Ward 8 City Council Member James Hardy resigned effective July 1.

Hardy was elected in November 2023 but stepped down after his professional duties with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation expanded.

Council will have 30 days to appoint a new member and voters will select a permanent replacement for the position in 2025.

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “In CD1 Race, Mysterious Group’s Ads May Have Violated Campaign Finance Law” by Laura Gersony (Arizona Republic) for MSN

California: “California Gubernatorial Candidate Spent Big on Vienna Trip – with Her Spouse’s Firm” by Christopher Cadelago (Politico) for MSN

North Carolina: “Republicans: Veto override levels campaign finance playing field” by Alan Watson for Center Square

Elections

National: “Could Biden Be Replaced as the 2024 Democratic Nominee?” by Colby Itkowitz and Amy Gardner (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Judge Cannon Orders Hearing for Trump to Challenge Mar-a-Lago Search” by Devlin Barrett and Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Justices Strike Obstruction Charge for Jan. 6 Rioter, Likely Impacting Others” by Ann Marimow and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) for MSN

Oklahoma: “Ryan Walters: Bible must be taught in schools, strict compliance expected” by Murray Evans (Oklahoman) for MSN

Lobbying

Illinois: “CTU Lobbyist Helped Craft Mayor’s Letter to Senate President at Heart of Springfield Selective Enrollment Fight” by Alice Yin and Jeremy Gorner (Chicago Tribune) for Yahoo News

National/Federal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Masks Are Going from Mandated to Criminalized in Some States

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supreme Court Allows White House Contacts with Social Media Firms

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

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

Robert Winnett Will Not Join Washington Post as Top Editor

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

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

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

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

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

Should Doctors in Congress Earn Money for Their Side Job?

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

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

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

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

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

Judge in Trump Documents Case Rejected Suggestions to Step Aside

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

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

From the States and Municipalities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New York – Judge Partially Lifts Trump Hush Money Gag Order

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Campaign Finance

New Mexico: “Ethics Commission Asks Judge to Force Disclosure from Dark Money Group” by Marjorie Childress for New Mexico In Depth

Elections

Arizona: “Judge Disqualifies Himself from Lawsuit Challenging Ballot Measure on Judicial Retention” by Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) for Arizona Capitol Times

Ethics

National: “Judge Cannon Skeptical of Trump Claim FBI Mishandled Mar-a-Lago Search” by Perry Stein and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Supreme Court Allows White House Contacts with Social Media Firms” by Ann Marimow and Cat Zakrzewski (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Supreme Court Wipes Out Anti-Corruption Law That Bars Officials from Taking Gifts for Past Favors” by Charlie Savage (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

Nevada: “Commissioners Hit with Ethics Complaints for Attending Las Vegas Grand Prix” by Taylor Avery for Las Vegas Review-Journal

New York: “Judge Partially Lifts Trump Hush Money Gag Order” by Luc Cohen (Reuters) for MSN

Oregon: “Former Oregon Officials Will Pay $2,000 Each to Settle Ethics Complaint Over Amazon Deals” by Mike Rogoway (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Campaign Finance

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

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

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

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

Ethics

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

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

Legislative Issues

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

Lobbying

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

Q: I’m travelling to a new state to have lobbying meetings with legislators and staffers. My outside counsel will be with me and has told me I don’t need to register as a lobbyist because we will be together. Is this true?

A: This is a question I get routinely and I refer to it as the “bubble rule.” The basic idea is if I am with a registered lobbyist while engaging in lobbying, I will not have to register myself. The majority of states do not have such a rule. When you engage in lobbying, you must evaluate whether you need to register independently of the fact that a registered lobbyist is with you during your communications.

Some states do have a version of the “bubble rule”. In California, an individual does not engage in a direct lobbying communication if he or she is an employee of a lobbyist employer, meets or speaks with a qualifying official in the company of a registered lobbyist retained by the individual’s employer, and participates as a subject matter expert. Idaho will not require registration for employees of a corporate entity if the entity itself has registered as a lobbyist, has appointed one or more of its employees or contractors as its official designated lobbyist, and the person so appointed by the entity has registered. Finally, Utah might have the best version of the rule. In short, an individual representing an entity who interacts with a public official, while accompanied by a registered lobbyist who is lobbying in relation to the subject of the interaction, is not required to register so long as the person does not make an expenditure on a public official.

Please keep in mind the nature of the interaction and why you are accompanying your outside counsel may itself be an exemption to lobbyist registration. You may be serving as a subject matter expert, which is referenced in the above California example. You may be testifying before a legislative committee, which is often seen as an exemption from lobbyist registration. Remember if using a testifying exemption from registration, you often cannot engage in any other lobbying communications.

In summary, do not believe that you are exempt from lobbyist registration simply because you are lobbying with someone who is already registered. Know the laws in the state and evaluate your need to register independently of who is with you during your meetings.

The information from this response can easily be found on our website in the Lobbying Compliance section of the United States Lobbying Compliance Guidebook.  Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions.

Campaign Finance

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

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

Ethics

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

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

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

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

Legislative Issues

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

Lobbying

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

The Office of the Integrity Commissioner has updated the Ontario Lobbyists Registry to conform to a recent cabinet shuffle that resulted in changes to ministers’ titles and ministry name. Specifically, amendments to Ontario Regulation 146/10, Public Bodies and Commission Public Bodies, authorized under the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006, added five new agencies, removed 12 agencies, and changed the name of one of the agencies.

The electronic lobbyist registry will now automatically remove previous selections of the changed targets (ministries) from active registrations. However, the new or amended ministers’ offices and ministries will need to be manually selected by the registrants.

As an example from the Office, the “Ministry of Energy” will automatically be removed from active registrations. However, if a registrant is still lobbying this ministry, they are required to update their registrations by manually selecting “Ministry of Energy and Electrification.”

The Office has created a webpage listing the changes at https://www.oico.on.ca/en/changes-lobbying-target-names, where one can find lists of the new names of ministers’ offices, the ministries, the new ministries, and the removed agencies.

In their June 19 monthly newsletter, the Office of the Integrity Commissioner has stated, “Lobbyists and senior officers should check their registrations to ensure their ministry and agency target lists are up to date. As always, it remains the responsibility of each consultant lobbyist and senior officer to ensure that their registrations are accurate. Consultant lobbyists and senior officers have 30 calendar days under the Lobbyists Registration Act, 1998 to provide these updates.”

Campaign Finance

Alaska: “Judge Upholds Fines Levied Against Ranked Choice Opponents for Campaign Finance Violations” by Iris Samuels for Anchorage Daily News

Maryland: “Former Pr. George’s Councilman Mel Franklin Charged with Embezzlement” by Katie Mettler, Latesha Beachum, and Jasmine Hulton (Washington Post) for MSN

North Carolina: “North Carolina Governor Vetoes Masks Bill Largely Because of Provision About Campaign Finance” by Makiya Seminera (Associated Press) for MSN

Elections

Nevada: “Nevada Judge Dismisses Case Against Trump Electors, Citing Jurisdiction” by Nicole Markus and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Judge in Trump Documents Case Rejected Suggestions to Step Aside” by Charlie Savage amd Alan Feuer (New York Times) for Yahoo News

Florida: “Government Watchdogs Will Lose Some Ethics Oversight Powers Under Bill DeSantis Signed” by Ana Ceballos (Miami Herald) for MSN

National: “Robert Winnett Will Not Join Washington Post as Top Editor” by Benjamin Mullin and Katie Robertson (New York Times) for MSN

Texas: “U.S. Supreme Court Sides with Texas Woman Who Claims She Was Arrested Out of Political Retribution” by Isaac Yu (Texas Tribune) for MSN

On June 14, the Rhode Island General Assembly adjourned.

Lawmakers passed bills to simplify language used on ballot questions and to no longer require unaffiliated primary voters to affiliate with the party holding the primary.

While bills affecting lobbying were introduced, none passed.

National/Federal

Democrats Announce a $10 Million Push for State Legislatures

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mystery Fundraising Firm Takes in Millions from the Trump Campaign

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Anti-China Pressure Hits DC Trade Groups

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

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

New Documents Show Unreported Trips by Justice Clarence Thomas

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

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

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

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

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

Stanford’s Top Disinformation Research Group Collapses Under Pressure

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

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

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

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

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

Lack of Regulation for ‘Zombie’ Campaign Accounts

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

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

From the States and Municipalities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hawaii – Honolulu Council Adopts Gift Ban Bill for City Officials

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Montana – Political Practices Commissioner Rules That AG Candidate Was Ineligible

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Campaign Finance

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

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

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

Elections

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

Ethics

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

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

Legislative Issues

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

Lobbying

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

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

Campaign Finance

Delaware: “Delaware Gubernatorial Candidate Bethany Hall-Long Has Taken $25,000 in Donations That Exceed Legal Limit” by Chris Barash for WHYY

National: “Mystery Fundraising Firm Takes in Millions from the Trump Campaign” by Matt Dixon (NBC News) for MSN

New York: “How One Woman’s Quest to Fix Her Harlem Housing Complex Got Her Busted on Campaign Finance Charges” by Graham Rayman and Téa Kvetenadze (New York Daily News) for MSN

Elections

Ohio: “Federal Appeals Court to Reconsider Case Affecting Attorney General Dave Yost’s Authority to Block Proposed Ballot Issues” by Andrew Tobias (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Ethics

National: “The Gun Lobby’s Hidden Hand in the 2nd Amendment Battle” by Mike McIntire and Jodi Kantor (New York Times) for DNyuz

Louisiana: “Gov. Jeff Landry, in Dispute with Ethics Board, Signs Law Giving Himself More Control Over It” by Julie O’Donoghue for Louisiana Illuminator

North Carolina: “North Carolina Supreme Court Secretly Squashed Discipline of Two GOP Judges Who Admitted to Violating Judicial Code” by Doug Bock Clark (ProPublica) for MSN

Lobbying

Minnesota: “Utility Regulators Hosted Annual Conference in Minneapolis with Money from Entities They Oversee” by Walker Orenstein (Minneapolis Star Tribune) for MSN

I recently learned that in the month of June, the 18th is designated as International Day for Countering Hate Speech. Officially established by the United Nations General Assembly via Resolution A/RES/75/309 in 2021, the first observance of this day occurred the following year in 2022 and was established to raise awareness about the dangers of hate speech to, “…human rights, democracy, and the rule of law” (daysoftheyear.com).

Given the state of the world today, how fitting it is for me to learn about this day now! As someone who is a lover and studier of words, I, myself, am very cognizant of how I verbally show up, not only in person, but online as well. We all recognize that words matter – and they can hurt! Let us take a moment to turn down the temperature in our rhetoric and strive to do as much as we can to contribute to democracy and a civil society.

In order to observe International Day for Countering Hate Speech, the United Nations “invites governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and individuals to hold events and initiatives promoting strategies to identify, address and counter hate speech.” Below are some ideas from daysoftheyear.com that can help promote this effort:

•      Educate yourself and others

•      Participate in workshops

•      Support affected individuals

•      Promote positive speech online

•      Engage in public discussions

•      Report hate speech

•      Create awareness materials

•      Join global movements

Hate speech can be deadly! Let’s all do our part to help spread love, positivity, and encouragement – one word at a time!