July 2, 2025 •
32 Years of Excellence, Commitment, and Growth
What started in 1993 has grown into a thriving business thanks to our incredible clients, resolute team, and supportive community. In 1993, we opened our doors with a clear vision and a strong sense of purpose: to provide outstanding service, […]
What started in 1993 has grown into a thriving business thanks to our incredible clients, resolute team, and supportive community.
In 1993, we opened our doors with a clear vision and a strong sense of purpose: to provide outstanding service, build trusted relationships, and make a lasting impact in our industry and community. Now, 32 years later, we are proud to celebrate more than just our longevity—we are celebrating the journey, the people, and the partnerships which brought us here.
Over the past three decades, we have weathered industry shifts, embraced innovation, and adapted to change—all while staying true to the core values that define us: integrity, excellence, and commitment. From our earliest days to our latest milestones, our success has been fueled by the trust of our clients and the dedication of our incredible team.
We know staying in business for 32 years is not just about doing good work, it is about building lasting relationships. Many of our clients have been with us for years, and some since the very beginning. That loyalty and support mean everything to us, and we do not take it for granted.
As we reflect on our journey, we are proud of what we have accomplished: the projects we have delivered, the problems we have helped solve, and the lives we have touched along the way. But we also see this anniversary as a time to look forward—with fresh goals, renewed energy, and an even stronger commitment to those we serve.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of our story—our clients, partners, staff, and friends. Here is to 32 years of resilience and growth—and to many more chapters still to be written.
Thank you for being part of our story and for making this possible.
July 1, 2025 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance National: “US Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Campaign Spending Curbs in JD Vance Case” by John Kruzel (Reuters) for MSN Vermont: “Gov. Phil Scott Signs New Campaign Finance Rules, Other Election Changes into Law” by Shaun Robinson […]
Campaign Finance
National: “US Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Campaign Spending Curbs in JD Vance Case” by John Kruzel (Reuters) for MSN
Vermont: “Gov. Phil Scott Signs New Campaign Finance Rules, Other Election Changes into Law” by Shaun Robinson for VTDigger.com
Elections
National: “GOP Sen. Thom Tillis Won’t Seek Reelection After Opposing Trump Tax Bill” by Theodoric Meyer, Liz Goodwin, Mariana Alfaro, and Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
National: “The First Rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down” by Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) for MSN
New Mexico: “Joseph Shepard Sued by the New Mexico State Ethics Commission” by Joshua Bowling (Searchlight New Mexico) for Yahoo News
Oregon: “Longtime Oregon Legislator Faces Ethics Investigation Over Pay Raise” by Les Zaitz (Salem Reporter) for Portland Oregonian
South Dakota: “Kristi Noem Secretly Took a Cut of Political Donations” by Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan, and Alex Mierjeski (ProPublica) for MSN
Lobbying
Illinois: “Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ‘Pending’ Springfield Lobbyist Team Draws Ethics Questions” by Alice Yin, Jeremy Gorner, and A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News
June 27, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – June 27, 2025
National/Federal The D.N.C. Is in Chaos and Desperate for Cash DNyuz – Shane Goldmacher and Reid Epstein (New York Times) | Published: 6/18/2025 Just months into the tenure of a new party leader, Ken Martin, the Democratic National Committee’s financial […]
National/Federal
The D.N.C. Is in Chaos and Desperate for Cash
DNyuz – Shane Goldmacher and Reid Epstein (New York Times) | Published: 6/18/2025
Just months into the tenure of a new party leader, Ken Martin, the Democratic National Committee’s financial situation has grown so bleak that top officials have discussed whether they might need to borrow money this year to keep paying the bills. Fundraising from major donors has slowed sharply. At the same time, he has expanded the party’s financial commitments to every state, and even to far-flung territories like Guam. Some Democrats say he has been unable to help unite his party against Republicans, who control the federal government.
Little Lobbyists’ Urge Senators to Oppose Trump’s Bill Cutting Medicaid
DNyuz – Megan Mineiro and Margot Sanger-Katz (New York Times) | Published: 6/19/2025
The Little Lobbyists formed in 2017 during Donald Trump’s first term to push back against Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, taking to Capitol Hill to demand that lawmakers oppose the move. Their successful campaign to save the law was part of a broader backlash against the proposal, which was driven in large part by major health care lobbies. This year, the bigger lobbying players have been more muted about the sprawling Republican policy measure, which Democrats decry as an abomination. But the little ones are out in force.
Justice Dept. Leader Suggested Violating Court Orders, Whistle-Blower Says
DNyuz – Devlin Barrett (New York Times) | Published: 6/24/2025
A senior Justice Department official, Emil Bove III, told subordinates he was willing to ignore court orders to fulfill President Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign, according to a whistle-blower complaint by a department lawyer who has since been fired. In Erez Reuveni’s telling, Bove discussed disregarding court orders and other top law enforcement officials showed themselves ready to stonewall judges or lie to them to get their way.
Trump’s Name Could Adorn Tel Aviv Hotel, Becoming a Symbol or a Target
DNyuz – Debra Kamin, Ben Protess, and Steve Eder (New York Times) | Published: 6/25/2025
Iran’s counterstrikes in retaliation for Israel’s assault on its nuclear program, littered Tel Aviv’s Sarona neighborhood with smoke and ballistic debris. Eric Trump, who runs the Trump Organization, has discussed a potential partnership with the owners of the Sarona district hotel now under construction. The possible deal would likely allow the Trumps to manage the hotel once it opens and affix their name to the city’s skyline. If a deal in Israel came to fruition, and a Trump hotel eventually towered above a war zone, the president’s foreign policy could alter not only the fate of the region but also his own finances.
Trump Won by Turning Out Voters and Building a Diverse Coalition, Report Finds
DNyuz – Ruth Igielnik and Shane Goldmacher (New York Times) | Published: 6/26/2025
One of the most robust studies of the 2024 election shows Donald Trump’s return to the White House was powered more heavily by his ability to turn out past supporters than by winning over Democratic voters, even as he built one of the most diverse coalitions in Republican Party history. The new report from Pew Research Center offers some of the most detailed analysis yet of what happened last fall, in particular how infrequent voters broke for Trump over former Vice President Kamala Harris.
DHS Tightens Protocol for Lawmaker Visits to Immigration Facilities
MSN – Chris Johnson (Roll Call) | Published: 6/18/2025
The Department of Homeland Security placed new limits on members of Congress seeking to visit and inspect immigration detention facilities as lawmakers from New York and the Chicago delegations become the latest to encounter resistance from federal officials on an attempted tour. The department issued new guidance that includes several changes to the protocol on facility visits that appears to give Immigration and Customs Enforcement the ability to limit or prevent visits, including the power to end a visit if the protocol is not followed.
Trump Cites Presidential Immunity to Try to Toss Out $83M Judgment He Owes to E. Jean Carroll
MSN – Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 6/24/2025
Donald Trump is waging his latest courtroom bid to avoid paying the $83.3 million judgment he owes the writer E. Jean Carroll for defamatory remarks he made about her after she accused him of rape. A lawyer for the president told a panel of appeals court judges the judgment should be tossed out because Trump should have been deemed immune from Carroll’s lawsuit. His argument hinges on the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision that granted Trump broad immunity in one of his criminal cases.
Jan. 6 Rioter Ordered to Pay $500K to Widow of Officer Who Killed Himself
MSN – Victoria Bisset (Washington Post) | Published: 6/24/2025
A federal jury ordered a January 6 rioter to pay $500,000 in damages for assaulting a police officer who died by suicide nine days later. The jury awarded the damages to Erin Smith, the widow of District of Columbia police officer Jeffrey Smith, in her civil lawsuit against David Walls-Kaufman. The jury also ordered Walls-Kaufman to pay a further $60,000 to Smith’s estate for his pain and suffering.
Trump Administration Is Preparing to Challenge Budget Law, U.S. Officials Say
MSN – Jeff Stein, Hannah Natanson, Carolyn Johnson, and Dan Diamond (Washington Post) | Published: 6/25/2025
The Trump administration is preparing to test a 1974 budget law by refusing to spend congressionally mandated funds, senior federal officials say, an escalation that could change the balance of power between Congress and the White House. Key White House aides have long argued the law is an unconstitutional limit on presidential power and suggested they will seek court rulings to overturn it, which could allow the White House to determine which spending to carry out.
Supreme Court Allows Trump to Remove Migrants to South Sudan and Other Turmoil-Filled Countries
MSN – Angélica Franganillo Díaz and John Fritze (CNN) | Published: 6/23/2025
The Supreme Court granted President Trump’s emergency request to resume deporting migrants to countries other than their homeland, including places like South Sudan, with minimal notice. The Trump administration had argued a lower court usurped its authority by ordering the Department of Homeland Security to provide written notice to the migrants about where they would be sent as well as an opportunity to challenge that deportation on the grounds they feared being tortured.
Trump Undermines Watergate Laws in Massive Shift of Ethics System
MSN – Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) | Published: 6/21/2025
President Trump is taking aim at post-Watergate reforms on transparency, spending, conflicts-of-interest, and more. This broad rejection of the laws underlines the country’s shift from an era focused on clean government and strict ethics to the rise of a president whose appeal stems in part from his willingness to violate such rules and constraints. Many of Trump’s moves face legal challenges, and they may be reversed by the courts, or the U.S. Supreme Court could enshrine them.
Judge Says Government ‘Failed’ to Prove Wrongly Deported Man Poses a Danger
MSN – Maria Sacchetti and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 6/22/2025
A federal judge ruled Kilmar Abrego García, a Maryland resident wrongly deported to El Salvador, is eligible for release from criminal custody, saying the government’s allegations that he is a flight risk or a danger to the community are based on problematic testimony and scenarios that “defy common sense.” Abrego García faces charges that he participated in a migrant smuggling ring for nearly a decade.
From the States and Municipalities
California – Newsom Gave His Political Rival a $380k Job. Special Interests Helped Foot the Bill
CalMatters – Alexei Koseff and Byrhonda Lyons | Published: 6/17/2025
Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to lead a state infrastructure project paid for by an outside nonprofit, California Forward. The group relied on fundraising from special interests to cover the costs, but did not have to disclose the identity of those donors because of how the arrangement was structured. Elected officials in California can solicit contributions to outside entities for a governmental or charitable purpose. Newsom had to disclose he asked California Forward to pay Villaraigosa. But that disclosure requirement did not extend to the nonprofit.
California – How a Billboard Company Melded Its Interests with Oakland’s in the New City Budget
MSN – Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) | Published: 6/24/2025
Ahead of the deadline to pass a new two-year city budget, Oakland leaders were desperate to find sources of revenue to patch the city’s $265 million deficit. The city council’s budget-balancing maneuvers included an unusual tactic. The council assumed a proposed deal between the city and a billboard company would pass, delivering millions of dollars in new revenue. What was unusual about this budget decision was that the billboard deal had yet to be voted on by the full council. By baking it into the budget, the council tied its own hands, virtually forcing itself to sign off on the deal when it came before them a week later.
California – Trump Can Keep National Guard in Los Angeles for Now, Appeals Court Rules
MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 6/20/2025
A federal appeals court panel said President Trump can keep the California National Guard in Los Angeles for now, delivering a win for the president as he aims to use the military to police protests against his deportation efforts. The panel disagreed with the federal government’s stance that Trump’s authority to deploy the National Guard could not be scrutinized by the courts. But the judges rejected California’s legal argument that a federal statute clearly requires a governor to be consulted before the deployment.
District of Columbia – D.C. Elected These Noncitizens to Office. Congress Could Oust Them.
MSN – Olivia George and Meagan Flynn (Washington Post) | Published: 6/24/2025
The U.S. House recently voted to repeal a District of Columbia law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. This, in turn, will prohibit noncitizens from holding local office, like the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, because being registered as a voter is required to run. It marked the third time in as many years that the House has voted to repeal the noncitizens voting law. Dozens of Democrats joined Republicans each time bipartisan interest in the city’s affairs that has become more common in recent years, particularly on hot-button political issues.
Florida – A Judge Sided with Trump. Behind the Scenes, He Was lobbying for a Nomination.
Yahoo News – Hailey Fuchs (Politico) | Published: 6/20/2025
A state judge in Florida, Ed Artau, met with staff in the office of U.S. Sen. Rick Scott to angle for a nomination to the federal bench less than two weeks after Donald Trump’s election last fall. In the midst of his interviews, Artau was part of a panel of judges that ruled in Trump’s favor in the president’s case against members of the Pulitzer Prize Board. About two weeks after the court published his opinion, he interviewed with the White House Counsel’s Office. In May, Trump announced Artau’s nomination to the federal judiciary.
Hawaii – Hawai’i Senator Didn’t Disclose Possible Conflict of Interest Before Voting
Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 6/22/2025
Māmaki tea, made from a plant endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, is so valued by state legislators that they near unanimously passed a bill this past session to ensure its viability as a Hawaii-grown cash crop. But a powerful state senator appears to have violated Senate rules for voting in favor of House Bill 496, which seeks to protect māmaki tea by requiring that only packages containing 100 percent of māmaki grown in Hawaii are allowed to use the word “māmaki.”
Louisiana – Louisiana Files Lawsuits Alleging Pharmaceutical Giant CVS Deceived Customers in Text Messages
MSN – Jack Brook (Associated Press) | Published: 6/25/2025
Louisiana filed several lawsuits accusing CVS of abusing customer information and using its dominant market position to drive up drug costs and unfairly undermine independent pharmacies. Attorney General Liz Murrill began investigating CVS after the company sent out mass text messages to thousands of residents to lobby against legislation that took aim at its business structure. The texts warned that medication costs could go up and all CVS pharmacies in the state would close.
Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Will Broadcast Public Meetings Following Lawmakers’ Complaints
Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 6/24/2025
The Louisiana Board of Ethics will be required to broadcast its monthly public meetings starting in January under a new state law. Recordings of the meetings will be stored for at least two years in an online archive reached through the board’s website. Legislators have been frustrated with the ethics board’s decisions over the past year, and part of the motivation for broadcasting its meetings is to allow more scrutiny over its deliberations.
Maryland – Trump DOJ Sues All Federal Judges in Maryland Over Deportation Order
MSN – Salvador Rizzo and Katie Mettler (Washington Post) | Published: 6/25/2025
The Justice Department sued all 15 federal District Court judges in Maryland over an order that pauses any deportations under legal challenge in the state for 48 hours. Legal experts described the move as an unprecedented attack on judicial independence, while government lawyers said it was necessary to preserve President Trump’s constitutional authority over immigration.
Maryland – Pittman’s Rise to Democratic Party Chair Will Be Delayed by Campaign Finances
Yahoo News – Brian Sears (Maryland Matters) | Published: 6/20/2025
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, who is the new head of the Maryland Democratic Party, cannot immediately assume his full duties, and the possibility of an extended delay leaves open the potential the party might have to elect another leader before the end of summer. A snag involving state campaign finance law, and Pittman’s inability to immediately close the account that funded his county executive races, will bar him from fully assuming the role for now.
Massachusetts – GOP’s Mike Kennealy Has Loaned His Campaign Double the Amount Allowed Under State Law
MSN – Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) | Published: 6/25/2025
Mike Kennealy, who is running for Massachusetts governor, has loaned his campaign double the amount allowed under state law since launching his bid, a move that could set up future legal action if he or his family ever decides to recoup the money. Kennealy’s decision to loan his campaign $400,000 and plan to loan another $1.6 million ahead of the 2026 election comes after campaign finance regulators dismissed his request to reconsider the limit on the amount candidates can loan themselves each election cycle.
Michigan – Michigan Lawmakers’ Personal Disclosures Often Leave Out Key Details
ArcaMax – Craig Mauger (Detroit News) | Published: 6/23/2025
Despite vows of transparency, annual financial disclosures filed recently by Michigan lawmakers provided an incomplete picture of the perks they receive from lobbyists. Officeholders were supposed to list gifts, including tickets and meals, they received from lobbyists in the prior year and trips they went on that were financed by lobbyists. Most lawmakers either reported receiving nothing from lobbyists or merely listed the names of firms or interest groups that provided some benefit, while not revealing the price tag or specifics.
Michigan – Benson: State working around the clock to fix campaign finance reporting system
Yahoo News – Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) | Published: 6/20/2025
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson detailed solutions her department was crafting after a disastrous launch of the $9 million Michigan Information Transparency Network project, which replaced its aging, but heavily used and mostly user-friendly campaign finance reporting system. The rollout of the new system caused delays in reporting, and the overall functionality of the website was bothersome for many users, including reporters, watchdogs, and nonprofit groups who rely on access to campaign finance information to better track how politicians spend campaign money and who gives it to them.
Minnesota – Gun Rights, Anti-Abortion Groups Challenge Minnesota Lobbying Disclosure Rules
MSN – Allison Kite (Minneapolis Star Tribune) | Published: 6/24/2025
Minnesota Right to Life and Minnesota Gun Rights filed a lawsuit challenging state laws that require organizations to disclose spending meant to urge individuals to influence lawmakers, arguing the grassroots lobbying requirements violate the First Amendment. The rules require that when an organization or individual spends more than $2,000 on paid advertising to rally public support and influence lawmakers, it must disclose the spending and any specific subjects addressed by the advertising.
Montana Free Press – Zeke Lloyd | Published: 6/18/2025
A coalition of former public officeholders is pushing to end corporate money in Montana politics via a proposed constitutional initiative they aim to put on the ballot in 2026. The Transparent Election Initiative, a nonprofit founded by Jeff Mangan, a former state commissioner of political practices, is pushing a constitutional initiative that would change new and existing corporate charters in the state to explicitly prevent corporations from donating to campaigns.
Nevada – Ethics Commission Fines State Official for Accepting Golden Knights Tickets, Perks
MSN – Mary Hynes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 6/18/2025
The Nevada ethics commission determined the head of the state’s energy office, Dwayne McClinton, committed a willful violation of ethics statutes by accepting free Vegas Golden Knights tickets and other perks while negotiating a potential sponsorship deal with the National Hockey League franchise. The agreement includes a $1,000 penalty, an admonishment, and a requirement for McClinton and office staff to receive ethics training.
Nevada – Nevada Supreme Court Rules in Lombardo’s Favor Over Ethics Commission Dispute
Nevada Current – Eric Neugeboren | Published: 6/19/2025
The Nevada Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Gov. Joe Lombardo’s effort to dismiss sanctions imposed by the state’s ethics commission, sending the case back to a lower court. It is the latest development in the yearslong saga related to Lombardo’s use of his Clark County sheriff’s uniform and badge while running for governor in 2022. The high court’s ruling does not absolve Lombardo of wrongdoing, but it opens the door for a dismissal of the case down the line.
New Jersey – A Bizarre N.J. Corruption Case Ends with a Plea Over Kickbacks, Fraud and Plagiarism
MSN – Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 6/26/2025
Five years after former New Jersey Assemblyperson Willis Edwards III was indicted in a wide-ranging corruption scheme in 2020, the one-time business administrator of the city of Orange abruptly entered into a plea deal to admit guilt to five of the 31 counts against him. Edwards acknowledged approving a fake “management oversight” contract with a company he helped set up and receiving thousands of dollars in kickbacks from the deal. He also pleaded guilty to charges of mortgage and tax fraud. And, strangely enough, he admitted using public funds to pay a consultant to write his dissertation for a graduate program at Seton Hall University.
New York – A New Political Star Emerges Out of a Fractured Democratic Party
DNyuz – Liam Stack (New York Times) | Published: 6/25/2025
The national Democratic establishment struggled to absorb the startling ascent of a democratic socialist in New York City. Voters turned away from a well-funded familiar face, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and in doing so made a generational and ideological break with the party’s mainstream. They turned to a 33-year-old, three-term state Assembly member, Zohran Mamdani. That Mamdani had such success while running on a far-left agenda, including positions that once were politically risky in New York, may challenge the boundaries of party orthodoxy and unnerve national Democratic leaders.
New York – Former Aide to Hochul and Cuomo Faces Fresh Corruption Charges
DNyuz – Santul Nerkar (New York Times) | Published: 6/26/2025
More legal troubles have been piled on Linda Sun, a former aide to two New York governors who has been accused of using her position to help the Chinese government. Sun and her husband face new charges they helped steer lucrative contracts to Chinese companies to sell masks and ventilators to New York’s government at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. They received millions of dollars from those companies for helping secure the contracts and then failed to report the money as taxable income, according to federal prosecutors.
North Carolina – North Carolina Redistricting Trial Begins, with Racial Gerrymandering Allegations the Focus
MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 6/16/2025
North Carolina congressional and state legislative districts drawn by Republicans that helped them retain majorities in Raleigh and Washington are in court, as federal lawsuits accuse mapmakers of illegally eroding Black voting power in the process. Republican leaders counter that lawfully partisan, and not racial, considerations helped inform their decision-making.
Oregon – Good Government Advocates Blast Lawmakers for Moving to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years
MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/25/2025
Oregon lawmakers proposed delaying the establishment of campaign contribution limits by four years amid concern the state would not be ready to enact them by their planned 2027 start date. At the end of last year’s legislative session, lawmakers promised to return this year and make technical fixes to the law before it was scheduled to take effect. But with only days left until the current session ends, they have yet to follow through with that pledge. Oregon is one of just five states without campaign donation limits.
Pennsylvania – GOP Leaders Accused of Pressuring Lobbyists to Drop Gaming Client in ‘Ugly’ Pa. Budget Fight
Spotlight PA – Amanda Berg | Published: 6/24/2025
An all-out political war is erupting at the Capitol between the most powerful Republican lawmakers and a deep-pocketed company that has reshaped the gaming landscape in Pennsylvania. The conflict escalated suddenly and bitterly over the past week, with skill games developer and distributor Pace-O-Matic now accusing the state Senate’s top two GOP leaders of intimidating its lobbyists at the Legislature.
Rhode Island – R.I. Elections Board OKs $140K Contract for Long-Awaited Campaign Finance Software Upgrade
Yahoo News – Nancy Lavin (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 6/18/2025
Rhode Island’s antiquated campaign finance software system is poised for a refresh under a $140,000, one-year contract approved by the Board of Elections. The unanimous vote sets in motion the long-awaited upgrade to the electronic system used to report and share information about campaign donations and spending. Rhode Island’s campaign finance software has not been updated since its 2002 debut.
Tennessee – Nashville Council Members Sue State Over Law Criminalizing a Vote for Sanctuary Policies
Chattanooga Times Free Press – Connor Daryani (Nashville Banner) | Published: 6/25/2025
Seven Metro Nashville Council members are suing over a Tennessee law that imposes felony charges, including terms of up to six years in prison, on local elected officials who vote in favor of immigration policies deemed to be “sanctuary policies.” No other state has ever passed a law criminalizing elected officials for their vote. The suit argues that due to the vagueness of the law, it could criminalize anyone from council members to office staff to clerks to constituents who lobby their representatives to pass sanctuary policies.
Virginia – Virginia Slashes Voter Data Costs Ahead of 2025 Elections
Virginia Mercury – Markus Schmidt | Published: 6/25/2025
In a sweeping move aimed at promoting transparency and leveling the playing field in election access, the Virginia Department of Elections announced it will reduce the cost of purchasing voter lists by 90 percent starting in July. The change dramatically lowers the price of essential voter data – including lists of registered voters, new registrants, and past voters – for candidates, political parties, and PACs legally entitled to access them under state law.
Wisconsin – Wisconsin Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Challenges to the State’s Congressional District Boundaries
MSN – Scott Bauer (Associated Press) | Published: 6/25/2025
The Wisconsin Supreme Court refused to hear challenges brought by Democrats seeking to throw out the battleground state’s current congressional district boundaries before the 2026 midterms. Democrats asked the court to redraw the maps, which would have put two of the state’s six congressional seats currently held by Republicans into play. It was the second time in as many years that the court had refused to hear the challenges.
Wisconsin – Wisconsin Supreme Court Sides with Republican Legislature in Fight with Governor
MSN – Scott Bauer (Associated Press) | Published: 6/26/2025
A unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court handed a victory to the Republican-controlled Legislature in a power struggle with Gov. Tony Evers, reining in the governor’s expansive veto powers. The court struck down Evers’ partial veto of a bill in a case that tested both the limits of his veto powers and lawmakers’ ability to exert influence by controlling funding. The ruling against Evers comes after the court earlier this year upheld Evers’ partial veto that locked in a school funding increase for 400 years.
June 26, 2025 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Massachusetts: “GOP’s Mike Kennealy Has Loaned His Campaign Double the Amount Allowed Under State Law” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) for MSN Oregon: “Good Government Advocates Blast Lawmakers for Moving to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years” […]
Campaign Finance
Massachusetts: “GOP’s Mike Kennealy Has Loaned His Campaign Double the Amount Allowed Under State Law” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) for MSN
Oregon: “Good Government Advocates Blast Lawmakers for Moving to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years” by Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Trump’s Name Could Adorn Tel Aviv Hotel, Becoming a Symbol or a Target” by Debra Kamin, Ben Protess, and Steve Eder (New York Times) for DNyuz
Louisiana: “Louisiana Ethics Board Will Broadcast Public Meetings Following Lawmakers’ Complaints” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News
Legislative Issues
National: “Trump Administration Is Preparing to Challenge Budget Law, U.S. Officials Say” by Jeff Stein, Hannah Natanson, Carolyn Johnson, and Dan Diamond (Washington Post) for MSN
Tennessee: “Nashville Council Members Sue State Over Law Criminalizing a Vote for Sanctuary Policies” by Connor Daryani (Nashville Banner) for Chattanooga Times Free Press
Lobbying
California: “How a Billboard Company Melded Its Interests with Oakland’s in the New City Budget” by Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) for MSN
Louisiana: “Louisiana Files Lawsuits Alleging Pharmaceutical Giant CVS Deceived Customers in Text Messages” by Jack Brook (Associated Press) for MSN
Minnesota: “Gun Rights, Anti-Abortion Groups Challenge Minnesota Lobbying Disclosure Rules” by Allison Kite (Minneapolis Star Tribune) for MSN
June 25, 2025 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Michigan: “Benson: State working around the clock to fix campaign finance reporting system” by Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) for Yahoo News Elections Washington DC: “D.C. Elected These Noncitizens to Office. Congress Could Oust Them.” by Olivia George and […]
Campaign Finance
Michigan: “Benson: State working around the clock to fix campaign finance reporting system” by Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) for Yahoo News
Elections
Washington DC: “D.C. Elected These Noncitizens to Office. Congress Could Oust Them.” by Olivia George and Meagan Flynn (Washington Post) for MSN
New York: “Mamdani Poised for Major Upset After Cuomo Concedes NYC Mayor Primary. Here’s What’s Next.” by Sarah Ellison and Marie-Rose Sheinerman (Washington Post) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Supreme Court Allows Trump to Remove Migrants to South Sudan and Other Turmoil-Filled Countries” by Angélica Franganillo Díaz and John Fritze (CNN) for MSN
National: “Justice Dept. Leader Suggested Violating Court Orders, Whistle-Blower Says” by Devlin Barrett (New York Times) for DNyuz
National: “Jan. 6 Rioter Ordered to Pay $500K to Widow of Officer Who Killed Himself” by Victoria Bisset (Washington Post) for MSN
Texas: “New Texas Law Mandates Ten Commandments in Public Schools. Next Stop, the Courts.” by Sophie Hills for Christian Science Monitor
Lobbying
Pennsylvania: “GOP Leaders Accused of Pressuring Lobbyists to Drop Gaming Client in ‘Ugly’ Pa. Budget Fight” by Amanda Berg for Spotlight PA
June 24, 2025 •
Updates to MiTN System Expected July 12
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today testified before the House Committee on Oversight to update lawmakers on upgrades and improvements to the new Michigan Transparency Network (MiTN). In her testimony, Benson detailed specific technology fixes and process improvements the Michigan […]
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson today testified before the House Committee on Oversight to update lawmakers on upgrades and improvements to the new Michigan Transparency Network (MiTN). In her testimony, Benson detailed specific technology fixes and process improvements the Michigan Department of State (MDOS) and vendor Tyler Technologies have made to the MiTN system since May. MiTN improvements planned for July 12 include a campaign finance filing summary report for filings created in MiTN, improvements to the public search function, and the ability to pay committee and lobby fees by credit card.
June 24, 2025 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Maryland: “Pittman’s Rise to Democratic Party Chair Will Be Delayed by Campaign Finances” by Brian Sears (Maryland Matters) for Yahoo News Tennessee: “Tennessee Campaign Finance Agency Seeks Probe of Secret PAC” by Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) for Yahoo […]
Campaign Finance
Maryland: “Pittman’s Rise to Democratic Party Chair Will Be Delayed by Campaign Finances” by Brian Sears (Maryland Matters) for Yahoo News
Tennessee: “Tennessee Campaign Finance Agency Seeks Probe of Secret PAC” by Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) for Yahoo News
Ethics
National: “Trump Undermines Watergate Laws in Massive Shift of Ethics System” by Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Judge Says Government ‘Failed’ to Prove Wrongly Deported Man Poses a Danger” by Maria Sacchetti and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) for MSN
Hawaii: “Hawai’i Senator Didn’t Disclose Possible Conflict of Interest Before Voting” by Chad Blair for Honolulu Civil Beat
Nevada: “Ethics Commission Fines State Official for Accepting Golden Knights Tickets, Perks” by Mary Hynes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) for MSN
Lobbying
National: “Little Lobbyists’ Urge Senators to Oppose Trump’s Bill Cutting Medicaid” by Megan Mineiro and Margot Sanger-Katz (New York Times) for DNyuz
Michigan: “Michigan Lawmakers’ Personal Disclosures Often Leave Out Key Details” by Craig Mauger (Detroit News) for ArcaMax
June 23, 2025 •
Canada’s Commissioner of Lobbying Submits Annual Report
Commissioner of Lobbying Nancy Bélanger has submitted to the Parliament of Canada her annual report for 2024-25. The report highlights the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying’s ongoing efforts to support transparency in lobbying at the federal level in Canada. The report […]
Commissioner of Lobbying Nancy Bélanger has submitted to the Parliament of Canada her annual report for 2024-25. The report highlights the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying’s ongoing efforts to support transparency in lobbying at the federal level in Canada.
The report details information about lobbying registration and compliance activities. Additionally, the commissioner repeats her intention to issue a new interpretation in 2025 with respect to the registration threshold by employees of organizations and corporations. A new interpretation will also be issued regarding the five-year restriction on lobbying for individuals ceasing to be designated public office holders.
Want to keep up with lobbying, procurement, and corporate contribution compliance internationally? We have you covered. Learn more here.
June 20, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – June 20, 2025
National/Federal Close Trump Allies Sponsored the Military Parade, Raising Ethical Concerns DNyuz – Minho Kim (New York Times) | Published: 6/15/2025 The military parade in Washington celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army was sponsored by at least four […]
National/Federal
Close Trump Allies Sponsored the Military Parade, Raising Ethical Concerns
DNyuz – Minho Kim (New York Times) | Published: 6/15/2025
The military parade in Washington celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army was sponsored by at least four brands that have strong financial and political ties to President Trump, raising questions about whether the event benefited his allies and supporters. Federal regulations prohibit the use of public office for the private gain of officeholders or their friends, relatives or nongovernmental affiliates, said Richard Painter, who served as the chief ethics lawyer in the White House Counsel’s Office under President George W. Bush.
Watchdog Finds Trump Administration Broke Law by Withholding Library Funds
DNyuz – Tony Romm (New York Times) | Published: 6/16/2025
The Trump administration broke the law when it withheld funding for the nation’s libraries, a nonpartisan government watchdog said, a finding that inches the White House another step closer to a legal showdown over its powers to reconfigure the country’s spending. The decision by the Government Accountability Office was the second time that oversight officials have found fault in the ways President Trump and his top aides have tried to circumvent lawmakers in their quest to reshape the federal budget so that it conforms with their political views.
After Minnesota Shooting, Some States Are More Tightly Guarding Officials’ Personal Information
MSN – Jaimie Ding (Associated Press) | Published: 6/16/2025
Lawmakers in some states are moving to delete their home addresses from online directories and Wisconsin legislators are seeking added security for a session after one Minnesota legislator was killed and another wounded in their homes in what Gov. Tim Walz described as a targeted political attack. Even before the shooting, states in recent years have stepped up efforts to shield the personal information of officials in response to high-profile attacks.
Experts Warn FEC Is a Watchdog Lacking ‘Bark or Bite’ with No Quorum
MSN – Jared Gans (The Hill) | Published: 6/16/2025
Experts are sounding alarms over the status of the FEC, which has not been able to perform much of its work. Former Commissioner Allen Dickerson’s departure from the body at the conclusion of his term gave the normally six-person FEC its third vacancy. A loss of quorum now prevents the FEC from carrying out many of its responsibilities. Dickerson said much of the focus is on the agency’s enforcement docket, but he expressed more concern about its current inability to engage on rulemaking and requests for advisory opinions to assist the public.
‘No Kings’ Rallies Draw Big Crowds to Protest Trump and His Policies
MSN – Annie Gowan (Washington Post) | Published: 6/14/2025
Americans turned out en masse in communities across the country on June 14, raucously pushing back on what they see as President Trump’s widening authoritarianism, attacks on immigrants, and deep cuts to scores of federal programs. The scenes were a stark contrast to the one planned hours later in the nation’s capital, where Trump would preside over a grandiose display of military tanks and soldiers as part of a celebration of the Army’s 250th birthday on a day that also happened to be his 79th birthday. “No Kings” participants compared the parade in Washington to something more commonly seen in autocratic countries.
Senator Confronts Colleague for ‘Terrible’ Post on Minnesota Shooting
MSN – Theodoric Meyer (Washington Post) | Published: 6/16/2025
Less than 72 hours after the killing of a state representative, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota sat in the Senate chamber, waiting for one of her colleagues. In a social media post, Sen. Mike Lee appeared to blame the fatal shooting of Smith’s friend, Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman, on the political left. “It was a terrible thing to do,” Smith said. “And I wanted him to know how I felt about it, how devastating it was to see.”
Federal Employees Celebrate Their Oscar Night Under a Shadow
MSN – Maryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 6/18/2025
The Partnership for Public Service’s annual award ceremony – the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, nicknamed the Sammies – had an air of polite defiance this year, honoring problem-solvers in government at a time when the Trump administration has gone after the bureaucracy and ridiculed federal workers. What in past years has been a cheerful celebration was haunted by fears of job reductions and heightened political influence on the federal workforce.
‘Trump Inc.’: Filings show staff profited from being in the president’s orbit
Seattle Times – Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 6/16/2025
President Trump first came to Washington as an outsider who had campaigned against the entrenched political class. But new financial disclosure filings highlight the expansion of a political cottage industry that revolves around him, one that has been quite lucrative for some of his closest aides. The filings, which are mandatory, detail the finances of dozens of officials in the two years before they joined Trump’s administration.
‘My Duty Is to Call It Out’: Judge accuses Trump administration of discrimination against minorities
Yahoo News – Kyle Cheney and Danny Nguyen (Politico) | Published: 6/16/2025
A federal judge accused the Trump administration of “appalling” and “palpably clear” discrimination against racial minorities and LGBTQ+ Americans. U.S. District Court Judge William Young’s sweeping rebuke during a court hearing was a reference to two executive orders signed by President Trump that led the National Institutes of Health to rescind funding for research related to racial minorities and LGBTQ+ people.
Judge Blocks Trump’s Election Executive Order, Siding with Democrats Who Called It Overreach
Yahoo News – Christina Cassidy (Associated Press) | Published: 6/13/2025
A federal judge blocked President Trump’s attempt to overhaul elections in the U.S., siding with a group of Democratic state attorneys general who challenged the effort as unconstitutional. Trump’s executive order sought to compel officials to require documentary proof of citizenship for everyone registering to vote for federal elections, accept only mailed ballots received by Election Day, and condition federal election grant funding on states adhering to the new ballot deadline.
From the States and Municipalities
Alabama – Bills to Change Alabama’s Campaign Finance Laws Fail in Legislature
Alabama Reflector – Ralph Chapoco | Published: 6/18/2025
Two bills that would have altered the state’s campaign finance laws on political parties and donations died in the Alabama Legislature this year. House Bill 6 would have prohibited political parties from disqualifying candidates who accept campaign contributions from specific organizations. Senate Bill 291 would have allowed a political party to transfer funds to local or other affiliated party organizations currently prohibited by law.
California – Press Club Sues Los Angeles, Police Chief Over Alleged Attacks on Journalists
MSN – Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 6/16/2025
The Los Angeles Press Club sued the city of Los Angeles and its police chief, Jim McDonnell, over alleged police violence toward journalists covering the ongoing protests of immigration raids in the city. Law enforcement officers at the protests have routinely shot less-lethal ammunition at demonstrators, in some cases hitting and injuring members of the press. Adam Rose of the Press Club compiled a spreadsheet of more than 50 alleged incidents of potential police violations of journalists’ rights, covering the protests starting on June 6.
Florida – Miami Doubles Down on Proposal to Delay Election, Teeing Up Battle with the State
MSN – Tess Riski (Miami Herald) | Published: 6/13/2025
Miami officials are moving forward with a controversial proposal that would push the November election back to 2026 and give the city’s current elected officials an extra year in office, defying a written opinion from the state attorney general and a public rebuke from Gov. Ron DeSantis, both of whom say the change requires voter approval. Miami City Attorney George Wysong authored an opinion stating the city commission has the authority to move the election, rather than the change going to voters in a ballot referendum.
WTTW – Matt Masterson | Published: 6/13/2025
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was sentenced to seven-and-one-half years in prison and fined $2.5 million after being convicted on bribery and other corruption charges. U.S. District Court Judge John Blakey found Madigan acted as the “central command post” of a bribery scheme involving Commonwealth Edison and repeatedly perjured himself while testifying at trial. Madigan was also convicted for his efforts to secure a valuable state board position for disgraced former Chicago Ald. Danny Solis.
Illinois – Ald. Jim Gardiner Won’t Have to Pay $20K Fine After He Is Cleared of Violating Ethics Ordinance
WTTW – Heather Cherone | Published: 6/16/2025
Chicago Ald. Jim Gardiner will not have to pay a $20,000 fine after a hearing officer found he did not violate ethics law by directing a city employee to issue “unfounded citations” that could have forced a political foe to pay more than $600 in fines. Gardiner had been accused of targeting Pete Czosnyka, who has frequently criticized the alderperson, both on social media and by filing complaints with the city’s inspector general and the Board of Ethics.
Louisiana – Louisiana AG Investigating CVS for Sending Mass Text Messages Lobbying Against Legislation
MSN – Sara Cline and Jack Brook (Associated Press) | Published: 6/12/2025
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is investigating whether CVS improperly used customers’ personal information to send out text messages lobbying against a proposed state law that would have prohibited companies from owning both pharmacy benefit managers and drug stores. Murrill also said she plans to issue a cease-and-desist letter to stop the messages. The company’s text messages to Louisiana residents included a link to a draft letter urging lawmakers to oppose the legislation that someone could sign with their email address and send to legislators.
Maryland – A State Senator Aided a Disgraced Developer’s ‘Affordable’ East Baltimore Project
Baltimore Banner – Giacomo Bologna and Lee Sanderlin | Published: 6/15/2025
A developer with a checkered past had a vision for a narrow plot of land in East Baltimore. Ronald Lipscomb and his business partner wanted to build an apartment tower near the Johns Hopkins Hospital on a parcel that was owned by a quasi-governmental agency. There were three problems, though: the land was appraised at $5.25 million, Lipscomb needed money, and the community had questions. That is when an influential state senator, Cory McCray, stepped in and helped with all of it.
Massachusetts – A Push for More Transparency on Ballot Question Spending, Fundraising
CommonWealth Beacon – Gintautas Dumcius | Published: 6/11/2025
For an eight-month period last year during the heat of the campaign – from January to September – ballot question committees were not required to report their fundraising and spending activity to the state campaign finance office, which makes public such filings on its website. The disclosure rules in Massachusetts are far stricter for candidates for statewide office, legislative seats, and other posts, who must file monthly reports during the same period.
Michigan – Tech Flaws, Weak Rules Mar Michigan System to Shine Light on Lawmaker Conflicts
Bridge Michigan – Simon Schuster | Published: 6/17/2025
Michigan’s beleaguered transparency portal stuttered again as lawmakers struggled to file their second-ever personal financial disclosure reports even after extending their own deadline to do so. Many of the reports state officials filed were difficult to access and decipher, undermining the public’s ability to understand potential conflicts-of-interest they sought to spotlight by approving a 2022 ballot measure.
Michigan – GOP Fundraiser Pleads Guilty in Unlock Michigan ‘Dark Money Scheme’
Bridge Michigan – Jordyn Hermani | Published: 6/17/2025
Republican fundraiser Sandra Baxter pled guilty to knowingly providing false information to state investigators during a probe into an alleged “dark money scheme.” In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Unlock Michigan launched a petition drive aimed at repealing the law that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer leaned on to issue emergency stay-at-home orders. The names of individuals who donate to a ballot question must be made public in Michigan. But it was alleged in a complaint that Unlock Michigan was circumventing this requirement by receiving money through a nonprofit tied to then-Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey.
Minnesota – Suspect in Minnesota Shootings in Custody After Wide Manhunt
MSN – Patrick Marley and Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 6/15/2025
Vance Boelter, the man suspected of shooting two Democratic lawmakers and their spouses in their homes in what officials describe as politically motivated attacks, was arrested and charged after authorities scoured the rural area around where he had a home after a manhunt involving more than 100 officers. The search began after a gunman opened fire on state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife before driving to the home of state Rep. Melissa Hortman, the former speaker of the Minnesota House. Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed, while Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, survived and remain hospitalized in serious condition.
New Mexico – Ethics Commission Sues Group for More Information About Lobbyist Advertising
New Mexico In Depth – Marjorie Childress | Published: 6/18/2025
The New Mexico Ethics Commission filed a lawsuit against a nonprofit for allegedly violating the state’s lobbying law. The dispute demonstrates how the law requires varying amounts of disclosure depending on which reports groups are required to file. Should the commission win in court, Safety over Profit will have to disclose not only how much it spent, but who paid for an advertising campaign it conducted in 2024. The commission also asked a judge to impose $5,000 in penalties against the group.
New York – NY Candidates Broke Spending Records in First Year of State-Funded Matching Program
Albany Times Union – Emilie Munson | Published: 6/15/2025
Legislative candidates in New York spent more money last year than in any election in the past 25 years except one, in part due to a new program that poured millions of taxpayer dollars into state Senate and Assembly campaigns. Under the new state program, candidates in certain races collected small contributions from donors in their districts to unlock an infusion of state matching funds for their campaigns. The program’s stated intention was to shift power away from wealthy donors. The program has had an unintended consequence – has helped make legislative campaigns more expensive.
New York – Ex-New York Assembly Candidate Charged with Campaign Finance Fraud
DNyuz – Santul Nerkar, Jay Root, and Bianca Pallaro (New York Times) | Published: 6/13/2025
A former New York Assembly candidate used fake donations and forged signatures to fraudulently inflate the share of public matching funds he received in last year’s election, federal prosecutors said. Dao Yin was charged with wire fraud in a federal criminal complaint. Prosecutors said Yin abused the system by using a scheme that The New York Times found yielded him $162,000 in matching funds.
New York – NYC Mayoral Candidate Brad Lander Arrested at Immigration Court
MSN – Cedar Attanasio (Associated Press) | Published: 6/17/2025
New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander was arrested by federal agents at an immigration court after he linked arms with a person that authorities were attempting to detain. Lander was released from custody after a few hours. The U.S. attorney’s office said it was investigating his actions and would decide later whether to charge him with a crime. The immigrant Lander escorted out of the courtroom was also arrested.
Ohio – Ex-FirstEnergy Officials Finally Breaking Silence on Ohio’s Biggest Bribery Scandal
MSN – Jeremy Pelzer and Laura Hancock (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 6/13/2025
Several former FirstEnergy executives and lobbyists are set to testify under immunity before state regulators over the next few weeks about the House Bill 6 bribery scandal and their involvement in it. Dennis Chack, FirstEnergy’s former senior vice president of branding and marketing, was the first to take the stand during a Public Utilities Commission of Ohio hearing.
Ohio – Ohio House, Senate Budgets Eliminate Agency Tasked with Campaign Finance Oversight
Ohio Capital Journal – Nick Evans | Published: 6/17/2025
The Ohio Senate approved a two-year spending plan that eliminates the Ohio Elections Commission. Negotiators from the House and Senate still have a vast array of differences to hammer out, but both chambers advanced proposals that axed the state campaign finance watchdog. Several lawmakers have bristled at the pace and demands of Elections Commission hearings. They argue the agency takes too long reach a decision, and hearings held in Columbus demand too much of their time.
Oklahoma – Oklahoma Ethics Commission Approves Prosecuting State Representative for Campaign Finance Misuse
KOSU – Thomas Pablo | Published: 6/13/2025
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission will prosecute state Rep. Ajay Pittman for failure to pay the penalties she owed after agreeing to a settlement agreement for campaign expenditure violations in 2024. Pittman agreed to repay $35,000 out of her personal finances last May. This reportedly represented full compensation for Pittman’s alleged use of campaign funds for personal expenditures.
Oregon – Oregon Ethics Commission Triples Fine for Former OLCC Chief in Liquor Diversion Scandal
MSN – Maddie Khaw (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/13/2025
The state ethics commission voted to increase the fine against former Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission Director Steve Marks from $500 to $1,500 after he reserved a bottle of a popular bourbon for himself. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission had previously rejected the lower penalty for Marks after it determined he had set aside and purchased a bottle of expensive 23-year Pappy Van Winkle for personal use from the liquor agency’s reserve stock, violating three ethics rules.
Oregon – Oregon Ethics Commission Votes to Launch Investigation into Former Sewer CEO’s Food, Travel Spending
MSN – Jamie Goldberg (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/13/2025
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted to further investigate whether questionable spending on local meals and travel by the former head of Washington County’s sewer agency violated state ethics law. The vote came after the commission opened a preliminary review into former Clean Water Services Chief Executive Officer Diane Taniguchi-Dennis in March following a media investigation that uncovered lavish travel spending and sky-high food expenses at the sewer agency. A noteworthy amount of that spending was by Taniguchi-Dennis.
South Carolina – SC Representative Charged with Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material
Yahoo News – Skylar Laird (South Carolina Daily Gazette) | Published: 6/13/2025
South Carolina Rep. RJ May will remain in jail without bond on charges of distributing child sexual abuse material. He was suspended without pay from the House pending the case’s outcome. State law requires an officeholder indicted on a felony to be suspended. May faces up to 20 years in prison, with a minimum of five years, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 if found guilty.
Virginia – Jay Jones Projected to Win Va. Democratic Nomination for Attorney General
MSN – Gregory Schneider and Laura Vozzella (Washington Post) | Published: 6/17/2025
Jerrauld Jones won the Democratic nomination for Virginia attorney general while the party’s choice for lieutenant governor was too close to call, according to election results projected by the Associated Press. The winners will join gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger in pivotal fall elections that will be watched as an off-year referendum on President Trump and on Virginia’s own ambitious Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who is term-limited out of office.
June 18, 2025 •
Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Campaign Finance Michigan: “GOP Fundraiser Pleads Guilty in Unlock Michigan ‘Dark Money Scheme’” by Jordyn Hermani for Bridge Michigan New York: “Ex-New York Assembly Candidate Charged with Campaign Finance Fraud” by Santul Nerkar, Jay Root, and Bianca Pallaro (New York […]
Campaign Finance
Michigan: “GOP Fundraiser Pleads Guilty in Unlock Michigan ‘Dark Money Scheme'” by Jordyn Hermani for Bridge Michigan
New York: “Ex-New York Assembly Candidate Charged with Campaign Finance Fraud” by Santul Nerkar, Jay Root, and Bianca Pallaro (New York Times) for DNyuz
Ohio: “Ohio House, Senate Budgets Eliminate Agency Tasked with Campaign Finance Oversight” by Nick Evans for Ohio Capital Journal
Ethics
California: “Press Club Sues Los Angeles, Police Chief Over Alleged Attacks on Journalists” by Scott Nover (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “‘Trump Inc.’: Filings show staff profited from being in the president’s orbit” by Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) for Seattle Times
National: “Senator Confronts Colleague for ‘Terrible’ Post on Minnesota Shooting” by Theodoric Meyer (Washington Post) for MSN
Illinois: “Ald. Jim Gardiner Won’t Have to Pay $20K Fine After He Is Cleared of Violating Ethics Ordinance” by Heather Cherone for WTTW
Lobbying
New Mexico: “Ethics Commission Sues Group for More Information About Lobbyist Advertising” by Marjorie Childress for New Mexico In Depth
Do you know if your activities are defined as lobbying? We do. Take a walkthrough demo of our guidebooks today.
June 16, 2025 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup
Elections National: “Judge Blocks Trump’s Election Executive Order, Siding with Democrats Who Called It Overreach” by Christina Cassidy (Associated Press) for Yahoo News Florida: “Miami Doubles Down on Proposal to Delay Election, Teeing Up Battle with the State” by Tess Riski (Miami Herald) for […]
Elections
National: “Judge Blocks Trump’s Election Executive Order, Siding with Democrats Who Called It Overreach” by Christina Cassidy (Associated Press) for Yahoo News
Florida: “Miami Doubles Down on Proposal to Delay Election, Teeing Up Battle with the State” by Tess Riski (Miami Herald) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Trump Watches the Military Parade of His Dreams March Through D.C.” by Matt Viser and Natalie Allison (Washington Post) for MSN
Illinois: “Ex-Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan Sentenced to 7.5 Years in Prison After Conviction in Landmark Corruption Case” by Matt Masterson for WTTW
Minnesota: “Suspect in Minnesota Shootings in Custody After Wide Manhunt” by Patrick Marley and Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Close Trump Allies Sponsored the Military Parade, Raising Ethical Concerns” by Minho Kim (New York Times) for DNyuz
Oregon: “Oregon Ethics Commission Votes to Launch Investigation into Former Sewer CEO’s Food, Travel Spending” by Jamie Goldberg (Portland Oregonian) for MSN
Lobbying
Louisiana: “Louisiana AG Investigating CVS for Sending Mass Text Messages Lobbying Against Legislation” by Sara Cline and Jack Brook (Associated Press) for MSN
Do you know if your activities are defined as lobbying? We do. Take a walkthrough demo of our guidebooks today.
June 13, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – June 13, 2025
National/Federal Justice Dept. to Take Narrow Approach to Prosecuting Corporate Bribery Abroad DNyuz – Glenn Thrush (New York Times) | Published: 6/10/2025 The Justice Department closed about half of its open investigations into bribery by U.S. businesses overseas but plans to initiate […]
National/Federal
Justice Dept. to Take Narrow Approach to Prosecuting Corporate Bribery Abroad
DNyuz – Glenn Thrush (New York Times) | Published: 6/10/2025
The Justice Department closed about half of its open investigations into bribery by U.S. businesses overseas but plans to initiate prosecutions to more narrowly focus on misconduct that hurts the country’s capacity to compete with foreign companies. The department plans to assign responsibility for investigating bribery by U.S. businesses and people overseas to local law enforcement and regulatory bodies when appropriate, officials said. Good government groups criticized the freeze as the elimination of guardrails needed to prevent corporate abuses.
Trump White House Opens Door to Historic Military Deployment on U.S. Soil
MSN – Cat Zakrzewski, Natalie Allison, and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 6/11/2025
President Trump is prepared to send National Guard troops into more cities if protests against immigration raids expand beyond Los Angeles, potentially opening the door to the most extensive use of military force on American soil in modern history. In threatening the use of force against protesters in a speech at Fort Bragg, Trump notably did not distinguish between those committing acts of violence and those peacefully protesting his policies. Trump has given himself more flexibility this term to upend democratic norms with fewer constraints.
David Hogg to Depart as DNC Vice Chair After Months of Turmoil
MSN – Patrick Svitek and Dylan Wells (Washington Post) | Published: 6/11/2025
David Hogg will step down from his role as Democratic National Committee (DNC) vice chair, capping months of party infighting and turmoil centering on the Gen Z activist’s pledge to involve himself in primaries and back challengers against some incumbents. A DNC panel found Hogg was not properly elected earlier this year because the election ran afoul of gender-diversity rules. The ruling added to Hogg’s problems inside the party and created a mechanism by which his critics could push him out.
Gabbard Placed Top Adviser Inside the ODNI’s Watchdog Office, Officials Say
MSN – Meryl Kornfield and Ellen Nakashima (Washington Post) | Published: 6/5/2025
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard installed one of her top advisers to a position within the office of the inspector general of the intelligence community, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The move potentially compromises the integrity of the independent watchdog office while it is investigating the use of the Signal messaging app by top government officials to discuss classified details of a pending U.S. military strike in March.
Judge Tosses Democratic Party Challenge to Trump Order’s Impact on FEC
MSN – Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 6/4/2025
U.S. District Court Judge Amir Ali dismissed a Democratic Party lawsuit claiming an executive order issued by President Trump was intruding on the independence of the FEC. Ali said the Democratic Party groups’ case was too speculative to justify emergency intervention from the court. The FEC had pledged to remain independent, had received no directive from the White House to change its practices, and vowed to abide by the law. Without evidence undermining those promises, Ali said he was compelled to dismiss the suit.
Appeals Court Hands AP an Incremental Loss in Its Attempt to Regain Its Access to Trump Events
MSN – David Bauder (Associated Press) | Published: 6/6/2025
A federal appeals court panel handed The Associated Press (AP) a loss in its continuing battle with the Trump administration over access by its journalists to cover presidential events. The judges granted Trump a stay in enforcement of a lower court ruling that the administration had improperly punished the AP for the content of its speech, in this case not renaming the Gulf of Mexico. The majority and dissenting opinions delved into First Amendment precedents and questions about whether places like the Oval Office and Air Force One were, in effect, private spaces.
ABC News Suspends Journalist Terry Moran After Post Criticizing Stephen Miller
MSN – Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 6/8/2025
ABC News suspended senior national correspondent Terry Moran after he sharply criticized White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller on the social media platform X, the latest flash point in the long-running clash between the Trump administration and the network. The White House contacted the network about the post, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
The Days Around Trump’s Trade War Announcements Saw Spikes in Lawmaker Stock Market Transactions
MSN – Annie Grayer and Alex Leeds Matthews (CNN) | Published: 6/11/2025
In the days before President Trump suddenly paused most of the punishing tariffs on foreign countries he had revealed in early April, more than a dozen members of Congress were tied to thousands of dollars’ worth of stock transactions, including significant purchases as the U.S. stock market tumbled, a CNN analysis of financial filings shows. Some on Capitol Hill say questions around the timing of the transactions strike at the heart of an ethical question that has long dogged Congress: can lawmakers play the market without generating suspicion their access to information gives them an unfair advantage, or should they ban the practice.
California Sen. Alex Padilla Handcuffed at Noem News Conference in LA
Yahoo News – Melanie Mason and Lisa Kashinsky (Politico) | Published: 6/12/2025
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and handcuffed after interrupting a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Video provided by Padilla’s office shows the senator approaching the lectern as Noem was speaking. He was stopped and shoved back by multiple men. The video shows Padilla being forced to the ground and his arms handcuffed behind his back.
From the States and Municipalities
Arkansas – Arkansas Attorney General Challenges DEI Law by Refusing Ethics Commission Appointment
MSN – Andrew Mobley (KATV) | Published: 6/5/2025
State Attorney General Tim Griffin refused to appoint a new member to the Arkansas Ethics Commission in protest of a state law that requires at least one member be of a minority race. Griffin says the law is unconstitutional. This may be the first time in state history the attorney general has rejected his duty to appoint a member to the Ethics Commission on these grounds.
California – Oaklanders Voted to Take Money Out of Politics. City Council Just Undid That
MSN – Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) | Published: 6/4/2025
In 2022, Oakland voters approved changes to the city’s campaign finance law to reduce the influence of big money in elections. Under Measure W, the city would give qualifying voters vouchers worth $100 to give to candidates. The measure also lowered how much money people can give to campaigns. The city council recently increased the amount that individuals and broad-based political committees can give to candidates. Additionally, council members voted to give themselves access to a lot more money through their officeholder accounts.
California – Former O.C. Supervisor Andrew Do Headed to Prison for COVID Relief Bribery Scheme
MSN – Christopher Goffard (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 6/9/2025
Former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to bribery in a conspiracy to steal millions of dollars in COVID-relief money. Do admitted he funneled more than $10 million in federal pandemic funds to a nonprofit that in turn steered money to his two daughters. It was reported that Do approved contracts worth millions to the nonprofit, which promised to provide meals to poor, elderly, and disabled residents but could show scant evidence of its effort.
California – L.A. Councilmember Lee Breaks Silence on Infamous Vegas Trip, Ethics Allegations
MSN – Dakota Smith (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 6/11/2025
For years, Los Angeles City Councilperson John Lee declined to publicly discuss a fateful Las Vegas trip he took in 2017 with his then-boss Mitch Englander and a trio of businesspeople. That trip led to an FBI investigation of Englander, then a council member, who accepted an envelope of cash in a casino bathroom from one of the businesspeople and later pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators. In court to address allegations from the city Ethics Commission, Lee finally broke his silence, divulging details of the trip and insisting he paid for his share.
Florida – Florida Agency Tells Newspaper to Halt Reporting Angle on Foundation Associated with Governor’s Wife
MSN – Mike Schneider (Associated Press) | Published: 6/9/2025
Florida’s child welfare agency sent a letter to a newspaper telling it to “cease and desist” its reporting on foster families for a story about a nonprofit associated with Gov. Ron DeSantis’s wife that is the subject of an investigation. The Orlando Sentinel received the letter from the state Department of Children and Families, whose top official is appointed by the governor. The letter claimed the newspaper’s Tallahassee reporter had used threats to coerce foster families into making negative statements about the Hope Florida Foundation when he contacted them about the nonprofit behind the signature initiative of Casey DeSantis.
Illinois – Feds to Retry State Sen. Emil Jones III After Mistrial on Bribery, Lying to FBI Charges
WTTW – Hannah Meisel (Capitol News Illinois) | Published: 6/10/2025
Federal prosecutors announced they intend to retry Illinois Sen. Emil Jones III after his April trial on charges of bribery and lying to the FBI ended in a hung jury. Jones stands accused of agreeing to take bribes from red-light camera entrepreneur-turned-government cooperator Omar Maani in 2019, then lying to FBI agents about it.
Yahoo News – Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/11/2025
State election officials informed Illinois Senate President Don Harmon that he will face more than $9.8 million in penalties pending an appeal of a case alleging he broke an election law designed to rein in big money in political campaigns. The calculation of the potential penalty emerged only days after Harmon attempted to pass legislation designed to wipe away the case and the potential penalties, a maneuver stymied amid bipartisan backlash only hours before the spring session adjourned June 1.
Yahoo News – David Jackson and A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/11/2025
As a fledgling tech contractor looking to build its business in the insular world of Cook County politics, Texas-based Tyler Technologies turned to one of Illinois’ most well-connected lobbyists to get the job done. In 2016, Jay Doherty not only lobbied Chicago, Cook County, and state agencies, he was also the longtime president of the City Club of Chicago, a popular nonprofit civic organization. The dual roles granted Doherty access to the halls of power. At the time Tyler hired Doherty, there was no indication any of the Tyler executives involved knew their new man in Illinois was also corrupt.
Louisiana – Lafayette School Board Member’s Bar Can’t Let LPSS Vendors Sponsor Events: Ethics panel
Acadiana Advocate – Ashley White | Published: 6/11/2025
The Louisiana Board of Ethics said a Lafayette School Board member Jeremy Hidalgo’s business cannot allow school district vendors to sponsor customer appreciation nights while he serves on the board. Hidalgo owns a bar that hosts a customer appreciation night once a month where other businesses partner with him to provide free meals for attendees. The ethics board said it is not allowed under the state’s ethics code.
Louisiana – As Charges Linger Over Landry, Louisiana Legislature Passes Dramatic Changes to Ethics Law
Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 6/4/2025
Louisiana lawmakers approved a set of dramatic changes to state ethics laws. House Bill 674 alters the process the state ethics board used to bring charges against Gov. Jeff Landry that are still pending. Beyond making it harder to bring ethics charges against elected officials and state employees, the legislation also loosens limits on public officials’ travel, weakens restrictions on government contracts with officials and their families, and reduces requirements for officeholders and candidates to disclose financial interests.
Maine – It Just Got Easier for This Maine Politician to Run for Governor as an Independent
Bangor Daily News – Billy Koban | Published: 6/12/2025
A new Maine law equalizing campaign contribution limits for gubernatorial candidates could end up helping a veteran legislator if he runs as an independent. Gov. Janet Mills decided to allow a bill establishing a primary election period for unenrolled candidates to become law without her signature. Neither the bill nor testimony mentioned his name, but Sen. Rick Bennett could benefit from the new law.
Massachusetts – Fernandes Anderson Officially Resigns from Boston City Council
MSN – Ross Cristantiello (Boston.com) | Published: 6/12/2025
Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson announced she submitted her letter of resignation, about six months after she was first arrested on public corruption charges. Fernandes Anderson pleaded guilty in May to one count of wire fraud and one count of theft concerning a program receiving federal funds. She was accused of pocketing thousands of dollars through a kickback scheme involving a family member who was part of her staff.
Michigan – ‘No One Will Know’: Records reveal secret money flowing through Lansing
ArcaMax – Craig Mauger (Detroit News) | Published: 6/6/2025
Money from some of Michigan’s largest companies and wealthiest business executives secretly flowed to a fundraising account for state Senate Republicans during the early days of the pandemic, according to court records. Documents show consultants, along with then-Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, privately promoted Michigan Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility to potential donors as a vehicle to move political money without the public’s knowledge. Those who gave secretly were often individuals with direct connections to bills before the Legislature.
Michigan – Ex-Speaker Lee Chatfield, Wife to Stand Trial Over Alleged Misuse of Political Money
MSN – Arpan Lobo (Detroit Free Press) | Published: 5/30/2025
Former Michigan House Speaker Lee Chatfield and his wife will stand trial over the alleged mishandling of thousands of dollars raised through political funds. The state attorney general’s office claims he knowingly used the money to pay for vacations, dinners at upscale restaurants, and other non-permitted items when he was a lawmaker. Prosecutors also claim Chatfield submitted mileage reimbursement requests from the House for trips he did not take. Stephanie Chatfield is alleged to have aided the scheme and was charged with embezzlement.
New Jersey – Mikie Sherrill to Face Trump-Backed Jack Ciattarelli for N.J. Governor
MSN – Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) | Published: 6/10/2025
U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill will face former state Rep. Jack Ciattarelli in the New Jersey governor’s race this fall in a national bellwether for voters’ views in the first year of Donald Trump’s second term. Sherrill prevailed in a crowded Democratic primary in which candidates vowed to bring down costs and stand up to the White House. Ciattarelli easily won the Republican nomination with Trump’s endorsement.
New Jersey – Rep. McIver Indicted on 3 Charges in Clash Outside ICE Detention Center
MSN – Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 6/10/2025
A federal grand jury indicted U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver over a confrontation with immigration authorities at a detention center in Newark. Prosecutors allege she assaulted two officers as they attempted to arrest Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. The unusual decision to bring charges against a member of Congress for a standoff in which no one was injured reflects the Justice Department’s pledge to prosecute officials who it thinks are hindering President Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts.
New York – Cuomo Super PAC Got $2.7 Million From Donors with Business Before the City
MSN – Greg Smith (The City) | Published: 6/9/2025
Under New York City laws that aim to curb the potential for or appearance of pay-to-play corruption, no one on the official list of companies and individuals doing or seeking business with the city can give more than $400 to a citywide candidate in any election cycle. But there is another option: so-called independent expenditure committees, New York’s version of super PACS, that allow wealthy players to spend unlimited amounts of money backing one candidate. This election cycle, the overwhelming beneficiary of such spending has been former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and those seeking to influence the vote in his favor in the mayor’s race.
New York – Trump Lawyers Ask Appeals Court to Move His Hush Money Case to Federal Court
MSN – Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 6/11/2025
One year after his criminal conviction in the Manhattan election interference case, Donald Trump is still fighting to shed his felon status. The president’s personal lawyers appeared before a federal appeals court, urging a three-judge panel to transfer his state criminal case to federal court. Such a move would pave the way for him to eventually ask the U.S. Supreme Court to erase his criminal record by throwing out his conviction on presidential immunity grounds.
New York – A Powerful Bronx Politician Dines on Developers’ Double Donations
New York Focus – Chris Bragg | Published: 6/5/2025
As chair of the New York City Council’s Land Use Committee, Rafael Salamanca Jr. has the power to determine whether development projects move forward, and it has made him a magnet for campaign donations from the real estate industry. Salamanca, who is now running for Bronx borough president, has maintained a campaign committee for his city races. It is bound by strict contribution limits for individuals doing business with the city. Salamanca has opened a second campaign committee, one which funds his campaigns for an unpaid position in the Bronx Democratic Party, that is subject to much looser rules.
North Dakota – ND Ethics Commission Has No Authority to Punish Officials Violating Ethics Laws, State Leaders Argue
Yahoo News – Mary Steurer and Jacob Orledge (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 6/9/2025
State lawmakers shut down many requests from the North Dakota Ethics Commission during the recent legislative session, keeping the agency on a modest budget and rebuffing measures that would have given it more latitude in its investigations. North Dakota was one of the last states to establish an ethics agency and it has struggled to fulfill its mission. The ballot measure that created the commission left some ambiguity about its role and whether the commission can enforce ethics laws, leading to ongoing disagreements about how it operates.
Ohio – Ohio Senate GOP Budget Bill Would Loosen State’s Ban on Political Spending by Corporations, Unions
MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 6/5/2025
Language tucked into Ohio Senate Republicans’ new budget plan would eliminate the state’s ban on corporations and labor unions making independent expenditures for or against candidates, as well as end contribution limits to independent dark-money groups. At the same time, the budget bill would also impose new limits on donations to ballot-issue campaigns, which Democrats have used during the past few years to pass liberal policies despite GOP dominance over state government.
Oregon – Oregon Bill Would Make Big Tech Pay for Local News
Courthouse News Service – Monique Merrill | Published: 6/11/2025
For years, big tech companies have profited from ad revenue generated from news content, and Oregon may become the first state in the country with a law handing some of that profit back to newsrooms if lawmakers can push it through before the end of the legislative session. Senate Bill 686 would require tech giants like Google and Facebook to pay for access to local journalism. The bill would also create the Oregon Civic Information Consortium, housed at the University of Oregon, to award grants for civic information initiatives.
Rhode Island – Should Nonprofits Have to Disclose Their Top Salaries to Get State Money? These Bills Say So.
USA Today – Katherine Gregg (Providence Journal) | Published: 6/4/2025
Rhode Island lawmakers in the House and Senate have passed bills requiring nonprofits receiving over $50,000 in state funds to disclose top executive salaries and benefits. Supporters argue this measure increases transparency and accountability, while opponents cite increased administrative burdens and privacy concerns. Some opponents suggest the focus should be on the grant process itself, rather than the organizations receiving funds.
Rhode Island – Ethics Panel Says R.I. Senate President Valarie Lawson Can Lead Chamber Despite Union Day Job
Yahoo News – Nancy Lavin (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 6/10/2020
The state’s ethics code does not explicitly prevent Senate President Valarie Lawson from leading the chamber while also heading one of the state teachers unions. That is why the Rhode Island Ethics Commission saw no conflict for Lawson to continue both jobs. The opinion offers several caveats, noting its recommendation cannot be tailored to any specific legislation, since Lawson’s request did not reference any bills being considered or discussed.
Houston Public Media – Natalie Weber | Published: 6/5/2025
A bill awaiting the governor’s signature could reverse the effects of a court ruling that requires prosecutors to seek permission from the Texas Ethics Commission before bringing criminal charges against politicians accused of certain violations. Senate Bill 1220 would effectively undercut this ruling.
The Maine Legislature passed Legislative Document 1576, which extends the one-year prohibition on lobbying to include former employees of the legislative branch. Currently, the one-year prohibition is only applicable to former employees of the executive branch. Gov. Mills allowed the […]
The Maine Legislature passed Legislative Document 1576, which extends the one-year prohibition on lobbying to include former employees of the legislative branch. Currently, the one-year prohibition is only applicable to former employees of the executive branch. Gov. Mills allowed the bill to become law without her signature, and it will go into effect January 1, 2026.
Comply with state and local procurement lobbying rules. Our online guidebooks make it easy to view regulations all in one place. Learn more here.
June 6, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – June 6, 2025
National/Federal George Santos’ Campaign Treasurer Gets Probation Courthouse News Service – Nina Pullano | Published: 5/28/2025 The treasurer for former U.S. Rep. George Santos’s congressional campaign was sentenced to three years of probation after admitting to filing false campaign finance reports. Judge […]
National/Federal
George Santos’ Campaign Treasurer Gets Probation
Courthouse News Service – Nina Pullano | Published: 5/28/2025
The treasurer for former U.S. Rep. George Santos’s congressional campaign was sentenced to three years of probation after admitting to filing false campaign finance reports. Judge Joanna Seybert handed down the sentence to Nancy Marks about a month after she gave Santos more than seven years in prison under his own guilty plea. Seybert also ordered Marks to pay more than $178,000 in restitution.
Complaints Languished as Johnson’s Delays Hobbled House Watchdog
DNyuz – Michael Gold (New York Times) | Published: 5/30/2025
In the first three months of this year, the independent watchdog that investigates members of the U.S. House received more than 4,000 messages from the public, some accusing lawmakers of serious misconduct. Not one was examined, because Speaker Mike Johnson had yet to constitute the office charged with doing so. Under House rules, the Office of Congressional Conduct cannot start inquiries, hire staff members, or take formal action on public complaints without a board named by the speaker.
Ernst Posts Snarky Reply After Telling Town Hall ‘We All Are Going to Die’
MSN – Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 6/1/2025
Sen. Joni Ernst dismissed voters’ concerns in recent days that people could die if Republicans cut Medicaid as they have promised to do in President Trump’s immigration and tax package. Speaking at a town hall, Ernst was explaining how the bill would affect Medicaid eligibility when one audience member yelled out that individuals who lost coverage because of the cuts could die. “Well, we all are going to die,” Ernst replied as the crowd groaned. While outrage at Ernst’s comment was immediate, the senator doubled down with a sarcastic response on Instagram.
Trump’s Law Firm Sanctions, Harshly Rejected in Court, Still Have Impact
MSN – Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 6/1/2025
President Trump’s attempts to punish law firms that employed his perceived foes or handled cases he disliked have been rejected by courts, with three federal judges lambasting them as retaliatory and unconstitutional. But the president’s court losses, with a fourth case pending, are only part of the story. Other firms have struck deals with the administration, hoping to avoid similar punishments. Lawyers say both the sanctions and the negotiated deals have had a chilling effect, with some firms declining to work on issues counter to the administration’s goals.
Trump Administration to Prioritize ‘Patriotic Americans’ for Federal Jobs
MSN – Robin Bravender (Politico) | Published: 5/30/2025
As President Trump moves to slash the size of the federal workforce, his administration unveiled a plan to ensure any new hires are “patriotic Americans” who vow to advance the president’s policy priorities. The White House and the agency that serves as the government’s human resources arm released directives for departments to use when recruiting employees in a memo that represents a dramatic shift in federal hiring procedures.
Discrimination Cases Unravel as Trump Scraps Core Civil Rights Tenet
MSN – Julian Mark and Laura Meckler (Washington Post) | Published: 6/1/2025
For decades, the federal government has used data analysis to ferret out race and sex discrimination, winning court cases and reaching settlements in housing, education, policing, and across American life. Now the Trump administration is working to unwind those same cases. The Justice Department is reviewing its entire docket and has already dismissed or terminated “many” cases that were “legally unsupportable” and a product of “weaponization” under the Biden administration, said Harmeet Dhillon, who heads the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Trump Pardons Drive a Big, Burgeoning Business for Lobbyists
MSN – Matt Dixon (NBC News) | Published: 6/2/2025
Seeking a pardon from President Trump has become big business for lobbying and consulting firms close to the administration, with wealthy hopefuls willing to spend millions of dollars for help getting their case in front of the right people. Cozying up to a president’s allies or hiring lobbyists to gain access to clemency is not new. But along with a price spike, what is different now is that Trump is issuing pardons on a rolling basis rather than most coming at the end of the administration.
Tester, Weintraub Join Democratic Organization to Counter Corruption
MSN – Filip Timotija (The Hill) | Published: 6/2/2025
Former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and onetime FEC Chairperson Ellen Weintraub are officially joining the nonprofit group End Citizens United to help fight corruption and get big money out of politics. Both Tester and Weintraub will work at End Citizens United, a group that advocates for campaign finance reform, as senior fellows. The pair will be doing press interviews, writing op-eds, helping advise on legislation, and participating in town halls and other public events across the country.
Sharp Spike in Threats to Judges Prompts Calls for More Security
MSN – Derek Hawkins (Washington Post) | Published: 5/29/2025
A spike in threats against federal judges since President Trump took office is prompting calls for new funding and security measures, with current and former jurists, lawmakers, and law enforcement officials saying existing protections are not enough. Experts offer a range of proposals for bolstering safety around the judiciary, including increasing the number of marshals assigned to protect judges. A simpler solution, several former judges said, would be for Trump administration officials to cool their rhetoric, which they believe fuels threats from extremists.
From the States and Municipalities
Arkansas – Trump Pardons Former Arkansas Lawmaker Who Took Bribes from Springfield Nonprofit
Springfield News-Leader – Marta Mieze | Published: 6/2/2025
President Trump pardoned a former Arkansas lawmaker who admitted to taking bribes from a nonprofit organization as part of a large public corruption scheme. Jeremy Hutchinson pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit federal programs bribery and in 2023 was sentenced to 50 months in prison running consecutively to a 46-month sentence for bribery and tax fraud he pleaded guilty to in state district court.
California – ‘That Person Will Absolutely Become the Most Powerful Person’: LA looks for a new king
MSN – Emily Schultheis (Politico) | Published: 6/1/2025
Elected county executives are common around the country but remain a novel concept in California. Since the mid-19th century, local governments across the state’s 58 counties have been led by five-member boards of supervisors without an elected role above them. In 2024, voters in Los Angeles County decided to create a new office to oversee their government. Now the county must determine the scope of a position that will, by representing the nearly 10 million people, become perhaps the most powerful in American local government and immediately reshape California politics.
California – Meals, Hotels, Office Supplies: City leaders want to be able to raise more money for ‘officeholder’ expenses
MSN – Eli Wolfe and Natalie Orenstein (Oaklandside) | Published: 6/2/2025
Local elected officials in California often use money from officeholder accounts to pay for the expenses of holding office, including meals, travel, hotels, and mailers about city events. Officeholder accounts cannot expenditures for a future election or wages for staff. Oakland has put some restrictions on these kinds of committees. Right now, elected officials like council members are not allowed to raise more than $25,000 (or $30,000 for the at-large seat) for their officeholder accounts. But a group of council members believes the limit should be higher.
California – Lurie Campaigned as an Ethics Crusader. Now He’s Gutting SF’s Top Watchdog
San Francisco Standard – Fitzgerald Rodriguez and Gabe Greschler | Published: 6/3/2025
On the campaign trail, Daniel Lurie vowed to vanquish City Hall corruption, promising to fully fund the San Francisco Ethics Commission. Now, as mayor, Lurie just blew a gaping hole in the department’s budget, sparking an outcry from its leader. The cuts may include axing the roles of four staffers in the 28-person department who identify loopholes in ethics rules and train city officials on the law. They are crucial to curbing corruption before it takes hold, said Patrick Ford, executive director of the Ethics Commission.
Connecticut – Lamont Aide Jonny Dach Misused State Vehicle, Investigation Finds
MSN – Mark Pazniokas (Connecticut Mirror) | Published: 6/2/2025
An investigation commissioned by Gov. Ned Lamont concluded that his former chief of staff and current senior advisor, Jonathan Dach, chronically violated state rules by using a state vehicle as his personal car for nearly two years and driving at speeds constituting reckless driving under Connecticut law. A referral to the Office of State Ethics for disciplinary action is mandatory.
Florida – Judge Orders J.C. Planas to Pay First-Ever Fine for Filing ‘Frivolous’ Miami-Dade Ethics Complaint
Florida Politics – Jesse Scheckner | Published: 5/29/2025
A Miami-Dade County court has ordered lawyer and former Rep. Juan-Carlos Planas to pay the legal expenses former Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Góngora incurred while defending a “frivolous” ethics complaint in 2023. Planas, who specializes in ethics and elections law and last year ran unsuccessfully for Miami-Dade Supervisor of Elections, contends the ruling is out of order, literally and figuratively.
Illinois – Responding to Supreme Court, Lawmakers Look to Expand Lawsuit Protections for Press
WTTW – Bridgette Fox (Capitol News Illinois) | Published: 5/23/2025
Illinois lawmakers are seeking to extend lawsuit protections to regular news reports following a recent ruling by the state Supreme Court that allowed a defamation suit against the Chicago Sun-Times to progress. Senate Bill 1181 would explicitly name the press in an existing state law that aims to protect against “strategic lawsuits against public participation,” otherwise known as SLAPP lawsuits.
Louisiana – Mortgages, Mardi Gras and Country Clubs: Louisiana campaign funds could soon cover these expenses
Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 5/29/2025
Louisiana politicians would be able to use money they raise to run for elected office on a much broader group of expenses, including their home mortgages, country club fees, and gym memberships under legislation Gov. Jeff Landry is pushing. House Bill 693 loosens dozens of restrictions placed on the people and political groups who raise and spend money on state and local elections.
Maryland – Maryland’s Primary Elections Are Unconstitutional, Lawsuit Alleges
MSN – Kate Mettler (Washington Post) | Published: 5/29/2025
Maryland residents who register as unaffiliated with a political party are not allowed to vote in primary elections. A lawsuit alleges the state’s partisan, or closed, primary process is unconstitutional and violates the rights of registered voters who are not affiliated with a political party. Maryland is one of 14 states that closes its primaries to unaffiliated registered voters. If a state judge was to find Maryland’s election process illegal, it could force lawmakers and party leaders to overhaul how they run primaries.
Massachusetts – Ex-Massachusetts State Police Union President, Lobbyist Get Some Convictions Reversed
MSN – Rick Sobey (Boston Herald) | Published: 6/2/2025
Dana Pullman, the former president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, and lobbyist Anne Lynch were sentenced in 2023 for racketeering, fraud, obstruction of justice, and tax crimes. The federal convictions for the former trooper and the ex-head of the political lobbying firm Lynch Associates arose out of alleged kickback schemes between the two. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit reversed some of the convictions.
New York – NYC Campaign Finance Board Withholds $1.3M in Matching Funds from Cuomo, Awards Adrienne Adams $2M
Yahoo News – Josephine Stratman and Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 5/30/2025
New York City’s Campaign Finance Board dealt a blow to mayoral frontrunner Andrew Cuomo, withholding $675,419 in matching funds from him, but gave a lifeline to his opponent Adrienne Adams, clearing her for $2 million in critical public money as the Democratic mayoral primary election looms weeks away. The board withheld the money from Cuomo due to their suspicion his campaign improperly coordinated with Fix the City, a super PAC boosting his run. That comes on top of more than $620,000 it earlier denied Cuomo for the same reason.
North Carolina – NC Lawmakers Leave Controversial Kentucky Distillery Tour Off Disclosure Reports
MSN – Dan Kane (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 5/30/2025
Last year, two North Carolina nonprofits took lawmakers on expensive trips outside of the state. One took them on a distillery tour near Louisville, Kentucky, and the other to the Summer Olympics in Paris. But what the public can learn about who paid is incomplete, due to limitations in the state’s ethics and lobbying laws. The nonprofit behind the Paris trip disclosed the legislators and other officials who went and how much it cost. The nonprofit behind the distillery tour has not. A review of financial disclosures by officials known to have gone on the trips shows nearly the same pattern.
Oregon – Oregon Sen. Lisa Reynolds Mulls Conflict of Interest Declaration After Ethics Report
Yahoo News – Shaanth Nanguneri (Oregon Capital Chronicle) | Published: 5/30/2025
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission referred a state lawmaker to the Legislature for clarity over whether a bill she authored that could benefit her medical practice raises a substantial conflict-of-interest. The commission said Sen. Lisa Reynolds’ decisions regarding votes and bill introductions were within the purview of the Legislature and its legal counsel. Senate Bill 28 would mandate commercial insurers reimburse independent primary care clinics at rates equal to those of clinics owned by hospital systems.
MSN – Kate McGee (Texas Tribune) | Published: 6/2/2025
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider a lawsuit from conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan against the Texas Ethics Commission, serving another blow to his more than decade-long challenge against the state agency that enforces Texas’ campaign finance and lobbying laws. Sullivan, who used to lead a powerful advocacy group called Empower Texans, challenged an Ethics Commission decision to fine him $10,000 for failing to register as a lobbyist in 2010 and 2011.
Texas – Failure of Texas Proof-of-Citizenship Law Is Not the End
MSN – Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 6/3/2025
A bid in Texas to establish one of the most unwieldy voting laws in the nation flamed out, but a broader effort backed by President Trump to demand that voters throughout the country provide proof of citizenship is hardly dead. Not only could the Texas bill resurface, but three other states over the past nine months have adopted similar laws requiring voters to provide proof of citizenship, and a raft of others are considering them.
Texas – Las Vegas Sands Lobbyist’s Contact Appears in Filings for ‘Dark Money’ Group in Irving
MSN – Chase Rogers (Dallas Morning News) | Published: 5/29/2025
A phone number tied to a “dark money” group that spent more than $160,000 to influence a recent Irving City Council election also appears on lobbying disclosures filed in Dallas by a registered lobbyist for Las Vegas Sands Corp. The phone number, listed in both city and state filings, suggests a potential link between Las Vegas Sands and the Lone Star Conservative Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, which is not required to disclose its donors under state law.
Washington – Seattle Councilmember Cathy Moore Pulls Her Ethics Bill
Seattle Times – David Kroman | Published: 5/30/2025
The Seattle City Council is dropping an effort to change the city’s ethics code after intense public blowback and facing an uncertain political path. Councilmember Cathy Moore, who sponsored the bill to make it easier for members to vote on matters in which they may have financial interest, announced she was pulling her legislation. She stood by the contents of the bill but seemed to acknowledge it lacked enough support.
Washington – New Rules for WA Lawmakers with Conflicts of Interest
Seattle Times – Shauna Sowersby | Published: 6/2/2025
Washington lawmakers passed important changes to the Ethics in Public Service Act. The bill, signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, allows lawmakers to have up to a 10 percent stake in corporations or properties before they are considered “beneficial interests” and must be reported. It does not require lawmakers to recuse themselves on votes that might present a conflict-of-interest. Senate Bill 5143 also increases the maximum value of a gift that lawmakers can accept to $100.
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