didn’t Take Money
Baltimore Banner – Emily Sullivan | Published: 2/13/2023

A Baltimore Circuit Court judge upheld two out of three findings in an administrative ruling that city council President Nick Mosby violated Baltimore’s ethics code for elected officials. Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill agreed with the Baltimore City Ethics board that Mosby solicited donations from controlled donors to a legal defense fund established for him and his wife, former City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. While neither Mosby served as an officer of the fund, the council president erred by not explicitly disavowing himself from the trust.

Michigan – Nessel Requests Greater Transparency from Utilities on Lobbying [Spending]
Detroit News – Breana Noble | Published: 2/15/2023

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s office is requesting the state regulator of utilities demand more transparency around the money spent to influence public policy when electric and gas companies file their rate cases. The current requirements are not sufficient, according to the office. It suggests requiring details around the utilities’ and affiliates’ expenses for influencing regulation or legislation directly or indirectly and for influencing public opinion.

Montana – Senate Confirms Gallus as State’s Top Political Cop
Flathead Beacon – Blair Miller (Daily Montanan) | Published: 2/15/2023

Montana’s new commissioner of political practices, Chris Gallus, was confirmed by the state Senate. Despite a lengthy political history that includes working closely with the Montana Republican Party and conservative causes, Gallus only received three “no” votes. Commissioners are limited to a single, six-year term under state law.

New Mexico – Ethics Board Fines Ex-Commissioner for Taking Lobbyist’s Contribution
Albuquerque Journal – Jessica Dyer | Published: 2/8/2023

The Code of Conduct Review Board publicly censured former Bernalillo County Commissioner Charlene Pyskoty and fined her $500. At issue is the $5,000 in-kind contribution Pyskoty’s 2022 reelection campaign reported receiving from lobbyist Vanessa Alarid’s firm.  A complaint maintained Alarid is a “restricted donor,” and county code prohibits officials and candidates from accepting campaign contributions over $1,000 from such contributors.

New Mexico – Lawmakers Seek to Close Big Transparency Gap
New Mexico In Depth – Sarah Childress | Published: 2/9/2023

A 2019 New Mexico law sought to force independent groups who are not required to register as political committees to disclose the money they spend in elections. The changes were quickly put to the test during the 2020 election cycle, when a new independent expenditure group found a loophole to evade reporting who donated hundreds of thousands of dollars it spent on political advertising. A new bill gives more details about when donations or spending would have to be disclosed. It also changes reporting by independent groups.

New Mexico – Ousted Election Clerk Hit with Ethics Lawsuit in New Mexico
Yahoo News – Morgan Lee (Associated Press) | Published: 2/10/2023

A local elections regulator in rural New Mexico who was recently declared missing from work and replaced is now facing possible sanctions from the State Ethics Commission. The lawsuit alleges Yvonne Otero used her office for personal gain and to exchange favors, seeking sanctions that include fines of up to $5,000.

New York – Developer Seeks Aid from Adams’ Housing Commissioner After Scandal That Ensnared Both of Them
The City – Greg Smith | Published: 2/9/2023

A decade ago, real estate developer Peter Fine was banned from New York City housing subsidy programs after one of his firms pleaded guilty to criminal charges following a scandal that involved former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión Jr. Now, Carrión is Mayor Eric Adams’ housing commissioner. Public records reveal Fine has for the last year been paying lobbyists to seek support for his proposed housing project in The Bronx from Carrión. For his part in the scandal, Carrión had to pay a $10,000 penalty for violating city ethics rules.

Oregon – Top OLCC Officials Kept Popular Booze – Including Pappy Van Winkle – for Themselves, Diverting It from Public
MSN – Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 2/8/2023

Top executives and managers at the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) diverted specialty bourbons away from public consumption for their own personal use for years. The internal investigation revealed a practice within the agency of reserving bottles of the popular bourbon Pappy Van Winkle for multiple employees, including the former executive director, Steve Marks. The OLCC has a monopoly on liquor sales in the state. Some brands are often difficult for the public to buy in Oregon because demand outpaces supply.

Pennsylvania – Shapiro Sat Courtside at a Sixers Game with a Donor. His Campaign Called It a ‘Political Meeting.’
Spotlight PA – Stephen Caruso | Published: 2/14/2023

Then Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro sat next to a longtime campaign donor and co-chair of his inaugural committee at the January 4, 2023, NBA game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers at the Wells Fargo Arena. Manuel Bender, a spokesperson for Shapiro’s transition who now works for the administration, said the outing was a “political meeting.” He did not say who paid for the tickets, which conservatively cost $3,000. Bonder did say related expenses will be reported as an in-kind campaign contribution. Political veterans and campaign finance experts called the classification unusual.

South Dakota – South Dakota Lawmakers Want to Ban Spouses from Being Registered Lobbyists
Yahoo News – Annie Todd (Sioux Falls Argus Leader) | Published: 2/13/2023

South Dakota lawmakers want to prevent their spouses from being employed as registered lobbyists in a bill that was passed out of a Senate committee. Senate Bill 197 addresses two problems by providing better clarity about the role of legislative spouses and preventing them from having an advantage that other lobbyists and everyday people do not.

Tennessee – After Wearing Traditional Garment on the House Floor, TN Lawmaker Told to Look for a New Career
WKRN – Adam Mintzer | Published: 2/10/2023

Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson wore a dashiki – a traditional West African loose-fitted shirt – in the House chamber. On the floor that day, a lawmaker made a statement on the importance of dress code without naming Pearson. Then the House GOP addressed the issue on Twitter, saying, “If you don’t like rules, perhaps you should explore a different career opportunity that’s main purpose is not creating them.”

Texas – Attorney General Ken Paxton Agrees to Apologize and Pay $3.3 Million to Whistleblowers in Settlement
Texas Tribune – James Barragán | Published: 2/10/2023

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and four of his former top deputies who said he improperly fired them after they accused him of crimes have reached a tentative agreement to end a whistleblower lawsuit that would pay those employees $3.3 million. The agreement would bring an end to the lawsuit over the firing of the staffers but would not end Paxton’s legal troubles. The allegations by the former aides of bribery and abuse of office prompted an FBI investigation, though no charges have been filed and Paxton has denied wrongdoing.

West Virginia – WV Senate Passes Bills That Would Decrease Political Contribution Transparency
Logan Banner – Mike Tony | Published: 2/13/2023

The West Virginia Senate passed two bills that would lower transparency in state elections. The House will now consider the bills, which would increase contribution limits that trigger reporting requirements for those spending money to influence legislation coming before state lawmakers or advocate electing or defeating a candidate without a candidate’s support.

Wisconsin – Democrats Meddle Again in a G.O.P. Primary, This Time Down-Ballot
DNyuz – Reid Epstein (New York Times) | Published: 2/13/2023

Last year, Democrats spent millions of dollars elevating far-right candidates in Republican primary contests for governor and Congress – betting, it turned out correctly, that more extreme opponents would lose general elections. Now Wisconsin Democrats are trying to do it again, this time with mail and television ads before a GOP primary in a special election for a state Senate seat that carries ramifications far beyond the district in suburban Milwaukee.

Wyoming – Wyoming State Rep. Says No Truth to Ethics Complaint
Cowboy State Daily – Leo Wolfson | Published: 2/8/2023

An ethics complaint was filed against state Rep. Jon Conrad, alleging his status as a registered lobbyist in Wyoming, along with his occupation and source of campaign donations, creates a conflict-of-interest for the lawmaker. Conrad is an active registered lobbyist for TATA Chemicals. He is also an Environmental, Health, Safety, and Governmental Affairs Manager for TATA. Conrad is a member of the House Business, Minerals, and Economic Development and Agriculture, State, and Public Lands & Water Resources Committees. There are not explicit rules against serving as a lobbyist while being a legislator.

Campaign Finance

California: “Fresno Politicians Clash Over Campaign Money Rule That Critics Say Unfairly Protects Incumbents” by Melissa Montalvo (Fresno Bee) for MSN

Colorado: “10th Circuit Tosses GOP Challenge to Colorado’s Campaign Spending Limits” by Michael Karlick for Colorado Politics

Elections

National: “Election Deniers Face a Nationwide Wave of Pushback” by Amy Gardner, Patrick Marley, and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Prosecutors Seek Trump Lawyer’s Testimony, Suggesting Evidence of Crime” by Alan Feuer, Maggie Haberman, and Ben Protess (New York Times) for Seattle Times

Maryland: “Gov. Wes Moore Recuses Himself from Under Armour Contract Vote as Team Creates Blind Trust to Manage Financial Assets” by Sam Janesch (Baltimore Sun) for MSN

Montana: “Senate Confirms Gallus as State’s Top Political Cop” by Blair Miller (Daily Montanan) for Flathead Beacon

Texas: “Attorney General Ken Paxton Agrees to Apologize and Pay $3.3 Million to Whistleblowers in Settlement” by James Barragán for Texas Tribune

Legislative Issues

Arkansas: “GOP Lawmaker Booed for Asking Trans Doctor About Her Genitalia at Public Hearing” by LGBTQNation Staff for MSN

Tennessee: “After Wearing Traditional Garment on the House Floor, TN Lawmaker Told to Look for a New Career” by Adam Mintzer for WKRN

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “Donors to Political Committee Supporting Paul Vallas Are Secret, but Leadership Has Ties to Current Campaign” by A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) for MSN

Elections

Wisconsin: “Democrats Meddle Again in a G.O.P. Primary, This Time Down-Ballot” by Reid Epstein (New York Times) for DNyuz

Ethics

National: “Combating Disinformation Wanes at Social Media Giants” by Steven Lee Myers and Nico Grant (New York Times) for DNyuz

National: “Former FBI Agent’s Side Work Puts Bureau Under New Scrutiny” by Shane Harris, Rosalind Helderman, and Catherine Belton (Washington Post) for MSN

Pennsylvania: “Shapiro Sat Courtside at a Sixers Game with a Donor. His Campaign Called It a ‘Political Meeting.’” by Stephen Caruso for Spotlight PA

West Virginia: “WV Senate Passes Bills That Would Decrease Political Contribution Transparency” by Mike Tony for Logan Banner

Legislative Issues

National: “Pence to Fight Special Counsel Subpoena on Trump’s 2020 Election Denial” by Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein (Politico) for Yahoo News

Iowa: “‘Zoom Bombings’ Disrupt Iowa Senate Meetings with Profanity, Pornography and Racial Slurs” by Katie Akin (Des Moines Register) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

South Dakota: “South Dakota Lawmakers Want to Ban Spouses from Being Registered Lobbyists” by Annie Todd (Sioux Falls Argus Leader) for Yahoo News

Sen. Michael Rohl introduced Senate Bill 197 to prohibit spouses of current members of the Senate or House of Representatives from being employed as a registered private lobbyist.

He stated that the bill addresses two problems

• Preventing legislative spouses from having an advantage that other lobbyists and everyday people do not.
• Providing clarity about their role because legislative spouses tend to have more access to restricted areas and lawmakers.

The bill passed out of committee Monday and will next be discussed and voted on by the Senate.

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “Right After Landing a Big Deal with the CTA, Businessman Helps Lightfoot’s Reelection Effort” by Dan Mihalopoulos for WBEZ

New Mexico: “Lawmakers Seek to Close Big Transparency Gap” by Sarah Childress for New Mexico In Depth

Elections

National: “Trump Campaign Paid Researchers to Prove 2020 Fraud but Kept Findings Secret” by Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “After Helping Prince’s Rise, Trump and Kushner Benefit from Saudi Funds” by Michael Kranish (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Biden Fires Architect of the Capitol Over Alleged Abuses” by Lisa Mascaro and Colleen Long (Associated Press) for Yahoo News

Florida: “The Rocky Path to the College Board’s A.P. Black Studies Course” by Anemona Hartocollis, Dan Goldstein, and Stephanie Saul (New York Times) for DNyuz

Maryland: “Judge Upholds Two Ethics Violations Against Nick Mosby, but Rules Council President Didn’t Take Money” by Emily Sullivan for Baltimore Banner

Lobbying

California: “Behind the Late Lobbying Disclosure That Earned Midway Rising a Fine for Breaking City Ethics Laws” by Andrew Keatts for Voice of San Diego

Campaign Finance

Hawaii: “‘Pay To Play’: Hawaii moves to expand the ban on contractor campaign donations” by Blaze Lovell for Honolulu Civil Beat

Ethics

National: “Free Speech vs. Disinformation Comes to a Head” by Steven Lee Myers (New York Times) for DNyuz

National: “Pence Receives Subpoena from Prosecutors Examining Trump’s Jan. 6 Role” by Josh Dawsey and Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Santos Was Charged with Theft in 2017 Case Tied to Amish Dog Breeders” by Jacqueline Sweet (Politico) for Yahoo News

Oregon: “Top OLCC Officials Kept Popular Booze – Including Pappy Van Winkle – for Themselves, Diverting It from Public” by Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Lobbying

New Mexico: “Ethics Board Fines Ex-Commissioner for Taking Lobbyist’s Contribution” by Jessica Dyer for Albuquerque Journal

New York: “Developer Seeks Aid from Adams’ Housing Commissioner After Scandal That Ensnared Both of Them” by Greg Smith for The City

Wyoming: “Wyoming State Rep. Says No Truth to Ethics Complaint” by Leo Wolfson for Cowboy State Daily

The Los Angeles’ Ad hoc committee on governance reform has recommended the approval of an ethics commission report that would change the rules on persons and organizations lobbying the city.

The commission, whose origins revolves around a controversial leaked audio tape from two former members of the city council, have been tasked on overhauling the city’s ethics laws.

The commission recommended setting a compensation threshold of $5,000 per year that would require a person to register as a lobbyist.

The recommendation also included a requirement for lobbyists to identify their positions on matters about which they are lobbying and lowering the threshold which triggers disclosures when lobbyists distribute political fundraiser solicitations to 15 or more people, down from a threshold of 50 people.

The next step is for the City Council to vote on the commission’s recommendations at their next meeting.

Governor Greg Gianforte has appointed Chris Gallus as Montana’s new Commissioner of Political Practices.

Gallus previously served as legal counsel for the Montana Chamber of Commerce before starting his own private practice.

The Montana Senate has not yet confirmed Gallus’s appointment and no date has been set for his confirmation hearing.

If his appointment is approved, Gallus will serve a six-year term as Commissioner of Political Practices.

National/Federal

2016 Trump Campaign in $450,000 Lawsuit Settlement Voids Worker Non-Disclosure Pacts
MSN – Jack Stebbins (CNBC) | Published: 2/4/2023

Former President Trump’s 2016 campaign, as part of a $450,000 settlement of a class-action lawsuit by a former campaign aide, agreed to void non-disclosure agreements that hundreds of campaign workers and volunteers had signed as a condition of their work. The deal ended a federal lawsuit filed by former Trump campaign aide Jessica Denson. The settlement potentially opens the door for campaign workers to publicly discuss events related to the 2016 race, and to Trump himself, without fear of potentially financially ruinous legal retaliation by him.

Despite Fears Agency Could Be Crippled, House Fills Ethics Posts
MSN – Kate Ackley (Roll Call) | Published: 2/7/2023

Even though watchdog groups predicted House Republicans’ changes to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) could sideline it in the 118th Congress, they now say their worst fears appear unlikely. They credit House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for swiftly filling Democratic slots on OCE’s board and say they are now optimistic about the office’s ability to operate. Still, the state of ethics enforcement in the current Congress remains somewhat uncertain.

Despite Prior Sexual Harassment Probe, Executive Hired to Senior Federal Job
MSN – Lisa Rein (Washington Post) | Published: 2/3/2023

The agency that sets personnel and hiring policy across the federal government hired a senior leader last year who was found in a previous job to have sexually harassed two women who were his subordinates. Frederick Tombar III, hired in October as second-in-command in the Office of Personnel Management’s retirement services division, resigned as executive director of the Louisiana Housing Corp. in 2015 amid an internal probe by a state agency that concluded he harassed the women. The state also paid $89,500 to one of his accusers in a settlement after she sued.

DNC Approves Biden Plan to Remake 2024 Calendar but Hurdles Remain
MSN – Dylan Wells and Tyler Pager (Washington Post) | Published: 2/4/2023

Democrats voted overwhelmingly to remake the party’s presidential nominating calendar, embracing President Biden’s push for South Carolina to be the first state to hold its contest in 2024 and replacing Iowa amid calls for greater racial, geographic, and economic diversity in the process. The move by members of the Democratic National Committee was long expected, but it does not guarantee the calendar will ultimately be enacted as designed.

Federal Election Commission Hikes Contribution Limits Ahead of 2024 Election Cycle
OpenSecrets – Taylor Giorno | Published: 2/2/2023

The FEC announced new contribution limits for the 2024 election cycle. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 established limits for donations by individuals to candidates and national party committees. The FEC increases the caps every odd-numbered year to reflect changes in inflation, which skyrocketed in 2022 to the highest level in four decades and the unprecedented increase to the donation limit reflects the historic rise in prices.

Feds Probing Santos’ Role in Service Dog Charity Scheme
MSN – Jacqueline Sweet (Politico) | Published: 1/31/2023

The FBI is investigating U.S. Rep. George Santos’s role in an alleged GoFundMe scheme involving a disabled U.S. Navy veteran’s dying service dog. Richard Osthoff said Santos used his plight to raise $3,000 for life-saving surgery for the dog, then disappeared with the funds. Attorney Joshua Schiller said the veteran’s encounter with Santos could offer prosecutors a quick way to file criminal charges even though they are also investigating possible financial crimes.

Gavels for Top House Committees Don’t Always Come Cheap
MSN – Kate Ackley (Roll Call) | Published: 2/9/2023

Winning control of the most sought-after committees in the House can come with a hefty price tag – in party dues. The eight lawmakers atop the four panels dubbed “A” committees transferred more than $5.2 million from their own political accounts to their respective parties’ campaign arms in the 2022 cycle, according to Issue One, a group that advocates for overhauling campaign finance laws. Although chairperson races and committee assignments do not merely come down to who raised the most money for the party, it can help members move up the hierarchies of the House if they spread campaign money generously.

Heckling of Biden Reflects a New, Coarser Normal for House G.O.P.
Yahoo News – Karoun Demirjian (New York Times) | Published: 2/8/2023

The shouts of “liar,” “that’s not true,” and at least one expletive lobbed at President Biden during his State of the Union address dwarfed outbursts during previous such speeches, most of which have been interrupted by a single disturbance, if at all. The display reflected the ethos that has come to define the Republican-led House, where an emboldened right wing that styles itself after former President Trump is unapologetic about its antipathy for Biden and eager to show it in attention-grabbing ways.

Jordan Fires Off First Subpoenas Against Biden Admin
MSN – Jordain Carney and Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 2/3/2023

House Judiciary Committee Chairperson Jim Jordan issued the first subpoenas of the GOP’s new majority, demanding records about certain Biden administration decisions regarding threats against school officials during the Covid-19 pandemic. Jordan sent subpoenas to Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, requesting a laundry list of documents by March 1. The subpoenas are linked to a long-held GOP claim that federal agencies “targeted” parents.

Koch Network to Back Alternative to Trump After Sitting Out Recent Primaries
MSN – Isaac Arnsdorf (Washington Post) | Published: 2/5/2023

The network of donors and activist groups led by conservative billionaire Charles Koch will oppose Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination, mounting a direct challenge to the former president’s campaign to win back the White House. The move marks the most notable example to date of an overt and coordinated effort from within conservative circles to stop Trump from winning the GOP nomination for a third straight presidential election. Some Republicans have grown increasingly frustrated with Trump after disappointing midterm elections in which he drew blame for elevating flawed candidates and polarizing ideas.

Santos’ Unusual $199.99 Campaign Expenses Are Putting Scrutiny on His Longtime Treasurer
MSN – Fredreka Schouten, Kara Scannell, and Gregory Krieg (CNN) | Published: 2/7/2023

U.S. Rep. George Santos and former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin shared a striking set of unusual expenses in their campaign finance reports: 21 payments on a single day that each total exactly $199.99, which is one penny below the figure at which campaigns are required to keep receipts, and all went to anonymous recipients. The Zeldin and Santos congressional campaigns had one more thing in common: they shared a treasurer, Nancy Marks. She resigned from the Santos campaign recently, but the reports Marks filed are the subject of FEC complaints centered on allegations that records were falsified in violation of federal law.

Supreme Court Justices Discussed, But Did Not Agree on Code of Conduct
MSN – Robert Barnes and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 2/9/2023

Although U.S. Supreme Court justices say they voluntarily comply with the same ethical guidelines that apply to other federal judges, the lack of an ethics code has become a prominent complaint on Capitol Hill. In 2019, Justice Elena Kagan told a congressional committee that Chief Justice John Roberts was “seriously” studying the issue. But a discussion among the justices to establish a code failed to produce agreement, people familiar with the matter said. The inertia has frustrated critics, whose demands for reform have intensified.

From the States and Municipalities

Arkansas – Ex-State Senator Hutchinson Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette – Dale Ellis | Published: 2/3/2023

Former state Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, the son of ex-U.S. Rep. Tim Hutchinson and nephew of former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after being convicted of bribery and filing a false tax return. He was also ordered to pay $355,535.10 in restitution. Hutchinson admitted to accepting more than $157,000 from a businessperson disguised as legal fees to advance legislation.

California – Calls Intensify for Anaheim’s City Leaders to Keep Promises to Root Out Corruption
Voice of OC – Spencer Custodio and Hosam Elattar | Published: 2/9/2023

Resident watchdogs, activists, community leaders, and the Orange County Democratic Party are all pushing back on Anaheim City Council members, calling on them to stay the course on a contracted corruption investigation into City Hall instead of paring down efforts stemming from a scandal that surfaced last year. The scandal triggered the mayor’s resignation and ended up terminating a proposed stadium deal between the city and the Los Angeles Angels.

California – LA Council’s Governance Reform Committee Recommends Stricter Lobbying Rules
MSN – City News Service | Published: 2/6/2023

In a step toward reforming Los Angeles’s lobbying ordinance for the first time in decades, the city council’s ad hoc committee on reform recommended approval of an city Ethics Commission report that would place stricter rules on people or organizations looking to impact policy. The Municipal Lobbying Ordinance has not been comprehensively updated since its adoption in 1994, with two prior recommendations by the ethics agency expiring after the council did not act on them. But the racist audio involving some council members spurred the creation of the special committee, which took up the May 2022 recommendations.

Florida – Amid Attacks from DeSantis, AP African American Studies Course Is Updated
MSN – Nick Anderson and Lori Rozsa (Washington Post) | Published: 2/1/2023

After debate on how to construct a class focused on the Black experience, the College Board finalized a plan for its new Advanced Placement course in African American studies that seeks to immerse students in Black history and culture without shying from fraught topics of race and racism in a way that until now has mostly been available only on college campuses. The College Board denied any suggestion it watered down the course after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attacked an earlier draft as progressive “indoctrination.” But the document now omits mention of certain left-leaning figures who appeared in a previous version.

Florida – Brevard Consultant Failed to Report Political Contributions, Gambled with PAC Funds
Yahoo News – Eric Rogers (Florida Today) | Published: 2/8/2023

A Brevard County political consultant is facing a long list of election law violations over electioneering and a defunct PAC he used during the 2020 election cycle. Florida Elections Commission investigators said Robert Burns failed to file months of campaign finance reports for his short-lived PAC, Friends of Florida, failed to disclose tens of thousands in contributions, regularly spent money the PAC did not have, and failed to properly disclose political ads paid for with PAC funds.

Florida – Fort Lauderdale Follies: City Hall drama gets Seinfeldesque
MSN – Susannah Bryan (South Florida Sun-Sentinel) | Published: 2/8/2023

It was not a Seinfeld episode, but it sounded like one as Fort Lauderdale City Commission members Steve Glassman and John Herbst faced off at a meeting. Glassman needled Herbst over how many hours the city attorney’s office has spent drafting opinions for him on whether a commissioner can accept invites from lobbyists and organizations to pricey and not-so-pricey events without breaking ethics laws.

Hawaii – Hawaii Government Transparency Bills Clear a Key Hurdle in The Legislature
Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 2/7/2023

Four bills that would ban lawmakers from taking donations while in session and increase transparency in Hawaii’s campaign finance system were unanimously approved with bipartisan support in the state House. The bills are the first batch of those aimed at reforming government transparency and ethics in the wake of felony charges against two former lawmakers who took bribes from a businessperson. They now go to the Senate. Gov. Josh Green signaled support for many of the transparency measures being considered this session and said he planned to sign those that came to his desk.

Illinois – New Illinois Supreme Court Justices Got Major Boost from Hidden Spending by Democratic Group
MSN – Ray Long and Rick Pearson (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 2/5/2023

All for Justice spent $7.3 million on the 2022 Illinois Supreme Court races to help expand the Democratic majority on the court. But the PAC failed to follow disclosure guidelines mandated by state election law, which meant its spending went undisclosed until months after the election. In contrast, independent expenditure groups that funded the Republican candidates filed the required ongoing spending reports. Although All for Justice did not file timely expenditure reports, it did file the mandated reports on money it was taking in from donors, indicating an awareness of the campaign finance laws.

Kansas – Kansas Bill Would Limit Subpoena Power of Ethics Commission Amid Ongoing Investigation
MSN – Jenna Barackman (Kansas City Star) | Published: 2/6/2023

A new bill would limit the subpoena power of the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission. It would require the commission to verify the legitimacy of a claim and determine probable cause before issuing a subpoena. The panel would be unable to use subpoenas to determine whether probable cause exists. The legislation comes after the commission’s executive director, Mark Skoglund, subpoenaed Republican officials last year in relation to an investigation into possible campaign finance violations.

Maryland – Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates Scraps Plans for Foundation While in Office
Baltimore Banner – Justin Fenton and Dylan Segelbaum | Published: 2/8/2023

Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates is scrapping plans for a nonprofit foundation that was expected to accept contributions from donors it would not have to disclose under the law to pay for events while he served as the city’s top prosecutor. Since its formation, Building Bridges for a Better Baltimore Foundation, a 501(c)(4) group, has been mainly a vehicle to fund Bates’ inauguration events. Though state law now requires the governor to disclose donors to inaugural committees, it does not cover other public officials, such as state’s attorneys.

Massachusetts – Limits on Super PACs Stump Top Massachusetts Court
Courthouse News Service – Thomas Harrison | Published: 2/6/2023

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court heard arguments in a case concerning a proposed initiative petition filed in June 2022 and rejected in September. It would have limited contributions to super PACs to $5,000 in a calendar year. Justice Scott Kafker referred to the matter as an “incredibly novel, difficult constitutional issue that probably will get us smacked down by the U.S. Supreme Court” and wondered whether it was appropriate for the state’s highest court to get involved at this stage.

Michigan – Feds Investigate Ex-Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson for Alleged Bribery in Pot Licensing
Gwinnett Daily Post – Robert Snell and Craig Mauger (Detroit News) | Published: 2/1/2023

FBI agents and a federal grand jury have spent more than two years investigating whether former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson and others received bribes in return for awarding state licenses to operate medical marijuana facilities. The probe has the potential to raise new questions about financial influences over Lansing while Republicans controlled the Legislature and how the state’s burgeoning marijuana industry was shaped.

Minnesota – Appeals Court Greenlights Donation Investigation into GOP Group
Yahoo News – Roger Sollenberger (Daily Beast) | Published: 2/8/2023

A federal appeals court said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison can pursue his investigation into Republican online fundraising giant WinRed over an allegedly deceptive marketing scheme that bilked unwitting donors out of untold amounts of money. The Eighth Circuit of Appeals rejected WinRed’s argument that federal campaign finance laws preempt state attorneys general from enforcing state-level consumer protection laws.

Minnesota – Our Streets Minneapolis Must Register Lobbyists
KMSP – Tom Lyden | Published: 2/2/2023

The Minnesota Campaign Finance Board announced a settlement with Our Streets Minneapolis for failing since 2018 to register some of its employees as lobbyists. Five employees have now registered as lobbyists, while Our Streets Minneapolis will register as a group that engages in lobbying and pay a civil penalty of $4,000. In a response to the complaint, Brian Dillon, an attorney for Our Streets, wrote that the group “Now recognized that it recently began engaging in regulated lobbying activity without knowing that it had done so.”

Missouri – Records Point to Lacy Clay and Brandon Bosley in St. Louis Corruption Scandal
St. Louis Post-Dispatch – Jacob Barker and Austin Huguelet | Published: 2/6/2023

Federal officials just sent three former members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen to prison for taking bribes from a gas station owner. But recently released court documents indicate the FBI provided cash to an informant who offered bribes to at least two other public officials: former U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay and current Alderman Brandon Bosley. The revelations spring from new details sprinkled through an unsealed search warrant application.

Montana – Helena Attorney Gallus Prepares for Confirmation Hearing as Montana Commissioner of Political Practices
KTVH – Jonathan Ambarian | Published: 2/6/2023

Gov. Greg Gianforte’s choice to be Montana’s commissioner of political practices has already started his new job as the state Senate prepares to consider his confirmation. Chris Gallus has been at work since January 23, several days after Gianforte appointed him to the position. Gallus previously served as legal counsel for the Montana Chamber of Commerce, then started his own legal practice – often working on campaign-related matters, like cases involving ballot measures. He also previously worked as a lobbyist.

New Jersey – Ethical Questions Raised as Murphy Extends Reach at Port Authority with New Nominations
MSN – Colleen Wilson (Bergen Record) | Published: 2/6/2023

Gov. Phil Murphy sent three nominations, including two top staffers, for the state Senate to consider for roles on the board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Some have raised questions about whether two officials in the governor’s office can sit on the Port Authority board and if there is a conflict-of-interest for the mayor of Elizabeth, a city where authority business and property is located.

New Mexico – Legislation Could Be Fast-Tracked to Resolve Simmering Ethics Law Disagreement
Albuquerque Journal – Dan Boyd | Published: 2/7/2023

New Mexico lawmakers are poised to move quickly to pass legislation clarifying their ability to represent constituents in dealings with state agencies, after a dust-up over the practical implications of a nearly 60-year-old state ethics law. The filing of a Senate bill was prompted by a recent state Ethics Commission advisory opinion that concluded lawmakers could run afoul of the Governmental Conduct Act by writing letters on legislative stationery to state agencies on behalf of constituents, or by making references to their role as legislators.

New Mexico – Legislators Take Aim at Secrecy Rule in Harassment Complaints
Albuquerque Journal – Dan McKay | Published: 2/1/2023

New Mexico legislators took a step toward ending the one-sided confidentiality law that keeps people who file a harassment complaint at the Capitol from speaking about their case. Under the current system, a lawmaker accused of harassment is free to comment in public, but the person who lodged the complaint cannot, unless there is a finding of probable cause after an investigation. Lobbyist Marianna Anaya, who accused a prominent state senator last year of sexual harassment and abusive behavior, said the secrecy provision could interfere with a person’s ability to speak to family members and seek out other support.

New York – N.Y. Prosecutors Group Says Former Trump Investigator Violated Ethics with Book
MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 2/3/2023

An association of New York state prosecutors said a former member of the Manhattan district attorney’s office who investigated Donald Trump violated ethical standards by writing a book about the case during an ongoing criminal investigation. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office has previously said former investigator Mark Pomerantz may have broken a law that bars prosecutors from disclosing grand jury material by writing “People vs. Donald Trump: An Inside Account.”

North Carolina – Appeals Court Backs N.C. Attorney General in Battle to Avoid Criminal Libel Prosecution
Yahoo News – Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 2/8/2023

A federal appeals court sided with North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein in his bid to avoid prosecution under a state law criminalizing “derogatory” statements related to candidates. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals did not outright prohibit a North Carolina district attorney from going forward with a highly unusual prosecution of Stein over his claims related to a rival’s handling of rape test kits. But the appeals court’s decision makes it highly likely a lower federal court will preclude such an action.

North Carolina – NC May Loosen Sanctions for Political Campaigns and PACs After First-Time Violations
MSN – Dan Kane (Charlotte Observer) | Published: 2/7/2023

The State Board of Elections is considering a policy that would allow some campaigns and PACs to keep smaller donations that violate campaign finance rules for first-time infractions. The board is soliciting public comments on the plan. Under the policy, the board would settle cases involving prohibited donations or spending of less than $1,000 per election cycle. First-time rule-breakers would receive warning letters recommending they forfeit prohibited contributions, but not requiring it.

North Carolina – On North Carolina’s Supreme Court, G.O.P. Justices Move to Reconsider Democratic Rulings
DNyuz – Michael Wines (New York Times) | Published: 2/5/2023

The North Carolina Supreme Court moved to rehear two voting rights cases, one striking down a gerrymandered map and another nullifying new voter ID requirements. Such re-hearings are exceedingly rare. What also made the move exceptional was that the cases had been decided less than two months ago by a court that, at the time, contained four Democratic and three Republican justices. The court that voted to rehear the cases has a five-to-two GOP majority after the November midterms. The two Democratic justices criticized the rehearing orders, calling them “an exercise of raw partisanship” that would undermine public trust in the court.

North Dakota – Opposites Align in Push to Clamp Down on Dark Money in North Dakota Campaigns
Dickinson Press – Jeremy Turley | Published: 2/1/2023

State law in North Dakota allows campaign finance groups that classify themselves as “independent expenditure” filers to avoid disclosing their donors. House Bill 1500 would require the nebulous organizations to publicly divulge the “ultimate and true source” of the funds they use to buy political ads. The bill is one of about a half-dozen proposals before lawmakers that would expand public campaign finance reporting requirements for groups or candidates. The wave of legislation comes in response to a perceived increase in the number of attack ads over the last few election cycles.

Ohio – Larry Householder Again Paid His Defense Lawyers with Campaign Funds, Though a Quick Refund Followed
MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 2/8/2023

Indicted ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder has again used his campaign funds to pay $300,000 in legal bills last year, a practice repeatedly found in the past to be illegal under state law. He refunded the money a day later, however, a shift from past practice that landed him in a case before the Ohio Elections Commission. That case is on hold as Householder faces a criminal trial over a racketeering charge.

Ohio – Reporter Arrested After Broadcast at Ohio Governor’s News Conference
MSN – Ben Brasch (Washington Post) | Published: 2/8/2023

A television reporter was arrested for trespassing and disorderly conduct following a live shot at the back of a news conference held by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. The event was intended to announce that residents in the village of East Palestine can safely return to their homes after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed days earlier. Video shows Evan Lambert of NewsNation being handcuffed on the ground and taken to a police vehicle. It isn’t clear what led to Lambert being detained.

Oregon – In the Fight Over Gas Stoves, Meet the Industry’s Go-To Scientist
DNyuz – Hiroko Tabuchi (New York Times) | Published: 1/29/2023

When Multnomah County in Oregon convened a recent public hearing on the health hazards posed by pollution from gas stoves, a toxicologist named Julie Goodman was the first to testify. Studies linking gas stoves to childhood asthma, which have prompted talk of gas-stove bans recently, were “missing important context,” she said. What Goodman did not say was that she was paid to testify by a local gas provider. She is a toxicologist who works for Gradient, a consulting firm that provides environmental reviews for corporations.

Pennsylvania – Democrats Sweep Special Elections, Affirming First Pa. House Majority in 12 Years
Spotlight PA – Stephen Caruso | Published: 2/7/2023

Democrats swept three Allegheny County special elections, cementing their one-vote majority in the Pennsylvania House, and ending a two-month debate over which party controls the chamber. It is unclear if the wins will be enough for House Democrat Leader Joanna McClinton to claim the speaker’s gavel, which is currently held by Rep. Mark Rozzi. He was elected in a deal Republicans engineered in a last-ditch effort to avoid entering the minority. But Rozzi’s arrangement has not panned out as Republicans planned, and the party now faces an adjustment to life in the legislative minority.