Campaign Finance

California: “‘Recall Sheng Thao’ Campaign Refuses to Cooperate with Ethics Investigators, Faces Lawsuit” by Darwin BondGraham and Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) for MSN

National: “Ruling Accusing Former Miami Lawmaker of Campaign Finance Violations Tossed Out” by Jim Saunders (News Service of Florida) for WLRN

Ohio: “Lawsuit Challenges Ohio Law Banning Foreign Nationals from Donating to Ballot Campaigns” by Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) for WCPO

Elections

Nebraska: “Some Nebraskans Say Misleading Words Led Them to Sign Petitions on Abortion They Don’t Support” by Margery Beck (Associated Press) for MSN

Ethics

New York: “Giuliani Disbarred in N.Y. Over False Statements About 2020 Election” by Patrick Svitek (Washington Post) for MSN

Virginia: “Judges Order Hate Groups to Pay Millions for 2017 Charlottesville Rally” by Ellie Silverman (Washington Post) for MSN

Legislative Issues

National: “Supreme Court’s ‘Chevron’ Ruling Means Changes for Writing Laws” by Michael Macagnone (Roll Call) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “Departing FDA Staffers Told They Can Still Influence the Agency in Big Pharma Jobs: BMJ report” by Andrea Park for FiercePharma

National/Federal

Judge Skeptical About Request to Limit Trump Statements on F.B.I.

DNyuz – Alan Feuer and Eileen Sullivan (New York Times) | Published: 6/24/2024

The federal judge overseeing Donald Trump’s classified documents case posed tough questions to prosecutors who have asked her to bar him from making inflammatory statements that might endanger any FBI agents involved in the case. At a contentious hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon seemed disinclined to impose new conditions on Trump that would limit what he could say about the FBI.

The Ballot Measures Aim to Reduce Partisanship. Can They Fix American Politics?

DNyuz – Michael Wines (New York Times) | Published: 6/25/2024

Americans of both parties routinely express deep concern about the state of the country’s democracy. This fall, many voters may have a chance to do something about it, by voting on state ballot measures related to the nuts and bolts of elections and governance. Eight states appear all but certain to field ballot measures that would either overhaul redistricting or rewrite election rules to discourage hyper-partisanship and give voters a greater voice in choosing candidates.

Michael Flynn Has Turned His Trump-World Celebrity into a Family Business

DNyuz – David Fahrenthold and Alexandra Berzon (New York Times) | Published: 6/23/2024

Since leaving the Trump administration under an ethical cloud, Michael Flynn has converted his celebrity into a lucrative and sprawling family business. He and his relatives have marketed the retired general as a martyr, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for a legal-defense fund and then pocketing leftover money. A New York Times investigation found Flynn family members had made at least $2.2 million monetizing his right-wing stardom in recent years, with more than half of that going to Flynn directly. The reporting also raised questions about whether a nonprofit properly disclosed its payments to Flynn’s relatives.

Masks Are Going from Mandated to Criminalized in Some States

MSN – Fenit Nirappil (Washington Post) | Published: 6/24/2024

State legislators and law enforcement are reinstating dormant laws that criminalize mask-wearing to penalize pro-Palestinian protesters who conceal their faces, raising concerns among covid-cautious Americans. Immunocompromised Americans and civil libertarians who have criticized mask bans as a cudgel against protesters of police shootings, economic inequality, and environmental injustice say the bans are being revived because covid is no longer treated as a public health emergency.

Ronny Jackson, Wesley Hunt Face Campaign Ethics Probes Over Private Club Membership

MSN – Matthew Choi (Texas Tribune) | Published: 6/24/2024

U.S. Reps. Ronny Jackson and Wesley Hunt are under investigation for using campaign funds for private club memberships in a potential violation of campaign finance rules, according to the Office of Congressional Ethics Federal rules allow campaign funds for specific events at private clubs, but not typically for membership or unlimited access.

Judge Cannon Skeptical of Trump Claim FBI Mishandled Mar-a-Lago Search

MSN – Perry Stein and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) | Published: 6/25/2024

U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon signaled that Donald Trump’s legal team had not convinced her FBI agents offered false information to justify searching Mar-a-Lago, a potential blow to the former president’s efforts to disqualify key evidence in the classified documents case against him. Trump’s attorneys asked Cannon to grant what is known as a Franks hearing, a chance to show the government intentionally misled a magistrate judge when seeking a warrant to search for classified material at Trump’s Florida home and private club more than a year after he left office.

Supreme Court Wipes Out Anti-Corruption Law That Bars Officials from Taking Gifts for Past Favors

MSN – Charlie Savage (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 6/26/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the bribery conviction of James Snyder, the former mayor of Portage, Indiana, the latest in a series of decisions narrowing the scope of public corruption law. In their ruling, the court’s majority drew a distinction between bribery, which requires proof of an illegal deal, and a gratuity that can be a gift or a reward for a past favor. They said the officials may be charged and prosecuted for bribery, but not for simply taking money for past favors if there was no proof of an illicit deal.

Supreme Court Allows White House Contacts with Social Media Firms

MSN – Ann Marimow and Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) | Published: 6/26/2026

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an effort to restrict White House officials and other federal employees from pressuring social media companies to remove posts from their platforms the government deems problematic, saying the challengers did not have legal standing to bring the case. The decision could have implications for efforts to combat foreign disinformation during a critical election year. The federal government largely halted its warnings to U.S. technology companies about foreign influence campaigns last year, after lower-court decisions that placed broad limits on such communications.

Robert Winnett Will Not Join Washington Post as Top Editor

MSN – Benjamin Mullin and Katie Robertson (New York Times) | Published: 6/21/2024

Robert Winnett, the editor selected to run The Washington Post, will not take up that position after reports raised questions about his ties to unethical news gathering practices in Britain. Winnett’s decision is the latest in a series of convulsions at The Post. Sally Buzbee, the paper’s executive editor, stunned the newsroom by abruptly resigning. That coincided with Lewis announcing a plan to drastically remake the newsroom. In the weeks since, numerous articles about Winnett and Lewis have raised questions about their journalistic ethics and past conduct.

Judge Cannon Asks about Attorney General Garland’s Oversight of Trump Trials

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 6/21/2024

U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon pressed the special counsel team prosecuting Donald Trump to explain Attorney General Merrick Garland’s role in overseeing the classified-documents case and then criticized a lawyer on the team for being cagey with his response. The back-and-forth took place at the end of a four-hour hearing on Trump’s request to dismiss the case based on a widely disputed argument that special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed to lead the investigation.

Should Doctors in Congress Earn Money for Their Side Job?

MSN – Justin Papp (Roll Call) | Published: 6/20/2024

House rules and federal ethics laws make it difficult for members of Congress who are physicians from practicing medicine while they are legislators. Rep. Andy Harris is advocating language in the fiscal 2025 Legislative Branch spending bill that would clarify the right of medical professionals to work for compensation while in Congress — though they would still be beholden to an annual second-income cap. Despite concerns from Democrats that the carve-out could create potential conflicts-of-interest and benefits a small subset of members, the language was included in the bill that the Appropriations Committee advanced.

How America’s ‘Most Powerful Lobby’ Is Stifling Efforts to Reform Oil Well Cleanup in State After State

MSN – Mark Olade (ProPublica) | Published: 6/24/2024

Across the country, more than 2 million oil and gas wells sit unplugged. Many leak oil and toxic or explosive gasses but the money held in cleanup funds is many millions of dollars short of the projected costs. As regulators and legislators seek to require drillers to set aside more money for the work, they have invited oil companies and trade groups to help write the regulations. This dynamic, politically expedient in states where the industry wields tremendous influence, has combined with secretive drafting processes and millions of dollars of industry lobbying to weaken or defeat proposals in various states.

Judge in Trump Documents Case Rejected Suggestions to Step Aside

Yahoo News – Charlie Savage amd Alan Feuer (New York Times) | Published: 6/20/2024

Shortly after Judge Aileen Cannon drew the assignment to oversee Donald Trump’s classified documents case, two more experienced colleagues on the federal bench in Florida urged her to pass it up and hand it off to another jurist, according to two people briefed on the conversations. But Judge Cannon, who was appointed by Trump, wanted to keep the case and refused the judges’ entreaties. Her assignment drew attention because she has scant trial experience and had previously shown unusual favor to Trump by intervening in a way that helped him in the criminal investigation that led to his indictment, only to be reversed.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Leaked TC Energy Recording Prompts B.C. to Probe Claims of Outsized Lobbying Influence on Government

Yahoo News – Matt Simmons (Local Journalism Initiative) and Mike De Souza (The Narwhal) | Published: 6/26/2024

British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma asked a provincial watchdog to look into a series of bold claims about how an executive at a Canadian oil and gas company, who is a former New Democratic Party staffer, claimed the company had leveraged political connections to persuade the provincial government to significantly weaken its environmental policies. The executive, Liam Iliffe, began lobbying for TC Energy less than a year after leaving a senior strategic communications position in government.

Alabama – Alabama Town’s First Black Mayor, Who Had Been Locked Out of Office, Will Return Under Settlement

MSN – Associated Press | Published: 6/24/2024

Patrick Braxton will be recognized as mayor of the town of Newbern, Alabama, under the terms of an agreement to settle a lawsuit. It will end the dispute over control of the town government and pave the way for Braxton to take over as Newbern’s first Black mayor. Instead of holding elections for the past six decades, the sitting mayor appointed a successor, and that successor chose town council members. That resulted in an overwhelmingly white government in a town where Black residents outnumber white residents by a two-to-one margin.

Alaska – State Judge Upholds Most Fines Against Group Seeking Repeal of Alaska Ranked Choice Voting

Alaska Beacon – James Brooks | Published: 6/21/2024

Anchorage Superior Court Judge Laura Hartz ruled opponents of Alaska’s ranked choice election system violated state campaign finance laws in their effort to gather signatures for a repeal ballot measure. Hartz upheld almost all fines issued by the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) and concluded the state’s disclosure laws apply to ballot measures. APOC had issued more than $94,000 in fines in the case.

Arizona – Judge Disqualifies Himself from Lawsuit Challenging Ballot Measure on Judicial Retention

Arizona Capitol Times – Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) | Published: 6/25/2024

A judge recused himself from deciding the legality of a ballot measure that would give him and his colleagues lifetime appointments. But the move leaves unanswered who is qualified to hear the case. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Randall Warner stepped away after noting the lawsuit involves a bid by lawmakers to scrap the 50-year-old system that requires judges appointed by the governor to have to stand for reelection on a regular basis. All judges in the state’s largest counties are part of that same retain-reject system of elections. That means each of them is in the same position as Warner, with the same stake in the outcome of the case.

Arizona – Maricopa County Didn’t Enforce Campaign Finance Laws. Now, Political Groups Owe Millions

MSN – Sasha Hupka (Arizona Republic) | Published: 6/24/2024

For at least four election cycles, the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office chose not to refer groups that had long failed to file reports or pay late fees to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for prosecution. That policy complies with state law. But some groups with large fines have not turned in the required paperwork in years, robbing county residents of vital and legally required information. Former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard said county election officials’ decision not to enforce campaign finance rules was “a dereliction.”

California – FBI Raid of Oakland Mayor Rocks City, Fuels Questions Over Family’s Political Influence

Yahoo News – Salvador Hernandez and Ruben Vives (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 6/22/2024

FBI agents raided the home of Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, casting a renewed spotlight on a years-long probe into the political influence, and campaign finance machinations, of one prominent local family. For five years, the Oakland Public Ethics Commission and the state Fair Political Practices Commission have been investigating allegations that executives at California Waste Solutions, namely members of the Duong family, used “straw donors” to circumvent donation limits and fill the campaign coffers of public officials.

Colorado – Capitol’s Alcohol Culture Under Scrutiny in Sen. Faith Winter’s Ethics Investigation

Colorado Politics – Marissa Ventrelli | Published: 6/23/2024

Friends and colleagues of Colorado Sen. Faith Winter argued a culture that normalizes alcoholism at the state Capitol is a contributing factor to her behavior at a Northglenn City Council meeting in April, which is now the subject of an ethics complaint. The city council had alleged Winter failed to uphold her official duties as a lawmaker when she attended the April meeting while appearing intoxicated. The Senate Committee on Ethics decided to investigate whether Winter violated the chamber’s ethics rules.

Florida – Government Watchdogs Will Lose Some Ethics Oversight Powers Under Bill DeSantis Signed

MSN – Ana Ceballos (Miami Herald) | Published: 6/21/2024

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis quietly approved new restrictions on how watchdog commissions can investigate state and local officials for suspected public corruption and ethical violations, even as local officials say the move will likely result in less government oversight. Under the new law, state and local ethics panels will be allowed to investigate complaints against public officials only if someone with personal knowledge “other than hearsay” is willing to identify themselves by name and file a complaint under oath about suspected wrongdoing.

Illinois – Former Illinois Lawmaker Gets a Year in Prison for Cheating on Her Taxes

Chicago Sun-Times – Jon Seidel | Published: 6/21/2024

A federal judge sentenced former Illinois Sen. Annazette Collins to a year in prison for cheating on her taxes in a case with ties to the same investigation that snared indicted former House Speaker Michael Madigan. Prosecutors say she ultimately dodged more than $150,000 in taxes. The case revolved around Collins’ work with her lobbying firm, Kourtnie Nicole Corp., following her years in the Legislature.

Illinois – Ex-Ald. Ed Burke Hit with 2-Year Prison Sentence: ‘I regret the pain and sorrow I have caused’

WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 6/24/2024

A federal judge sentenced former Ald. Edward Burke, the longest-serving city council member in Chicago history, to two years in prison after he was found guilty of racketeering, bribery, and extortion. Burke used his powerful position to force those doing business with the city to hire his private law firm. His trial included testimony from three dozen witnesses and 100 recordings made as part of a court-authorized wiretap and undercover efforts by former Ald. Danny Solis.

Maryland – Former Pr. George’s Councilman Mel Franklin Charged with Embezzlement

MSN – Katie Mettler, Latesha Beachum, and Jasmine Hulton (Washington Post) | Published: 6/20/2024

Former Prince George’s County Councilperson Jamel Franklin was charged in a felony theft scheme in which authorities say he embezzled at least $130,000 of his campaign funds to pay for personal expenses, including rent, loans, and cosmetic procedures for himself and a close friend. The charges come less than a week after Franklin abruptly resigned his seat as an at-large member of the council, a body he served on for nearly 14 years.

Michigan – Senate Symbolically Lets the Sunshine in as FOIA Reform Bills Advance to the House

Michigan Advance – Kyle Davidson | Published: 6/27/2024

Members of the Michigan Senate voted to advance an effort to expand the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Senate Bills 669 and 670 would expand FOIA to include the governor’s office and the Legislature, both of which are exempt under the current law. Michigan was previously ranked last among the states for government integrity. In a report from the Center for Public Integrity, Michigan failed in 10 out of 13 categories including public access to information, executive accountability, and legislative accountability.

Nevada – Commissioners Hit with Ethics Complaints for Attending Las Vegas Grand Prix

Las Vegas Review-Journal – Taylor Avery | Published: 6/25/2024

At least four Clark County commissioners are being investigated by the state ethics board for accepting tickets to last year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. Commissioners Tick Segerblom, Ross Miller, Justin Jones, and Jim Gibson confirmed they had received a notice of the investigation from the Nevada Commission on Ethics. All the commissioners who attended the race disclosed the tickets on their financial disclosure reports except Segerblom. He filed an amended report to include the ticket, listing it under a section for reporting meetings, events, or trips.

Nevada – Nevada Judge Dismisses Case Against Trump Electors, Citing Jurisdiction

MSN – Nicole Markus and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 6/21/2024

A Nevada judge dismissed the case against six Republicans who submitted certificates falsely declaring Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 election. Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus ruled the state should have filed the case in another county. Prosecutors said they would appeal her decision.

New Jersey – Norcross Indictment Shows How NJ Looks the Other Way on Conflicts of Interest, Ethics Expert Says

Gothamist – Nancy Solomon | Published: 6/21/2024

New Jersey’s attorney general indicted Democratic Party boss George Norcross, former Camden Mayor Dana Redd, Norcross’s brother Philip, attorney Bill Tambussi, and two business partners on corruption charges. The inclusion of Tambussi, who is the Norcross brothers’ longtime personal attorney and represents dozens of government entities, highlights what ethics experts say is a serious shortcoming in the state’s ability to flag and deal with conflicts-of-interest as he was able to represent clients on different sides of a transaction for many years.

New Jersey – Radio Host Bill Spadea Attacks ‘Extralegal’ Push to Review Campaign Benefit of His Show

New Jersey Monitor – Nikita Biryukov | Published: 6/25/2024

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea is arguing in a new campaign filing that his weekday radio show does not amount to an impermissible in-kind contribution to his campaign because it does not include direct appeals for his election. His two primary opponents are taking the opposite position, claiming the platform afforded to Spadea by the radio station amounts to aid well above the New Jersey’s campaign contribution limits.

New Mexico – Ethics Commission Asks Judge to Force Disclosure from Dark Money Group

New Mexico In Depth – Marjorie Childress | Published: 6/26/2024

The New Mexico State Ethics Commission is putting pressure on a “dark money” political group to comply with disclosure laws. The new group made a splash in April when it began airing radio ads, and its founder, Jeff Apodaca, promoted its political agenda on local radio shows. But unlike other political groups, the New Mexico Project did not disclose who contributed to the organization, or how it was spending the money. In a court filing, the commission laid out its case the group meets the criteria for registering as a political committee.

New York – Judge Partially Lifts Trump Hush Money Gag Order

MSN – Luc Cohen (Reuters) | Published: 6/25/2024

A New York judge partially lifted a gag order on Donald Trump following the former president’s conviction on criminal charges stemming from an effort to influence the 2016 election by buying the silence of a woman who slept with Trump. The revised order now allows Trump to speak publicly about witnesses in and eases a prohibition on his commenting about the jury but keeps in place restrictions on his statements about individual prosecutors and others involved in the case.

North Carolina – North Carolina Governor Vetoes Masks Bill Largely Because of Provision About Campaign Finance

MSN – Makiya Seminera (Associated Press) | Published: 6/21/2024

Despite changes made to North Carolina’s masking bill to quell concerns over the removal of a pandemic-era health exception Gov. Roy Cooper said he vetoed the legislation mostly for a different reason – a campaign finance provision tacked on during legislative negotiations. The clause would allow wealthy donors to give money to special federal political organizations that can then send the money to state and county parties.

Ohio – Judge Blocks Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens’ Access to GOP Campaign Cash, Gives Control to Opponents

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 6/21/2024

A judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing Speaker Jason Stephens from spending money from the Ohio House Republicans’ campaign fund, amid an ongoing political battle with opponents from within his own party, and instead hands control to his opponents within the GOP caucus. It could complicate the ability of the dozen or so GOP candidates running in competitive races this fall to get financial assistance from the Ohio House Republican Alliance, which traditionally spends millions of dollars every election year.

Oregon – Former Oregon Officials Will Pay $2,000 Each to Settle Ethics Complaint Over Amazon Deals

MSN – Mike Rogoway (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/26/2024

Three former public officials in Morrow County will each pay $2,000 to settle a state ethics complaint over their dealings with Amazon. Investigators say the officials sometimes failed to acknowledge they might benefit personally when they voted to award tax breaks to Amazon data centers and sell land to the company. Each held a stake in the fiber-optic company Windwave Communications that provides connections for Amazon. The company said it had no indication investigators were looking at Amazon in connection with its tax breaks and Windwave contracts.

Oregon – Portland Weighs Tweaking Public Campaign Finance Program to Allow Larger Donations

Oregon Public Broadcasting – Alex Zielinski | Published: 6/24/2024

Less than five months from a historic election, Portland may tweak campaign finance rules to stretch the city’s cash-strapped public financing program. City candidates were emailed a survey asking whether the Small Donor Elections program should loosen its rules around the amount and type of in-kind donations nonprofits and other political organizations can give candidates. The proposal has drawn both praise and alarm from those involved in city campaigns.

Texas – Former Houston Development Official and 2 Vendors Face Charges in $8.5M Public Funds Scheme

MSN – Mike Morris (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 6/21/2024

A former Midtown Redevelopment Authority official and two vendors are facing felony corruption charges, accused of misusing some $8.5 million in public funds meant to build affordable housing in Houston. Charged in the case are Todd Edwards, the agency’s former real estate manager, along with vendors Veronica Ugorji and Kenneth Jones. Midtown has spent millions of tax dollars acquiring almost 500 lots in the city. It took neighborhood residents years of digging to discover Midtown paid a company Edwards himself formed $2.1 million from 2011 to 2020.

Texas – U.S. Supreme Court Sides with Texas Woman Who Claims She Was Arrested Out of Political Retribution

MSN – Isaac Yu (Texas Tribune) | Published: 6/21/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court revived the civil rights claim of a Texas woman who had sued her city for what she claims was a politically motivated arrest. The ruling gives plaintiff Sylvia Gonzalez another chance to pursue her retaliation claim against the San Antonio suburb of Castle Hills. Gonzalez was arrested in 2019 for allegedly stealing a government document soon after taking office as city council member.

Vermont – Vermont to Pay $175,000 After Man Charged for Raising Middle Finger at State Trooper

MSN – Victoria Bisett (Washington Post) | Published: 6/27/2024

The state of Vermont agreed to pay $175,000 to settle a lawsuit filed after a man was charged with a crime for raising his middle finger at a state trooper. The American Civil Liberties Union’s Vermont chapter, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the man, accused state trooper Jay Riggen of subjecting Gregory Bombard to an “unnecessary traffic stop and retaliatory arrest” that violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights.

Vermont – To Fund Lawsuit Over Education Secretary, Senators Sought Donations

VTDigger.org – Ethan Weinstein | Published: 6/24/2024

Two state senators announced they were suing Vermont Gov. Phil Scott over his appointment of interim Education Secretary Zoie Saunders. Sens. Tanya Vyhovsky and Dick McCormack said they raised more than $11,000 to fund the lawsuit, but they declined to release the donors’ names. The unusual practice of raising funds to support the lawmakers’ lawsuit against Scott, and the reluctance to identify the donors, is a murky area not addressed in the state’s campaign finance disclosure laws.

Wisconsin – Former Deputy to Tearman Spencer Charged with Failing to Disclose Private Law Firm

MSN – Daniel Bice and Alison Dirr (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) | Published: 6/27/2024

The top deputy of former Milwaukee City Attorney Tearman Spencer has been criminally charged, accused of falsifying financial disclosure forms by failing to disclose ownership of his private law firm while he was representing the city. Odalo Ohiku’s private firm had a criminal defense practice, the complaint notes, meaning it could have been handling cases critical of the Milwaukee Police Department, which lawyers in the city attorney’s office are responsible for defending against charges of illegal conduct.

Campaign Finance

National: “Ronny Jackson, Wesley Hunt Face Campaign Ethics Probes Over Private Club Membership” by Matthew Choi (Texas Tribune) for MSN

New Jersey: “Radio Host Bill Spadea Attacks ‘Extralegal’ Push to Review Campaign Benefit of His Show” by Nikita Biryukov for New Jersey Monitor

Oregon: “Portland Weighs Tweaking Public Campaign Finance Program to Allow Larger Donations” by Alex Zielinski for Oregon Public Broadcasting

Vermont: “To Fund Lawsuit Over Education Secretary, Senators Sought Donations” by Ethan Weinstein for VTDigger.org

Ethics

National: “Judge Skeptical About Request to Limit Trump Statements on F.B.I.” by Alan Feuer and Eileen Sullivan (New York Times) for DNyuz

National: “Masks Are Going from Mandated to Criminalized in Some States” by Fenit Nirappil (Washington Post) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Colorado: “Capitol’s Alcohol Culture Under Scrutiny in Sen. Faith Winter’s Ethics Investigation” by Marissa Ventrelli for Colorado Politics

Lobbying

Illinois: “Former Illinois Lawmaker Gets a Year in Prison for Cheating on Her Taxes” by Jon Seidel for Chicago Sun-Times

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Maricopa County Didn’t Enforce Campaign Finance Laws. Now, Political Groups Owe Millions” by Sasha Hupka (Arizona Republic) for MSN

Ohio: “Judge Blocks Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens’ Access to GOP Campaign Cash, Gives Control to Opponents” by Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Ethics

California: “FBI Raid of Oakland Mayor Rocks City, Fuels Questions Over Family’s Political Influence” by Salvador Hernandez and Ruben Vives (Los Angeles Times) for Yahoo News

National: “Judge Cannon Asks about Attorney General Garland’s Oversight of Trump Trials” by Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN

Illinois: “Ex-Ald. Ed Burke Hit with 2-Year Prison Sentence: ‘I regret the pain and sorrow I have caused'” by Heather Cherone for WTTW

New Jersey: “Norcross Indictment Shows How NJ Looks the Other Way on Conflicts of Interest, Ethics Expert Says” by Nancy Solomon for Gothamist

Legislative Issues

National: “Should Doctors in Congress Earn Money for Their Side Job?” by Justin Papp (Roll Call) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “How America’s ‘Most Powerful Lobby’ Is Stifling Efforts to Reform Oil Well Cleanup in State After State” by Mark Olade (ProPublica) for MSN

National/Federal

Democrats Announce a $10 Million Push for State Legislatures

DNyuz – Maggie Astor (New York Times) | Published: 6/17/2024

As the arm of the Democratic Party that works on state legislative races, it is the job of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee to care about the bottom of the ballot. With a $10 million campaign, it is trying to get more voters to care, too. The investment, part of a $60 million total the group previously announced as its target for the 2024 cycle, will fund an unusually early and expansive public push, one intended not only to support candidates, but also to convince voters of the importance of controlling state Legislatures.

Washington Post Publisher and Incoming Editor Are Said to Have Used Stolen Records in Britain

DNyuz – Justin Scheck and Jo Becker (New York Times) | Published: 6/16/2024

The publisher and the incoming editor of The Washington Post, when they worked as journalists in London two decades ago, used fraudulently obtained phone and company records in newspaper articles, according to a former colleague, a published account of a private investigator, and an analysis of newspaper archives. Will Lewis, The Post’s publisher, assigned one of the articles in 2004 as business editor of The Sunday Times. Another was written by Robert Winnett, whom Lewis recently announced as newspaper’s next executive editor.

The Gun Lobby’s Hidden Hand in the 2nd Amendment Battle

DNyuz – Mike McIntire and Jodi Kantor (New York Times) | Published: 6/18/2024

In the battle to dismantle gun restrictions, one name keeps turning up in the legal briefs and judges’ rulings: William English, Ph.D. A political economist at Georgetown University, English conducted a largest-of-its-kind national survey that found gun owners frequently used their weapons for self-defense. That finding has been deployed by gun rights activists to notch legal victories with far-reaching consequences. English has received tens of thousands of dollars as a paid expert for gun rights advocates, and his survey work, which he says was part of a book project, originated as research for a National Rifle Association-backed lawsuit.

Mystery Fundraising Firm Takes in Millions from the Trump Campaign

MSN – Matt Dixon (NBC News) | Published: 6/17/2024

Donald Trump’s political operation has routed more than $3 million so far this year through a Delaware limited liability company whose owners are not publicly disclosed. The money has been paid to Launchpad Strategies, a company that appears to have been incorporated in Delaware in November, and lists a Raleigh, North Carolina, post office box as its address in campaign finance filings. Little is known about Launchpad Strategies beyond its existence and the millions of dollars it has taken in from a presidential campaign.

Rep. Kelly’s Wife Again Bought Stock in Company That Gained from His Legislative Efforts

MSN – Matthew Rink (Erie Times-News) | Published: 6/20/2024

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly’s wife made a nearly identical stock purchase in March to one that resulted in a 2021 ethics investigation into insider trading. Victoria Kelly on March 28 purchased up to $100,000 in stock in steel manufacturer Cleveland-Cliffs. At the same time, Rep. Kelly and other elected officials, were pushing the U.S. Department of Energy to reconsider a proposed rule that would have changed the type of steel used in production of electrical distribution transformers.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Fails to Qualify for CNN’s Debate. It’ll Be a Showdown Between Biden and Trump

MSN – Meg Kinnard (Associated Press) | Published: 6/21/2024

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed to qualify for the upcoming debate in Atlanta, according to host network CNN, falling shy of benchmarks both for state ballot qualification and necessary polling. The missed markers mean the June 27 event will be solely between President Joe Biden and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. That denies Kennedy a singular opportunity to stand alongside the leading candidates in an attempt to lend legitimacy to his longshot bid and convince potential supporters he has a shot at winning.

Witness Tells House Ethics Committee That Matt Gaetz Paid Her for Sex: Sources

MSN – Will Steakin (NBC News) | Published: 6/19/2024

In recent weeks, House ethics committee investigators have conducted a string of interviews with numerous women who were witnesses in the yearslong Justice Department sex trafficking investigation into U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, multiple sources said. One woman told the committee that Venmo a payment from Gaetz was for sex, while others have said they were paid to attend parties that Gaetz also attended and that featured drugs and sex, sources said.

The Anti-China Pressure Hits DC Trade Groups

MSN – Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) | Published: 6/18/2024

More than half a dozen lobbying firms dumped Chinese clients earlier this year after it was reported that congressional offices were threatening to blacklist them for working for companies linked to the Chinese military. As distrust of the Chinese government increases, companies with roots in the country, or suspected links to China’s Communist Party, are finding themselves without allies to make their case to lawmakers. In an industry where relationships and access to those in power are currency, threats alone can be enough to make advocates wary.

New Documents Show Unreported Trips by Justice Clarence Thomas

MSN – Justin Jouvenal and Tobi Raji (Washington Post) | Published: 6/13/2024

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas took three previously unreported trips paid for by conservative billionaire Harlan Crow, according to new documents by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Details of the private jet flights between 2017 and 2021 were obtained as part of an investigation the committee has been conducting into reports of lavish undisclosed travel and perks provided to justices by Crow and other wealthy benefactors that have sparked calls for reform.

US Appeals Court Won’t Revive Foreign Agent Case Against Casino Mogul Wynn

MSN – Andrew Goudsward (Reuters) | Published: 6/14/2024

A federal appeals court rejected a U.S. Justice Department attempt to revive a lawsuit accusing casino mogul Steve Wynn of lobbying then-President Trump on behalf of China. Wynn no longer had an obligation to register because his alleged lobbying campaign ended in 2017, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found.

Stanford’s Top Disinformation Research Group Collapses Under Pressure

MSN – Joseph Menn (Washington Post) | Published: 6/14/2024

The Stanford Internet Observatory, which published some of the most influential analysis on the spread of false information on social media during elections, has shed most of its staff and may shut down amid political and legal attacks that have cast a pall on efforts to study online disinformation. Two ongoing lawsuits and two congressional probes into the Observatory have cost Stanford millions of dollars in legal fees. Students and scholars affiliated with the program say they have been worn down by online attacks and harassment, amid the heated political climate for misinformation research.

Senators in Summer Suits? Let’s See These ‘Suckers.

MSN – Rachel Tashjian (Washington Post) | Published: 6/14/2024

Seersucker Day dates back to the 1990s, when U.S. Sen. Trent Lott would designate a warm June day as an occasion to don the striped cotton summer suits popularized in the South. In a 2014 resolution, then-U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy revived the tradition a decade ago, then partnered with colleagues when he joined the Senate to promote National Seersucker Day. The day creates a visual record of bipartisanship that can be otherwise difficult to see.

Lack of Regulation for ‘Zombie’ Campaign Accounts

NJ Spotlight News – Benjamin Hulac | Published: 6/20/2024

When campaigns end, candidates retire, lose reelection, or die, the spending that fueled their runs for public office continues. This overlooked world of post-election political spending has prompted bipartisan interest in Congress to require campaigns to close out these so-called zombie campaigns, placing particular focus on lobbyists and foreign agents. But legislation to do so is highly unlikely to become law soon, leaving former candidates the chance to use their donors’ money to scare off would-be rivals, aid political allies, and give money to benefit their lobbying interests.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Trump Adviser Boris Epshteyn, Other Allies Plead Not Guilty in Arizona

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 6/18/2024

Boris Epshteyn, a key adviser to Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges for his alleged role after the 2020 election to try to deliver Arizona’s 11 electoral votes to Trump instead of the rightful winner, Joe Biden. Two other co-defendants in the case pleaded not guilty to the same counts that Epshteyn faces, including conspiracy, fraud, and forgery: Jim Lamon, a GOP elector from Arizona who signed paperwork purporting Trump had won the state, and Jenna Ellis, an attorney who presented baseless claims of widespread malfeasance in states lost by Trump.

California – Hundreds of Vacancies at San Diego City and County Boards Hobble Missions, Delay Work

MSN – Jeff McDonald and Emily Alvarenga (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 6/16/2024

Nearly seven percent of political appointments across the San Diego County government are vacant, either because the terms expired, they were abandoned by seat holders, or they are languishing while elected officials ponder fresh nominations. Persistent vacancies on San Diego city boards and commissions are even more widespread, with nearly one in five positions available for public appointment vacant. The vacancies across every sector of the city and county governments have prompted delays in policymaking, enforcement, and land-use planning, among other routine duties.

California – San Joaquin Supervisor’s Car Wash Paid to Clean County Cars

MSN – Aaron Leathley (Stockton Record) | Published: 6/18/2024

Several times a month, staff at the San Joaquin County Medical Examiner’s Office take their work vehicles to Canepa’s, a Stockton car wash belonging to first-term county Supervisor Paul Canepa and his family. Last year’s washes came to about $1,700. In May, the Board of Supervisors voted to allow the medical examiner’s office to use Canepa’s car wash for up to $200,000 in services the coming fiscal year, without having to go through further board votes.

Colorado – Colorado Secretary of State Finds Pro-Wolf Advocate Engaged in Illegal Lobbying During 2024 Legislative Session

Denver Gazette – Marianne Goodland (Colorado Politics) | Published: 6/18/2024

Stephen Capra must pay a $250 fine for violating Colorado’s lobbying law. Capra lobbied state lawmakers but failed to register with the state and file disclosure reports. The Elections Division noted “mitigating factors,” that the violation was not extensive and occurred for only a few hours over a two-day period, and it was only on one House bill that did not pass.

Delaware – Delaware Gubernatorial Candidate Bethany Hall-Long Has Taken $25,000 in Donations That Exceed Legal Limit

WHYY – Chris Barash | Published: 6/17/2024

Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long’s gubernatorial campaign has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in contributions from PACs and individuals that exceed the $1,200-per-donor limit.  The donations have come from at least two PACs that are not registered with the state Department of Elections, as required by law, as well as doctors, developers, lawyers, and other supporters who have contributed to her since 2021.

Hawaii – Honolulu Council Adopts Gift Ban Bill for City Officials

Honolulu Star-Advertiser – Ian Bauer (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) | Published: 6/8/2024

The Honolulu City Council voted to adopt Bill 23, meant to tighten existing rules that bar city employees from accepting gifts valued in excess of $50, also clarifying which gifts may be solicited or accepted. It replaces Bill 26, a similar 2022 measure that expired earlier this year after surpassing its two-year deadline without council passage.

Illinois – State Elections Board Dismisses Illegal Campaign Coordination Complaint, Declines to Clarify Law

WCBU – Hannah Meisel (Capitol News Illinois) | Published: 6/18/2024

Illinois elections officials indicated they were unlikely to step in to clarify what constitutes illegal campaign coordination after voting to dismiss a complaint alleging such coordination in the 2022 campaign for governor. The Illinois State Board of Elections dismissed a complaint alleging conservative radio host and political operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated with former state Sen. Darren Bailey during his 2022 campaign for governor. A hearing officer had agreed with Proft and Bailey’s contention that state law was not specific enough to find a violation had occurred.

Illinois – Ethics Committee Chair Pushes Call for Public Financing for City Council Elections into City Hall Spotlight

WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 6/18/2024

Calling Chicago’s campaign finance system broken, the chair of the city council’s Ethics Committee urged his colleagues to approve a plan to use taxpayer money to match small contributions from Chicagoans to candidates for the council. Ald. Matt Martin said the plan, which is estimated to cost approximately $9.5 million per election, was designed to reduce the influence of “big special interest donors.”

Louisiana – Gov. Jeff Landry, in Dispute with Ethics Board, Signs Law Giving Himself More Control Over It

Louisiana Illuminator – Julie O’Donoghue | Published: 6/17/2024

Gov. Jeff Landry signed a new law to give him control over the Louisiana Board of Ethics, even as a dispute between him and board members continues. The ethics board charged Landry last year with failing to disclose flights he took to and from Hawaii on a political donor’s private plane while Landry was attorney general. Landry and the board are still in negotiations about what an appropriate punishment for his violation should be.

Louisiana – Louisiana Requires Ten Commandments to Be Displayed in Public Classrooms

MSN – Anumita Kaur (Washington Post) | Published: 6/19/2024

Gov. Jeff Landry signed legislation requiring every public classroom in Louisiana to display the Ten Commandments, becoming the first state with such a law and inflaming tensions over the separation between church and state. Critics vowed to challenge the law in court, calling it unconstitutional and warning that it will lead to religious coercion of students.

Minnesota – Utility Regulators Hosted Annual Conference in Minneapolis with Money from Entities They Oversee

MSN – Walker Orenstein (Minneapolis Star Tribune) | Published: 6/18/2024

Minnesota’s utility regulators hosted more than 600 people in Minneapolis for an annual regional conference, but some of the sponsors helping to pay for the event are also at the whim of the regulators’ rulings. That financial relationship at the center of the Mid-America Regulatory Conference has some energy advocacy groups feeling uneasy about what they worry is a conflict-of-interest. But the lead organizer of this year’s event, Katie Sieben, chairperson of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, argued the gathering helps commissioners foster connection and make stronger decisions, not blur the lines between government and business.

Montana – Political Practices Commissioner Rules That AG Candidate Was Ineligible

Daily Montanan – Darrell Ehrlick | Published: 6/13/2024

The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices ruled Daniels County Attorney Logan Olson Logan Olson was not qualified to run for state attorney general in the 2024 primary election, but stopped short of saying he knowingly violated the law. Commissioner Chris Gallus said even if he had found Olson knowingly violated the law, he lacked enforcement power. Because Gallus could not prove that Olson broke the law, he dismissed the complaint against him.

New Jersey – Explosive Indictment Accuses Powerful N.J. Political Boss in Huge Corruption Scheme

MSN – Ted Sherman and S.P. Sullivan (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 6/17/2024

George Norcross III, a powerful Democratic power broker in New Jersey, was charged with racketeering. The indictment was announced by state Attorney General Matthew Platkin at a press conference attended by Norcross himself, who sat prominently in the front row. Platkin alleged Norcross and others obtained property and property rights on the Camden waterfront while collecting millions of dollars in government-issued tax credits and while controlling or influencing government officials.

New York – Mayor Adams’ 2021 Campaign Stopped Replying to NYC Watchdog. It Still Got Public Funds.

Gothamist – Brigid Bergin | Published: 6/13/2024

Newly released documents show the team behind Eric Adams’ mayoral bid in New York City was regularly seeking guidance from campaign finance officials long before Adams declared his candidacy. But when the Campaign Finance Board asked more questions about contributions from small donors to ensure Adams was in compliance, the campaign stopped replying. Adams raised nearly $20 million for his 2021 campaign, including more than $10 million from the public campaign finance program.

New York – How One Woman’s Quest to Fix Her Harlem Housing Complex Got Her Busted on Campaign Finance Charges

MSN – Graham Rayman and Téa Kvetenadze (New York Daily News) | Published: 6/16/2024

When the Manhattan district attorney’s office charged six people in a conspiracy to bundle illegal campaign contributions to the Eric Adams mayoral campaign, prosecutors alleged five of them did it to benefit themselves or companies with business before the city. But the sixth defendant swept up in the “straw donor” case, a 78-year-old retired accountant with no prior record named Millicent Redick, did not fit that narrative.

North Carolina – North Carolina Supreme Court Secretly Squashed Discipline of Two GOP Judges Who Admitted to Violating Judicial Code

MSN – Doug Bock Clark (ProPublica) | Published: 6/18/2024

When it comes to disciplining judges, North Carolina is one of the most secretive states in the U.S. North Carolina is one of only three states, in addition to the District of Columbia, to release information only at the last possible stage of the process, after the state Supreme Court orders discipline. Asher Hildebrand, a professor of public policy at Duke University, explained that North Carolina once had policies designed to keep the judiciary above the political fray. But the gradual dismantling of these policies by the Republican-controlled Legislature has driven the court’s polarization, according to Hildebrand.

Ohio – Federal Appeals Court to Reconsider Case Affecting Attorney General Dave Yost’s Authority to Block Proposed Ballot Issues

MSN – Andrew Tobias (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 6/17/2024

The full Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will consider a recent decision that could affect Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s ability to block future proposed ballot-issue campaigns via a state law that gives his office authority to sign off on proposed language those campaigns must circulate with petitions to qualify for the ballot. A three-judge panel of the court ordered Yost to approve petition language for a proposed state constitutional amendment that would make it easier for Ohioans to sue police for misconduct.

Ohio – ‘Call Mike DeWine on the $500k:’ Governor’s text sparked dark money payment, texts show

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 6/16/2024

In October 2018, polls showed a tight governor’s race between Mike DeWine and Rich Cordray. DeWine sent a text message to then-FirstEnergy Chief Executive Officer Chuck Jones: “Chuck. Can u call me?” In another text message, DeWine told Jones the teachers’ union had just dumped $1 million into Cordray’s campaign. Jones forwarded DeWine’s outreach to Mike Dowling, a senior vice president – who also was indicted this year on bribery charges alongside Jones. The FirstEnergy men agreed to a “dark money” contribution, which are unlimited in size and not publicly disclosed.

Oklahoma – How Oklahoma Tracks Campaign Finances Is About to Change. Find Out How

MSN – Emma Murphy (Oklahoma Voice) | Published: 6/14/2024

A $1.2 million appropriation to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission in the recently signed budget will fund the replacement of the Guardian System, a database used to track campaign finance reports and the registration of lobbyists. The system is set to expire in February 2025 and amid an election cycle, replacing the system has become more urgent.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Ethics Commission Settles with Make Oklahoma Great Again PAC

Oklahoma Voice – Emma Murphy | Published: 6/17/2024

The Make Oklahoma Great Again Political Action Committee was fined $25,000 to settle a state Ethics Commission complaint. According to the settlement, the organization failed to register as a PAC and file contribution and expenditure reports.

Oklahoma – Stitt Bans No-Bid PR Contracts. But It Won’t Impact Oklahoma Education Agreement, Spokesman Says.

Yahoo News – Barbara Hoberock (Oklahoma Voice) | Published: 6/14/2024

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order prohibiting state agencies from spending money on outside public relations firms by using sole source contracts. But the executive order does not impact existing contracts the State Department of Education has entered. Sole source contracts are issued without competitive bidding. State Superintendent Ryan Walters has used state dollars for an outside firm to promote himself, his ideas, and his administration, drawing criticism.

Oregon – Oregon’s Top Health Official Meddled in Press Release at Behest of Alcohol Industry Lobbyists

Willamette Week – Lucas Manfield | Published: 6/16/2024

Emails show the state’s top health official suggested changing a routine press release after alcohol industry lobbyists said it was too negative. The release was sent out, suggestion included, on April 4. The occasion was Alcohol Awareness Month. On April 3, a top deputy to the state Health Authority’s director gave four representatives of the Oregon Beer & Wine Distributors Association, the Oregon Wine Council, and other industry groups a draft copy of the release. Lobbyists wanted additions to the press release to make it “more balanced.”

Texas – Texas Conservatives Want to End Countywide Voting. The Costs Could Be High.

MSN – Natalia Contreras (Votebeat) | Published: 6/12/2024

A conservative push to get rid of countywide polling places is winning growing interest from state lawmakers, as well as a spot on the Texas Republican Party’s list of legislative priorities for next year. But election officials are warning if legislators scrap the state’s countywide voting program, they will struggle to pull off the changes that would be required, beginning with increasing their numbers of polling places. That means paying for hard-to-find additional locations, recruiting and paying workers to staff them, and obtaining more voting equipment.

Texas – Texas Ethics Commission Requires Social Media Influencers to Disclose Paid Political Posts

MSN – Bayliss Wagner (Austin American-Statesman) | Published: 6/18/2024

The Texas Ethics Commission approved a new rule that requires social media influencers to disclose their paid political work after an investigation revealed an organization hired dozens of influencers to attend a rally in support of impeached state Attorney General Ken Paxton. The rule will require transparency about such transactions, requiring that a person who is paid to boost a post or make their own video or post by a political actor discloses that to their audience.

Texas – Ex-Legislator Faces Investigation for Possible Violation of Lobbying Law He Co-Sponsored

Texas Observer – Justin Miller | Published: 6/12/2024

A former legislator who chaired a powerful state House committee is under investigation by the Texas Ethics Commission for his alleged violations of a “revolving door” law that restricts lawmakers from leaving office to become lobbyists. Rep. Chris Paddie resigned his seat to become a lobbyist and consultant for private sector interests. His attempted career transition was thwarted by a lobbying law that Paddie co-sponsored, which bans departing legislators who gave campaign funds to fellow lawmakers from lobbying for two years after their last donation.

Vermont – Vermont Lawmaker Apologizes for Repeatedly Drenching Colleague’s Bag

MSN – Praveena Somasundaram (Washington Post) | Published: 6/19/2024

Rep. Mary Morrissey, a Republican serving her 13th term in the Vermont Legislature, apologized for inconspicuously pouring water into a Democratic colleague’s bag over the course of five months, behavior she described as “most unbecoming” of her position. For months, Rep. Jim Carroll said he could not figure out how the bag he brought to the statehouse ended up soaked until Morrissey was caught on camera a few weeks ago pouring water out of a clear cup into his tote.

Washington – Caught in a Crossfire. Franklin Investigation Reveals Employee Toll of Political Fights

Yahoo News – Cory McCoy (Tri-City Herald) | Published: 6/14/2024

In recent years, Franklin County in Washington has seen an exodus of employees, many of them citing toxicity and bullying by elected officials as their reason for quitting. New recordings of investigative interviews with employees offer a previously unseen look into how the constant infighting has impacted the ability to do their jobs. The interviews are part of a criminal investigation into allegations against several Franklin County elected leaders suspected of official misconduct, witness tampering, criminal conspiracy and making false statements to law enforcement officials.

Campaign Finance

Illinois: “Ethics Committee Chair Pushes Call for Public Financing for City Council Elections into City Hall Spotlight” by Heather Cherone for WTTW

National: “Democrats Announce a $10 Million Push for State Legislatures” by Maggie Astor (New York Times) for DNyuz

Texas: “Texas Ethics Commission Requires Social Media Influencers to Disclose Paid Political Posts” by Bayliss Wagner (Austin American-Statesman) for MSN

Elections

Arizona: “Trump Adviser Boris Epshteyn, Other Allies Plead Not Guilty in Arizona” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “San Joaquin Supervisor’s Car Wash Paid to Clean County Cars” by Aaron Leathley (Stockton Record) for MSN

National: “Witness Tells House Ethics Committee That Matt Gaetz Paid Her for Sex: Sources” by Will Steakin (NBC News) for MSN

Legislative Issues

Vermont: “Vermont Lawmaker Apologizes for Repeatedly Drenching Colleague’s Bag” by Praveena Somasundaram (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

Colorado: “Colorado Secretary of State Finds Pro-Wolf Advocate Engaged in Illegal Lobbying During 2024 Legislative Session” by Marianne Goodland (Colorado Politics) for Denver Gazette

National: “The Anti-China Pressure Hits DC Trade Groups” by Caitlin Oprysko (Politico) for MSN

Campaign Finance

Ohio: “‘Call Mike DeWine on the $500k:’ Governor’s text sparked dark money payment, texts show” by Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Oklahoma: “How Oklahoma Tracks Campaign Finances Is About to Change. Find Out How” by Emma Murphy (Oklahoma Voice) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Hundreds of Vacancies at San Diego City and County Boards Hobble Missions, Delay Work” by Jeff McDonald and Emily Alvarenga (San Diego Union-Tribune) for MSN

National: “Washington Post Publisher and Incoming Editor Are Said to Have Used Stolen Records in Britain” by Justin Scheck and Jo Becker (New York Times) for DNyuz

New Jersey: “Explosive Indictment Accuses Powerful N.J. Political Boss in Huge Corruption Scheme” by Ted Sherman and S.P. Sullivan (NJ Advance Media) for MSN

Legislative Issues

National: “Senators in Summer Suits? Let’s See These ‘Suckers.” by Rachel Tashjian (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

Oregon: “Oregon’s Top Health Official Meddled in Press Release at Behest of Alcohol Industry Lobbyists” by Lucas Manfield for Willamette Week

Procurement

Oklahoma: “Stitt Bans No-Bid PR Contracts. But It Won’t Impact Oklahoma Education Agreement, Spokesman Says.” by Barbara Hoberock (Oklahoma Voice) for Yahoo News

National/Federal

Supreme Court Rules California Man Can’t Trademark ‘Trump Too Small’

Associated Press News – Mark Sherman | Published: 6/13/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled against a man who wants to trademark the suggestive phrase “Trump too small.” The justices upheld the government’s decision to deny a trademark to Steve Elster, who was seeking exclusive use of the phrase on T-shirts and other merchandise. Government officials said the phrase” could still be used, just not trademarked because Trump had not consented to its use. Elster’s lawyers argued the decision violated his free speech rights, and a federal appeals court agreed.

Republicans Challenge Party Expenditure Limits at Sixth Circuit

Courthouse News Service – Kevin Koeninger | Published: 6/12/2024

The full U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals will determine whether changes in the political landscape allow it to overrule Supreme Court precedent regarding limits on coordinated party spending in federal elections after oral arguments in the case. U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, and former Rep. Steve Chabot sued the FEC, seeking to invalidate portions of the campaign finance law that “limit a party committees’ campaign expenditures made in coordination with political candidates who are associated with the political party.” They say these spending limits violate the First Amendment.

Protesters Expected to Be Moved Away from Park Near GOP Convention

MSN – Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 6/12/2024

Protesters are no longer expected to be allowed in a large Milwaukee park near the arena where the GOP will host its July convention after a months-long pressure campaign by the party, according to a law enforcement official and another person familiar with the matter. The Secret Service is expected to expand its security perimeter around Fiserv Forum after the Republican National Committee said it would use another facility located near the park for some convention activities.

Sneakerheads in Congress Grow Their Footprint

MSN – Justin Papp (Roll Call) | Published: 6/12/2024

U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz launched the Congressional Sneaker Caucus with Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer not long after coming to Congress. For him, forming the group was a passion project. He owns more than 150 pairs of sneakers. The caucus recently held the second annual Congressional Sneaker Day. Democrats do not have a monopoly on sneaker wearing, but the gathering was a largely Democratic affair and featured heavy representation from Oregon, where Nike is headquartered.

The AI Election Is Here. Regulators Can’t Decide Whose Problem It Is.

MSN – Cristiano Lima-Strong and Eva Dou (Washington Post) | Published: 6/6/2024

The federal government is facing a dwindling window to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) on the campaign trail before the 2024 election. But a brewing turf war between federal agencies is threatening one of the most significant attempts to set new rules for the tools. The chair of the Federal Communications Commission announced a plan to require that politicians disclose AI use in TV and radio ads. But the proposal is facing opposition from a top official on the FEC, which has been considering its own new rules on AI use by campaigns.

Justice Thomas Discloses Two 2019 Trips Paid for by Harlan Crow

MSN – Ann Marimow, Justin Jouvenal, and Tobi Raji (Washington Post) | Published: 6/7/2024

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas disclosed for the first-time visits to Bali and to a private club in California in 2019 that were paid for by his friend and benefactor, billionaire Harlan Crow, according to financial disclosures released for eight of the nine justices. The required annual reports, covering activity in 2023, show three justices – Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch, and Ketanji Brown Jackson – received six-figure book payments. Jackson also accepted four tickets worth nearly $4,000 from Beyoncé to one of her concerts.

Judge Cannon Strikes Paragraph in Trump Classified Document Indictment

MSN – Perry Stein and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) | Published: 6/10/2024

U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon said she will delete a paragraph in the superseding indictment against Donald Trump that alleges he mishandled classified materials after he left the White House and thwarted officials’ attempts to retrieve them. The judge said prosecutors’ inclusion of paragraph 36, which alleges Trump showed a classified document in September 2021 about a military operation to someone without a security clearance, is inappropriate because it is not connected to a specific crime that Trump is accused of committing.

$800,000 Wire Transfer from Billionaire Donor to US Chamber Raises Curtain on Dark Money

MSN – Taylor Giorno (The Hill) | Published: 6/11/2024

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce received a $800,000 wire transfer from billionaire donor Hank Meijer days after it endorsed his son, then-U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer, in a contentious 2022 primary. Within days of the transfer, the Chamber spent $381,000 on an ad for Rep. Meijer. Because the ad does not advocate for his election or defeat, the Chamber did not have to disclose the donation from Hank Meijer. It also did not have to disclose other potential contributions behind the $1.8 million it told the FEC it spent on “electioneering communications” that cycle.

Smartmatic Seeks to Depose Four Fox Officials as Part of 2020 Lawsuit

MSN – Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 6/10/2024

Voting technology company Smartmatic subpoenaed four Fox Corporation board members as part of its $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News over its coverage of the 2020 election. The move follows a decision earlier by a judge ordering Fox to turn over relevant documents from the board members as Smartmatic requested. Smartmatic has argued the board members are relevant to the case the company is trying to make, that executives at Fox knew claims of election fraud made by Donald Trump allies were false but did nothing to stop the network’s coverage out of a desire to protect the company’s business fortunes.

Jared Kushner Hit with New Investigation

MSN – Katherine Fung (Newsweek) | Published: 6/12/2024

Senate Democrats are launching a new investigation into the foreign payments made to Jared Kushner’s investment firm. Finance Committee Chairperson Ron Wyden said the panel would investigate the billions of dollars that Affinity Partners manages from foreign sources. Kushner started Affinity in July 2021 after leaving the White House as a senior adviser to Donald Trump. The firm quickly attracted investors from the Middle East and within weeks, landed $2 billion from the Saudi public investment fund. Affinity continues to overwhelmingly derive the majority of its funds from the Saudi Arabian government.

Porter to Propose Bills to Modernize Lobbying Database, Extend ‘Cooling-Off’ Period

The Hill – Taylor Giorno | Published: 6/11/2024

U.S. Rep. Katie Porter introduced a package of bills intended to help Congress run more efficiently and curb influence-peddling by former members of Congress and government officials. The package of five bills includes legislation to modernize the federal lobbying disclosure database and enact a blanket two-year ban on lobbying by former members of Congress, senior congressional staff, and senior executive branch officials.

‘Intimidated and Discarded’: Fired female execs go after top K Street firm

Yahoo News – Daniel Lippman and Megan Wilson (Politico) | Published: 6/9/2024

Last year, Shanti Stanton and another female senior executive at were abruptly fired in what they were told was a cost-cutting move at the K Street firm Subject Matter, now known as Avog. Stanton and Audrey Chang prepared to sue the firm for gender discrimination and a hostile work environment, among other accusations. The two women claimed they had been terminated despite being top performers at the firm. In a draft complaint, they alleged a litany of bad behavior. Steve Elmendorf, a prominent lobbyist and Democratic donor, and Paul Frick, another one of the firm’s founding partners, were named as defendants in the draft lawsuit.

How the Federal Election Commission Went from Deadlock to Deregulation

Yahoo News – Shane Goldmacher (New York Times) | Published: 6/10/2024

In a series of recent decisions that are remaking the landscape of money in American politics, an ascendant new bloc of three Republicans and one Democrat on the FEC is voting together to roll back limits on how politicians, political parties, and super PACs raise and spend money. Those on both sides of the ideological divide agree on one thing: the changes amount to some of the most significant regulatory revisions since the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act was put in place two decades ago.

Justice Alito Caught on Tape Discussing How Battle for America ‘Can’t Be Compromised’

Yahoo News – Tessa Stuart and Tim Dickinson (Rolling Stone) | Published: 6/10/2024

Justice Samuel Alito spoke candidly about the ideological battle between the left and the right, discussing the difficulty of living “peacefully” with ideological opponents in the face of “fundamental” differences that “can’t be compromised.” He endorsed what his interlocutor described as a necessary fight to “return our country to a place of godliness.” Alito made these remarks in conversation at the Supreme Court Historical Society’s annual dinner. His comments were recorded by Lauren Windsor, a liberal documentary filmmaker.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Mayes Investigating Hobbs After GOP Accuses Gov of ‘Pay to Play’

Arizona Mirror – Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Published: 6/7/2024

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes opened an investigation into Gov. Katie Hobbs at the request of a Republican lawmaker after a report revealed a group home business that donated to Hobbs’s campaign received rate increases. It was reported that Sunshine Residential Homes was approved for a nearly 60 percent increase in how much the state Department of Economic Security pays it. The rate increase came after Hobbs and the Democratic Party received hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from the company and its executives, including some donated after her election win.

California – Effort to Strengthen Ethics Panel Moves Toward Full San Diego City Council Vote

MSN – Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 6/8/2024

An effort to boost the independence and authority of the San Diego Ethics Commission is moving forward to the city council, and potentially to voters this November. The council’s Rules Committee voted unanimously to advance a proposed charter amendment to the full council. The amendment would make sure a future city council could not do away with the panel responsible for regulating campaign finance, lobbyist disclosures, and other political activities.

California – Find Out Which Lobbying Groups Get Their Way Most Often in the California Legislature

MSN – Ryan Sabalow (CalMatters) | Published: 6/12/2024

Los Angeles and the Bay Area tend to get their way in the California Legislature. So do labor unions, social justice organizations, and defense attorneys. On the flip side, anti-tax, police, and business groups are much less successful. Those are the key findings from a data analysis of the organizations that have been most successful in passing their agendas during the current legislative session, according to CalMatters.

California – Confidential File Alleges Former Mayor Libby Schaaf Secretly Used Political Committee to Raise Money from City Contractor

MSN – Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) | Published: 6/12/2024

The Oakland Public Ethics Commission is investigating former Mayor Libby Schaaf for secretly controlling a committee to raise money for a 2018 ballot measure. A legal analysis written by commission staff describes how Schaaf allegedly controlled a supposedly independent political committee called The Oakland Fund to raise money for Measure AA. They allege Schaaf broke the law by never disclosing her control of The Oakland Fund, as did developer Justin Orton by giving money to the campaign while his company was negotiating a business deal with the city.

Florida – Waste Management Scholarships Gifted to Cooper City Commissioner’s Twins May Violate Ethics Laws

Florida Bulldog – Dan Christensen | Published: 6/9/2024

In a recent special recognition ceremony, Cooper City Commissioner Lisa Mallozzi took the podium to hand out scholarship awards to four high school seniors provided by the city’s longtime, though recently replaced, trash hauler Waste Management. Two of the $1,250 scholarships went to Mallozzi’s twin daughters, who use their father’s last name. Acceptance of the scholarships appears to violate state law, and county and city ordinances.

Florida – Federal Judge Blocks Enforcement of Financial Disclosure Rules for Elected City Officials

MSN – Dave Berman (Florida Today) | Published: 6/11/2024

U.S. District Court Judge Melissa Damian issued a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of a state law that requires extensive financial disclosure by Florida’s mayors and city council members. A lawsuit filed by a group of city and town officials claimed the rule violates the First Amendment. Municipal officials feared the added disclosure requirement would discourage residents from running for municipal office, and potentially could create vacancies on city and town councils or commissions.

Florida – Central Florida Political Operative Admits Wrongdoing in ‘Ghost’ Candidate Scheme

MSN – Annie Martin (Orlando Sentinel) | Published: 6/6/2024

Florida political operative Eric Foglesong, a key player in the 2020 scheme to use “ghost” candidates to promote Republican politicians, pleaded no contest to campaign finance related charges. As part of the plea deal, Foglesong agreed to serve five years of probation and pay $14,175. Running as a “ghost” candidate who does not actively campaign or sincerely seek election to an office is not a crime in Florida. But incorrectly reporting contributions or donating to a candidate’s campaign in someone else’s name, the crime Foglesong acknowledged, is illegal.

Florida – Appeals Court Rejects DeSantis Push for Executive Privilege

Yahoo News – Gary Fineout (Politico) | Published: 6/12/2024

A Florida appeals court refused to go along with Gov. Ron DeSantis’s argument that he can shield public records due to executive privilege, a right that had not been recognized previously under state law that could have drastically expanded the governor’s ability to keep records from the public. The panel said there were sufficient procedural reasons to dismiss the lawsuit, without considering the executive privilege argument made by the DeSantis administration and endorsed by a Circuit Court judge.

Hawaii – Maui Ethics Board Could Get Overdue Boost Through 2 Reforms Under Review

Honolulu Civil Beat – Brittany Lyte | Published: 6/7/2024

Voters could decide this November if the Maui Board of Ethics should be able to hire its own full-time staff and whether appointed members should be able to serve two consecutive terms. The Maui County Council will consider approving the two ballot measures, but they are well on their way following a council committee vote in favor of them. The proposals came from the board, which is struggling to carry out its function as the county’s ethics watchdog amid a shortage of members, funds, and other resources.

Illinois – Aldermen Advance Ethics Reforms at Center of Tiff Between Johnson Ally and Mayor’s Office

MSN – Alice Yin (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/6/2024

Chicago aldermen advanced an ethics ordinance that would punish lobbyists for contributions to campaigns of mayoral candidates, in another instance of the city council moving to buck Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration. The Ethics Committee unanimously approved the measure to fine or suspend lobbyists who violate a rule already codified in a 2011 executive order banning them from making campaign contributions to a mayor’s political fund. The legislation now heads to a final council vote.

Indiana – ‘This Issue Is Going to Come Back to Haunt Us.’ Ratcliff’s Biggest Bet Yet Unravels

Yahoo News – Tony Cook (Indianapolis Star) | Published: 6/7/2024

Over a quarter century, Rod Ratcliffe had perfected the art of influence at the statehouse. The casino boss was a driving force behind nearly every expansion of gambling in Indiana. But one bet would be his boldest yet. Ratcliff sold his company, Centaur, and its two horse-track casinos to Caesars Entertainment for $1.7 billion. Ratcliff created a new company called Spectacle Entertainment. It purchased two riverboat casinos with plans to move the licenses to more lucrative locations. But the investment would only pay off if Indiana lawmakers and the new governor, Eric Holcomb, allowed Ratcliff and his partners to relocate the licenses.

Kentucky – Louisville Continues to Spend Less on Ethics Enforcement Than Similar Cities

MSN – Roberto Roldan (Louisville Public Media) | Published: 6/7/2024

Louisville now asks the Ethics Commission to do more than ever before, yet the majority of its work is done by a volunteer board. In 2022, metro council put the commission in charge of ensuring people who are paid to influence local officials register as lobbyists, for example. Ethics Commission Chairperson Dee Pregliasco said as the independent oversight body has been given more responsibilities in recent years, it has not received commensurate resources.

Louisiana – Louisiana Lawmakers Refuse to Endorse Child Care as Campaign Expense

Louisiana Illuminator – Julie O’Donoghue | Published: 6/12/2024

Five years ago, the Louisiana Board of Ethics told a candidate she could use her campaign funds to cover childcare costs as long as the expense was related to her efforts to get elected. But state legislators declined to insert codify that policy this year. They scuttled Senate Bill 153, which would have ensured candidates could use campaign dollars for election-related childcare. What is a legitimate campaign expense in Louisiana has been interpreted liberally over the years. Candidates are allowed to use their funds for Mardi Gras parades, charity golf tournaments, and vehicle maintenance.

Maryland – Baltimore Sun Republishes Reports from New Owner’s TV Station

MSN – Laura Wagner (Washington Post) | Published: 6/11/2024

When David Smith bought the Baltimore Sun in January, staffers worried about how the newspaper might change under an outspoken owner who has supported conservative candidates and right-wing culture war causes. Now, journalists say stories under their names have been changed without their permission, and the Sun has been reusing reporting from one of the 185 local television stations owned by the Smith family’s Sinclair Broadcast Group. Two reporters demanded their bylines be removed from a news report after it was significantly altered without their knowledge.

Massachusetts – Bill to Allow Campaign Funds for Child Care on the Move in Mass.

Yahoo News – Michael Jonas (CommonWealth Beacon) | Published: 6/7/2024

A bill in Massachusetts would allow campaign funds to be spent on a candidate’s childcare expenses. While everything from pricey dinners to travel to far-off conferences can be paid with campaign funds under the broad definition of allowable spending that furthers a candidate’s political career, childcare was deemed to fall outside that interpretation.

Missouri – Missouri Ethics Commission Finally Has a Quorum – but Still Can’t Meet or Take Action

Yahoo News – Jason Hancock (Missouri Independent) | Published: 6/7/2024

Gov. Mike Parson appointed a fourth person to serve on the six-member Missouri Ethics Commission, providing the board with a quorum for the first time since March. But because one member has been unable to attend meetings since last fall, the commission is still one person short of being able to hold a meeting or take action on complaints. “We do have a quorum, but we don’t have four commissioners who can meet,” said Elizabeth Ziegler, director of the commission.

New York – Judge Ices Ethics Commission’s Case Against Former Senate IDC Leader

Albany Times Union – Brendan Lyons | Published: 6/10/2024

A judge ordered the state ethics commission to halt its prosecution of former New York Sen. Jeffrey Klein, who filed a petition recently arguing the panel was formed in violation of the state constitution and lacks the authority to investigate allegations that he forcibly kissed a female staff member nine years ago. The temporary restraining order was granted by state Supreme Court Justice Thomas Marcelle, who last year ruled in favor of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo who argued the new ethics commission was unconstitutional and had no authority to investigate a $5 million deal he received for writing a book about his administration’s handling of the pandemic.

New York – A Candidate Got $162,000 in Public Money. His Secret: Fake donors.

DNyuz – Jay Root and Bianca Pallaro (New York Times) | Published: 6/10/2024

Scores of New Yorkers supposedly made small cash donations to Dao Yin, a businessperson running for the state Assembly. Despite his lack of name recognition, Yin is now one of New York’s top recipients of public matching funds – $162,800 at last count – after reporting the highest percentage of cash, the least traceable form of donation, of any state candidate who received matching funds this year. But after canvassing many of the homes associated with 55 people listed as cash donors to Yin’s campaign, the New York Times found at least 19 who said they had not contributed. Eleven others no longer lived at the addresses listed for them.

New York – Trump Meets with N.Y. Probation Officer Over Video

MSN – Mariana Alfaro and Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 6/10/2024

Donald Trump met with his probation officer via a video conference call, a routine step following his conviction in the hush money trial in New York. The interview is a routine step for defendants after a guilty verdict. The probation department prepares presentencing reports for judges and is in charge of interviewing convicted felons on topics including their personal history, mental health, and the circumstances that led to the conviction.

North Carolina – Flood of Dark Money? What the New Campaign Finance Provision in NC’s Mask Bill Does

MSN – Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Kyle Ingram (Raleigh News & Observer) | Published: 6/12/2024

State lawmakers passed a controversial bill that would loosen regulations on the “dark money” groups that are likely to spend tens of millions of dollars in North Carolina this year. Democrats said it is a way to benefit Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the GOP candidate for governor, and allow more donations where the source of the funding is not disclosed. Republican leaders said the bill would level the playing field for the two political parties when it comes to the national groups that fund state candidates for governor and attorney general.

North Carolina – Voters Have No Right to Fair Elections, NC Lawmakers Say as They Seek to Dismiss Gerrymandering Suit

Yahoo News – Will Doran (WRAL) | Published: 6/13/2024

Lawyers for the state Legislature were in court arguing to throw out an anti-gerrymandering lawsuit that targets North Carolina’s new political maps as a violation of a constitutional guarantee of fair elections. The lawsuit argues the state constitution guarantees the right to fair elections, which these maps violate. The Republican-led Legislature argues no such right exists, since it is impossible to define what “fair” means.

Ohio – Coal Bailouts Will Have Added $500M to Ohioans’ Electric Bills by the End of 2024

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 6/7/2024

Legislation from 2019 that a federal jury found passed as part of a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme has cost Ohioans $307 million through 2023 to bail out coal-fired power plants in the state and in Indiana. By the end of this year, projections say that will reach nearly $500 million, paid through add-on charges to monthly electric bills. Despite four criminal convictions, six more indictments, and an admission of guilt by FirstEnergy for bribing the state’s top utility regulator alongside a sitting House speaker to pass the legislation, the coal bailouts codified within that legislation remain on the books.

Pennsylvania – Pa. Legislators Introduce Bills Prohibiting AI Use in Political Campaigns

Government Technology – Maia Nehm (Lancaster Online) | Published: 6/8/2024

Two newly introduced bills in the Pennsylvania Legislature would prohibit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate candidates in campaign literature and advertising. State Sen. Tracy Pennycuick said the legislation was prompted by the use of robocalls targeting New Hampshire Democratic voters in January. Those calls featured an AI impersonation of President Biden’s voice and discouraged recipients from voting in the state’s presidential primary.

Texas – This Catholic Leader Shelters Migrants. Texas Says He Runs ‘Stash Houses.’

MSN – Arelis Hernández (Washington Post) | Published: 6/6/2024

The patriarch of Annunciation House, a faith-based network of shelters based in El Paso, Ruben Garcia has taken in tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants he calls “guests.” Working in collaboration with immigration officials, he provides them food, clothes, and a first home in the U.S., and some of his expenses are reimbursed by the federal government. It is work he sees as a religious calling – to help the most vulnerable, no matter how they arrived. But as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott clamps down on immigration, state investigators are raising questions about Garcia’s humanitarian work.

Vermont – A Lawmaker’s Bag Was Repeatedly Drenched, and Now a Colleague Faces a Probe

Seven Days – Kevin McCallum | Published: 6/7/2024

Vermont Rep. Mary Morrissey is under fire after she was allegedly caught on video surreptitiously pouring water into a fellow lawmaker’s tote bag at the statehouse. Morrissey faces an ethics investigation into whether she harassed Rep. Jim Carrol by secretly soaking his stuff several times during the recent legislative session. Rep. Angela Arsenault said she has seen a video that clearly shows Morrissey leave her committee room, walk over to a bag outside Carroll’s committee room, and dump a cup of water into it.

Vermont – 6 Bills – Tackling Municipal Ethics, Animal Welfare and More – Become Vermont Law

VTDigger.org – Emma Cotton | Published: 6/10/2024

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed bills related to animal welfare, diversity in courts, and addiction recovery support. He allowed a bill dealing with local ethics codes ethics to pass into law without his signature. House Bill 875 establishes a “municipal code of ethics” that applies to local officials such as select board members, clerks, and planning commissioners, among others. It is similar to a code of ethics for state officials that took effect two years ago.

Campaign Finance

California: “Libby Schaaf Is Under Investigation for Allegedly Running a Political Committee That Attacked a Rival” by Eli Wolfe and Darwin BondGraham (Oaklandside) for MSN

National: “$800,000 Wire Transfer from Billionaire Donor to US Chamber Raises Curtain on Dark Money” by Taylor Giorno (The Hill) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Judge Cannon Strikes Paragraph in Trump Classified Document Indictment” by Perry Stein and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) for MSN

Florida: “Federal Judge Blocks Enforcement of Financial Disclosure Rules for Elected City Officials” by Dave Berman (Florida Today) for MSN

Hawaii: “Maui Ethics Board Could Get Overdue Boost Through 2 Reforms Under Review” by Brittany Lyte for Honolulu Civil Beat

Indiana: “‘This Issue Is Going to Come Back to Haunt Us.’ Ratcliff’s Biggest Bet Yet Unravels” by Tony Cook (Indianapolis Star) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

Vermont: “A Lawmaker’s Bag Was Repeatedly Drenched, and Now a Colleague Faces a Probe” by Kevin McCallum for Seven Days

Lobbying

National: “Porter to Propose Bills to Modernize Lobbying Database, Extend ‘Cooling-Off’ Period” by Taylor Giorno for The Hill

National/Federal

Multiple Trump Witnesses Have Received Significant Financial Benefits from His Businesses, Campaign

MSN – Robert Faturechi, Justin Elliott, and Alex Mierjeski (ProPublica) | Published: 6/3/2024

Nine witnesses in the criminal cases against Donald Trump have received significant financial benefits, including large raises from his campaign, severance packages, new jobs, and a grant of shares and cash from Trump’s media company. Defense lawyers say Trump’s dual role of defendant and the boss of many of the people who are witnesses to his alleged crimes is not uncommon. Even if the perks were not intended to influence witnesses, they could prove troublesome for Trump in any future trials. Prosecutors could point to the benefits to undermine the credibility of those aides on the witness stand.

Billions in Taxpayer Dollars Now Go to Religious Schools Via Vouchers

MSN – Laura Meckler and Michelle Boorstein (Washington Post) | Published: 6/3/2024

Billions in taxpayer dollars are being used to pay tuition at religious schools throughout the country, as state voucher programs expand dramatically and the line separating public education and religion fades. School vouchers can be used at almost any private school, but most of the money is being directed to religious schools. The growth follows a string of victories in the Supreme Court and state Legislatures by religious conservatives who have campaigned to tear down what once were constitutional prohibitions against spending tax money directly on religious education.

At Center of Alito Controversy, a Flag Celebrated by Extremists

MSN – Hannah Allen (Washington Post) | Published: 6/2/2024

From the earliest days of the republic, American radicals have drawn inspiration from a white flag emblazoned with a green pine tree and the words, “An Appeal to Heaven.” Extremism monitors say the self-styled revolutionaries of today’s Christian far right are reviving the idea that drastic action is again required to save the republic, and they have adopted the flag as their own. They say the “Appeal to Heaven” banner has taken on apocalyptic overtones that are increasingly present in the centers of American power.

Lawmakers Expensed Millions in 2023 Under New Program That Doesn’t Require Receipts

MSN – Jacqueline Alemany, Clara Ence Morse, and Liz Goodwin (Washington Post) | Published: 6/4/2024

A program started last year was intended to make it easier for members of Congress to cover the cost of maintaining separate homes in the District of Columbia and their home districts. But critics argue its reliance on the honor system and lack of transparent record-keeping makes it ripe for abuse. Lawmakers were reimbursed at least $5.2 million for food and lodging while on official business in Washington. The reimbursement scheme’s lack of receipt requirements is a “ridiculous loophole,” said Craig Holman, a lobbyist for Public Citizen.

Investors, Worried They Can’t Beat Lawmakers in Stock Market, Copy Them Instead

MSN – Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) | Published: 6/1/2024

Watchdog groups have long believed that some lawmakers use confidential information to make money in the stock market. Now a loose alliance of traders, analysts, and advocates is trying to let Americans mimic the trades elected officials make, offering tongue-in-cheek financial products that track purchases and sales after lawmakers disclose them. Collectively, these investment vehicles have attracted hundreds of millions of dollars. At times, congressional investigators have used them to keep tabs on suspicious trading activity.

As a Congressman Defended Trump, His 6-Year-Old Son Stole the Spotlight

MSN – Kyle Melnick (Washington Post) | Published: 6/4/2024

When U.S. Rep. John Rose approached the lectern on the House floor, he said he was going to “address the terrible precedent” set by Donald Trump’s criminal conviction. But only a few seconds into his speech, he no longer had everyone’s attention. Rose’s six-year-old son, Guy, smiled and leaned closer into C-SPAN’s camera shot while sitting behind his dad. As Rose called Trump the victim of a “politically driven” conviction, Guy stuck out his tongue with wide eyes and shook his head – a clip that has turned into a meme.

Judge Cannon Expands Hearing on Trump’s Request to Declare Special Counsel’s Appointment Invalid

MSN – Dan Berman and Katelyn Polantz (CNN) | Published: 6/5/2024

U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon is planning on holding a sprawling hearing on Donald Trump’s request to declare Jack Smith’s appointment as special counsel invalid, signaling the judge could be more willing than any other trial judge to veto the special prosecutor’s authority. Cannon said a variety of political partisans and constitutional scholars not otherwise involved with the case can join in the oral arguments on June 21.

Ethics Panel Probes Rep. Spartz Over Staff Abuse Claims

MSN – Daniel Lippman and Adam Wren (Politico) | Published: 6/4/2024

The House Committee on Ethics has made preliminary inquiries into U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz’s treatment of staff in response to multiple complaints filed about her alleged “abuse,” “general toxicity,” and “rage,” according to a current aide and a former aide who made complaints. She recently imposed pay cuts reaching into the tens of thousands of dollars for some staffers, which came amid her ongoing complaints about her staff’s performance. In April, Spartz sent a note to staffers forbidding them to talk to Politico reporters who were pursuing tips about her office.

Even as the Judicial System Finds Trump Guilty, His Attacks Take a Toll

MSN – Sarah Ellison and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 5/30/2024

Donald Trump and his team waged an all-out war against the judicial system before the expected guilty verdict in his New York trial was announced, hoping to blunt the political damage and position him as a martyr. The jury’s verdict upheld the democratic principle that no one is above the law. But amid the offensive by Trump and his allies on the legal infrastructure holding him accountable, the trial came with a substantial cost, according to those who study democracy, with the ultimate impact likely to be measured in November.

Chief Justice Robert Declines to Meet with Democrats on Court Ethics

MSN – Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 5/30/2024

Chief Justice John Roberts turned down an invitation to meet with Senate Democrats to discuss what the lawmakers called an “ethics crisis” at the Supreme Court following reports of two politically charged flags displayed outside the homes of Justice Samuel Alito. In a letter to Sens. Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse, Roberts said such a meeting would be “inadvisable” in part because of the importance of preserving judicial independence.

PAC Run by Mark Meadows’ Wife Fined, Closing After Campaign Finance Violation

Yahoo Finance – Danielle Battaglia (Raleigh News & Observer) | Published: 5/31/2024

A PAC run by the wife of Mark Meadows, former President Trump’s last chief of staff, plans to close and faces a nearly $10,000 fine over accusations of violating federal election law. Brett Kappel, an attorney who focuses on campaign fiancé, lobbying, and government ethics law cases, said it is not unusual to see a super PAC terminate itself after paying a significant FEC penalty. “In fact, the commission sometimes makes termination a condition of settling the case for a lower penalty than the FEC would normally seek,” Kappel said.

Departing House Members Ask: ‘Why am I here?’

Yahoo News – Robert Draper (New York Times) | Published: 5/30/2024

A total of 54 U.S. House members will not be seeking another term this November. As a matter of numbers, the exodus is not history-making. What is striking are the names on the list. There are rising stars, seasoned legislators, and committee chairs. If anything, the malaise encompassing the House extends beyond those who have chosen not to serve another term. “You look around that chamber, there’s just a look of despair,” said Rep. Brian Higgins. “… I think a lot more members would be leaving if they had alternatives.”

Judge Rules Bannon Must Go to Prison by July 1 While Appealing Contempt Case

Yahoo News – Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 6/6/2024

A federal judge ordered former Trump political adviser and right-wing podcaster Stephen Bannon to report to prison by July 1 to begin serving a four-month prison term for contempt of Congress after an appeals court upheld his conviction. Prosecutors had asked the judge to lift the hold on the sentence, arguing that no substantive legal questions remain over Bannon’s conviction for refusing to provide documents or testimony to a House committee probing the insurrection.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – 2 Democrats Who Yelled Were Disorderly in AZ Abortion Debate, Panel Says

Arizona Daily Star – Bob Christie (Capitol News Services) | Published: 6/4/2024

Two Democratic lawmakers who yelled at Republican House members after GOP legislators used a procedural maneuver to recess rather than allow a vote to repeal Arizona’s near-total abortion ban are guilty of disorderly conduct, the House ethics panel said. But any punishment Minority Whip Oscar De Los Santos and Rep. Analise Ortiz face for breaking internal House rules will be up to the entire House, and the report by the ethics committee did not recommend what action is merited.

Arkansas – U.S.Supreme Court Sends Arkansas Redistricting Case Back to Judges after South Carolina Ruling

Yahoo News – Andrew DeMillo (Associated Press) | Published: 6/3/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court sent a lawsuit challenging Arkansas’ 2021 congressional map back to a three-judge panel, ordering it to review the suit in light of the high court’s decision against similar claims of bias in a redistricting case from South Carolina. The ruling is a setback for the lawsuit challenging the way Arkansas’ Republican Legislature redrew the lines for a Little Rock-area congressional district.

California – Ethics Probe Hangs Over Campaign to Recall Oakland Mayor as it Files Signatures

KQED – Annelise Finney | Published: 6/5/2024

As the campaign to recall Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao submitted signatures to put a recall on the ballot, the city agency tasked with enforcing campaign finance laws is investigating how the campaign handles donations. Simon Russell, the Public Ethics Commission’s enforcement chief, alleges Oakland United to Recall Sheng Thao is using Foundational Oakland Unites, a recently formed nonprofit and PAC, to hide the source of some contributions.

Colorado – Campaign Finance Reform Could Be Coming Next Election Cycle

Denverite – Rebecca Tauber | Published: 6/4/2024

The Denver Clerk and Recorder’s Office hopes to strengthen its ability to investigate campaign finance violations and make campaign contributions more transparent in the next election cycle. The ordinance would give the office authority to dismiss uncredible complaints, among other changes. It would also standardize reporting requirements, so any group that receives at least $50 from a donor must report that donor’s name, address, and employer.

District of Columbia – D.C. Ethics Board Recommends Rudy Giuliani Be Disbarred

MSN – Alexandra Marquez (NBC News) | Published: 6/2/2024

The District of Columbia Bar’s Board on Professional Responsibility recommended Rudy Giuliani be banned from practicing law in the nation’s capital. In their report, the Board cited Giuliani’s work in Pennsylvania following the 2020 presidential election, where he sought to have the results of the election there thrown out in favor of his former client Donald Trump.

Florida – Alex Díaz de la Portilla Under Investigation for Alleged Witness Tampering in Bribery Case

Yahoo News – Tess Riski (Miami Herald) | Published: 6/3/2024

Law enforcement is investigating possible witness tampering by former Miami City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla in a bribery and money laundering case against him after his former chief of staff reported he had sent her text messages about her testimony. The former City Hall staffer, Karla Fortuny, alleged in a petition that Díaz de la Portilla’s messages were “intimidating and obviously meant to tamper with my presentation of complete and truthful testimony regarding my time as an employee of the City of Miami.”

Georgia – Georgia Appeals Court Pauses Lower-Court Proceedings in Trump Election Case

MSN – Amy Gardner (Washington Post) | Published: 6/5/2024

The Georgia Court of Appeals ordered a halt to the proceedings in the election interference case against Donald Trump and eight other defendants pending the outcome of their appeal seeking to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The order means the case will almost certainly not be scheduled for trial before the fall election or even the new year. It remains unclear if the case against the six remaining co-defendants who did not sign on to the appeal will proceed.

Illinois – Judge Tosses Out Illinois Ban on Drafting Legislative Candidates as ‘Restriction on Right to Vote’

MSN – John O’Connor (Associated Press) | Published: 6/5/2024

A judge rejected a law that Illinois Democrats adopted in May that prohibits political parties from drafting candidates when no one was on the party primary ballot. Sangamon County Circuit Judge Gail Noll ruled the law, passed to protect vulnerable Democrats in November’s general election, is unconstitutional. It improperly interferes with a person’s right to see access to the ballot and that, Noll wrote, “places a severe restriction on the fundamental right to vote.”

Kansas – Kansas Voters Have No Fundamental Constitutional Right to Vote, Supreme Court Rules

Yahoo News – Jason Alatidd and Jack Harvel (Topeka Capital-Journal) | Published: 5/31/2024

Voters have no fundamental right to vote under the bill of rights in the state constitution, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled. Because voting is not considered a fundamental right, it means that courts will not use strict scrutiny when analyzing the impact of election laws. That will make it more difficult for plaintiffs to argue that a law affecting voting is unconstitutional.

Michigan – 2024 Michigan Elections: Nessel opinion tightens financial disclosure rules

Bridge Michigan – Lauren Gibbons | Published: 6/5/2024

State elections officials can require officeholders to provide more than the bare minimum on new personal financial disclosure forms, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel determined in a formal legal opinion. Lawmakers who finalized the rules last fall extended disclosure requirements to candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and state Legislature but left what critics called loopholes allowing filers to obscure monetary values and other information about income sources, and assets held by spouses.

Michigan – Michigan Lawmaker Wants to Pay Reporters to Uncover Corruption

MSN – J.D. Davidson (Center Square) | Published: 5/30/2024

A Michigan lawmaker wants to pay reporters and news organizations to expose public corruption and save taxpayers money. Rep. Joseph Aragona developed the idea after The Detroit News recently exposed questionable spending surrounding a $20 million grant to businessperson Fay Beydoun. She was an executive committee member of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Spending included a $4,500 coffee maker, $11,000 for a plane ticket, $100,000 for a sponsorship, and $9,400 for annual membership dues in the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Missouri – After Investigation, Top MO House Republican Now Faces Scathing Whistleblower Lawsuit

Yahoo News – Kacen Bayless (Kansas City Star) | Published: 5/31/2024

Dana Miller, chief clerk of the Missouri House since 2018, filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging Speaker Dean Plocher and his chief of staff, Rod Jetton, retaliated against her after she reported policy violations and wastes of public money. Miller’s suit paints a damning portrait, showing the lengths that Plocher and Jetton went to allegedly threaten and retaliate against Miller and other House staffers amid a slew of scandals Plocher faced in his final session as speaker that resulted in a months-long investigation.

Nevada – A Republican Election Clerk vs. Trump Die-Hards in a World of Lies

DNyuz – Eli Saslow (New York Times) | Published: 6/6/2024

Ever since Donald Trump lost the 2020 election, his denials and distortions spread outward from the White House to even the country’s most remote places, like Esmeralda County, Nevada. Trump won the county with 82 percent of the vote despite losing Nevada. In the days after the election, some county residents parroted Trump’s talking points and brought their complaints to the monthly commissioner meetings. When County Clerk Cindy Elgan continued to stand up at each meeting to dispute and disprove those accusations, they began to blame her, too.

New Jersey – Gov. Murphy Signs Legislation That Dismantles Access to Public Records in NJ

MSN – Katie Sobko (Bergen Record) | Published: 6/5/2024

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation overhauling access to the state’s public records, likely making it harder for the public and media to access some documents, according to critics. One provision permits officials to charge commercial interests as much as twice the cost of producing records. Other language authorizes agencies to sue requesters they accuse of interrupting “government function.” The new law also ends a requirement for towns to pay attorneys’ fees in court cases they lose over records requests.

New York – How Top N.Y. Officials Helped a Lobbyist Cash in on State Government

DNyuz – Jay Root (New York Times) | Published: 6/5/2024

In the midst of the pandemic in early 2021, New York state officials were hashing out how to build a mobile app to display users’ vaccination status when an unfamiliar face suddenly started joining the conference calls. The new participant, Michael Balboni, was a former state lawmaker and more recently had been working as a lobbyist in Albany. He was also a close friend of a top official in the budget office, the agency overseeing the app’s rollout. Soon after, one of the contractors overseeing the app’s development, Deloitte Consulting, signed Balboni as a consultant, then as a lobbyist.

New York – NYC Council Eyes Stricter Fundraising Rules Amid Legal Probes into Mayor Adams’ Campaign

Gothamist – Brigid Bergin | Published: 6/5/2024

New York City Councilperson Lincoln Restler will introduce legislation to give new power and added responsibilities to the watchdog agency running the city’s public campaign finance system. Restler’s package would empower the Campaign Finance Board to withhold matching money to campaigns that do not respond to the agency’s requests for information about their donors within 30 days. Another bill would impose stiffer restrictions on how much lobbyists and other individuals listed in the city’s Doing Business Database can raise as an intermediary on behalf of a candidate.

New York – Trump Verdict Vindicates N.Y. Prosecutor Who Quietly Pursued a Risky Path

MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 6/1/2024

Donald Trump was found guilty in New York on 34 counts for falsifying business records related to a hush money payment ahead of the 2016 election. Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, had weathered a tide of criticism for bringing charges against the former president. Those who know Bragg said he was undeterred by the constant political attacks and committed to pursuing a novel legal theory he believed made sense.

New York – Ethics Commission Subpoenaed Hochul Administration Over Bills Box Seats

New York Focus – Chris Bragg | Published: 5/31/2024

The New York Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government issued a subpoena to the state’s economic development agency for records related to state officials’ use of a Buffalo Bills luxury suite. Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, and others gained exclusive access to the state-owned suite. The officials brought several guests. A complaint argued attendees got premium tickets at a bargain price because of their close relationships to politicians. The complaint claimed the politicians did not have valid governmental reasons to attend the game.

Ohio – Ohio Senate Approves Fix Assuring President Biden Is on Fall Ballot

MSN – Bruce Shipkowski (Associated Press) | Published: 5/31/2024

A temporary fix allowing President Biden to appear on this fall’s ballot in Ohio cleared the Republican-dominated Legislature as it concluded a rare special session. Lawmakers also approved a ban on foreign nationals contributing to state ballot campaigns. Gov. Mike DeWine signed both bills.

Ohio – FirstEnergy, the Center Point of a Bribery Plot, Could Officially Beat the Rap This Summer

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 6/2/2024

Federal prosecutors are set to release FirstEnergy, the utility at the center of intersecting dollar bribery schemes, from a special cooperation agreement that offered prosecutors a roadmap of a compromised state government. Prosecutors charged the company with conspiracy in its efforts to bribe government officials in exchange for favorable treatment. But in exchange for FirstEnergy’s cooperation, payment of a $230 million fine, forfeiture of another roughly $7 million, some corporate reforms, and its issuance of a public statement of guilt, the government will drop that charge within 30 days of the agreement’s expiration date.

Ohio – Cleveland City Council Doubles Campaign Finance Contribution Limits, Some Residents Push Back

WVIZ – Abbey Marshall | Published: 6/3/2024

The Cleveland City Council quickly – and controversially – approved legislation that doubled campaign donation limits ahead of council elections in 2025. Those caps jumped from $1,500 to $3,000 for individuals and from $3,000 to $6,000 for PACs. Council President Blaine Griffin said it will allow candidates to tap into other sources aside from the Council Leadership Fund, a PAC controlled by Griffin that some members of the public have criticized.

Oregon – Lawmakers Approve $5 Million for Secretary of State Office to Overhaul Oregon Campaign Finance Filing System

MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 5/31/2024

Lawmakers approved $5.41 million to modernize Oregon’s outdated campaign finance filing system by 2028. of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade asked for the funding after the Legislature in March passed a historic campaign finance bill that will limit the amount of money that individuals and groups can directly give to candidates.

Pennsylvania – Several Pa. House Republicans Boo Officers Who Defended Capitol on Jan. 6

MSN – Leo Sands (Washington Post) | Published: 6/6/2024

Two former law enforcement officers who defended the U.S. Capitol from rioters during the insurrection were jeered by state GOP lawmakers as they visited Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives, according to several Democratic lawmakers present. As former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and former sergeant Aquilino Gonell, both of whom were injured by rioters on January 6, were introduced, the House floor descended into chaos. Several GOP lawmakers hissed and booed, with a number of Republicans walking out in protest.

Pennsylvania – Former Philly Councilmember Bobby Henon’s Bribery Conviction Upheld by Federal Appeals Court

MSN – Jeremy Roebuck and Oona Goodin-Smith (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 5/31/2024

Former Philadelphia City Councilperson Bobby Henon’s bid to overturn his 2021 bribery conviction fell short as a federal appeals court rejected his contention that prosecutors had failed to fully prove their case. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit found jurors had been presented with enough evidence to conclude the former council majority leader sold the powers of his office to labor leader John Dougherty in exchange for a $70,000-a-year salary from his politically powerful union.

Rhode Island – R.I. Ethics Panel Rules Sen. Lawson Can Vote on Pension-Related Bills

Yahoo News – Nancy Lavin (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 6/4/2024

One-third of Rhode Island lawmakers collect, or could eventually receive, a state pension. Yet only one, Sen. Majority Whip Valarie Lawson, consulted with the state ethics panel on whether her former teaching career and current job as president of one of the state teachers’ unions preclude her from voting on pension-related legislation. The Ethics Commission ruled she could vote, citing a clause in the ethics code letting public officials participate in actions that may benefit them personally if enough other people also receive the same benefit.

Texas – Former Houston Public Works Official Charged in Corruption Case Involving Waterline Repair Contracts

MSN – Yilun Cheng (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 6/1/2024

A former employee of Houston’s Public Works Department was arrested for allegedly taking bribes from vendors and funneling city dollars to herself through a shell company. The department first suspended Patrece Lee, a former manager of the department’s water operation, in November 2023 after a media report alerted the city of possible conflicts-of-interest in her handling of emergency contracts for water leak repairs. The internal probe later turned into a criminal investigation.

Wisconsin – Former Trump Aides Charged in Wisconsin Over 2020 Elector Plot

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 6/4/2024

Wisconsin’s attorney general filed conspiracy charges against a former aide and two attorneys who advised Donald Trump over a meeting of Republicans claiming to be the state’s 2020 presidential electors even though Trump had lost the state. The charges are the first in Wisconsin related to the meeting of electors. Prosecutors have separately charged Republicans who were involved in similar efforts in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Georgia.

Campaign Finance

New York: “NYC Council Eyes Stricter Fundraising Rules Amid Legal Probes into Mayor Adams’ Campaign” by Brigid Bergin for Gothamist

Elections

Wisconsin: “Former Trump Aides Charged in Wisconsin Over 2020 Elector Plot” by Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Judge Cannon Expands Hearing on Trump’s Request to Declare Special Counsel’s Appointment Invalid” by Dan Berman and Katelyn Polantz (CNN) for MSN

National: “Ethics Panel Probes Rep. Spartz Over Staff Abuse Claims” by Daniel Lippman and Adam Wren (Politico) for MSN

Michigan: “2024 Michigan Elections: Nessel opinion tightens financial disclosure rules” by Lauren Gibbons for Bridge Michigan

Rhode Island: “R.I. Ethics Panel Rules Sen. Lawson Can Vote on Pension-Related Bills” by Nancy Lavin (Rhode Island Current) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

Arizona: “2 Democrats Who Yelled Were Disorderly in AZ Abortion Debate, Panel Says” by Bob Christie (Capitol News Services) for Arizona Daily Star

National: “As a Congressman Defended Trump, His 6-Year-Old Son Stole the Spotlight” by Kyle Melnick (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

New York: “How Top N.Y. Officials Helped a Lobbyist Cash in on State Government” by Jay Root (New York Times) for DNyuz

Campaign Finance

National: “PAC Run by Mark Meadows’ Wife Fined, Closing After Campaign Finance Violation” by Danielle Battaglia (Raleigh News & Observer) for Yahoo Finance

Oregon: “Lawmakers Approve $5 Million for Secretary of State Office to Overhaul Oregon Campaign Finance Filing System” by Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Elections

Ohio: “Ohio Senate Approves Fix Assuring President Biden Is on Fall Ballot” by Bruce Shipkowski (Associated Press) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Chief Justice Robert Declines to Meet with Democrats on Court Ethics” by Ann Marimow (Washington Post) for MSN

Missouri: “After Investigation, Top MO House Republican Now Faces Scathing Whistleblower Lawsuit” by Kacen Bayless (Kansas City Star) for Yahoo News

National: “Even as the Judicial System Finds Trump Guilty, His Attacks Take a Toll” by Sarah Ellison and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) for MSN

New York: “Ethics Commission Subpoenaed Hochul Administration Over Bills Box Seats” by Chris Bragg for New York Focus

Legislative Issues

National: “Departing House Members Ask: ‘Why am I here?'” by Robert Draper (New York Times) for Yahoo News

National/Federal

With Debate Deal, Trump and Biden Sideline a Storied Campaign Institution

DNyuz – Adam Nagourney (New York Times) | Published: 5/16/2024

The agreement by President Biden and Donald Trump to move ahead with two presidential debates, and sideline the Commission on Presidential Debates, is a debilitating and potentially fatal blow to an institution that had once been a major arbiter in presidential politics. But the roots of the commission’s decline go back at least a decade and came to a head in 2020, when the commission struggled to stage a debate with Trump and Biden during the pandemic.

Senate Democrats Open Inquiry into Trump’s $1 Billion Request of Oil Industry

DNyuz – Lisa Friedman (New York Times) | Published: 5/23/2024

Senate Democrats opened an investigation into Donald Trump’s recent meeting with oil and gas executives to determine whether Trump offered a “policies-for-money transaction” when he asked for $1 billion for his 2024 campaign so he could retake the White House and delete President Biden’s climate regulations. Trump told about 20 oil and gas executives they would save far more than $1 billion in avoided taxes and legal fees after he repealed environmental regulations, according to several people who were present.

Peter Thiel-Funded Super PAC That Backed JD Vance Didn’t Break the Law, FEC Rules

MSN – Bryan Metzger (Business Insider) | Published: 5/23/2024

The FEC dismissed a complaint that accused U.S. Sen. JD Vance’s campaign and a super PAC funded primarily by billionaire Peter Thiel of violating federal election laws. The complaint focused on the existence of an obscure website set up by the super PAC. That site contained troves of materials seemingly intended for use by Vance’s campaign and other potential supporters, including polling data, B-roll camera footage, opposition research, and other strategy documents. The complaint argued those materials were essentially an illegal contribution to Vance, given that his campaign could presumably access the materials.

Fat Leonard Bribery Cases Fall Apart Because of Prosecution Blunders

MSN – Craig Whitlock (Washington Post) | Published: 5/20/2024

Numerous Navy officers were charged with taking payoffs from Leonard Glenn Francis, a Malaysian defense contractor known as Fat Leonard. But a pattern of prosecutorial misconduct in the probe has caused several cases to unravel so far and is threatening to undermine more. The cases collapsed after defense attorneys alleged prosecutors from the U.S. attorney’s office in San Diego elide on flawed evidence and withheld information favorable to the defense during the 2022 bribery trial of five officers.

On the Week Trump’s Fla. Trial Was Scheduled to Start, Uncertainty and a Pretrial Hearing

MSN – David Ovalle and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 5/22/2024

Donald Trump’s classified-documents trial was supposed to begin with jury selection this week. It is the case that Trump’s attorneys have been the most worried about, with prosecutors offering evidence a former president who is running to hold the office again took sensitive government documents from the White House and obstructed officials’ attempts to retrieve them. But U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon indefinitely postponed the trial. Instead of Trump sitting at the defense table for the first week of trial, Cannon held two hearings on long-shot requests from a Trump co-defendant to dismiss the case.

Paul Pelosi’s Attacker Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison

MSN – Azi Paybarah (Washington Post) | Published: 5/17/2024

David DePape, the man whose embrace of right-wing conspiracy theories led him to break into Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home and bludgeon her 82-year-old husband, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Federal prosecutors had asked for a 40-year term, arguing the attack constituted an act of terrorism. A jury convicted DePape on federal charges of trying to kidnap the then-House speaker and assaulting Paul Pelosi because of his wife’s work in Congress.

FEC Rejects Proposal to Weaken Disclosure Laws but Agrees to Further Rulemaking

Open Secrets – Jimmy Cloutier | Published: 5/16/2024

The FEC declined to advance a temporary measure that would have made it easier for political donors to hide identifying information from the American public, but commissioners agreed to move forward in creating new rules to standardize how disclosure exemption requests are evaluated and approved. The FEC has granted exemptions when an organization or individual donor can demonstrate a “reasonable probability” the public disclosure of personal information will subject them to threats and harassment.

Another Provocative Flag Was Flown at Another Alito Home

Seattle Times – Jodi Kantor, Aric Toler, and Julie Tate (New York Times) | Published: 5/22/2024

A second flag of a type carried by rioters during the attack on the U.S. Capitol was displayed outside a house owned by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. An “Appeal to Heaven” flag was flown outside Alito’s vacation home last summer. An inverted American flag, another symbol carried by rioters, was seen at Alito’s Virginia home less than two weeks after the violence at the Capitol. The revelations prompted concerns from legal scholars and ethicists, and calls from Democratic lawmakers that Alito recuse himself from cases related to January 6.

Congress Aims to Overhaul Presidential Ethics Rules with a Plan Led by an Unlikely Pair of Lawmakers

Yahoo News – Farnoush Amiri (Associated Press) | Published: 5/22/2024

Bipartisan legislation in the House would require presidents and vice presidents to publicly disclose tax returns before, during, and after their time in the White House as Congress makes an election-year push to curb foreign influence in American politics. Democrats introduced rival legislation that would enforce the Constitution’s ban on emoluments, which prohibits a president from accepting foreign gifts and money without the permission of Congress.

Republican Chair Investigating Chamber of Commerce in Seismic K Street Shift

Yahoo News – Taylor Giorno (The Hill) | Published: 5/16/2024

A decade ago, a Republican committee chairperson investigating Washington’s biggest business advocacy organization would have been unthinkable. But times have changed. House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith demanded the U.S. Chamber of Commerce answer questions about the more than $12 million its foundation received from the Tides Foundation, a left-leaning nonprofit, between 2018 and 2022.

‘We’ll See You at Your House:’ How fear and menace are transforming politics

Yahoo News – Eileen Sullivan, Danny Hakim, and Ken Bensinger (New York Times) | Published: 5/19/2024

A steady undercurrent of violence and physical risk has become a new normal in American public life. From City Hall to Congress, public officials increasingly describe threats and harassment as a routine part of their jobs. Often masked by online anonymity and propelled by extreme political views, the barrage of menace has changed how officials do their work, terrified their families, and driven some from public life altogether. By almost all measures, the evidence of the trend is striking.

In the Aging Senate, 80-Somethings Seeking Re-Election Draw Little Criticism

Yahoo News – Kayla Guo (New York Times) | Published: 5/17/2024

While President Biden tries to assuage voter concerns about his age in a presidential race that includes the two oldest men ever to seek the White House, a couple of miles away in the U.S. Senate, the gerontocracy remains alive and well – and little commented upon. The recent news that two octogenarians – Sens. Bernie Sanders, 82, and Angus King, 80 – are each running for another six-year term generated little in the way of criticism or worry over age of the kind that Biden has faced.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Conservative Candidate Didn’t Register on Time as Travel Nurse Lobbyist

Yahoo News – Jacques Poitras | Published: 5/23/2024

A lobbyist and federal Conservative election candidate did not promptly report his lobbying for a company supplying travel nurses to New Brunswick’s struggling health care system. New Brunswick’s Lobbyists’ Registration Act requires a lobbyist to submit a return to the provincial integrity commissioner “within 15 days after commencing performance of an undertaking on behalf of a client.” But Brian Macdonald, who represented Canadian Health Labs in 2023, did not register as a lobbyist for the company until this year, after it made national headlines.

Arizona – Arizona Weighs When Lawyers’ Long-Shot Election Challenges Cross the Line

Arizona Mirror – Jen Fifield (Votebeat) | Published: 5/21/2024

At a state bar association event on election law, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said lawyers need to do a better job of upholding their professional standards. Election lawyers are filing too many frivolous cases “just because the plaintiffs are mad at their political opponents,” Fontes said, adding that they are endangering public faith in democracy. The rise in sanctions and disciplinary scrutiny is prompting debate about exactly when lawyers who bring election challenges are crossing the line, and whether professional standards of conduct have shifted.

Arizona – Rudy Giuliani and Other Trump Allies Plead Not Guilty in Arizona

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 5/21/2024

Eleven Republicans who allegedly tried to deliver Arizona’s presidential electoral votes to Donald Trump after his 2020 defeat pleaded not guilty to the same nine criminal counts, which include conspiracy, fraud, and forgery. Arizona is one of four states where Republicans have been charged in the formation of an alternate slate of presidential electors falsely claiming Trump won the 2020 presidential election.

California – LA City Council Expansion, Once Hailed as Much Needed Reform, Is Dead for Now

MSN – Frank Stoltze (LAist) | Published: 5/20/2024

For years, advocates for a more democratic Los Angeles have called for expanding the size of the city council beyond the current 15 members. The idea gained momentum in 2022 after the release of secretly recorded audio that came to be known as the City Hall tapes scandal. Many proponents of council expansion hoped it would be placed on the November ballot, while the fervor for reform remained strong. That is not going to happen.

Colorado – Wolf Advocates Charged with Illegal Lobbying at State Capitol

Denver Gazette – Marianne Goodland (Colorado Politics) | Published: 5/16/2024

Complaints filed in Colorado claim Stephen Capra and his organization, Bold Visions Conservation, lobbied state legislators on behalf of a paying client without registering or disclosing the client’s identity as required by law.  The Elections Division of the Secretary of State’s office determined Capra lobbied on behalf of Bold Visions Conservation, which pays him for his services, and should have registered as a professional lobbyist.

Connecticut – CT Supreme Court Finds Public Financing Law Restricts Free Speech

Connecticut Mirror – Mark Pazniokas | Published: 5/20/2024

The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled state elections officials violated the free speech rights of two Republicans running for the state Legislature when it fined them for criticizing the Democratic governor in ads paid for by their publicly funded campaigns in 2014. At issue was whether criticism of former Gov. Dannel Malloy’s fiscal policies by former Sen. Joe Markley and then-Rep. Rob Sampson in campaign materials was intended to further their own candidacies or improperly use their public grants to undermine the governor or help his challenger, Tom Foley.

Hawaii – Not Guilty: Ex-Honolulu prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, businessman Dennis Mitsunaga and others walk in bribery case

Honolulu Civil Beat – Chrstina Jendra | Published: 5/17/2024

A jury found longtime Honolulu prosecuting attorney Keith Kaneshiro did not conspire with Dennis Mitsunaga, the former chief executive of a prominent engineering firm, and several company employees to arrange for the prosecution of Laurel Mau, a former Mitsunaga employee. Prosecutors said Mitsunaga’s company sought to use the criminal justice system to exact revenge on Mau for suing her former employer, and Kaneshiro benefitted from some $50,000 in campaign donations.

Hawaii – Hawaii Ethics Commission Grapples with Pay-to-Play Issues

Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 5/15/2024

The Hawaii Ethics Commission is trying to figure out how to wrangle two groups of people who are proving particularly challenging: high-level state employees who are politically active and legislators who have outside jobs with companies that have government business. Those were some of the issues raised in a recent media investigation that examined loopholes in Hawaii’s campaign spending laws.

Louisiana – Mayor Cantrell Takes French Quarter Resident Who Photographed Her to Court Over Stalking Claim

NOLA.com – John Simerman and Missy Wilkinson | Published: 5/21/2024

Anne Breaud photographed Mayor LaToya Cantrell sharing a meal with her bodyguard, New Orleans Police Department Officer Jeffrey Vappie, on the balcony of restaurant. That moment has since placed Breaud in the mayo”s crosshairs, the subject of a temporary restraining order filed by Cantrell that alleged Breaud had been stalking her. Breaud sent her photos of Cantrell and Vappie to the Metropolitan Crime Commission, which filed a complaint raising new questions about Vappie’s conduct with the mayor:

Montana – Montana Commissioner Opens Complaints Against AG Candidates

Yahoo News – Darrell Ehrlick (Daily Montanan) | Published: 5/16/2024

The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices accepted two complaints that center on the Republican primary race for attorney general, including one involving current state Attorney General Austin Knudsen. The Daily Montanan that an audio recording appeared to capture Knudsen calling Montana’s campaign finance laws “ridiculous” and saying he asked a friend to run against him in the partisan primary as a way to raise more money.

New Hampshire – Democratic Operative Indicted Over Biden AI Robocalls in New Hampshire

MSN – Maegan Vazquez, Meryl Kornfield, and Hayden Godfrey (Washington Post) | Published: 5/23/2024

Steve Kramer, a Democratic operative who admitted to commissioning an artificial intelligence-generated robocall of President Biden that instructed New Hampshire voters to not vote early this year, is now facing criminal charges and federal fines. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella announced Kramer had been indicted on charges of felony voter impression and misdemeanor impersonation of a candidate. The Federal Communications Commission said it would propose fining Kramer $6 million for violating the Truth in Caller ID Act.

New Jersey – Campaign Finance Watchdog Taps Top Lawyer to Helm Agency

New Jersey Monitor – Nikita Biryukov | Published: 5/21/2024

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) appointed Amanda Haines, its acting legal director, to head the campaign finance watchdog months after the retirement of its longtime executive director. Haines, who joined ELEC in 2005 as assistant legal counsel, will be the first woman to head the commission in its 51-year history.

New Jersey – Jersey City Ed Board Approves Ethics Charges Against Member Over Pro-Palestinian Slogan. Will State End Controversy?

Newark Star Ledger – Joshua Rosario (Jersey Journal) | Published: 5/15/2024

The Jersey City school board approved ethics charges against one of its members over a controversial pro-Palestinian slogan, and now it is asking the state to decide whether it is antisemitic hate speech or a peaceful rallying cry. While dozens of speakers during the public portion of the meeting were split on the meaning and intent of “From the rivers to the sea, Palestine will be free,” most of the board agreed Trustee Younass Barkouch should not have shouted the inflammatory phrase at a school board meeting in April.

New Mexico – Disclosure Rules Unclear for Commissioners Set to Decide on O&G Wastewater Rules

Source New Mexico – Danielle Prokop | Published: 5/23/2024

Changes for rules concerning New Mexico’s oil and gas wastewater are under consideration, but questions about how the people responsible for adopting those rules, specifically their personal business dealings, have taken the debate into murky waters. Environmental groups said failures to add financial disclosures and declare alleged conflicts-of-interest threaten a potential decision about a contentious proposal to expand uses for oil and gas wastewater.

New York – BOE Mails Paper Checks to State Legislative Candidates, Delaying Matching Funds

City & State New York – Rebecca Lewis | Published: 5/21/2024

The New York State Public Campaign Finance Board approved the first round of matching funds during a meeting on May 7, with an issuance date of May 13. But many candidates were left waiting for days, in some cases nearly a week, to receive their public money. Several of those candidates were surprised to learn the reason for that delay. They were expecting direct deposit but wound up receiving a paper check in the mail for tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

New York – City Hall Aide Is Cooperating with Corruption Investigation into Adams

DNyuz – William Rashbaum, Dana Rubenstein, and Michael Rothfeld (New York Times) | Published: 5/20/2024

An aide to New York Mayor Eric Adams who served as his longtime liaison to the Turkish community has turned against him and is cooperating with the corruption investigation into Adams and his 2021 campaign. The cooperation of Rana Abbasova could represent a significant development in the broad corruption inquiry, which has focused in part on whether Adams’ campaign conspired with the Turkish government to funnel illegal foreign donations into campaign coffers, and whether Adams pressured Fire Department officials to sign off on a new high-rise Turkish consulate despite safety concerns.

New York – NYC Mayor Adams’ Involvement in Brother’s Charity Group Event Sparks Concerns Over Backdoor Donors

MSN – Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 5/22/2024

New York City Mayor Eric Adams appeared at a fundraiser for a new charity that aims to provide cultural programs for disadvantaged children. Angels Helpers NYC is the brainchild of the mayor’s brother, Bernard Adams, who is being paid $10,000 annually for his work, covered by private donations to the group. Bernard Adams’ involvement in the charity, along with the mayor’s participation in the gala, raised concern among watchdogs that wealthy players in the city will see giving to Angels Helpers as a legal backdoor for currying favor with the mayor.

New York – More Adams Administration Officials in Talks to Join Ex-Chief of Staff Frank Carone’s Lobbying Firm

New York Daily News – Chris Sommerfeldt | Published: 5/17/2024

Two more senior officials in New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration are in talks to join former chief of staff Frank Carone’s lobbying firm. If the officials come on board, Carone’s firm, which is actively lobbying both city and state government officials, will be employing five Adams administration alums.

North Carolina – GOP Candidate for NC Governor Blasts Public Spending as His Family Nonprofit Rakes in Taxpayer Funds

MSN – Brian Slodysko and Bill Barrow (Associated Press) | Published: 5/22/2024

In his bid to become North Carolina’s first Black governor, Republican Mark Robinson assails government safety net spending as a “plantation of welfare and victimhood” that has mired generations of Black people in “dependency” and poverty. But the lieutenant governor’s [political rise would not have been possible without it. Over the past decade, Robinson’s household has relied on income from Balanced Nutrition, a nonprofit founded by his wife that administered a free lunch program for children. The organization, funded entirely by taxpayers, has paid out at least $830,000 in salaries to Robinson and other members of his family.

Ohio – Ohio Lawmakers Won’t Pass Biden Ballot Fix, House Speaker Says

MSN – Andrew Tobias (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 5/21/2024

If President Biden is going to make it on the ballot in Ohio, it will not be because of the Republican-controlled state Legislature, according to House Speaker Jason Stephens. He said the push to fix the state law that is posing a barrier for the Democratic president has stalled out. “It’s a hyper political environment at this at this time of year and there are some Republicans who just didn’t want to vote on it. … I think there are other alternatives to it, so why create a stir that’s not necessary,” said Stephens.

Oregon – Republican Fundraisers Ran Afoul of Oregon Liquor Rules, Investigation Finds

MSN – Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 5/21/2024

The Columbia County Republican Central Committee violated state liquor regulations when it auctioned bottles of high-end bourbon, including Pappy Van Winkle, during fundraisers in 2022 and 2023, a state investigation found. The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission inquiry followed a media report that determined the rural political group’s Bourbon in the Barn events appeared to skirt state rules.

Oregon – Why the First Lady’s Involvement with a Big Pharmaceutical Company Is Noteworthy

Willamette Week – Nigel Jaquiss | Published: 5/22/2024

Oregon first lady Aimee Kotek Wilson arranged a meeting for representatives of Johnson & Johnson with Ebony Clarke, the state’s director of behavioral health. The Oregon Health Plan paid nearly $1.4 billion for prescription drugs last year. Gov. Tina Kotek’s staff has a rigorous process for vetting access to the governor and her top advisers. Emails show that when a request for a meeting or even a phone call comes in, there is a detailed evaluation process and often a formal memo. For the first lady, however, there was no such process.

Pennsylvania – Can Republicans Embrace Voting by Mail? Pennsylvania Offers a Test

DNyuz – Michael Wines (New York Times) | Published: 5/21/2024

Republican Party leaders in Pennsylvania have pledged to spend millions of dollars this year to promote voting by mail despite claiming for years, without evidence, that mailed votes are riddled with fraud. The national party is also pressing a pro-mail publicity campaign called “Bank Your Vote,” apparently after concluding that staking its candidates’ fates on a hefty Election Day turnout was not an optimal strategy.

Pennsylvania – Pa.’s Judges Must Reveal the Perks They Accept, but the Public Won’t Find Those Disclosures Online

Yahoo News – Angela Couloumbis (Spotlight PA) | Published: 5/20/2204

Every year, thousands of officials in state government must fill out reports by May 1 that disclose their sources of income, creditors, and business interests, as well as any gifts, hospitality, or other perks they accepted. Those reports are then made publicly searchable and available online. Pennsylvania’s judges, however, play by somewhat different rules.

South Carolina – Supreme Court Allows Disputed South Carolina Voting Map

MSN – Patrick Marley and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 5/23/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the use of a South Carolina congressional map that a lower court said “exiled” thousands of Black voters to carve out a district safer for a White Republican incumbent. At issue for the court was whether South Carolina’s new map, which was created by the GOP-led Legislature and moved Black voters from one district to another, was permitted to bolster the Republican majority or was an unconstitutional effort to divvy up voters by race. The conservative majority sent the case back to the lower court, giving Republicans a victory by finding it erred when it determined race predominated the map-drawing process.

Tennessee – Concerns Over Free Speech Grow as Abortion Travel Ban Heads to Tennessee Governor’s Desk

MSN – Angele Latham (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 5/16/2024

Some free speech advocates are raising the alarm over wording in a new Tennessee bill that could potentially restrict a person’s right to speak about abortion health care. The law, passed by state lawmakers this year, makes it a felony to recruit or transport a minor for an illegal abortion without parental consent. It closely mirrors a recent law passed in Idaho, which a federal judge halted on First Amendment grounds.

Washington – Prominent Seattle Lobbying Firm Exits Bankruptcy, Cuts CEO’s Pay

Seattle Times – Jim Brunner | Published: 5/20/2024

A major Seattle lobbying and public affairs firm wrapped up its bankruptcy with a reorganization that will pay off debtors, including $6 million owed to its estranged former co-founder. Strategies 360 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November, a move prompted by a rancorous financial dispute between Chief Executive Officer Ron Dotzauer and his ex-business partner Eric Sorenson.

Washington – Tanya Woo Should Recuse from Minimum Wage Vote, Ethics Head Says

Seattle Times – David Kroman | Published: 5/20/2024

When the Seattle City Council votes on a new, lower pay standard for app-based delivery drivers, Councilperson Tanya Woo should recuse herself, said Wayne Barnett, director of the Ethics and Elections Commission The reason is that Woo’s father-in-law owns Kau Kau BBQ and uses delivery apps, giving Woo’s family a possible financial stake in the vote. “For me, that’s just too close,” Barnett said.

Campaign Finance

Hawaii: “Hawaii Ethics Commission Grapples with Pay-to-Play Issues” by Blaze Lovell for Honolulu Civil Beat

Elections

National: “With Debate Deal, Trump and Biden Sideline a Storied Campaign Institution” by Adam Nagourney (New York Times) for DNyuz

Ethics

National: “‘We’ll See You at Your House:’ How fear and menace are transforming politics” by Eileen Sullivan, Danny Hakim, and Ken Bensinger (New York Times) for Yahoo News

New Jersey: “Jersey City Ed Board Approves Ethics Charges Against Member Over Pro-Palestinian Slogan. Will State End Controversy?” by Joshua Rosario (Jersey Journal) for Newark Star Ledger

Pennsylvania: “Pa.’s Judges Must Reveal the Perks They Accept, but the Public Won’t Find Those Disclosures Online” by Angela Couloumbis (Spotlight PA) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

California: “LA City Council Expansion, Once Hailed as Much Needed Reform, Is Dead for Now” by Frank Stoltze (LAist) for MSN

National: “In the Aging Senate, 80-Somethings Seeking Re-Election Draw Little Criticism” by Kayla Guo (New York Times) for Yahoo News

Lobbying

Washington: “Prominent Seattle Lobbying Firm Exits Bankruptcy, Cuts CEO’s Pay” by Jim Brunner for Seattle Times