National/Federal

News Outlets Batten Down the Hatches for Trump’s Return

DNyuz – David Enrich and Katie Robertson (New York Times) | Published: 1/13/2025

With Donald Trump returning to the White House, media outlets large and small are taking steps to prepare for what they fear could be a legal and political onslaught against them from the new administration and Trump’s allies inside and outside the government. While Trump is prone to hyperbole and saber-rattling, many reporters, editors, and media lawyers are taking him seriously. As a result, even before Trump returns to power, he is altering how the press is operating.

Pardoned by Trump, Manafort Is Back and Looking for Foreign Work

DNyuz – Kenneth Vogel, Kim Barker, Constant Méheut, and Michael Schwirtz (New York Times) | Published: 1/12/2025

Four years after receiving a pardon from Donald Trump for crimes related to foreign lobbying, Paul Manafort is again seeking business from political interests abroad. Manafort, who led Trump’s 2016 campaign for a few months, has assembled a team of consultants who helped run Trump’s 2024 effort and is looking to advise campaigns for opposition and far-right political factions in Latin America and Europe, according to documents and interviews.

Trump-Appointed FEC Commissioner to Resign on Inauguration

MSN – Caroline Vakil (The Hill) | Published: 1/13/2025

FEC member Sean Cooksey announced he would be resigning on Donald Trump’s first day in office. Cooksey also said he hoped Trump would nominate new appointees to the FEC for commissioners whose terms had already expired.

Jack Smith, Special Counsel in Trump Cases, Resigns

MSN – Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 1/11/2025

Special counsel Jack Smith resigned from the Justice Department after completing his work overseeing two federal prosecutions of Donald Trump. Though Smith’s departure was expected, official word of the end of his two-year appointment was another step in the winding down of the criminal cases against the former and future president, just over a week before Inauguration Day.

The Trump Company Is Not Banning Private Foreign Deals, a Break with Its First Term Policy

MSN – Bernard Condon (Associated Press) | Published: 1/9/2025

The Trump family business released a voluntary ethics agreement that allows it to strike deals with private foreign companies, a move that could help outside actors try to buy influence with the new administration. The so-called ethics white paper bars the Trump Organization from striking deals directly with foreign governments, but allows ones with private companies abroad, a significant departure from Donald Trump’s first term. The company also announced it would commit to several safeguards designed to stop his private financial interests from shaping policy. That includes hiring an outside ethics adviser to vet deals.

This Group Says Natural Gas Bans Hurt Minorities. It Has Gas Industry Ties.

MSN – Maxine Joselow (Washington Post) | Published: 1/13/2025

Documents show how the fossil fuel industry has relied on advocacy groups to persuade policymakers nationwide that its products benefit communities of color. Critics say these efforts come despite the fact that Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans are disproportionately exposed to deadly air pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels, which also is driving climate change. Blue states have advanced more aggressive climate policies for years. The gas industry has responded by hiring Democrats and other advocates who are better positioned to appeal to liberal voters.

Justice Dept. Releases Trump Special Counsel Report on Jan. 6 Case

MSN – Perry Stein, Spencer Hsu, Jeremy Roebuck, and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 1/14/2025

Special counsel Jack Smith released a report detailing the incriminating evidence he says he collected against Donald Trump over his two-year investigation, portraying the incoming president as a man who allegedly wielded his power to deceive state lawmakers, Republican Party activists, and presidential electors to claim victory in the 2020 election he knew he lost. The report serves as the final public record of a historic prosecution that never made it to trial, with the federal government abandoning the case after Trump became the president-elect.

These 5 Former Lobbyists Are Poised to Join Trump’s Cabinet

MSN – Taylor Giorno (The Hill) | Published: 1/16/2025

Five former lobbyists have been appointed or nominated to Donald Trump’s Cabinet, signaling he may not be as closed off to these hired guns as he appeared on the campaign trail. On the campaign trail, Trump said he is “not a big person for lobbyists” and floated a ban on government and elected officials becoming lobbyists after they leave public service.

Inside Elon Musk’s Plan for DOGE to Slash Government Costs

Seattle Times – Theodore Schleifer and Madeleine Ngo (New York Times) | Published: 1/12/2025

An unpaid group of billionaires, tech executives, and some disciples of Peter Thiel, a powerful Republican donor, are preparing to take up unofficial positions in the U.S. government in the name of cost-cutting. As Donald Trump’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DODGE) girds for battle against “wasteful” spending, it is preparing to dispatch individuals with ties to its co-leaders, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, to agencies across the federal government. The structure of DOGE is still amorphous and closely held.

Democratic Senators Say a Campaign Treasurer Stole Their Money

Yahoo News – Dave Levinthal (Rolling Stone) | Published: 1/14/2025

At least four Democratic political committees suspect their former campaign treasurer is behind the “misappropriation” of hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds, according to federal records. They are the latest in a string of high-profile thefts and unauthorized financial transactions that have recently hit federal political committees of all partisan stripes, collectively costing them millions of dollars.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Arizona Supreme Court to Weigh Fate of ‘Dark Money’ Disclosure Law

Yahoo News – Jim Small (Arizona Mirror) | Published: 1/9/2025

The Arizona Supreme Court will consider whether Republican legislative leaders have the right to challenge “dark money” disclosure rules created by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission under Proposition 211, which voters approved in 2022. The court will also determine if a provision limiting legislative oversight can be separated from the rest of the law. Proposition 211 requires disclosure of the original sources of contributions exceeding $5,000 used for campaign spending.

California – As Wildfires Burn, a Corruption Probe Left the Senate’s Insurance Committee Chair Vacant

MSN – Ryan Sabalow (CalMatters) | Published: 1/13/2025

As fires rage through Southern California and exacerbate the state’s insurance crisis, the California Senate has no one in charge of its Insurance Committee due to questions surrounding a federal corruption investigation. Federal officials have not identified Sen. Susan Rubio by name in the case. But there is nobody else matching the description of “Person 20,” who is accused in federal court documents of asking for $240,000 in bribes from a cannabis company and accepting $30,000 in illegal campaign contributions.

California – Republicans Say They Want to Put Conditions on Wildfire Aid to California

MSN – Jacob Bogage and Toluse Olorunnipa (Washington Post) | Published: 1/13/2025

Leading congressional Republicans say they want to place conditions on aid for California’s wildfire victims, trying to force the state to fix what one lawmaker called “bad behavior” on policies ranging from taxes to land management in exchange for billions of dollars in federal help to recover from a natural disaster. Lawmakers typically approve federal aid after natural disasters without requiring states to change policies first.

Florida – Commission on Ethics Chief Describes Rollout of Controversial New Ethics Law

Florida Phoenix – Mitch Perry | Published: 1/14/2025

Last year, the Florida Legislature passed a law that critics claim would allow unethical conduct to continue unchecked. Tina Descovich, vice chair of the Florida Commission on Ethics, said the agency is recommending that state lawmakers pass legislation this year to provide “whistleblower-like protection” for individuals who file ethics complaints.

Florida – Ethics Worries Grow for Florida Democrat as State Sues Over $5 Million Covid Payment

MSN – Jacqueline Alemany and Clara Ence Morse (Washington Post) | Published: 1/14/2025

Questions surrounding a newly reelected Democratic lawmaker deepened in recent weeks as Florida moved to sue the company that she once led in an attempt to recoup a more than $5 million coronavirus overpayment. U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick reported her income increased by more than $6 million between 2020 and 2021, the year of the alleged overpayment to Trinity Health Care Services, which she led, according to her official financial disclosures.

Georgia – Pro-Stacey Abrams Groups Fined $300,000 After Admitting They Broke Georgia Campaign Finance Law

Yahoo News – Jeff Amy (Associated Press) | Published: 1/15/2025

Two nonprofits settled a complaint with the Georgia Ethics Commission and will pay $300,000 for illegally spending millions of dollars to bolster Stacey Abrams’ gubernatorial bid in 2018. The commission found the New Georgia Project and its affiliated New Georgia Project Action Fund illegally did election work for Abrams and others without disclosing their campaign contributions and spending.

Idaho – After Major Spending in 2024 Elections, Updates to Idaho’s Sunshine Laws Are in the Works

Idaho Press – Laura Guido | Published: 1/14/2025

An unprecedented year of campaign spending has led some officials to consider amendments to Idaho’s campaign finance laws to make it easier to track electioneering messaging. This year, legislation is expected to be introduced to move up deadlines for reporting because currently there is a lag between when large amounts of money are spent and when that spending is publicly accessible through reports. In some cases, spending is not reported until after the election is over.

Illinois – Advisory Referendum Question on Political Contribution Rules Thrown Out by Aurora Electoral Board

MSN – R. Christian Smith (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 1/13/2025

A non-binding referendum question that was set to ask Aurora voters whether the city should limit the amount of money candidates can receive from those who do business with the city has been thrown out by the Aurora Electoral Board. The referendum would have asked if the city of Aurora should create campaign finance rules that cap at $1,000 political donations to city elected officials and candidates for city office if the business, organization, or person donating to the campaign has previously received or is currently asking for a city contract, tax increment financing district, or any other official action from the city.

Illinois – Former IDPH Chief Fined $150,000 For Breach of Illinois Ethics Act

MSN – Jonah Meadows (Patch) | Published: 1/11/2025

Former Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike accepted a $150,000 fine from a state ethics commission after admitting to violating the “revolving door” prohibition. The settlement and fine from the Executive Ethics Commission stems from Ezike’s acceptance of a position as president and chief executive of Sinai Chicago within a year of her March 2022 departure from state government, during which the hospital operator received substantial funding and oversight from her former agency.

Illinois – Supreme Court Weighs Appeal of Ex-Chicago Alderman’s Corruption Conviction

Yahoo News – Ella Lee (The Hill) | Published: 1/14/2025

The Supreme Court signaled it may send a Chicago political scion’s appeal of his conviction for lying to regulators back to a lower court to flesh out the difference between false and misleading statements. Patrick Daley Thompson was convicted in 2022 of lying to regulators about the amount he borrowed from a now-defunct bank. If the justices rule in Thompson’s favor, it could mark a second case in as many years where the Supreme Court found federal prosecutors overstepped while cracking down on local politicians.

Indiana – Indiana Ethics Commission Approves Waivers for 4 Outgoing Agency Heads

Yahoo News – Leslie Bonilla Muñiz (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 1/10/2025

Indiana’s Ethics Commission approved post-employment waivers for four agency heads moving on from state government as Gov. Mike Braun takes over. That includes David Rosenberg, president of the controversial Indiana Economic Development Corporation. The waivers allow state employees to take their next jobs despite potential conflicts-of-interest.

Kansas – Kansas House Panel Asked to Reform Commission with Oversight of Campaign-Finance Laws

Yahoo News – Tim Carpenter (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 1/15/2025

A lawyer representing politically active clients dealing with campaign finance disputes at the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission wants the 2025 Legislature to declaw the agency because it allegedly took a hammer to free-speech rights through enforcement of “Keystone Cop” procedures. He complained that unconstitutionally vague statutes were left open to distortion by commission, including Executive Director Mark Skoglund.

Kentucky – KY Ethics Commission Will Investigate a New Complaint Against Rep. Daniel Grossberg

Yahoo News – Austin Horn and Alex Acquisto (Lexington Herald Leader) | Published: 1/14/2025

The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission voted unanimously to move forward in investigating a second complaint filed against state Rep. Daniel Grossberg, combining it with a previous complaint against him.  Grossberg has been the subject of scrutiny in the media and by the ethics commission for various issues. There have been calls for his resignation after the media reported his alleged sexually inappropriate behavior with women.

Maine – Maine Legislature Eyes Campaign Finance Reforms as Courts Weigh Voter-Backed Referenda

Yahoo News – Emma Davis (Maine Morning Star) | Published: 1/13/2025

While Maine voters have overwhelmingly passed laws in the past two general elections to place stricter regulations on money in politics, those reforms have so far been blocked as legal battles play out in the courts. Despite those obstacles, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and advocates are planning to introduce new reforms, or kickstart long-standing efforts, though there remains some disagreement on the best path forward for better regulating political spending.

Maryland – Maryland’s Legislative Session Opens Amid Concerns Over $86M Lobbying influence

MSN – Gary Collins (Spotlight on Maryland) | Published: 1/9/2025

A state consumer advocate raised concerns about lobbyist influence as the Maryland General Assembly convened its annual 90-day session in Annapolis. Mollie Woods, an attorney with the Maryland Office of the People’s Counsel, said special interest groups wield significant influence in the General Assembly due to their financial resources and “the size of their lobbying efforts.” Companies and organizations spent over $86 million in the state during the 2024 reporting period. This represents a twenty-eight percent increase in lobbying dollars spent since 2021.

Massachusetts – Boston City Council Kills Ethics Committee Push Amid Fernandes Anderson Corruption Charges

MSN – Gayla Cawley (Boston Herald) | Published: 1/9/2025

The Boston City Council, tarred by federal public corruption charges leveled against Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, overwhelmingly defeated a measure that sought to establish an ethics commission for internal oversight of the body. Fernandes Anderson was indicted on six public corruption charges that allege she pocketed $7,000 of a $13,000 bonus she doled out to one of her staffers. The money was allegedly kicked back to the councilor in an exchange with the staff member that took place in a City Hall bathroom in 2023.

Michigan – Who Funds Michigan Lawmakers? Most Get Cash from PACs, Not Voters They Represent

Bridge Michigan – Simon Schuster | Published: 1/14/2025

Local voters send representatives to the Michigan Capitol, but outside donors are far more likely to send those lawmakers checks. An analysis of campaign finance disclosures shows most lawmakers elected to the state House last year received only a small fraction of their political contributions from their constituents. Instead, most of their donations came from PACs that typically represent industries and other special interests.

New Jersey – New Jersey’s Race for Governor Is Poised to Be One of the Least Transparent

Yahoo News – Matt Friedman (Politico) | Published: 1/12/2025

New Jersey’s 2025 gubernatorial election could be the least transparent in memory thanks to a new campaign finance law that lets super PACs keep their donors secret until shortly before the primary. It will be the biggest test yet of the financial overhaul, and supporters of a few candidates have already sought to leverage it by forming independent expenditure committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts.

New Jersey – N.J. Corruption Watchdog Leader Abruptly Resigns After Scrutiny

Yahoo News – Jelani Gibson (New Jersey Advance Media) | Published: 1/10/2025

The leader of the state commission that investigates waste, fraud, and abuse in New Jersey government resigned under fire, a day after a published report revealed she claimed residency in two states and had a second, full-time job out of state. State Commission of Investigation Chief Executive Officer Tiffany Williams Brewer handed in her resignation just four days after she was formally appointed to lead the watchdog agency.

New Jersey – Benjie Wimberly Spent Campaign Money for Personal Use on Hotels, Airfare, Complaint Says

Yahoo News – Joe Malinconico (Bergen Record) | Published: 1/9/2025

State Assemblyperson Benjie Wimberly was accused of spending campaign money for his personal use, mostly payments for hotels and airfare, in a complaint filed by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. Wimberly, as speaker pro tempore, is the second-highest ranking member of the Assembly, where he has served since 2012. He is also on the Paterson school district’s payroll as director of recreational programs with a $188,328 salary.

New York – State Investigating Assembly Race Donation Under Lewd Pseudonym

MSN – Wendy Liberatore (Albany Times Union) | Published: 1/14/2025

A $100 contribution to the unsuccessful New York Assembly campaign of well-known local activist Joe Seeman is under review by the state Campaign Finance Board because it appears to have been made under a false name. The donation under the lewd alias “Jack Meehoff” was made through ActBlue using the address and Paypal account of Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Accounts Dillon Moran, who denies donating under that name. According to the state Board of Elections, making a contribution under a false name is a violation of the law.

New York – Ex-NYC Mayor de Blasio Still on the Hook for $475K Fine Over Misused Public Funds, Judge Rules

MSN – Jake Offenhartz (Associated Press) | Published: 1/15/2025

Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio must pay a $475,000 fine levied against him for misusing public funds on a police security detail during his failed White House bid, a judge ruled, dismissing the ex-mayor’s legal challenge as “entirely baseless.” The decision blocks de Blasio’s latest effort to erase the hefty fine issued against him by the Conflicts of Interest Board. In his motion for dismissal, de Blasio argued the board provided him with murky guidance around the use of public funds for security purposes, then overstepped its authority in imposing the fine.

New York – Turkish Businessman Pleads Guilty in NYC Mayor Adams’ Corruption Case, Could Testify Against Mayor

MSN – Molly Crane-Newman, Josephine Stratman, and Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 1/10/2025

Real estate magnate Erden Arkan pleaded guilty in federal court to funneling thousands of dollars to New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign in coordination with a Turkish government official, setting him up to testify against the mayor. Arkan admitted to orchestrating straw donations to Adams through workers of the construction company he partly owns, KSK, and then reimbursing them. It is the first plea resulting from the ongoing probe of illicit foreign donations to the mayor’s campaign.

New York – Trump Sentenced in Hush Money Case, Will Not Face Jail or Probation

MSN – Shayna Jacobs, Derek Hawkins, and Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 1/10/2025

Donald Trump was sentenced without penalty for his felony conviction in his hush money trial, appearing virtually at what was likely his final court hearing as a criminal defendant before he is sworn in for another term in the White House. New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the trial and handed down the sentence, gave Trump an unconditional discharge, meaning the president-elect will not face time behind bars, a fine, or probation.

North Dakota – As Governor, Burgum Promised to Manage Conflicts. They Still Cropped Up.

DNyuz – Alexandra Berzon (New York Times) | Published: 1/15/2025

On the day after Doug Burgum became governor of North Dakota in 2016, he addressed questions about what he would do about all of his investments. They included extensive real estate developments benefiting from state programs he was suddenly in a position to oversee. His answer was that he would “manage” his conflicts-of-interest, but he would not divest from his holdings in the state. Since then, however, his range of holdings intersected with his policy decisions as governor, a New York Times review found.

North Dakota – North Dakota Ethics Commission Receives Early Pushback in Legislative Hearing

Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 1/8/2025

The North Dakota Ethics Commission received pushback from lawmakers on one of its first bills, with a nearly unanimous recommendation to reject it. The commission can issue advisory opinions to help officials under its jurisdiction understand how ethics laws and rules apply in certain circumstances. Currently, the commission may only publish opinions if someone specifically requests it. House Bill 1046 would change this to allow the commission to issue advisory opinions of its own volition.

Ohio – Cleveland Guardians Tried to Give Cuyahoga Council Free Tickets. Ohio Ethics Commission Said No

MSN – Kaitlin Durbin (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 1/9/2025

Cuyahoga County Inspector General Alexa Beeler sought the Ohio Ethics Commission’s guidance after the Cleveland Guardians twice offered each county council member 100 tickets to distribute or use themselves at up to three games in the 2022 baseball season. This was after the Guardians received a new lease that included upgrades for Progressive Field. The commission blocked them both times.

Ohio – Ohio’s New Voter ID Law Blocked at Least 7,000 Votes from Being Counted in November Election

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 1/13/2025

Election officials rejected more than 7,000 Ohioans’ provisional ballots in the 2024 elections for lack of proper identification, new state data shows, a record number and massive increase from years past. The spike in rejections comes after Republicans in 2023 enacted one of the strictest voter photo identification requirements in the nation.

Oregon – Gov. Tina Kotek’s Office Dinged for ‘Minor’ Spending on Catered Party, Concert Tickets That May Have Broken Ethics Rules

MSN – Betsy Hammond (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 1/9/2025

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s office spent about $11,000 on a catered employee celebration, concert tickets, and monthly parking passes during her first 16 months in office that may have violated state ethics laws. The findings, reached by state auditors. were forwarded to the state ethics commission, which will determine whether Kotek’s administration in fact broke the rules and, if so, what consequences to impose.

Texas – ‘Obvious Subversion’: Advocates criticize DART director’s lobbying ties to Uber

KERA – Pablo Arauz Peña | Published: 1/14/2025

Plano residents and public transit advocates are criticizing a member of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) board of directors for lobbying for Uber. Plano is among several DART member cities pushing to reduce their funding to the agency, or to restructure some of its services. The criticism arose after a social media post noted that Paul Wageman was advocating for increased on-demand ride services in Plano while also being paid as a lobbyist for Uber.

National/Federal

Trump Says He’ll Replace Leader of National Archives

DNyuz – Maggie Haberman, Michael Gold, and Devlin Barrett (New York Times) | Published: 1/6/2025

Donald Trump said he plans to replace the head of the National Archives, the agency whose leaders’ concerns about Trump’s decision to hang on to boxes of documents after he left office ultimately led to a federal indictment. Colleen Shogan, the current national archivist, was not involved in the criminal investigations into Trump’s handling of classified documents, and a letter expressing concerns about his actions was written by her predecessor. It is common for a national archivist to span across presidential administrations.

Trump Inauguration, Awash in Cash, Runs Out of Perks for Big Donors

DNyuz – Theodore Schleifer, Maggie Haberman, and Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 1/8/2025

Donald Trump’s inaugural committee is no longer selling tickets for major donors to attend his swearing-in and accompanying private events in Washington. The committee has raised over $170 million. The haul is so big that some seven-figure donors have been placed on wait lists or have been told they probably will not receive VIP tickets at all because the events are at capacity.

Meta Ends Fact Checks as It Prepares for Trump Era

MSN – Naomi Nix, Will Oremus, and Aaron Gregg (Washington Post) | Published: 1/7/2025

Meta announced a set of changes to its content moderation policy that would effectively put an end to its longstanding fact-checking program. The company said it would allow its users to add context or debunk claims in notes that appear next to specific posts. Meta will also change its rules more broadly, lifting restrictions on hot-button topics and focusing enforcement on illegal or high-severity violations. The move is a victory for conservatives who have waged a campaign against fact-checking and content moderation.

Justice Dept. Says It Won’t Yet Release Trump Classified Document Report

MSN – Jerermy Roebuck and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 1/8/2025

The Justice Department does not plan to publicly release special counsel Jack Smith’s findings on Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents until litigation against his co-defendants concludes. But prosecutors said Attorney General Merrick Garland does intend to release the portion of Smith’s report outlining his investigation into Trump’s efforts to undo the results of the 2020 election and to permit select members of Congress to review the withheld portions on the classified documents probe.

Congress Counts Electoral Votes, Clearing Path for Trump’s Return to Oval Office

MSN – John Bennett (Roll Call) | Published: 1/6/2025

Congress made Donald Trump’s Electoral College victory official on the anniversary of the January 6, 2021, insurrection. No Democratic lawmakers rose to challenge any state’s electoral results during the joint session of the Senate and House, meaning Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance are set to be sworn in on January 20.

Gold-Plated Watches and Electoral Map Sneakers: Trump’s newest merchandise raises conflict of interest questions

MSN – Fredreka Schouten and Steve Contorno (CNN) | Published: 1/8/2025

In the two months since the election, Donald Trump has urged his nearly 8.5 million followers on Truth Social to buy limited edition guitars that bear his signature and Trump-themed fragrances that “represent winning.” The post-election sales pitches illustrate just how closely Trump’s personal business interests are entwined with his politics. But the president-elect and the Trump Organization have not offered details to the public on how they intend to wall off those varied interests from his job as president.

Trump Speaks with Justice Alito Amid Push to Halt Criminal Sentencing

MSN – Katherine Faulders, Jonathan Karl, and Devin Dwyer (ABC News) | Published: 1/8/2025

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito spoke to Donald Trump by phone to recommend one of his former law clerks for a job in the new administration. The call occurred just hours before Trump’s lawyers filed an emergency request with the justices asking them to block a New York judge from moving forward with sentencing Trump in his criminal hush money case. Alito said he and Trump did not discuss that matter.

Federal Courts Won’t Refer Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to Attorney General Over Ethics

MSN – Lindsay Whitehurst (Associated Press) | Published: 1/2/2025

The federal courts will not refer allegations that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas may have violated ethics laws to the Justice Department. Thomas has agreed to follow updated requirements on reporting trips and gifts, including clearer guidelines on hospitality from friends, the U.S. Judicial Conference wrote to Democratic senators who had called for an investigation into undisclosed acceptance of luxury trips.

House Ethics Panel Recommends Further Review of Campaign Finance Allegations Against 2 Lawmakers

MSN – Taylor Giorno (The Hill) | Published: 1/2/2025

The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) wants to dig deeper into separate campaign finance allegations against two lawmakers, U.S. Reps. Andy Ogles and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. The OCE alleged Ogles may have misrepresented a loan to his 2022 campaign, transferring far less than the amount originally disclosed from an undetermined source. The OCE said Cherfilus-McCormick may have made “impermissible payments” to a state PAC that then paid vendors and her unofficial campaign manager.

Biden Awards Liz Cheney a Presidential Medal for Challenging Jan. 6 Attack

MSN – Maeve Reston (Washington Post) | Published: 1/2/2025

President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to Liz Cheney, honoring one of Donald Trump’s most outspoken critics at a White House ceremony less than three weeks before Trump is set to reclaim the presidency. The medal, given to those who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country, is the nation’s second-highest award. Biden also p. Bennie Thompson, who along with Cheney led the House committee that investigated the assault on the Capitol.

Elon Musk Goes Global with His Playbook for Political Influence

MSN – Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) | Published: 1/4/2025

Last year, Elon Musk dominated U.S. politics, using his money and X microphone to boost Donald Trump and other Republicans in the 2024 elections. In the new year, Musk is flexing his political muscle on the global stage as well. He appears to be applying a playbook similar to the one he used to disrupt American politics, now boosting conservative politicians in the governments of the United States’ top allies. But his disregard for the veracity of his posts and his elevation of far right and extremist figures have alarmed liberal leaders around the world.

These ‘New’ Members Are Boomeranging Back to Congress

MSN – Justin Papp (Roll Call) | Published: 1/3/2025

The 118th Congress was, by some measures, one of the least productive in recent history. Public opinion remains persistently low, and on their way out the door, lawmakers did not mince words. Death threats and swatting take a toll on members’ families, said Rep. Ann McLane Kuster while in the eyes of Rep. Anna Eshoo, money in politics has become “corrosive.” In spite of all this, some people cannot get enough and a few even decided, after taking a hiatus from Capitol Hill, that now was the perfect time to come back.

‘A Day of Love’: How Trump inverted the violent history of Jan. 6

Seattle Times – Dan Barry and Alan Feuer (New York Times) | Published: 1/5/2025

In the wake of the attack on the Capitol, Donald Trump’s volatile political career seemed over. Myriad factors explain his resurrection, but not least of them is how effectively he and his loyalists have laundered the history of January 6. The inverted interpretation defied what the country had watched unfold, but it neatly fit the persecution narrative that binds Trump to many of his faithful. Once he committed to running again for president, he doubled down on flipping the script about the riot and its blowback, including a congressional inquiry and two criminal indictments against him, as part of an orchestrated victimization.

Cartoon of Jeff Bezos That His Paper Axed Goes Viral

Yahoo News – Liam Archacki (Daily Beast) | Published: 1/4/2025

A Pulitzer-winning editorial cartoonist revealed she quit her job at the Washington Post after management axed her drawing of billionaires – including Jeff Bezos, the paper’s owner – bending the knee to Donald Trump. Ann Telnaes said she drew a cartoon that criticized corporate titans for their efforts to curry favor with the president-elect. Like Amazon, Apple and Facebook also ponied up $1 million for Trump’s inauguration. But for the first time in her career, Telnaes said the paper killed the cartoon because of whom it targeted.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Trudeau Resigns After Nine Years in Power as Liberals Force Him Out

MSN – Brian Platt and Thomas Seal (Bloomberg) | Published: 1/6/2025

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is resigning after more than nine years leading Canada, bowing to sagging approval numbers and a rebellion within his political party. Trudeau will step down as head of the governing Liberal Party within months. He will remain as prime minister until a new leader is selected, and parliament has been suspended until March 24 while that process is underway. The winner of the Liberal leadership contest is set to become Canada’s 24th prime minister and will have to quickly prepare for an election, which the Conservative Party is the clear favorite to win, according to public opinion polls.

Colorado – Election Officials Advance Campaign Finance Complaint Against State Senator Prompted by Colorado Sun Reporting

Colorado Sun – Jesse Paul | Published: 1/3/2025

Colorado elections officials have advanced a campaign finance complaint against state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis. The complaint alleges Jaquez Lewis used campaign contributions for personal purposes not reasonably related to her campaign, made a prohibited donation to another candidate committee, and failed to report contributions and expenditures. It was reported that two of Jaquez Lewis’ Capitol staffers filed a workplace misconduct complaint claiming she used one of them to do chores like yard work and bartending at a party at her home and paid the staffer with a check from her campaign’s bank account.

Florida – A ‘Business-Friendly’ Lawyer’s Rise from Lobbyist to Attorney General Pick

DNyuz – Eric Lipton and Kate Kelly (New York Times) | Published: 1/8/2025

Pam Bondi would not be the first U.S. attorney general who previously served as a lobbyist. But while she was Florida’s attorney general, she became known for what one lobbying firm called her “business-friendly” attitude. She and her staff agreed to meet with a steady stream of lawyers whose clients had been targeted by other states for investigations. Then, in her time as a lobbyist, Bondi represented a long roster of corporate clients. Many of these companies have business with the federal government and could be subject to scrutiny by a Justice Department run by her, raising questions about potential conflicts-of-interest.

Georgia – Giuliani Is Held in Contempt of Court, But Avoids Jail

MSN – Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 1/6/2025

A federal judge held Rudy Giuliani in civil contempt of court twice for failing to adequately respond to requests for documents and information sought by two Georgia women who won a $148 million defamation verdict against him in 2023. U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman declared Giuliani can no longer present the central legal defense that could have allowed the former New York City mayor to avoid handing over his Palm Beach condo to the two women, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.

Illinois – Board of Ethics Said It Did Not Give Mayor Brandon Johnson an Opinion About CPS Leave

MSN – Nell Salzman, Alice Yin, and Gregory Royal Pratt (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 1/8/2025

Despite City Hall’s claims, the Board of Ethics said it did not provide Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration with an opinion about whether he should resign from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to avoid a conflict-of-interest. It was reported that Ben Felton, a high-ranking CPS staffer, called on the mayor to resign from CPS after his election in 2023, but City Hall shrugged off the concerns.

Illinois – Back on the Witness Stand, Michael Madigan Rejects Bribery and Quid Pro Quo Allegations in Corruption Trial

WTTW – Matt Masterson | Published: 1/8/2025

Former Illinois House Speaker Madigan, who is charged alongside his longtime right-hand man Michael McClain, is alleged to have orchestrated multiple corruption schemes, wielding his political power to reward loyal allies and enrich himself. Madigan’s testimony in his trial seeks to discredit one of the main points federal prosecutors made in their case against him, that the speaker was seeking to use his public position to benefit his private tax law firm.

Indiana – Former Indiana Congressional Candidate Agrees to Plead Guilty in Campaign Finance Fraud Case

Yahoo News – Casey Smith (Indiana Capital Chronicle) | Published: 1/8/2025

Former Indiana congressional candidate Gabriel Whitley is admitting he falsified campaign finance records, saying he lied about raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions ahead of the May 2024 primary. The U.S. attorney’s office said Whitley admitted he lied to the FEC in three separate reports about hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from supporters and loans from himself.

Kansas – Overland Park Lawsuit Leads Judge to Narrow Kansas’ Definition of Political Action Committee

Yahoo News – Tim Carpenter (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 1/7/2025

A federal court sided with a group that supported candidates, allowing it to remain a local advocacy group rather than become a political committee. The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission had ordered Fresh Vision OP to file as a PAC following the group’s expenditure of more than $100 to champion the 2021 mayoral candidacy of an Overland Park mayoral candidate with mailers and a website. Rather than comply with the commission’s directive and disclose its donors, Fresh Vision’s leadership suspended operations and filed a lawsuit.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Withheld Information on Landry Staff’s Financial Interests from Public

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 1/7/2025

For seven months, the Louisiana Board of Ethics kept private documents about the financial interests of a handful of Gov. Jeff Landry’s staff that are supposed to be public under state law. The documents Landry’s top staff members filled out reveal information about all their personal income sources, their spouses’ jobs, investment holdings, property ownership, and ties to charities.

Minnesota – GOP Sues Over Timing of Special Election Crucial to Minnesota House Power Balance

MPR News – Clay Masters | Published: 1/6/2025

Minnesota Republicans are suing over the timing of a late-January special election that could determine if the state House moves back into a tie or remains in Republican hands deeper into the new legislative session. Gov. Tim Walz invoked a seldom used state law to schedule the special election for January 28 even before the House convened with 133 members instead of the full complement of 134. The outcome of the case is crucial because Republicans will come into the 2025 session with 67 seats to 66 for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party; the race for a seat favoring Democrats could push the House into a tie. fFor now

Montana – New Montana Legislative Website Has Problems, Legislative Services Working on Fixes

Yahoo News – Keila Szpaller (Daily Montanan) | Published: 1/8/2025

The chief information officer for the Legislative Services Division said a technology team is addressing problems with the Montana Legislature’s website, and the goal is to have a top-notch system once again. In the meantime, however, legislators, lobbyists. and members of the public are running into roadblocks in trying to follow lawmakers’ work.

New York – New York’s High Court Weighs Constitutionality of State Ethics Panel

Albany Times Union – Brendan Lyons | Published: 1/7/2025

The New York Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, heard arguments on whether the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government was formed in violation of the state constitution. The case stems from a yearslong battle between Andrew Cuomo and the state’s ethics commission, as well as its embattled predecessor agency, that stems from the former governor’s efforts to thwart an investigation of a $5 million deal he received for writing a book about his administration’s handling of the pandemic.

New York – Treasurer for Brooklyn Boro Prez Candidate Anthony Jones Pleads Guilty in Straw Donor Scheme

MSN – John Annese (New York Daily News) | Published: 1/7/2025

The treasurer for an unsuccessful Brooklyn borough president candidate pleaded guilty to charges she tried to scam the city out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in public matching funds. Erlene King tried to take advantage of the New York City’s matching campaign funds program with a straw donor scheme. She submitted $25,000 in straw donations to Jones’ campaign, along with five corresponding “fictitious records,” in the hopes of getting $400,000 in matching funds, prosecutors said.

New York – Judge Upholds Trump’s Felony Conviction, but Does Not Plan to Order Jail Time

MSN – Shayna Jacobs and David Nakamura (Washington Post) | Published: 1/3/2025

Donald Trump will be sentenced on 34 counts of falsifying business records ahead of his swearing-in January 20 but is not expected to face jail time, a judge ruled. The decision to uphold Trump’s conviction and schedule the sentencing for January 10 almost certainly means Trump will be the first felon to serve as a U.S. president. New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan said he plans to order an “unconditional discharge,” a designation in New York criminal courts for a non-jail and non-probation sentence that carries no other obligations.

New York – Board of Elections Director Made Racial and Sexual Remarks to Female Employees, City Probe Finds

The City – Greg Smith | Published: 1/7/2025

A Department of Investigation probe documented evidence that Michael Ryan, executive director of the New York City Board of Elections, routinely made racially insensitive and sexually suggestive remarks to two top-level minority female staffers, prompting the independent watchdog agency to recommend he resign. Both employees felt they had little recourse to confront Ryan about his comments because of his position according to the report.

North Carolina – North Carolina Justices Block Certification of Election Outcome in Race for One of Its Own Seats

MSN – Associated Press | Published: 1/7/2025

The North Carolina Supreme Court blocked the certification of a November election result for one of its own seats so it can review legal arguments by a trailing candidate who contends over 60,000 ballots that were cast should not be counted. The decision by the Republican-dominated state Supreme Court to issue the temporary stay is a setback for Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs. Election results show Riggs ahead of GOP challenger Jefferson Griffin by just 734 votes from over 5.5 million ballots cast.

North Dakota – Voters Created an Ethics Commission in North Dakota. Then the Legislature Limited Its Power.

Yahoo News – Jacob Orledge (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 1/6/2025

The North Dakota Ethics Commission has achieved less than the advocates had hoped in the six years since its inception, undermined in large part by the Legislature the commission is charged with overseeing. The commission has not substantiated any of the 81 complaints it has received. It has dismissed 47, most because it lacked the authority to investigate them. Thirty complaints are pending, some for more than a year. Numerous tips do not get investigated because the agency cannot proceed without a formal complaint, and complainants have said they fear retaliation if they file one, the commission’s executive director said.

Ohio – An Ohio Mayor’s Company Hired a Lobbyist to Weaken a State Ethics Law. The Legislature Passed It During Lame Duck.

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 1/5/2025

In a massive bill passed late on the final lawmaking day of 2024, Republicans slipped in an unvetted amendment creating an ethics exemption for small town mayors. The idea came from an Ohio mayor, who also serves as chief executive of a water treatment supply company. Under current law, businesses owned by public officials generally cannot accept public contracts unless the government gets the best treatment and the lowest cost, and the public official takes no part in the town’s decision. The change would have exempted village mayors’ businesses from the law under certain conditions.

Pennsylvania – Governor’s Office Forced to Reveal Why It Spent $368K on Private Law Firms

MSN – Angela Couloumbis (Spotlight PA) | Published: 1/8/2025

The administration of former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf spent tens of thousands of public dollars to hire private law firms for an ethics investigation, federal and state grand jury probes, and advice on taxes. In response to a public records request, the governor’s office originally released documents that showed which firms it hired and how much those firms charged, but it blacked out the reasons the private law firms were hired.

Rhode Island – R.I. Ethics Panel Postpones Vote on Reforming Gifts from Lobbyists

Yahoo News – Alexander Castro (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 1/7/2025

Government watchdogs will have to wait and see whether the Rhode Island Ethics Commission pursues proposed changes to state rules regulating who can give public officials gifts. After an hourlong discussion, the commission voted to delay a vote until all nine of its members have had a chance to review the proposal’s origins, which were prompted by a less-than-pristine education consulting contract forged in the early days of Gov. Dan McKee’s administration.

South Dakota – Regulator Stays on New Carbon Pipeline Case After Prior Recusal, with No Explanation This Time

Yahoo News – Joshua Haiar (South Dakota Searchlight) | Published: 12/30/2024

A trust controlled by a South Dakota regulator’s relatives still owns land along a proposed pipeline route, but the regulator has not recused herself from the project’s second permit application after recusing herself from the first one. Two years ago, Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegen disqualified herself from Summit Carbon Solutions’ first carbon dioxide pipeline application. She cited state law prohibiting commissioners from participating in hearings or proceedings when they have conflicts-of-interest.

Texas – Republicans Prepare Fresh Effort to Ban Local Governments from Using Public Funds for Lobbying

Houston Public Media – Andrew Schneider | Published: 1/1/2025

Republican lawmakers will make another push to bar local governments from spending public funds on lobbying. A ban is all but certain to pass the Senate, but its prospects in the House are less clear. Asked whether he would support a similar ban on corporate lobbying to protect shareholders and customers from having their money used for lobbying against their wishes, state Sen. Mayes Middleton said there was no comparison.

Utah – Utah Legislature Could Explore Switching Authors of Ballot Initiatives

Yahoo News – Alixel Cabrera (Utah News Dispatch) | Published: 1/7/2025

After the description of a proposed amendment to the Utah Constitution sparked controversy, Democratic lawmakers are seeking more neutrality in future drafts. The Senate president and House speaker of are in charge of writing titles and questions submitted by the Legislature, summarizing the subject, and explaining any laws that could become effective if voters approve. But after the language of Amendment D prompted a successful court challenge by critics that left the question voided on voters’ ballots, Democrats want legislative attorneys, part of a nonpartisan body, to take over the job of drafting future ballot questions.

Virginia – Democrats Retain Control of Virginia Legislature in Special Elections

MSN – Laura Vozzella (Washington Post) | Published: 1/7/2025

Democrats retained control of Virginia’s General Assembly in special election on January 7, dimming Glenn Youngkin’s prospects for a big legislative legacy. Republicans could have upset the balance of power in Richmond and given Youngkin the chance to advance his conservative agenda in the final year of his term had they flipped two Loudoun County seats on the ballot. But Democrats held on to the Loudoun House and Senate seats, while Republicans retained a Senate post in central Virginia.

West Virginia – Senate President Craig Blair to Take Up Leadership Position Within a Leading Lobbying and Government Relations Firm

West Virginia MetroNews – Katherine Skeldon | Published: 1/2/2025

Soon-to-be former West Virginia Senate President Craig Blair says his new job is not of a lobbyist but a consultant in government relations. Blair announced he will begin serving as Senior Advisor of West Virginia for the LNE Group, a lobbying and government relations firm starting January 8. “I’ve learned a lot of things over the years and I’m going to be able to help us continue on the path to prosperity for the people of West Virginia, but I’m going to be for hire for being able to do that,” Blair said.

Wisconsin – Gov. Evers Wants to Let Wisconsin Voters Propose Statewide Ballot Measures

Yahoo News – Baylor Spears (Wisconsin Examiner) | Published: 1/6/2025

Gov. Tony Evers is proposing the Legislature create a way for Wisconsin residents to directly create ballot measures that make statutory and constitutional changes through the referendum process. State law currently permits lawmakers to place proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot, after they pass two consecutive legislative sessions. But Wisconsin does not have a way for voters themselves to introduce initiatives or place a binding referendum on the statewide ballot.

National/Federal

Social Media Companies Face Global Tug-of-War Over Free Speech

DNyuz – Cecilia King and Adam Satariano (New York Times) | Published: 12/30/2024

Donald Trump and his allies have vowed to squash an online “censorship cartel” of social media firms they say targets conservatives. Trump’s newly chosen regulators at the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Trade Commission outlined plans to stop social media platforms from removing content the companies deem offensive and punish advertisers that leave less restrictive platforms like X in protest of the lack of moderation. Trump’s return to the White House is expected to widen the speech divide that has long existed between the U.S. and Europe, setting up parallel regulatory systems.

The Big Companies Funding Trump’s Inauguration Despite Denouncing Jan. 6

MSN – Rebecca Ballhaus, Dana Mattioli, Shalini Ramachandran, and Maggie Severn (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 12/25/2024

The Wall Street Journal identified at least 11 companies and trade associations that are backing Donald Trump’s inauguration after earlier pledging to suspend or reconsider PAC donations after January 6, 2021. Now, as corporate executives hurry to make inroads with an incoming president whose agenda will have sweeping ramifications for the business world, many of those pledges are a thing of the past. Donors who give $1 million or raise $2 million from others receive six tickets to a series of events, including a reception with cabinet appointees, a “candlelight dinner” with Trump and Melania Trump, and a black-tie ball.

Senate Review of Supreme Court Ethics Finds More Luxury Trips and Urges Enforceable Code of Conduct

MSN – Lindsay Whitehurst (Associated Press) | Published: 12/24/2024

A nearly two-year investigation by Democratic senators of Supreme Court ethics details more luxury travel by Justice Clarence Thomas and urges Congress to establish a way to enforce a new code of conduct. Any movement on the issue appears unlikely as Republicans prepare to take control of the Senate in January, underscoring the hurdles in imposing restrictions on a separate branch of government even as public confidence in the court has fallen to record lows.

House Ethics Report Says Matt Gaetz Paid for Sex, Possessed Drugs

MSN – Jacqueline Alemany, Justine McDaniel, and Marianna Sotomayor (Washington Post) | Published: 12/23/2024

Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz regularly paid for sex, possessed illegal drugs, and paid a 17-year-old girl for sex in 2017, according to a report released by the House Committee on Ethics on Donald Trump’s former pick for attorney general. The committee also investigated a 2018 trip Gaetz made to the Bahamas where the panel found he accepted transportation and lodging in violation of the House rules and laws on gifts.

Foreign-Company Lobbyists Would Need to Register Under Proposed DOJ Regulation

National Law Review – Dan Novak | Published: 12/27/2024

The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) requires certain lobbyists and organizations to register as foreign agents if they have ties to foreign governments. Under the current law, individuals working on behalf of commercial businesses are largely exempt from disclosing foreign ties under FARA. But for some entities, such as state-owned enterprises, the line between economic and political interests is thin. Under proposed changes to the law, completely private companies could no longer claim an exemption in certain situations, said Murad Hussain, an attorney who advises clients on FARA compliance and investigations.

House Member in Assisted Living Draws Fresh Scrutiny to an Aging Congress

Seattle Times – Katie Edmondson (New York Times) | Published: 12/23/2024

A conservative outlet in Texas revealed U.S. Rep. Kay Granger had not voted in the House since July and has been living in an independent living facility, an arrangement her office had not disclosed. Granger, who is 81, stepped down as the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee in March and said she would not seek reelection, but she continued to serve out the rest of her term. The episode brought renewed attention to how Capitol Hill is powered by a crop of septuagenarians and octogenarians, including some who refuse to relinquish power even far past their primes.

From the States and Municipalities

Alabama – Alabama Ethics Bill Cited in Report on Attempts to Reduce Ethics Commission Powers

Yahoo News – Ralph Chapoco (Alabama Reflector) | Published: 12/31/2024

A new report from the Campaign Legal Center found a number of efforts to reduce the power of ethics commissions, legislatively or legally, to investigate the conduct of public officials and gauge misconduct. The report comes after an attempt in the Alabama Legislature earlier this year to reclassify some ethics offenses and limit the ability of the state Ethics Commission to impose penalties. Of the 12 states included in the report, the report cited nine, including Alabama’s, as challenging ethics commissions, while two, Washington and Vermont, have strengthened ethics commissions.

Alaska – Alaska Ranked-Choice System Threatened with Fresh Repeal Efforts

MSN – Caroline Vaki and Jared Gans (The Hill) | Published: 12/30/2024

Opponents of Alaska’s ranked-choice system are renewing their efforts to overhaul the voting method ahead of 2026 after an effort to undo the system narrowly failed in November. Two groups submitted petitions that would get rid of ranked-choice voting and open primaries. One of those groups is also seeking to undo a provision aimed at offering greater transparency in campaign finance disclosures.

California – Number of Registered Lobbyists Jumps to a Record High in California

MSN – Sameea Kamal (CalMatters) | Published: 12/26/2024

California saw its biggest increase in registered lobbyists last session since at least 2011, when a change in the law caused the number to more than double.  There was a roughly 10 percent increase in the number of lobbyists who registered for the 2023-24 session compared to the previous one for a record of 3,245 people. Longtime lobbyist Chris Micheli sees it as the result of the high turnover in the Legislature, leading to an “exodus of legislative staff” who went into advocacy.

Georgia – Court Rules Georgia Lawmakers Can Subpoena Fani Willis for Information Related to Her Trump Case

MSN – Kate Brumback and Jeff Amy (Associated Press) | Published: 12/27/2024

A judge ruled the Georgia Senate can subpoena Fulton County District Attorney Fani Lewis as part of an inquiry into whether she has engaged in misconduct during her prosecution of Donald Trump but is giving Willis the chance to contest whether lawmakers’ demands are overly broad. Willis has until January 13 to submit arguments over whether the subpoenas seek legally shielded or confidential information.

Georgia – Fani Willis Disqualified from Trump Election Case by Georgia Appellate Court

MSN – Holly Bailey (Washington Post) | Published: 12/19/2024

A Georgia appellate court overturned a judge’s ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to remain in charge of the criminal racketeering case against Donald Trump and several allies charged with conspiring to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in the state, a decision that could doom the high-profile prosecution. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee had rejected a motion to disqualify Willis and her office after she was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with an outside attorney she hired to lead the election interference case.

Hawaii – Legislature May Take a Stand Against Decades of Pay-To-Play Politics

Honolulu Civil Beat – Blaze Lovell | Published: 12/26/2024

Hawaii lawmakers said they plan to revisit the ban on campaign contributions from state contractors when the legislative session convenes in January. There is also momentum building in other areas meant to combat public corruption. A bigger budget is proposed for the office that monitors political donations and new ethics rules seek to crack down on the relationship between contractors and state workers.

Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson Faced Ethics Concerns Over Ties to Chicago Public Schools and Teachers Union, According to Memo

MSN – Nell Salzman, Alice Yin, and Gregory Royal Pratt (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 12/25/2024

Mayor Brandon Johnson declined to resign his position with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) after a high-ranking CPS official raised ethics concerns about a potential conflict-of-interest, according to a memorandum. CPS Chief Talent Officer Ben Felton wrote a memo less than two months after the mayor’s May 2023 inauguration documenting conversations Felton had with Johnson’s deputy mayor for education, Jen Johnson, about their leaves from the Chicago Teachers Union. Members of the union can sometimes take leaves of absence to take other jobs and return later.

Illinois – Former AT&T Illinois Executive Accused of Bribing Mike Madigan Gets New Trial Date

WBEZ – Tina Sfondeles and Jon Seidel (Chicago Sun-Times) | Published: 12/19/2024

Former AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza will face trial again on June 3 after his first trial ended in September with a hung jury. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Gettleman shot down La Schiazza’s bid for an acquittal, so the former executive still faces charges he bribed former House Speaker Michael Madigan in 2017 by paying $22,500 to former state Rep. Edward Acevedo after Acevedo left the Illinois General Assembly.

Indiana – Indiana Sen. Greg Taylor Out as Democratic Leader Despite Denying Sexual Harassment

Yahoo News – Tony Cook, Kayla Dwyer, and Hayleigh Colombo (Indianapolis Star) | Published: 12/18/2024

Indiana Sen. Greg Taylor is out as the chamber’s Democratic leader a day after three more women accused the lawmaker of sexual harassment. Taylor categorically denied allegations of sexual harassment, distancing himself from a previous statement in which he apologized and accepted some responsibility. In all, six women – former legislative staffers, interns, and a lobbyist – have accused Taylor of sexual harassment or misconduct.

Maine – Maine Delays Enforcement of Campaign Donor Limits

Yahoo News – Randy Billings (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 12/20/2024

Maine agreed to temporarily suspend the enforcement of a new law limiting contributions to super PACs until May 30, 2025, in response to a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new requirements. The Institute for Free Speech says the $5,000 contribution limit directly contradicts the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling. That decision said the First Amendment allows PACs to spend as much money as they want in elections.

Maryland – New Year, Same Old Scramble for Campaign Cash in Annapolis

Maryland Matters – Josh Kurtz | Published: 1/2/2025

Thanks to the way the 2025 calendar is aligned, this year’s General Assembly session in Maryland is opening on the earliest date possible, January 8, which means the annual pre-session scramble by lawmakers and statewide elected officials to raise money before a three-month fundraising ban goes into effect is more condensed and intense than ever. Every year, between New Year’s Day and the session kickoff, there are a mind-numbing number of fundraising events on tap as politicians scurry to fill their campaign coffers just as lobbyists, special interest groups, and political donors begin to pay attention to the policymakers’ work.

Michigan – Michigan Transparency Plans Die Again, Keeping Public in the Dark

Bridge Michigan – Simon Schuster | Published: 12/20/2024

The state House adjourned without taking up a Senate-approved plan to expand Michigan’s open records law to the Legislature and governor, which remains one of only two states with such broad exemptions. House leadership also never took up a package of ethics reforms aimed at curbing conflicts-of-interest and strengthening the implementation of a voter-approved personal financial disclosure system that shed little light on politicians’ entanglements.

Missouri – Missouri Ethics Commission Fines ‘Truth In Politics’ $250K for Defying Campaign Laws

Yahoo News – Claudette Riley (Springfield News-Leader) | Published: 12/28/2024

The Missouri Ethics Commission imposed a penalty of almost $250,000 against Truth In Politics, a group which primarily sought to influence the outcome of Springfield school board races. The commission found that for a two-year period, while taking in more than $127,000, Truth In Politics failed to register as a committee, report contributions and spending, and file the required campaign finance reports.

New York – Mayor Adams’ Campaign Faces Potential ‘Breach of Certification’ Finding Over Federal Corruption Case

MSN – Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 12/20/2024

Citing New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ federal corruption indictment, the Campaign Finance Board is weighing the possibility of finding his campaign in “breach of certification,” the panel’s most severe penalty that could potentially cost the campaign as much as $10 million. Danielle Willemin, the board’s auditing director, said Adams’ indictment “establishes probable cause” he committed wire fraud to illicitly obtain public matching funds for his 2021 and 2025 campaigns and solicited illegal donations from foreign nationals for both his mayoral runs.

New York – Trump Loses Appeal in $5 Million E. Jean Carroll Defamation, Sexual Abuse Case

MSN – Perry Stein and Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 12/30/2024

A federal appeals court upheld a $5 million New York civil trial jury verdict that found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. In May 2023, jurors determined Carroll had sufficiently proved she was sexually abused in a dressing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in the mid-1990s after a chance encounter with Trump. The jury also found Trump defamed Carroll years later on social media, after she publicly accused him of rape. The jury awarded Carroll a total of $5 million.

North Carolina – A North Carolina Supreme Court Candidate’s Bid to Overturn His Loss Is Based on Theory Election Deniers Deemed Extreme

MSN – Doug Bock Clark (ProPublica) | Published: 12/23/2024

A novel theory is now at the center of a legal challenge by North Carolina Judge Jefferson Griffin, who lost a race for a state Supreme Court seat to the Democratic incumbent, Allison Riggs, by 734 votes and is seeking to have the result overturned. The state election board dismissed a previous version of the challenge, which is now being considered in federal court. Before the election, judge denied an attempt by the Republican National Committee to remove 225,000 voters from the roles based on the same theory.

Ohio – Ohio Lawmakers Pass Surprise Law Letting Police Charge Public Up to $75 Per Hour for Body Cam Videos

MSN – Cory Shaffer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 12/20/2024

First Amendment and government transparency advocates said they were blindsided by a law the Ohio Legislature passed that lets police departments make it harder for the public to keep tabs on them. An amendment to the state’s sunshine laws that was slipped into the 441-page bill that was introduced and passed in an hour would give state and local law enforcement departments the power to charge up to $75 for each hour of video released in response to a public records request. The proposal, which is not mandatory, would cap the charge at $750 per request for copies of records that most departments currently provide for little to no cost.

Ohio – Ohio Secretary of State’s Office Moves to Keep Little-Known Law from Tripping Up Transgender Candidates’ Campaigns

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 12/30/2024

Nearly a year after a transgender Ohioan was kicked off the ballot for not putting her “deadname” on her campaign form, Secretary of State Frank LaRose altered candidate paperwork to prevent such issues from happening in the future. The Stark County Board of Elections disqualified Vanessa Joy from running for an Ohio House seat for violating a little-known state law requiring candidates filing to run for elected office to disclose any other names they have gone by in the past five years (except those who changed their last name because of marriage).

Ohio – No Trial Dates. Endless Disputes. Here’s Why the FirstEnergy Bribery Cases Are Mired in Delay

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 12/29/2024

Those waiting for a resolution on the bribery cases against FirstEnergy’s chief executive officer and vice president are going to have to wait. A review of the remaining action – the criminal cases against the executives accused of orchestrating the public corruption scheme, the lawsuit against the company brought by its investors, and the regulatory investigations from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the Securities and Exchange Commission – suggest three of the four remain mired in early stage legal squabbles unlikely to resolve quickly or easily. The cases are increasingly intersecting, with one hampering or slowing down the other.

Ohio – Former Cleveland City Councilman Basheer Jones Pleads Guilty to Federal Corruption Charges

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 12/18/2024

Former Cleveland City Councilperson Basheer Jones admitted to using his influence as a first-term council member to bank money for himself and his girlfriend through nonprofits and real-estate schemes. The plea agreement calls for a recommended prison term that ranges from two years and nine months to three years and five months. Jones also agreed to pay restitution. Jones is the sixth city council member in the last two decades to be convicted of crimes in office.

Oregon – New Lobbying Regulations Introduced in Portland Aim to Enhance Transparency and Oversight

Hoodline – Samuel Hanson | Published: 12/13/2024

The city auditor’s office finalized new lobbying regulations in Portland. The adopted administrative rules pertaining to lobbying entities’ registration and reporting requirements, as well as the stipulations for city officials and enforcement protocols. One rule defines the responsibilities of lobbying entities in registering and reporting their activities, emphasizing indirect lobbying activities such as those conducted through third parties.

Pennsylvania – Are Lobbyist Emails to Lawmakers Public Records? A Pa. Court Will Decide.

MSN – Angela Couloumbis (Spotlight PA) | Published: 12/20/2024

A court case in Pennsylvania could, for the first time, result in the public gaining access to emails between the state legislators and the lobbyists who try to influence them. The case pits the news organization against the Pennsylvania Senate, which last year denied a request for emails between lawmakers and a group of lobbyists. The Senate asserted that emails do not fall under one of the 19 categories of records the Legislature must make public under the law. Those categories, which largely encompass financial records, are unique to the Legislature.

Rhode Island – RI Advocacy Group Files Complaint Over McKee’s ILO Controversy. What to Know.

MSN – Katherine Gregg (Providence Journal) | Published: 12/19/2024

Though state Attorney General Peter Neronha found insufficient evidence to file a criminal charge against anyone connected to the award of a $5.2 million education consulting contract to ILO, Common Cause Rhode Island filed a complaint with the secretary of state against Michael Magee, a political ally of Gov. Dan McKee. Common Cause alleged Magee aggressively lobbied the executive branch to award a contract to the newly created ILO Group without officially registering as a lobbyist.

Texas – Ex-Harris County Health Director Charged with Three New Felonies in Awarding $40M-Worth of Contracts

MSN – Eric Dexheimer and Dylan McGuinness (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 12/27/2024

Barbie Robinson, the former head of the Harris County Public Health Department, was charged with three more crimes for allegedly funneling inside information to help companies she had previous connections to secure lucrative county contracts. The new allegations relate to $40 million worth of contracts given to IBM and DEMA Management & Consulting, two companies Robinson worked with previously in California. The Houston Chronicle in August reported on potentially improper connections between Robinson and DEMA. Harris County’s lead administrator, Diana Ramirez, fired her from her job just days later.

Virginia – Former Virginia Sheriff Convicted of Bribery in Badges-for-Dollars Scheme

MSN – Paul Duggan (Washington Post) | Published: 12/18/2024

Scott Jenkins, the former rural Virginia sheriff accused of deputizing wealthy untrained civilians who authorities said paid him tens of thousands of dollars for badges, was convicted of federal bribery and fraud charges. Prosecutors said Jenkins enriched himself and his campaigns by swearing in business owners from the Washington area as unpaid auxiliary deputies, giving them police powers for bribes ranging from $5,000 to $25,00, more than $60,000 in all, often in cash-stuffed envelopes.

West Virginia – Jim Justice to Delay Senate Swearing-In to Avert Knotty Succession in West Virginia

MSN – Daniela Altimari (Roll Call) | Published: 12/27/2024

When newly elected U.S. senators are sworn in January 3 at the Capitol, one member will not be there. Jim Justice says he will serve out his term as West Virginia governor and postpone joining the Senate until his gubernatorial successor is inaugurated on January 13. Justice said he wanted to avoid a scenario under which the state would shuffle through four different governors over a 10-day span.

National/Federal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Judges Punt Retirement Plans After Trump Win, Raising Ethics Questions

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

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

House Ethics Committee Set to Release Investigation Report on Matt Gaetz

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

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

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

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

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

Trump and His Picks Threaten More Lawsuits Over Critical Coverage

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

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

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

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

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

From the States and Municipalities

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

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

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

California – Los Angeles Times Owner Wades Deeper into Opinion Section

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

California – California Lawmaker Questioned in Sprawling Cannabis Corruption Investigation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Illinois – Paper Tigers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

North Carolina – NC Settlement with Robinson Campaign Over Errors Revealed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

National/Federal

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

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

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

Realtors’ Nonprofit Is Politically Motivated, Some Say

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supreme Court Divided Over Government Contracting Fraud Conviction

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

White House Weighs Preemptive Pardons for Potential Trump Targets

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

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

Elon Musk Is Now America’s Largest Political Donor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From the States and Municipalities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WAGA – Staff | Published: 12/10/2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Missouri – Missouri Judge Dismisses Whistleblower Lawsuit Against Top Republican Lawmaker

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

National/Federal

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

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

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

Trump Organization Plans an Ethics Policy Without Banning Foreign Deals

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

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

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

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

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

Supreme Court to Examine Power of Congress to Delegate Authority

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

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

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

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

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

Trump Transition Team Ethics Pledge Appears to Exclude President-Elect

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

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

Biden Pardons His Son Hunter Despite Previous Pledges Not To

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From the States and Municipalities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indiana – Nonprofit Braun Transition Group Follows Former Governors’ Model

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Campaign Finance

Oregon: “The City’s Public Campaign Financing Program Allowed Candidates with Little Support to Snag Taxpayer Dollars” by Sophie Peel for Willamette Week

Ethics

California: “Assessor Reports $1M Behested Payment, Biggest Charitable Donation Made at a Local Elected Official’s Request” by Jeff McDonald (San Diego Union-Tribune) for MSN

National: “Trump Transition Team Ethics Pledge Appears to Exclude President-Elect” by Betsy Klein, Steve Contorno, and Arlette Saenz (CNN) for MSN

Florida: “Tickets to Master’s Tournament Trigger Feud in Hillsborough County Politics” by Jack Evans and Justin Garcia (Tampa Bay Times) for MSN

Indiana: “Nonprofit Braun Transition Group Follows Former Governors’ Model” by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz (Indiana Capital Chronicle) for Yahoo News

Legislative Issues

National: “Supreme Court to Examine Power of Congress to Delegate Authority” by Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “As His Power Grows, D.C. Wonders: How do you lobby a man like Elon Musk?” by Cat Zakrzewski, Faiz Siddiqui, and Pranshu Verma (Washington Post) for MSN

New York: “N.Y. Ethics Commission Faces New Constitutional Challenge” by Brendan Lyons for Albany Times Union

Campaign Finance

National: “Trump Is Running His Transition Team on Secret Money” by Ken Bensinger and David Fahrenthold (New York Times) for Seattle Times

New York: “F.B.I. Agents Investigate Use of Fake Donors in N.Y. Assembly Race” by Jay Root, Bianca Pallaro, and William Rashbaum (New York Times) for DNyuz

Texas: “Harris County Education Board May Censure Trustee Eric Dick for $40K in Unpaid Ethics Fines” by Elizabeth Sander (Houston Chronicle) for MSN

Ethics

Arizona: “Former Treasurer in Arizona Admits to Embezzling $38M Over a Decade” by Maham Javaid (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Special Counsel Jack Smith Moves to Drop Both Trump’s Federal Cases” by Perry Stein and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

California: “Lawmakers Jet Set to Maui and Asia to Discuss Energy, Transportation for California” by Anabel Sosa (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

National: “‘It’s Trump 5.0’: Lobbyists reveal how Trump is changing the influence game” by Dave Levinthal (Business Insider) for MSN

Georgia: “Legislative Policy Watchdog Sues Georgia Conservative Nonprofit in Lobbyist Filing Dispute” by Ross Williams (Georgia Recorder) for Yahoo News

Campaign Finance

National: “Gaetz Campaign’s Reports of Vast Spending on Fees Are Scrutinized” by David Ingold and Ted Mann (Bloomberg) for MSN

Missouri: “Missouri State Pension Board Bans Use of Fund for Political Donations” by Rudi Keller (Missouri Independent) for Yahoo News

Ethics

Arizona: “Arizona Tourism Director Resigns Amid Conflict of Interest Claims” by Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) for Arizona Daily Star

National: “Intelligence Watchdog Departures Raise Red Flags in Congress” by John Donnelly (Roll Call) for MSN

New Mexico: “State Ethics Commission Launches Investigation into University’s ‘Wasteful Spending'” by Daniel Chacón for Santa Fe New Mexican

New York: “New York Judge Calls Off Trump Hush Money Sentencing” by Zach Schonfeld (The Hill) for MSN

Legislative Issues

National: “The First Transgender Member of Congress, a Bathroom Ban and Much Angst” by Emily Wax-Thibodeaux (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

Ohio: “Third Ex-FirstEnergy Lobbyist Stonewalls Hundreds of Questions in Bribery Probe” by Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

National/Federal

Chauffeured Cars and Broadway Tickets: Inside the national realtors group

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

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

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

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

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

Trump Picks Brendan Carr as FCC Chairman

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Speaker Johnson Restricts Use of Capitol Bathrooms by Transgender People

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

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

Trump Picks People Who Worked on Project 2025 Despite Distancing Himself

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trump Win Poised to Bolster Congressional Investigative Power

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

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

Donations Improved Odds of Avoiding Trump Tariffs, Study Finds

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

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

Democrats Draw Up an Entirely New Anti-Trump Battle Plan

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

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

From the States and Municipalities

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

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

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

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

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

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

California – Council Approves New San Diego Ethics Commission Executive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Florida – Broward Commission Relaxes Rules on Food and Drink Gifts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Minnesota – CenterPoint Lobbyist Ghostwrote Comments to Support Gas Appliance Rebates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Jersey – Campaign Finance Watchdog Approves Higher Contribution Limits

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

National/Federal

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

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

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

Nonprofits Vow a New Resistance. Will Donors Pay Up?

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

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

Gaetz Resigned Days Before Ethics Investigation Report Expected

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Republicans Win House, Delivering Trump a Trifecta

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Four States Reject Ranked-Choice Voting, Approved in District

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

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

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

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

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

Legal Questions Surround Trump’s Talk of Political Prosecutions

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

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

From the States and Municipalities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

National/Federal

Trump’s Victory Is a Major Win for Elon Musk and Big-Money Politics

DNyuz – Theodore Schleifer and Susanne Craig (New York Times) | Published: 11/6/2024

At an election-night gathering, Elon Musk sat two seats away from Donald Trump, ready to claim wide credit for his decisive presidential win. His victory lap was the culmination of an effort that began only six months ago and depended on a risky gamble: Musk’s new super PAC effectively led Trump’s get-out-the-vote operation in battleground states and Trump entrusted a crucial campaign function to a political neophyte. There is little doubt the election was a win not only for Musk but also big-money politics: an ultrawealthy donor took advantage of America’s evolving campaign finance system to put his thumb on the scale like never before.

Control of House Hangs in Balance, with Enormous Implications for Trump’s Agenda

MSN – Associated Press | Published: 11/6/2024

The U.S. House majority hangs in the balance, teetering between Republican control that would usher in a new era of unified GOP governance in Washington or a flip to Democrats as a last line of resistance to a Donald Trump second-term agenda. A few individual seats, or even a single one, will determine the outcome. Final tallies will take a while, likely pushing the decision into next week, or beyond.

Court Ruling Threatens to Curb Billions in Political ‘Dark Money’

MSN – Richard Rubin and Maggie Severns (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 10/30/2024

A federal appeals court said nonprofit groups cannot qualify for tax exemption under Section 501(c)(4) of the tax code if they have a substantial nonexempt purpose. That is a much stricter standard than the one in IRS regulations, which say groups only need a primary purpose that qualifies for the exemption. The decision from a conservative court sets a tighter legal standard for tax-exempt status that the advocates for political donor transparency have long sought.

What’s in Your TikTok Feed? As Elections Near, It May Depend on Gender.

MSN – Jeremy Merrill, Cristano Lima-Strong, and Caitlin Gilbert (Washington Post) | Published: 11/3/2024

A significant gender gap has emerged in this year’s presidential campaign, with women voters breaking for Kamala Harris and men for Donald Trump. For participants in a unique Washington Post experiment, that gap has also shown up in their TikTok feeds. The findings shed light on how TikTok is shaping the way American adults, especially younger ones, get their news, and what they see about politics.

Nearly a Decade After Pleading Guilty, ‘Fat Leonard’ Is Sentenced in Massive Navy Bribery Scandal

MSN – Alex Riggins (San Diego Union-Tribune) | Published: 11/5/2024

The Malaysian contractor known as “Fat Leonard,” who bribed dozens of high-ranking U.S. Navy officers in the Navy’s worst-ever corruption scandal, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Leonard Francis, who was arrested in September 2013 during a sting operation that lured him to San Diego, pleaded guilty in 2015 to charges of bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery, and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Francis also pleaded guilty to a charge related to his flight from custody and failure to appear for his previously set sentencing in 2022.

Donald Trump Wins Presidential Election, Defeating Harris to Retake White House

MSN – Isaac Arnsdorf and Josh Dawsey (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

Donald Trump was elected the nation’s 47th president, returning to the White House after a criminal conviction and two impeachments by riding a wave of voter dissatisfaction. To Trump and his supporters, retaking power after failing to overturn his 2020 election loss, inspiring a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol, and withstanding two impeachments, four criminal indictments, a conviction, and two assassination attempts represents a major vindication for their cause.

Republicans Take Back Senate Control

MSN – Liz Goodwin (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2024

Republicans regained control of the Senate after winning two crucial races, boosted by Donald Trump’s presidential win. GOP control will boost Trump’s ability to enact his agenda, as well as to staff his administration. Many crucial Cabinet and judicial appointments require Senate confirmation.

States Projected to Approve Measures Restricting Noncitizens from Voting

MSN – Patrick Marley, Praveena Somasundaram, and Nick Miroff (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2024

Voters in several states were on track to adopt provisions by wide margins that further restrict voting by noncitizens, who are already ineligible to cast ballots in state and federal elections. Republicans pressed for the measures in eight states as Donald Trump and his supporters contended without evidence that noncitizens vote in significant numbers. They said their efforts would help ward off noncitizen voting in state and federal elections and prevent local officials from allowing noncitizens to participate in municipal or school elections. Nineteen communities around the country allow noncitizens to vote in such elections.

Trump’s Win Is a Huge Legal Victory, too. His Trials Will Mostly Vanish.

MSN – Shayna Jacobs, Perry Stein, Holly Bailey, and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

Donald Trump’s election victory ensures his lawyers will seek to delay his upcoming sentencing hearing in Manhattan, where he was convicted of falsifying business records to conceal from voters from voters a hush money payment. Such a request would trigger a discussion about how the judge should proceed with the historic case – the first trial of a former president, who now is now president-elect. Trump vowed as a candidate to “fire” special counsel Jack Smith, who brought two federal cases against him. Prosecutors in Georgia will struggle to go forward with trying him for attempting to overturn the state’s 2020 election results.

Jan. 6 Riot Defendants Celebrate Trump’s Election, Angle for Pardons

MSN – Spencer Hsu, Tom Jackman, and Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff (Washington Post) | Published: 11/6/2024

Some defendants charged in the Capitol attack reacted to Donald Trump’s election victory with elation, as their defense lawyers began taking steps to delay trials or sentences in ongoing cases in anticipation of presidential pardons or more lenient treatment from a reshaped Justice Department. Trump has made pardoning January 6 defendants a signature campaign promise. He has not made clear who among the group of 1,500-plus people charged would receive pardons, though he has declined to rule out anyone, including members of extremist groups whose leaders were convicted of seditious conspiracy.

Republicans Make Major Gains in Control of State Governments

Yahoo News – Kevin Hardy (Stateline) | Published: 11/7/2024

Republicans won the White House on November 5 and strengthened their hold on state governments across the country. Before the election, the GOP controlled 57 state legislative chambers, while Democrats controlled 41 (Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature is nonpartisan). Republicans defended or expanded their control in several state capitols and won the only closely contested gubernatorial race with the election of former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte as New Hampshire’s next governor.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Campaign Finance Laws Make Funding of Election Challenges Murky

Arizona Capitol Times – Kiera Riley | Published: 11/1/2024

Funds fueling state candidate election challenges remain shrouded by Arizona’s campaign finance code, while congressional candidates’ funding is made fairly transparent by the FEC. A gap in reporting requirements between state and federal campaign finance laws has not drawn much ire from either side of the aisle beyond some raised eyebrows on who is financing litigation from last cycle and is still active well into 2024.

California – Real Estate Consultant Chiang Avoids Prison in Huizar’s LA City Hall Pay-to-Play Scheme

Daily Breeze – City News Service | Published: 11/5/2024

A real estate development consultant was sentenced to home detention and community service, but no prison time, for his role in the pay-to-play scheme at City Hall tied to now-imprisoned ex-City Councilperson Jose Huizar’s approval of large building projects in Los Angeles. George Chiang was also ordered to pay the maximum fine of $250,000. Because of his cooperation in the investigation, Chiang received a far lighter penalty than the 20 years in prison the charge carried, court papers show.

California – Measure OO: Effort to beef up Oakland’s public ethics commission leads comfortably

Local News Matters – Kiley Russell (Bay City News Service) | Published: 11/6/2024

Oakland’s Measure OO, designed to strengthen and update the city’s Public Ethics Commission (PEC), was ahead with about 72 percent of the vote based on early returns. The ballot measure would change the qualifications for the PEC, tighten rules governing lobbyist gifts to elected officials, add one more investigator to the commission’s staff, and authorize the PEC executive director to hire outside lawyers on issues where the city attorney has a conflict-of-interest, among other things.

California – Mark Farrell Hit with One of the Largest Ethics Fines on Eve of S.F. Mayoral Election

MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 11/4/2024

Mayoral candidate Mark Farrell is set to pay $108,000, the largest settlement in San Francisco Ethics Commission history, for campaign finance law violations. The agreement stems from Farrell launching a committee to support a ballot measure that has shared payroll and other expenses with his mayoral campaign. Unlike his mayoral campaign, Farrell’s ballot measure committee could accept donations beyond the $500 per person limit. An investigation found the committee repeatedly overpaid his mayoral campaign for their shared expenses.

California – Former 49ers Lobbyist’s Testimony Implicates Santa Clara Councilman in Grand Jury Leak

MSN – Lance Williams (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 11/6/2024

The San Francisco 49ers’ former top lobbyist testified Anthony Becker, the 2022 candidate for mayor of Santa Clara the team supported, leaked to him a confidential grand jury report that was sharply critical of the 49ers’ heavy involvement in local politics. Rahul Chandhok’s testimony implicated Becker on both a misdemeanor charge of mishandling an official document and perjury, for lying under oath in an ensuing investigation into how the leak occurred.

California – Former Huizar Associate Sentenced to Six Months Home Detention

The Eastsider LA – City News Service | Published: 11/4/2024

A longtime lobbyist and former City Hall official was sentenced to six months’ home detention for conspiring with now-imprisoned ex-Councilperson José Huizar in a bribery scheme. Morrie Goldman was also ordered to pay a $60,000 fine. Goldman pleaded guilty to a felony count of conspiring to commit bribery and honest services mail fraud in the government’s investigation of corruption at City Hall.

Colorado – Xcel Energy Ordered to Remove Investor Relations and Executive Salaries from Costs Passed on to Colorado Consumers

Colorado Sun – Mark Jaffe | Published: 11/5/2024

Colorado utility regulators, using the mandates in a 2023 law. are looking to carve lobbying fees, trade association dues, and investor relations costs from Xcel Energy rate requests. In a current gas rate case, more than $775,000 in such costs were disallowed. The figure in the future could be a lot higher based on the Colorado Public Utilities Commission decision in October ordering Xcel Energy to remove all investor relations costs, including a portion of executive salaries, from its calculations of costs passed on to customers.

Connecticut – CT’s Election Watchdog Agency Is Investigating 214 Cases, One Going Back 10 Years. What’s Taking So Long?

Stamford Advocate – Jacqueline Rabe Thomas and Ken Dixon | Published: 11/2/2024

Ten years have passed since Thomas Banisch filed a complaint with the state watchdog agency responsible for investigating and enforcing Connecticut’s election laws. The complaint alleging Ted Kennedy Jr. illegally raised $130,000 in his run for state Senate has yet to be resolved by the Connecticut State Elections Enforcement Commission. The database used to track the progress and status of election complaints shows dozens of others have been open for over a year. Nearly half the investigations the agency has closed over the last decade took at least a year to complete.

Delaware – Sarah McBride Wins Delaware Congressional Seat, Becomes First Transgender Rep in US History

MSN – Xerxes Wilson (Delaware News Journal) | Published: 11/5/2024

State Sen. Sarah McBride will be Delaware’s next representative in Congress, becoming the first transgender person elected to federal office in the history of the United States. She said her victory also sends a policy message, emphasizing her goals in Congress, that housing and healthcare be available to all, protecting reproductive freedom, and guaranteeing paid leave. McBride gained national attention when she became the first openly trans person to speak at the Democratic National Convention in 2016.

District of Columbia – Contractor at Center of Bribery Scandal Dropped from Sports Gambling Deal

MSN – Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2024

The District of Columbia halted more work with one of the contractors at the center of a federal investigation into Council member Trayon White Sr. District Services Management was dropped from a sports gambling subcontract, one of many government awards the company had received before its founder pleaded guilty to bribing a city official.

Florida – A Lobbyist Was Cited by the Ethics Commission; Now He’s Suing and Wants to Clear His Name

MSN – Mike Diamond (Palm Beach Post) | Published: 11/1/2024

Lobbyist Ron Book was cited for failing to cash checks from Palm Beach County Commissioner Sara Baxter for a ride on his private jet to Tallahassee to attend the inauguration of Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2023. Book’s lawyer argues a new state law should be applied retroactively, a move that would prevent the county’s Ethics Commission from pursuing the complaint. The new law adds time limits to the length of ethics investigations, requires sworn affidavits to launch complaints, and bans second-hand knowledge from being used in investigations.

Florida – In Miami-Dade, Christian Ulvert Helps Candidates win Elections and Developers Win Deals

Yahoo News – Douglas Hanks (Miami Herald) | Published: 11/1/2024

Christian Ulvert became prominent in local political circles for his work running campaigns for Democratic candidates in Miami-Dade County. Though not a registered lobbyist, he also works as a communications consultant for private-sector clients, advising developers and others seeking favorable decisions from Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and favorable votes from the county commission, where Ulvert has three campaign clients. The two sides of Ulvert’s business give him an enviable advantage as a paid consultant.

Louisiana – Supreme Court Will Hear Louisiana Map Case That Could Impact Black Voters

MSN – Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 11/4/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a complex dispute over how Louisiana draws congressional maps that could affect the power of Black voters in the state and the balance of power in Congress. The case will not impact the 2024 election since it will not be decided for months, but legal experts said it could have significant ramifications for how states consider race in drawing congressional districts to comply with the Voting Rights Act and therefore could impact future elections.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Tells State Racing Commission Director He Can Still Own Racehorses – for Now

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/5/2024

The Board of Ethics told the state’s new racing commission executive director that his racehorses can continue to compete in Louisiana, at least until he needs a new license in 2026. Stephen Landry became the Louisiana Racing Commission’s top staff member in March after Gov. Jeff Landry appointed new members to the board. Stephen Landry, who is not related to the governor, owns a third of two racehorses and half of another.

Louisiana – Private Calls and Campaign Cash: Louisiana regulators’ ties to the utilities they oversee

Yahoo News – Pam Radtke, Mario Alejandro Ariza, and Miranda Green (Floodlight) | Published: 11/3/2024

The Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) is one of the few in the nation where there are no restrictions on when, where, and how often commissioners can communicate with the utilities they regulate. Residents and small businesses have almost no sway over the PSC, compared to utilities and big industrial power customers, said Logan Atkinson Burke, executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy. Over the last decade, nearly 43 percent, or about $3.5 million, of $250 and over campaign contributions to Louisiana commissioners came from utilities, energy-related businesses, and their attorneys and lobbyists.

Louisiana – Louisiana Lawmaker Asks AG to Investigate Ethics Board Over Alleged Open Meetings Violation

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 11/6/2024

State Rep. Beau Beaullieu is asking the attorney general to investigate the Louisiana Board of Ethics for violations of government transparency laws. He alleges the ethics board is using an illegitimate and secretive process to hire a new state ethics administrator, the board’s most important employee. Republican legislative leaders had asked the board in October to hold off on picking a new administrator until January, when most of the board will be stacked with new appointees from Gov. Jeff Landry and the Legislature.

Maine – ‘A Recusal Issue Inside a Recusal Issue’: An ethics inquiry puts the Maine Supreme Court in uncharted territory

Maine Monitor – James Keefe | Published: 11/3/2024

State Supreme Judicial Court Justice Catherine Connors is facing disciplinary proceedings, a first for a sitting Maine high court justice, because she did not recuse herself from two foreclosure appeals before the court. While Connors could be the first Maine justice to be disciplined, two different committees of legal experts disagreed on whether her recusal was necessary.

Maine – Mainers Vote to Reform Campaign Finance, Open Path for Supreme Court to Weigh In

Maine Morning Star – Emma Davis | Published: 11/6/2024

Maine voters passed Question 1, which would limit individuals and other entities to contributing $5,000 per year to PACs that make independent expenditures for or against candidates. These donations are currently unlimited under state law. Question 1 is likely to face legal challenges. Representatives of Maine Citizens for Clean Elections worry it is a long shot at best and, at worst, could open an opportunity for the U.S. Supreme Court to instead loosen campaign finance restrictions.

Massachusetts – MassLandlords Sues Boston, Says City Withheld Public Records to Protect Mayor Wu, Hide Unlawful Rent Control Lobbying

MSN – Gayla Cawley (Boston Herald) | Published: 11/4/2024

A trade association for Massachusetts landlords is in a legal battle with Boston over public records it says the city withheld to hide unlawful lobbying from housing advocates that influenced the mayor’s stalled rent control plan. Douglas Quattrochi, executive director of MassLandlords, alleges in an affidavit that the city failed to produce 10 documents he believes to exist around the formation of the city’s Rent Stabilization Advisory Committee.

Mississippi – Jackson Bribery Scandal: Mayor Lumumba indicted, calls it ‘political prosecution’

MSN – Charlie Drape (Jackson Clarion Ledger) | Published: 11/6/2024

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba was indicted by a federal grand jury in a bribery scandal. City Councilperson Angelique Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in August, after accepting bribes from two undercover FBI agents posed as Nashville real estate developers. Court documents show Lumumba directed a city employee to move up a deadline for the city’s hotel project near the Jackson Convention Complex. Lumumba agreed to move the deadline after accepting $10,000 for his “reelection committee,” which was given to him as a check to hide the real source of the funding – the Nashville “developers.”

Nevada – Nevada Politicians Can Spend Donor Cash Outside the Campaign

Las Vegas Review-Journal – Eli Segall | Published: 11/4/2024

When Joe Lombardo gave $5,000 from his campaign account to a PAC, the future Nevada governor thought he was helping pay for the statue of a fallen Las Vegas police officer. The money was instead used by former Las Vegas Councilperson Michele Fiore to pay her rent. Fiore was recently convicted of wire fraud for diverting contributions to personal use, though donations like Lombardo’s, which came into focus during Fiore’s trial, are legal in Nevada.

New Hampshire – A New Campaign Finance Law Is Allowing Record-Breaking Spending in NH Governor’s Race

Yahoo News – Ethan DeWitt (New Hampshire Bulletin) | Published: 11/1/2024

In her quest for the New Hampshire governor’s office, Kelly Ayotte is breaking financial records. As of October 30, the former U.S. senator has raised $21 million into her personal campaign fund since running for the office and spent nearly $19 million of it. Seventy percent comes from a single PAC and none of those transactions can be traced to individual donors. The strategy is the direct result of a 2023 law that removes limits on donations to candidates from PACs. And after recent validation from the attorney general’s office, the Ayotte campaign’s application of the law could become common practice in future elections.

New Mexico – Federal Judge Halts ‘De Facto’ Ban on Use of Campaign Funds; State Senator Ortiz y Pino Donated $200 for Student Workshop

Yahoo News – Colleen Heild (Albuquerque Journal) | Published: 11/1/2024

New Mexico Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino tapped his campaign account in 2021 to make a $200 donation for a high school student’s summer workshop. The expenditure was subsequently deemed illegal under the state’s Campaign Reporting Act, but a federal judge decided the ban on charitable donations to individuals was itself problematic. District Court Judge Margaret Strickland halted, at least for now, any enforcement of the provision by the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office.

New York – NYC Mayor Eric Adams Gets April 2025 Trial Date as His Lawyers Fight to Get Bribery Charge Tossed

MSN – Jake Offenhartz and Michael Sisak (Associated Press) | Published: 11/2/2024

New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ federal corruption trial will begin April 21, 2025, a judge ruled, right in the thick of his promised reelection campaign. Adams’ lawyers are fighting to throw out a bribery charge, one of five counts against the first-term mayor. They argued the charge does not meet the U.S. Supreme Court’s recently narrowed threshold for the crime and should not apply to Adams because it involves allegations dating to before he became mayor.

New York – Eric Adams Aide Overrode Internal Scoring System to Award Contract to Major Donor

Yahoo News – Joe Anuta (Politico) | Published: 10/30/2024

A close friend of New York City Mayor Eric Adams disregarded an official scoring system for a bidding process he oversaw through his role controlling municipal real estate deals. Instead that friend, Jesse Hamilton, overruled the process altogether and steered a lucrative contract away from the initial winner and to a major mayoral donor. Hamilton’s role in the deal was the subject of a city council hearing as lawmakers grilled his boss about that and other suspected corruption at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.

Ohio – Issue 1 Fails Big in Ohio Despite Massive Money Advantage

MSN – Jessie Balmert and Laura Bischoff (Columbus Dispatch) | Published: 11/6/2024

Ohio voters rejected Issue 1, choosing to stick with the status quo instead of setting up a new citizen commission to draw congressional and state legislative districts. Ohio will continue to use its current redistricting method led by state lawmakers and a commission of seven elected officials. Ohio will keep its current state legislative maps through 2030 but the congressional map, approved without Democratic support, will be redrawn next year for the 2026 election.

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania Judge Denies Attempt to Stop Musk’s $1 Million Voter Giveaways

MSN – Trisha Thadani and Annabelle Timsit (Washington Post) | Published: 11/5/2024

Elon Musk’s pro-Donald Trump political group can continue for now with its $1 million a day giveaway to voters, after a state judge in Philadelphia denied an attempt by the city’s district attorney to block it. Judge Angelo Foglietta declined to issue an injunction against America PAC. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner filed the suit against Musk and his super PAC, alleging the daily $1 million giveaways violated state laws regulating lotteries and protecting consumers.

Rhode Island – Facing Questions, McKee Pays Lobbyist for Legal Help with ILO Probe

MSN – Eli Sherman (WPRI) | Published: 11/4/2024

Gov. Dan McKee’s has now paid a powerful statehouse lobbyist he hired earlier this year to help him navigate an ethics investigation amid questions about a potential conflict-of-interest. Gubernatorial spokesperson Laura Hart said the governor paid Dome Consultants lobbyist William Murphy an undisclosed amount of money. McKee hired the influential lobbyist as private counsel to advise him on how to handle a request from the attorney general’s office for an interview as a criminal probe into the state contract was coming to close.

Texas – U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar Secures Another Term as Criminal Trial Looms

Yahoo News – Matthew Choi (Texas Tribune) | Published: 11/6/2024

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar secured an 11th term representing his South Texas congressional district despite a federal indictment accusing him of a litany of corruption allegations. He and his family are synonymous with political power in Laredo, whose airport has a terminal that bears his name. Cuellar faces a criminal trial after the Justice Department indicted him on a series of charges alleging bribery, money laundering, and working on behalf of the Azerbaijani government and a Mexican bank.

National/Federal

An Ethical Minefield Awaits a Possible Second Trump Presidency

DNyuz – Ben Protess, Maggie Haberman, and Eric Lipton (New York Times) | Published: 10/29/2024

Days before Donald Trump became president in 2017, he promised to rein in his company’s freewheeling ways, assuring the American people his family business would not “take advantage of” his presidency. Nearly eight years later, he is making no such promises. The former and possibly future president is cashing in on a variety of new ventures as he seeks a second term, without offering to reinstate the guardrails from his first, according to financial filings and interviews with people familiar with his finances.

In Election’s Final Days, Dark Money and ‘Gray Money’ Fund Hidden Agendas

DNyuz – Theodore Schleifer and Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 10/30/2024

Across the country, supporters of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are taking advantage of a patchwork of lax laws that allow partisans to funnel millions of dollars through daisy chains of opaque entities into hard-hitting campaign tactics, all to try to sway the tiny slice of swing-state voters who could make the difference. Campaign operatives and donors have long deployed creative accounting to mask the flow of money into politics. But since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, it has become particularly difficult to follow the big-money flow in the weeks before Election Day.

Ethics Office Clears Federal Official for His Project 2025 Involvement

Government Executive – Eric Katz | Published: 10/25/2024

The federal government’s ethics czar said a top official at the Federal Communications Commission did not violate any laws or agreements when he helped write a chapter of Project 2025, the controversial document spearheaded by former Trump administration officials to outline agenda items for the Republican presidential nominee. More than a dozen House Democrats requested a probe into whether Carr violated ethics laws, noting the ties between Project 2025 and Trump and its stated goal of shaping policy decisions by presidential candidates.

The New Dark Money: How influencers get paid big bucks to court your vote

MSN – Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) | Published: 10/26/2024

Political campaigns and their surrogates are pouring millions of dollars into social media influencers with scant regulatory oversight or public transparency, as they embrace a marketing tactic that has revolutionized the U.S. economy. Online influencers earning thousands of dollars for a single TikTok or Instagram post on behalf of groups backing Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. Political groups that use other forms of advertising are required to disclose their affiliations, but freelance online creators are under no such obligation for political posts, even though federal regulations demand they say so when promoting a commercial product.

Elon Musk’s Pro-Trump PAC Awards More $1 Million Prizes Despite DOJ Warning

MSN – Perry Stein, Trisha Thadani, and Amy Wang (Washington Post) | Published: 10/25/2024

Elon Musk’s pro-Donald Trump political group awarded two additional $1 million prizes to swing-state voters despite warnings from the Justice Department the daily giveaways could violate election laws. The day before, the Justice Department sent a letter to America PAC, warning its contest offering registered voters in swing states a chance to win $1 million for signing a petition supporting free speech and the right to bear arms could be illegal.

GOP Focus on Rare Noncitizen Voting May Continue Long After Election Day

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 10/26/2024

Eight states, including the swing state of North Carolina, are taking up ballot measures also that would toughen bans on noncitizen voting, part of a broad and concerted Republican effort to stoke fears that hordes of noncitizens will illegally vote for Kamala Harris and deprive Donald Trump of a return to the White House. While that could inspire more Trump supporters to show up to the polls, voting rights activists warn the emphasis on removing noncitizens from the voter rolls could scare away recently naturalized citizens or eligible voters who have family members who are in the country illegally.

Spanish-Language Election Misinformation Has a Mass Audience – and a Long Shelf Life

MSN – Sarah Ellison and Adriana Usero (Washington Post) | Published: 10/29/2024

Latinos are the largest minority group in the U.S. and the fastest-growing segment of the American electorate. They stand to play a crucial role in the coming election for president and control of Congress, particularly in key states such as Florida, Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Latinos face misinformation from political actors at home and abroad. Specific storylines can resonate differently depending on a person’s cultural background. Certain social media habits place Latinos who consume at least some of their news in Spanish, regardless of national origin, in an especially difficult position when confronting efforts to mislead.

At Trump’s Request, Judge Delays Immunity Filing in Jan. 6 Prosecution

MSN – Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 10/28/2024

A federal judge granted the request from Donald Trump’s lawyers to push back the deadline for filing their view of whether the former president is immune from prosecution in the2020 election subversion case until two weeks after the presidential election. Trump’s attorneys asked to have until November 21, instead of November 7, to file a brief arguing why Trump’s efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory should be immune from criminal prosecution, citing disruptions caused by Hurricane Milton to the work of several of Trump’s Florida-based attorneys.

Congress Tried to Fix Presidential Transitions. Trump Is Testing the Changes.

MSN – Lisa Rein and Amy Gardner (Washington Post) | Published: 10/31/2024

After Donald Trump refused to concede the 2020 election, Congress moved to fend off a repeat of the 20 days of chaos that had obstructed the executive branch handover to Joe Biden. But the first test of one little-known change to the presidential transition process is now causing anxiety among government officials as Trump is potentially poised to return to power. If there is no apparent winner within five days of the election, every federal agency will be required on November 11 to open its doors to both Trump’s and Kamala Harris’s campaigns so they can simultaneously begin the sprint to install a new administration.

Election Day Poses Test for Justice Dept. Monitors in GOP-Led States

MSN – David Nakamura (Washington Post) | Published: 10/30/2024

The Justice Department’s ability to monitor local jurisdictions for voting rights irregularities on Election Day, already curtailed by the Supreme Court, is facing a new hurdle: opposition from Republicans who are seeking to block federal authorities from polling sites. While the Justice Department has the legal right to request access to polling sites, inflamed partisanship and ideological extremism has contributed to greater resistance to such activities in some GOP-controlled states, legal experts said. Those states have attempted to politicize the process and cast federal monitors as partisans from the Biden administration who cannot be trusted.

For Jeff Bezos and His Businesses, Washington Has Become More Important

MSN – Isaac Stanley-Becker, Aaron Davis, Josh Dawsey, and Christian Davenport (Washington Post) | Published: 10/30/2024

Jeff Bezos’s interests in Washington have expanded, with the federal government now contracting billions of dollars to Amazon’s cloud-computing subsidiary and Blue Origin, which is competing with SpaceX, the company founded by Donald Trump ally Elon Musk. Bezos has faced backlash since The Washington Post announced its editorial board would not endorse a candidate in this presidential election or in future ones. Commentators and a deluge of readers who canceled their subscriptions said they saw Bezos as upending a decades-old tradition to protect business interests that could be vulnerable in a second Trump administration.

Fires Set in Drop Boxes Destroy Hundreds of Ballots in Washington and Damage 3 in Oregon

Yahoo News – Gene Johnson and Claire Rush (Associated Press) | Published: 10/28/2024

Incendiary devices were set off at two ballot drop boxes, one in Portland and another in nearby Vancouver, Washington, destroying hundreds of ballots in what one official called a “direct attack on democracy” about a week before Election Day. The fire at the drop box in Portland was extinguished quickly and just three ballots were damaged there. The ballot box in Vancouver had a fire suppression system inside, but that failed to prevent hundreds of ballots from burning, said Greg Kimsey, the auditor in Clark County, Washington.

They Were Lobbying on Legislation Before His Committee. They Were Also Employing His Son.

Yahoo News – Benjamin Guggenheim (Politico) | Published: 10/24/2024

Rep. Richard Neal became chairperson of the House Ways and Means Committee in January 2019. A year later, his son Brendan Neal launched a one-person public affairs firm. Then the payments started from Richard E. Neal for Congress Committee to Brendan Neal Strategies for “strategic consulting services,” which now total more than $196,000. Brendan Neal’s cash haul from working for his father’s campaign while representing others with interests before the committee heightens concerns for liberal tax policy advocates and led some to publicly voice their concerns about Richard Neal.

AIPAC Has Paid for Hundreds of Lawmakers to Visit Israel – to Grow Support for Its Far-Right Government

Yahoo News – Aidan Hughes, Cait Kelley, and Daryl Perry (Politico) | Published: 10/30/2024

The nonprofit arm of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has hosted hundreds of trips to Israel for U.S. lawmakers. AIPAC is one of the most influential lobbyist organizations on K Street and promotes the Israeli government’s agenda. Now, as lawmakers face pressure from both sides on U.S. aid to Israel.

From the States and Municipalities

Alaska – Campaign Finance Watchdog Recommends $85K in Fines Against Opponents of Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting System

Yahoo News – Iris Samuels (Anchorage Daily News) | Published: 10/24/2024

The Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) found backers of a ballot initiative to alter the state’s voting system repeatedly violated campaign finance law by funneling their money through a church and inaccurately reporting their income and spending. The commission fined the backers more than $94,000 in January. APOC staff said the groups and individuals failed to pay the full fines levied against them and have not fulfilled the campaign reporting requirements spelled out by the commission.

Arizona – Arizona’s Ballot Is So Long It Could Create Election Day Problems

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Blair Guild (Washington Post) | Published: 10/29/2024

The ballot in Arizona this year is long. Very long. In Maricopa County, home to a majority of voters, there are full lists of the presidential electors from four parties, judges seeking to retain their seats, and 13 statewide ballot questions on abortion, taxes, illegal immigration, and a host of other issues. Election officials across the state worry this unusually long ballot could lead to a host of problems on and after Election Day in the key state that could determine the outcome of the presidential election.

California – California Mental Health Agency Director to Resign Following Conflict of Interest Allegations

California Healthline – Molly Castle Work (KFF Health News) | Published: 10/25/2024

California’s mental health commission announced its executive director would resign amid revelations he traveled to the United Kingdom courtesy of a state vendor while he sought to prevent a budget cut that would have defunded the company’s contract. Documents show Toby Ewing tried to protect state funding for Kooth, a London-based digital mental health company with a contract to develop a virtual tool to help California tackle its youth mental health crisis.

California – State Watchdog Agency Is Investigating Donations to Kevin de León’s Reelection Campaign

Los Angeles Times – Dakota Smith | Published: 10/26/2024

The California Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating donations received by Los Angeles City Councilperson Kevin de León’s reelection campaign. The investigation was prompted by allegations involving a nonprofit that distributes food to homebound seniors and low-income families in De León’s district through a contract with the city. The complaint alleged contributions to De León’s campaign from employees of the nonprofit, as well as its founder’s wife and daughter, may have violated a law that aims to prevent “pay to play practices.”

California – L.A. County Wants to Crack Down on Corruption. Is It Worth Up to $21 Million?

MSN – Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 10/28/2024

The city and county of Los Angeles each moved forward this election season with ballot measures to try to crack down on unethical behavior by public officials. The city wants to bolster its nearly 35-year-old ethics commission with Charter Amendment ER, which would give the watchdog body a minimum yearly budget of $7 million. The county wants to create its first ethics commission with Measure G, which could cost as much as $21.9 million a year, with salaries and employee benefits making up most of the price. The cost estimates have left supporters and detractors with sticker shock.

California – Some California Legislators Miss Hundreds of Votes, but Even ‘Excused’ Absences Count as a ‘No’

MSN – Sameea Kamal (CalMatters) | Published: 10/21/2024

Seven California Assembly members missed more than a quarter of their votes this year, most involving illness or family matters. When it comes to voting on bills, however, the Legislature does not distinguish between a lawmaker who is absent, excused or not, and a legislator who is present but does not vote. They all count the same as a legislator who casts a “no” vote, but they are categorized as “No Vote Recorded” or NVR.

California – No ‘Pattern of Corruption’ in Contracts Inked During Ridley-Thomas’ Tenure, Probe Finds

MSN – Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 10/30/2024

The bulk of contracts Los Angeles County signed during the 12-year tenure of former Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who was convicted last year on corruption charges, were untainted by fraud, according to an outside investigation. But the report said the county’s contracting process, closely scrutinized during the nearly three-year forensic audit, is full of holes.

California – What Does Another Corruption Scandal Mean for Orange County?

Voice of OC – Spencer Custodio | Published: 10/24/2024

Former county Supervisor Andrew Do will plead guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in a scheme that enriched his family anywhere from $550,000 to $730,000. The scandal comes a little more than two years after a federal corruption probe rocked Anaheim City Hall, one that saw former Mayor Harry Sidhu plead guilty to obstruction of justice for lying to federal investigators about trying to ram through the Angel Stadium sale for $1 million in campaign support.

Florida – Red Lights, Green Cash: How a Florida legislator boosted school bus cameras and benefited her family

MSN – Nandhini Srinivasan (The Tributary) | Published: 10/27/2024

Personal connections, aggressive lobbying, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions fueled the rapid rise of an obscure school bus camera vendor, BusPatrol, which quickly became a major player in a niche industry that did not exist in Florida until last year. BusPatrol’s fortunes echoes the comeback of Florida Rep. Vicki Lopez, with whom BusPatrol is inextricably linked. Last year, Lopez co-sponsored a bill allowing cameras on school buses statewide. Within months, her family had cashed in on the new industry through a web of connections built with BusPatrol, which stands to make millions of dollars from traffic tickets.

Florida – Long-Delayed Public Corruption Trial of Suspended Miami-Dade Commissioner Set to Begin

MSN – Charles Rabin (Miami Herald) | Published: 10/24/2024

After repeated delays since last Thanksgiving, the public corruption trial of one of Miami-Dade County’s longest-serving public servants began. Former Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez was suspended from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis in September 2022. Martinez is alleged to have collected $15,000 from a shopkeeper in his district in exchange for sponsoring a law that would have benefited the owner of the shopping plaza. The charges could land Martinez in prison for as many as 20 years.

Illinois – Hazy World of Springfield Politics at Center of Ex-Speaker Madigan’s Trial

MSN – Ray Long, Jason Meisner, and Megan Crepeau (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 10/27/2024

In the rapidly unfolding federal corruption trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, Illinoisans are getting a close-up view of how the longtime-Democratic chieftain lorded over the insider world of Springfield politics. Madigan and his lobbyist ally Michael McClain may be the center of the case. But in many ways, so is the opaque manner in which Springfield does business.

Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Plans to Pick New Administrator Before Landry Appointees Sworn In

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 10/29/2024

The Louisiana Board of Ethics plans to hire its new ethics administrator in December, just before Gov. Jeff Landry’s overhaul of the board membership takes place in January. The current administrator, Kathleen Allen, is leaving her job at the end of the year. Earlier this year, Landry pushed through a new law to give himself, as governor, more control over the board.

Mississippi – Court Rules Ballots That Arrive Late Shouldn’t Be Counted Despite Postmarks

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 10/15/2024

A federal appeals court ruled invalid a Mississippi law that allows election officials to count mail ballots that arrive after Election Day as long as they are postmarked by then. The ruling came less than two weeks before the presidential election and could have implications for other states with similar laws. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit did not rule on how the state should handle ballots for this election, saying that matter should be addressed later by a trial court judge.

Mississippi – How an FBI Corruption Probe in Tallahassee Is Similar to the Jackson, MS Bribery Scandal

Yahoo News – Charlie Drape (Jackson Clarion-Ledger) | Published: 10/29/2024

In 2015, two undercover FBI agents posed as crooked developers and infiltrated Tallahassee City Hall by offering bribes to elected officials in exchange for their support in favor of the developers for coveted real estate projects. That undercover FBI investigation into the city government in Tallahassee, Florida, offers striking similarities to Jackson’s ongoing bribery scandal. Both concern alleged bribes from “developers” to elected officials. Like Jackson, Tallahassee is a state capital.

New York – Harlem Woman Charged by Bragg in Adams Campaign Straw Donor Scheme Pleads Guilty

Gothamist – Samantha Max | Published: 10/29/2024

A woman accused of recruiting elderly residents of her housing complex to give illegal donations to New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. Millicent Redick is not expected to face any jail time, as long as she follows the court’s conditions, the plea agreement states. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Redick and five other people with allegedly conspiring to collect donations from people who would later be reimbursed, also known as straw donations.

New York – Former New York Budget Chief Robert Mujica’s Consulting Sparks Revolving Door Questions

New York Focus – Chris Bragg | Published: 10/29/2024

Former state budget director Robert Mujica’s consulting work for a powerful hospital lobbying group this year raised questions about his adherence to a law seeking to limit the “revolving door” between public servants and outside interests. New financial disclosures show Mujica began consulting for the Greater New York Hospital Association two months ahead of its multimillion-dollar lobbying campaign to pressure Gov. Kathy Hochul to increase Medicaid spending, and before the group held multiple lobbying meetings with Mujica’s former agency, the Division of the Budget.

New York – A New York Medical Group Fills Politicians’ Coffers. This House Republican Is Helping to Promote Them.

Yahoo News – Emily Ngo (Politico) | Published: 10/28/2024

U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota, who is facing a tough reelection fight, starred recently in a promotional video for a cancer treatment practice around the same time he took in a generous batch of campaign donations from its doctors. LaLota praised the “upbeat spirit” at the New York Cancer & Blood Specialists in a spot posted within days of affiliated physicians and a related PAC contributing $18,000 to his reelection bid. They also gave $130,000 to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s Grow the Majority committee, half of which then went to LaLota.

Ohio – Ex-Columbus Zoo Exec, Dubbed ‘Most Egregious’ Offender in $2.3 Million Theft, Sentenced

MSN – Dean Narciso (Columbus Dispatch) | Published: 10/28/2024

The last of five former employees of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was sentenced to five years in prison, ending a four-year investigation into a nearly $2.3 million theft scheme. A judge also ordered restitution of $639,297 and a $10,000 fine from Peter Fingerhut, the zoo’s former marketing director. Fingerhut was considered one of the masterminds of a decade-long theft spree. He set up VIP ticket contracts for himself and his family at sports and entertainment venues intended for zoo promotional use, among other schemes.

Ohio – Cincinnati Paid $11.5K for Signs Crediting Biden-Harris for Road Projects. Critics Say They’re Political

WCPO – Paula Christian | Published: 10/29/2024

Cincinnati officials spent $11,500 on five signs that critics say are political and were initially proposed to come down the day after Election Day. The signs credit President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with upcoming road projects that received funding from a bipartisan infrastructure law. They were originally supposed to credit only Biden. But before the signs were installed, city officials decided to add Harris’s name after she became the Democratic presidential candidate.

Ohio – Ohio Supreme Court: Attorney general can’t reject proposed constitutional amendments based on title

Yahoo News – Susan Tebben (Ohio Capital Journal) | Published: 10/30/2024

The Ohio Supreme Court spelled out the authority the state attorney general has when it comes to approving or rejecting constitutional amendment initiatives in a new ruling. The court ruled unanimously that Attorney General Dave Yost should not have rejected the Ohio Voters Bill of Rights proposal based on the title of the initiative.

Pennsylvania – Judge Strikes Down GOP Effort to Change Rules Over Military, Overseas Ballots

MSN – Colby Itkowitz (Washington Post) | Published: 10/29/2024

A federal judge in Pennsylvania threw out a lawsuit brought by six Republican members of Congress from the state that sought stricter scrutiny of ballots from overseas, including from members of the military stationed abroad. The lawmakers claimed that because local election officials in Pennsylvania are not required to verify the identity or eligibility of voters who register overseas, those ballots are vulnerable to fraud.

Rhode Island – Investigation Finds Insufficient Evidence to Prosecute McKee for Influencing Award of ILO Contract

Yahoo News – Alexander Castro (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 10/29/2024

State Attorney General Peter Neronha rebuked Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee over a state contract awarded to ILO Group but found there was not enough evidence to file criminal charges in the matter. ILO was one of the top two bidders seeking a federally funded contract to help schools meet COVID-19 safety protocols. The attorney general’s investigation centered around state bribery law, which requires prosecutors to show a quid pro quo occurred and benefited a state official in a personal or political capacity.

Tennessee – State Campaign Finance Agency Demands Transparency from Nashville’s Pro-Transit Campaign

Yahoo News – Evan Mealins (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 10/30/2024

The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance sent a letter to Nashville Moves Action Fund ordering them to register as a referendum committee by Election Day and submit financial disclosure reports as soon as possible. Nashville residents will decide on November 5 whether to establish a dedicated source of funding for transit improvements. The pro-transit campaign registered with the state under the Green Lights for Nashville PAC. Green Lights for Nashville filings show all of its cash donations came from one place: Nashville Moves Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit. These sorts of nonprofits usually do not have to identify their donors.

Virginia – Supreme Court Allows Virginia Effort to Strike Possible Noncitizen Voters

MSN – Ann Marimow and Justin Jouvenal (Washington Post) | Published: 10/30/2024

A divided U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for Virginia officials to remove about 1,600 voters from the state’s registration rolls less than one week before the presidential election. Gov. Glenn Youngkin asked the justices to intervene after two lower courts blocked his efforts to cancel the registrations of voters who could be noncitizens, an issue that Republican officials have seized on nationally to energize supporters even though noncitizen voting is extremely rare.

Virginia – Lack of Investigation by Local, State Officials into Richmond Campaign’s Finance Reporting Raises Concern

WTVR – Tyler Lane | Published: 10/24/2024

The campaign for a Richmond City Council candidate has reported thousands of dollars in donations from people who said they have never contributed any money, but no government official or agency said they were investigating the situation. The responses from local and state officials are raising questions about the role of finances in politics and the mechanisms for accountability, and some advocates and experts believe Virginia’s campaign reporting laws are not strong enough.

Washington – Campaign Watchdog Won’t Reconsider Penalty Against Let’s Go Washington

Yahoo News – Jerry Cornfield (Washington State Standard) | Published: 10/25/2024

Let’s Go Washington will not get another shot at convincing the state Public Disclosure Commission it did not violate campaign finance laws. Commissioners said they would not reconsider their October 9 ruling that the political committee failed to obtain and disclose information on payments to subvendors used by firms it hired to gather signatures for a slate of initiatives, including the four on the November ballot.

National/Federal

How Elderly Dementia Patients Are Unwittingly Fueling Political Campaigns

CNN – Blake Ellis, Melanie Hicken, Yahya Abou-Ghazala, Audrey Ash, Kyung Lah, Anna-Maja Rappard, Casey Tolan, Lou Robinson, and Brian Manley | Published: 10/22/2024

More than 1,000 reports filed with government agencies and consumer advocacy groups reviewed by CNN, along with an analysis of campaign finance data and interviews with dozens of contributors and their family members, show how deceptive political fundraisers have victimized hundreds of elderly Americans and misled those battling dementia or other cognitive impairments into giving away millions of dollars, far more than they ever intended. Some unintentionally joined the ranks of the top grassroots political donors in the country as they tapped into retirement savings and went into debt.

Federal Court Nominees’ Stays at Trump Hotel Pose Murky Ethical Dilemma

Courthouse News Service – Benjamin Weiss | Published: 10/22/2024

A report from House Democrats detailing possible violations of the Constitution’s presidential emoluments clause may also raise unexplored questions about judicial ethics. Lawmakers cited more than a dozen people, including ambassadors, state government officials, and people seeking presidential pardons, who spent thousands of dollars at Trump International Hotel during Donald Trump’s administration. Among those hotel guests were three of Trump’s judicial nominees, all of whom Democrats say stayed at Trump’s property while they were seeking his nomination to the bench.

U.S. Officials Say Russia Smeared Tim Walz, Might Stoke Post-Vote Violence

MSN – Joseph Menn and David Nakamura (Washington Post) | Published: 10/22/2024

Intelligence officials said Russians seeking to disrupt the U.S. elections created a faked video and other material smearing Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz with abuse allegations and are considering fomenting violence during and after the vote. The faked content accused Walz of inappropriate interactions with students while a teacher and coach. The posts drew millions of views on social media, falsely tarring the Minnesota governor ahead of November 5.

A New Washington Influence Industry Is Making Millions from Sanctions

MSN – Jeff Stein, Federica Cocco, and Peter Whoriskey (Washington Post) | Published: 10/24/2024

A sharp increase in U.S. sanctions has spawned a new lobbying industry in Washington, as businesses and governments around the world attempt to shape these economic penalties by hiring former American officials to leverage their connections. An avalanche of cash from abroad has flowed to former lawmakers and aides from both parties with experience at some of the highest levels of the government. Foreign spending on sanctions-related lobbying has surged from roughly $6 million in 2014 to at least $31 million in 2022, a more than fivefold increase that mirrors the rise in U.S. sanctions.

Why Are ABC Viewers Being Forced to See a Graphic Anti-Abortion Ad?

MSN – Jeremy Barr and Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 10/21/2024

Over the past weeks, ABC viewers across the country have been shown a graphic advertisement featuring images of aborted fetuses, as part of a campaign by anti-abortion rights advocate and long-shot presidential candidate Randall Terry. The ad has shocked viewers, who have taken to social media demanding to know why ABC would run it. But the network said it has no say in the matter. Because Terry is a candidate on the ballots in about a dozen states, ABC said it is bound by Federal Communications Commission rules to air the ad, unedited.

Judge Orders Giuliani to Forfeit Millions in Assets to Election Workers He Defamed

MSN – Eileen Sullivan (New York Times) | Published: 10/22/2024

A federal judge ordered Rudy Giuliani to turn over most of his possessions and available cash to a receivership controlled by the two Georgia election workers he defamed after the last presidential election. Giuliani has seven days to make the transfer, which includes his New York apartment and his vintage Mercedes-Benz. The judge also ordered him to turn over certain pieces of furniture, his television, sports memorabilia, jewelry, and 26 watches, including one that Giuliani said his grandfather gave him.

Appendix of Source Materials Unsealed in Trump Jan. 6 Prosecution

MSN – Spencer Hsu, Perry Stein, and Aaron Blake (Washington Post) | Published: 10/18/2024

U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan unsealed the appendix of source materials underpinning special counsel Jack Smith’s legal filing that detailed the evidence collected against Donald Trump in the federal election interference case, though the document was heavily redacted and appeared to contain few new revelations. Trump’s legal team opposed making the materials public so soon, arguing that the release now could appear as though the court was trying to affect the upcoming election. But Chutkan said withholding the documents could amount to election interference.

Musk Promises a Daily $1 Million Lottery in Questionable Pro-Trump Effort

MSN – Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 10/20/2024

Elon Musk announced he will give away $1 million each day to registered voters in battleground states who sign a petition put out by his super PAC’s voter recruitment drive. The plan also presents a special offer to voters in Pennsylvania: those who sign the petition will receive $100, and if they successfully convince another registered voter in the state to sign, they will receive another $100. Experts questioned the legality of the scheme because it ties a monetary reward to voter registration status, which is prohibited under federal law.

From the States and Municipalities

Alabama – Judge Halts Alabama State Program Aimed at Determining Voter Eligibility

MSN – David Nakamura and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 10/16/2024

A federal judge halted an Alabama state program aimed at removing undocumented immigrants from voter rolls, siding with the Justice Department and civil rights groups who argued the effort came too close to election day and improperly included people eligible to cast a ballot. In her ruling, District Court Judge Anna Manasco said the state’s efforts, which officials said identified 3,281 people whose voting status would be inactivated, included thousands of U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote and “far fewer noncitizens” who are ineligible.

Alaska – Alaska Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom Approves Campaign-Finance Ballot Measure for 2026 Vote

Alaska Beacon – James Brooks | Published: 10/18/2024

Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom approved a ballot measure that would reimpose financial limits on candidates and donors. The measure now faces a statewide vote in 2026. Bruce Botelho, a former state attorney general who is one of three leading sponsors of the ballot measure, said he hopes for faster action. If the Alaska Legislature passes “substantially similar” legislation to the ballot measure, it will be removed from the 2026 vote.

Arizona – Arizona County Official Who Delayed Certifying Election Results Accepts Plea Deal

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 10/21/2024

An Arizona Republican who helped inspire national concerns over county-level certification of the 2024 presidential election pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge related to a “failure or refusal” to perform her duty. Peggy Judd, who helps lead Cochise County, was indicted a year ago for allegedly flouting the state’s deadlines to formally accept the results of the 2022 midterm general election. State prosecutors asked that Judd serve unsupervised probation for 90 days, a period that extends through the certification process for the upcoming presidential election.

California – L.A. Times Editorials Editor Resigns After Owner Blocks Harris Endorsement

MSN – Kelsey Ables (Washington Post) | Published: 10/24/2024

The head of editorials at the Los Angeles Times, Mariel Garza, resigned after the newspaper’s billionaire owner Patrick Soon-Shiong vetoed the editorial board’s planned endorsement of Kamala Harris in the presidential election. Newspapers generally have separate, independent departments for news and editorial writing, with the editorial side offering opinions on issues – including endorsements for political candidates – while the newsroom focuses on facts.

California – California Regulator Slams SoCalGas for Misusing Customer Funds to Fight Electrification

MSN – Ari Plachta (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 10/23/2024

Reports have shown Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) wrongfully spent millions of customer dollars in recent years to oppose California’s growing electrification policies. SoCalGas, the nation’s largest gas utility, denied those findings. Now, the California Public Utilities Commission acknowledged SoCalGas inappropriately used ratepayer funds to promote natural gas through lobbying, legal fees, and other efforts and issued new transparency measures to monitor its future political activities.

California – Supervisor Andrew Do Agrees to Plead Guilty in Federal Investigation, Resign from Board of Supervisors

MSN – Destiny Torres, Tony Saavedra, and Michael Slaten (Orange County Register) | Published: 10/22/2024

Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do will plead guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and resign from the Board of Supervisors. Do admitted in his plea agreement that beginning in 2020 he received more than $550,000 in bribes to vote in favor of and direct COVID-related funds to the Viet America Society. He allocated the money without disclosing that his daughter worked and held leadership roles for the group. Instead of the funding going to meal programs, county District Attorney Todd said the money “filled the pockets of insiders, (Do), and … family members.”

California – How S.F.’s Former Dream Keeper Chief Used Her City Position to Boost Her Personal Brand

MSN – Michael Barba and St. John Barned-Smith (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 10/16/2024

Sheryl Davis, who resigned in September as head of San Francisco’s Dream Keeper Initiative amid reports of misspending and lax oversight, repeatedly used city resources to promote herself and a self-published children’s book, a media investigation found. Payments for a podcast and referrals to her personal website raise questions about whether Davis improperly used city resources, illustrating the blurred lines separating her career as a public official from her private life and ambitions as an author and public speaker.

California – Federal Judge Agrees to Dismiss Pending Charge Against Recology in San Francisco Bribery Case

Waste Dive – Cole Rosengren | Published: 10/18/2024

A federal judge agreed that Recology has satisfied the terms of its deferred prosecution agreement in San Francisco and granted a motion to dismiss a pending bribery charge against the company. Two former Recology executives – Paul Giusti, local director of government affairs, and John Porter, his supervisor and head of the SF Recology Group – were sentenced last year for their role in what the Justice Department described as “one of the largest corruption scandals in San Francisco history.”

Florida – ‘It’s the First Amendment, Stupid’: Federal judge blasts DeSantis administration for threats against TV stations

MSN – Liam Reilly and Brian Stelter (CNN) | Published: 10/17/2024

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mark Walker granted a temporary restraining order against Florida’s surgeon general after the state health department threatened to bring criminal charges against broadcasters airing an ad in support of a ballot measure that that seeks to overturn a six-week abortion ban by enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution. “To keep it simple for the State of Florida: it’s the First Amendment, stupid,” wrote Walker.

Georgia – Georgia Supreme Court Refuses to Reinstate Hand-Count Rule in Time for Election Day

MSN – Aysha Bagchi (USA Today) | Published: 10/22/2024

The Georgia Supreme Court rejected a Republican request for a speedy appeal to get seven rules, including a requirement for thousands of poll workers to hand count ballots, reinstated in the final weeks before the election. The decision likely means none of the rules will be in place on November 5. The appeal will still be able to proceed on the regular, slower timeline.

Hawaii – Maui Voters to Decide If County Board of Ethics Can Hire a Full-Time Staff

Honolulu Civil Beat – Leo Azambuja | Published: 10/21/2024

Maui voters are being asked to allow the county Board of Ethics to hire its own full-time staff, including an executive director, a secretary, and an investigator. The all-volunteer board currently has no staff, and the proposed county charter amendment would allow more opportunities for ethics training of county employees and investigations of ethics violations.

Hawaii – Hawaii Legislature Rarely Uses Its Own Process to Investigate Lawmakers

Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 10/16/2024

There are concerns that the Hawaii Legislature does not do much about lawmakers who behave badly, and whether the public would even hear about it if they did. The House Select Committee on Standards of Conduct appears to have rarely convened since its inception 16 years ago. Members of both chambers and parties say a big reason is legislators are reluctant to speak out for fear of retaliation “Anyone who complains, forget your bills …,” said Sen. Les Ihara, who was the author of a 2007 bill that called for setting up legislative ethics committees.

Illinois – Corrupt Political Boss or Defender of His Constituents? Madigan Trial Begins in Earnest

MSN – Jason Meisner, Megan Crepeau, and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 10/21/2024

It has been five years since former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, the nation’s longest-serving legislative leader and the kingpin of the state’s Democrats, landed in the crosshairs of a federal corruption investigation. As opening statements in Madigan’s historic trial got underway, his defense team said the government’s cooperating witnesses were liars with an “axe to grind” who were operating without the speaker’s knowledge or authorization. Prosecutors told the jury Madigan ruthlessly used his perch at the top of state politics to betray the public trust, increase his power, enrich his friends, and line his own pockets.

Louisiana – The Louisiana Ethics Board Is Trying to Rein in PAC Spending. Lawmakers Are Balking.

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 10/23/2024

The Louisiana Board of Ethics has quietly clamped down on PAC spending for over a year, angering state lawmakers and a campaign advisor to Gov. Jeff Landry. Campaign finance attorneys said the ethics board has started to ask more questions, and possibly launched more investigations, into elected officials’ PAC spending since the middle of 2023. Legislators confirmed they were being told to take care when spending PAC money for the time being

Michigan – State Says Anti-Renewable Group Violated Campaign Finance Law Following Planet Detroit Investigation

Planet Detroit – Brian Allnutt | Published: 10/18/2024

The Michigan Department of State found the nonprofit Our Home Our Voice (OHOV) committed a “potential violation” of campaign finance law with its fundraising for a ballot question committee looking to repeal a renewable energy law. The law could allow energy developers to overcome restrictive local ordinances that block large-scale wind and solar projects from being built. The decision follows a report that found that OHOV, a 501(c)(4) organization, appeared to solicit donations for the ballot initiative and donated $54,200 to the ballot question committee.

Mississippi – Second Conspirator Pleads Guilty in Jackson Bribery Case. Man Tied to 2 Elected Officials

Yahoo News – Charlie Drape (Jackson Clarion Ledger) | Published: 10/17/2024

A second person in a bribery scandal pleaded guilty in the case that brought down former Jackson City Councilperson Angelique Lee. At least two other elected officials are involved. Court documents in the case were unsealed for Sherik Marve Smith, who is associated with Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens’ real estate company, which is being investigated by the FBI. Smith was also working with “Unindicted Co-Conspirator B” and “Unindicted Co-Conspirator C,” who are both elected officials of the city of Jackson, according to court documents.

Missouri – Ex-St. Louis Prosecutor Admits She Misused Public Funds and Avoids Criminal Charges

MSN – Heather Hollingsworth (Associated Press) | Published: 10/23/2024

A former prosecutor in St. Louis admitted she should not have used thousands of dollars in public funds to pay herself back after getting fined for mistakes while prosecuting a governor. Kim Gardner resigned under fire last year after being elected the city’s first Black circuit attorney in 2016. She will avoid federal criminal prosecution for misusing the $5,004 in public funds as long as she pays them back and follows other rules of a pretrial diversion agreement.

Nebraska – Felons with Finished Sentences Can Register to Vote, Nebraska Supreme Court Rules

MSN – Praveena Somasundaram (Washington Post) | Published: 10/16/2024

Nebraska residents who were convicted of felonies and have finished their sentences can vote in the November election, the state’s Supreme Court ruled, potentially opening the door for thousands of Nebraskans to cast their ballot. The ruling could have implications for the presidential race as Nebraska, which is solidly red, is one of two states that award some of their electoral votes by congressional district.

Nevada – ‘Gaping Loophole’ in Campaign-Finance Law: Dan Bilzerian, others give big to politicians

MSN – Eli Segall (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 10/17/2024

Las Vegas celebrity Dan Bilzerian has injected large amounts of money into Nevada politics, allowed by a legal loophole that lets him give the maximum amount through corporate entities. It is a common practice in Nevada, experts say. Since the U.S. Supreme Court lifted the lid on corporate political spending, outside groups have spent billions of dollars trying to influence federal elections. Nevada law has long allowed people to give big to state and local candidates: Donors can give the maximum allowed in their own name and through a limitless number of corporate entities to the same candidate, experts said.

Nevada – Here’s What Will Happen to Library Executive Who Took Super Bowl Tickets

MSN – Jessica Hill (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 10/16/2024

The executive director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District who accepted free Super Bowl tickets is required to implement ethics training for himself and his staff in accordance with an agreement approved by the Nevada Commission on Ethics. Kelvin Watson received tickets to attend the Super Bowl in Las Vegas that were valued at around $8,600.

Nevada – Former Las Vegas Area Democratic Politician Gets Minimum 28 Years in Prison for Killing Reporter

MSN – Ken Ritter (Associated Press) | Published: 10/16/2024

A former Las Vegas-area elected official was sentenced to serve at least 28 years in prison for killing an investigative journalist who wrote articles critical of his conduct in office two years ago and exposed an intimate relationship with a female coworker. A judge invoked sentencing enhancements for use of a deadly weapon and the age of the reporter to add eight years to the minimum 20-years-to-life sentence that a jury set after finding Robert Telles guilty of first-degree murder.

New Hampshire – ‘Wrap Up Quickly’: State supreme court justice indicted for allegedly interfering with investigation into ports director husband

MSN – Elura Nanos (Law and Crime) | Published: 10/16/2024

New Hampshire Supreme Court Associate Justice Anna Hantz Marconi, who is married to a long-embattled state official, was indicted for interfering with a criminal investigation into her husband. According to prosecutors, Marconi attempted to influence Gov. Chris Sununu to cut short an investigation into State Ports and Harbor Director Geno Marconi.

New York – Stricter New Rules for Campaign Cash Could Deal Blow to Mayor Adams’ Reelection Bid

Gothamist – Brigid Bergin | Published: 10/21/2024

Under proposed rule changes, the New York City Campaign Finance Board would be required to withhold the public financing program’s eight-to-one matching funds from candidates who violate specific rules. Until now, the board has been able to use its discretion to determine a candidate’s eligibility for matching funds, despite most compliance concerns. Board officials say the proposals amount to little more than bureaucratic housekeeping. But the new rules could have major implications for Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign.

New York – Where’s The Money? More Than $400,000 Missing from Bronx Democratic Party Disclosures

New York Focus – Sam Mellins | Published: 10/15/2024

The Bronx Democratic Party has failed to disclose more than $400,000 in contributions over the past four years, an apparent violation of campaign finance law. A New York Focus review found the state Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee transferred the funds in over a dozen installments, yet those contributions never appeared on the Bronx party’s paperwork.

North Dakota – Ethics Commission May Seek More Protections for Whistleblowers

Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 10/24/2024

The North Dakota Ethics Commission is considering proposing a new law during the 2025 legislative session to protect whistleblowers. North Dakota already has whistleblower laws, but none explicitly cover the Ethics Commission. Another proposal would specify that the two-year prohibition on lobbying after a public official leaves their office only applies to those who were elected, not those who were appointed.

Oklahoma – Records Conceal Oklahoma Governor’s Aircraft Travel Information in Apparent Flouting of State Law

Yahoo News – Barbara Hoberock (Oklahoma Voice) | Published: 10/7/2024

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and his wife have used a state plane to travel the country, but records conceal the purpose and passengers of many flights, raising questions about why they are not following state law on transparency. While officials blame each other for omissions on the Department of Transportation’s Beechcraft King Air’s flight logs, some legal experts say state law requires users to cite the reason for all flights and to clearly state who is aboard. But the law contains no consequences, such as fines, for noncompliance.

Oregon – Portland Mayoral Candidate Rene Gonzalez Broke Law by Using Taxpayer Money to Edit Wikipedia Page, Auditor Finds

MSN – Jamie Goldberg (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 10/21/2024

Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez, who is running for mayor, broke campaign finance rules when he used public funds to spruce up his Wikipedia page, the city auditor’s office announced. Chief Deputy Auditor Reed Brodersen wrote that Gonzalez violated the law by using city staff time, money, and services when he paid a company $6,400 this spring to help him highlight that he is a Democrat on his Wikipedia page. The auditor’s office issued Gonzalez a fine of $2,400.

Pennsylvania – A Judge Dismissed a Lawsuit That Ex-Mayoral Candidate Jeff Brown Filed Against the Ethics Board

MSN – Anna Orso (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 10/16/2024

A Philadelphia judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by former mayoral candidate Jeff Brown and a super PAC that spent millions of dollars to back his unsuccessful bid against the city’s Board of Ethics. Brown, as well as the PAC and a related nonprofit, argued the ethics board improperly used its power to undermine his run for mayor last year by publicly accusing him of campaign finance violations in the middle of the race.

Pennsylvania – A GOP Operative Accused a Monastery of Voter Fraud. Nuns Fought Back.

MSN – Praveena Somasundaram (Washington Post) | Published: 10/23/2024

A Republican operative in Pennsylvania falsely suggested to his nearly 58,000 followers on X that no one lived at a monastery in Erie, Pennsylvania, and mail ballots cast from there would be “illegal votes.” But the address Cliff Maloney posted belonged to the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, where 55 nuns live full time. In a public statement, Sister Stephanie Schmidt called Maloney’s post, which has been viewed more than 2 million times, “blatantly false,” adding that “a simple web search would alert him to our active presence in a number of ministries in Erie.”

Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania High Court Gives Voters Provisional Option If Their Mail Ballots Get Rejected

Yahoo News – Mark Scolforo and Marc Levy (Associated Press) | Published: 10/23/2024

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said people whose mail ballots are rejected for not following technical procedures in state law can cast provisional ballots, a decision sure to affect some of the thousands of mail-in votes likely to be rejected this fall. The court ruled Butler County’s Republican-majority election board must count provisional ballots that were cast by two voters after they learned their mail-in ballots were voided because they arrived without mandatory secrecy envelopes.

Texas – Whitmire Launches Ethics Investigation into Controller Hollins Over Potential ‘Pay to Play’ Sponsorships

MSN – Mike Morris and Abby Church (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 10/17/2024

The Houston Annual Investor Conference is now in its ninth year, but this year’s event is the first for which sponsorships have been sought, Mayor John Whitmire said. The conference’s website lists sponsorships from $10,000 up to $100,000, with increasing perks for top donors. Whitmire asked the Office of Inspector General to investigate if any city ordinances were violated by the solicitation of sponsorships. He will not attend the conference and called on City Controller Chris Hollins to cancel it.

Virginia – Va.’s AG Accused an Election Worker of Corruption. She’s Suing Him Back.

MSN – Emily Davies (Washington Post) | Published: 10/17/2024

The former head of a Virginia county elections office has sued the state’s attorney general and current and former members of his office, saying they intentionally brought baseless corruption charges against her to further their political agenda and justify the creation of a controversial election integrity unit. The criminal case against Michele White, who was Prince William County’s registrar during the 2020 election, fizzled when Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares dropped the charges weeks before trial.