June 8, 2017 •
Thursday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying Kentucky: “Judge Tosses Ethics Rules for Kentucky Lobbyists, Lawmakers” by Adam Beam (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report Campaign Finance Maryland: “Montgomery County Candidates Line Up for Taxpayer-Funded Contributions” by Bill Turque for Washington Post Missouri: “What […]
Lobbying
Kentucky: “Judge Tosses Ethics Rules for Kentucky Lobbyists, Lawmakers” by Adam Beam (Associated Press) for U.S. News & World Report
Campaign Finance
Maryland: “Montgomery County Candidates Line Up for Taxpayer-Funded Contributions” by Bill Turque for Washington Post
Missouri: “What You Need to Know about Missouri’s Evolving Campaign Finance Laws” by Travis Zimpfer for Missouri Times
Tennessee: “Record $465,000 Fine Issued Against Jeremy Durham for ‘Egregious’ Campaign Finance Violations” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean
Ethics
“How Donald Trump Shifted Kids-Cancer Charity Money into His Business” by Dan Alexander for Forbes
“Lobbyists, Industry Lawyers Were Granted Ethics Waivers to Work in Trump Administration” by Eric Lipton and Danielle Ivory for New York Times
“Top Intelligence Official Told Associates Trump Asked Him If He Could Intervene with Comey on FBI Russia Probe” by Adam Entous for Washington Post
“Inside the Heaving, Jostling Capitol Media Mob: ‘We are one tripped senator away’ from disaster.” by Elise Viebeck and Ben Terris for Washington Post
Kentucky: “In Appeal, Gov. Matt Bevin Argues He Paid Fair Price for Anchorage Mansion” by Tom Loftus for Louisville Courier-Journal
New Mexico: “‘Enforcement Gap’ Persists in NM Ethics Laws” by Laura Paskus for NM Political Report
South Carolina: “Senate Approves New South Carolina Ethics Commission Members” by Maya Prabhu for Charleston Post and Courier
June 7, 2017 •
Wednesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying Texas: “City Officials Question Oversight of Visit Austin” by Shonda Novak for Austin American-Statesman Utah: “Utah Bars Fighting the State’s Strict New DUI Law with Fundraising and Petition Drive” by Kathy Stephenson for Salt Lake Tribune Campaign Finance “Amid […]
Lobbying
Texas: “City Officials Question Oversight of Visit Austin” by Shonda Novak for Austin American-Statesman
Utah: “Utah Bars Fighting the State’s Strict New DUI Law with Fundraising and Petition Drive” by Kathy Stephenson for Salt Lake Tribune
Campaign Finance
“Amid Trump’s Unpopularity, Democrats Face Criticism for Not Investing More in Special Elections” by Mike DeBonis and David Weigel for Washington Post
Florida: “Someone Raised $200K from Miami Beach Bigwigs, But No One Will Say Why” by Nicholas Nehamas and Joey Flechas for Miami Herald
South Carolina: “South Carolina Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant’s New Campaign Account Under State Ethics Review” by Andy Shain for The State
Ethics
“Top Intelligence Official Told Associates Trump Asked Him If He Could Intervene with Comey on FBI Russia Probe” by Adam Entous for Washington Post
“Comey Told Sessions: Don’t leave me alone with Trump” by Michael Schmidt and Matt Apuzzo for New York Times
“Trump Organization to Go Budget Friendly With ‘American Idea’ Hotel Chain” by Steve Eder and Ben Protess for New York Times
“Intelligence Contractor Is Charged in First Leak Case Under Trump” by Charlie Savage for New York Times
Florida: “City Councilman Tried to Sell His Vote to Fill Council Seat for $15,000, Witnesses Testify” by Brett Kelman, Jesse Marx, ands Rosalie Murphy (Palm Beach Desert Sun) for USA Today
Redistricting
“US Supreme Court Affirms NC Legislative Districts as Racial Gerrymanders” by Anne Blythe for Raleigh News and Observer
June 6, 2017 •
Tuesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Campaign Finance District of Columbia: “Council Member Todd Gets Minor Fine for Many Campaign Finance Infractions” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post Maine: “Ethics Commission Staff Calls for Probe of Casino Referendum Campaign” by Kevin Miller for Portland Press Herald […]
Campaign Finance
District of Columbia: “Council Member Todd Gets Minor Fine for Many Campaign Finance Infractions” by Aaron Davis for Washington Post
Maine: “Ethics Commission Staff Calls for Probe of Casino Referendum Campaign” by Kevin Miller for Portland Press Herald
New Jersey: “2 Birdsall Execs Get Jail Time in $1M Pay-to-Play Scheme” by S.P. Sullivan (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger
Ethics
“How G.O.P. Leaders Came to View Climate Change as Fake Science” by Coral Davenport and Eric Lipton for New York Times
Michigan: “Ex-Detroit Principal Uses Robin Hood Defense at Corruption Sentencing” by Gus Burns for MLive.com
Tennessee: “Tennessee Watchdogs Owed More Than $1 Million in Unpaid Fines” by Joel Ebert and Dave Boucher for The Tennessean
Wisconsin: “Critics Deride Secrecy, Limits on Investigations by State Ethics Commission as It Nears 1-Year Mark” by Mark Sommerhauser for Wisconsin State Journal
Lobbying
Pennsylvania: “A Philly Teacher’s Stunts Draw Interest from The Board of Ethics” by Chris Brennan for Philadelphia Inquirer
South Carolina: “Firms Named in SC Corruption Probe Have Hundreds of Millions at Stake” by Jamie Self and Avery Wilks for The State
West Virginia: “DHHR Head Owns Part of Health Care Lobbying Firm, Documents Show” by Jake Zucherman for Charleston Gazette
June 5, 2017 •
Monday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “Lobbyists Don’t Get Business Boom with Trump” by Sean McMinn and Kate Ackley for Roll Call “Special Counsel Mueller to Probe Ex-Trump Aide Flynn’s Turkey Ties” by Nathan Layne, Mark Hosenball, and Julia Edwards Ainsley for Reuters Arizona: “Corruption […]
Lobbying
“Lobbyists Don’t Get Business Boom with Trump” by Sean McMinn and Kate Ackley for Roll Call
“Special Counsel Mueller to Probe Ex-Trump Aide Flynn’s Turkey Ties” by Nathan Layne, Mark Hosenball, and Julia Edwards Ainsley for Reuters
Arizona: “Corruption Case Snares Lobbyist at the Center of Arizona Power Politics” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez for Arizona Republic
Campaign Finance
Canada: “Feds Introduce Legislation to Shine Light on Cash-for-Access Fundraisers” by Joan Bryden (Canadian Press) for Winnipeg Free Press
New Mexico: “Secretary of State’s Office Lacks Funds to Fix Campaign Finance Website” by Andrew Oxford for Santa Fe New Mexican
Tennessee: “Expert: Money trail shows possible misconduct by state Sen. Brian Kelsey” by Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert for The Tennessean
Ethics
“Less Tweeting, Lawyers Beg. ‘Covfefe,’ the President Says.” By Peter Baker and Glenn Thrush for New York Times
“Explanations for Kushner’s Meeting with Head of Kremlin-Linked Bank Don’t Match Up” by David Filipov, Amy Brittain, Rosalind Helderman, and Tom Hamburger for Washington Post
“White House Waivers May Have Violated Ethics Rules” by Steve Eder and Eric Lipton for New York Times
Michigan: “Rizzo Star Witness Sours on Feds, Gets Indicted” by Robert Snell for Detroit News
North Carolina: “Legislative Leaders Win This Round in Court in Power Struggle with Governor” by Anne Blythe for Raleigh News & Observer
May 31, 2017 •
Wednesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “White House Backs Down on Keeping Ethics Waivers Secret” by Eric Lipton for New York Times Pennsylvania: “Lack of Gift Ban for Pa.’s Legislators Continues to Miff Critics” by Angela Couloumbis (Philadelphia Inquirer) and Karen Langley for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette […]
Lobbying
“White House Backs Down on Keeping Ethics Waivers Secret” by Eric Lipton for New York Times
Pennsylvania: “Lack of Gift Ban for Pa.’s Legislators Continues to Miff Critics” by Angela Couloumbis (Philadelphia Inquirer) and Karen Langley for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Campaign Finance
Arizona: “Court: Former Attorney General Tom Horne’s rights violated in campaign case” by Yvonne Wingett Sanchez for Arizona Republic
Missouri: “Candidate Spending Gets Little Scrutiny under Missouri Ethics Laws” by Ellen Cagle for Southeast Missourian
Washington: “Citizen Watchdog Peppers Washington State with Campaign-Finance Complaints Against Dems” by Joseph O’Sullivan for Seattle Times
Ethics
“A Constitutional Puzzle: Can the president be indicted?” by Adam Liptak for New York Times
“Congress Expands Russia Investigation to Include Trump’s Personal Attorney” by Brian Ross and Matthew Mosk for ABC News
“How Michael Flynn May Have Run Afoul of the Law” by Charlie Savage for New York Times
Kentucky: “Bevin, Facing Ethics Complaint, Blasts Journalist Over Reporting About His Mansion” by Allison Ross (Louisville Courier-Journal) for Lexington Herald-Leader
Michigan: “Lawyer Is 7th Person Charged in Macomb County Corruption Probe” by Tresa Baldas for Detroit Free Press
Legislative Issues
Texas: “Texas Lawmaker Threatens to Shoot Colleague After Reporting Protesters to ICE” by Matthew Haag for New York Times
May 30, 2017 •
Oklahoma Ethics Rules Effective Upon Legislature’s Adjournment
The Oklahoma Legislature adjourned sine die on Friday, May 26. As a result, all rule amendments proposed and approved by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission became law. Effective immediately the lobbyist registration renewal deadline has been extended from December 31 to […]
The Oklahoma Legislature adjourned sine die on Friday, May 26. As a result, all rule amendments proposed and approved by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission became law.
Effective immediately the lobbyist registration renewal deadline has been extended from December 31 to January 15. Changes to lobbyist reporting include moving all executive lobbyist report due dates as well as the January and July legislative lobbyist reports due dates to the 15th of the month. All other legislative reports remain due on the 5th of the month. Campaign finance rule amendments include new requirements for committees formed for the purpose of influencing a state question. Such committees must include the number of the state question as part of the name of the committee. They must also file reports any time an expenditure of $5,000 or more is made to advocate the passage or defeat of a state question. The reports are due at the same time as those for independent expenditures and electioneering communications.
Effective January 1, 2018, the limit for lobbyist or lobbyist principal gifts given in recognition of infrequently occurring occasions of personal significance will drop from $200 to $100 in any calendar year. Such gifts will be required to be given and received contemporaneously with the occasion or at times when such gifts are traditionally given. Infrequently occurring occasions of personal significance will not include annual events such as birthdays or anniversaries; rather, they will refer only to major life events. Lastly, a lobbyist providing a meal to a state officer or employee will be required to be present for the meal. Similarly, a lobbyist providing a gift including attendance at an event will be required to attend the event with the recipient of the gift.
May 30, 2017 •
Tuesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Campaign Finance Connecticut: “Divided House Forwards Campaign Bill to Senate” by Christine Stuart for CTNewsJunkie.com Missouri: “Missouri Pay-to-Play Allegations Heat Up Over New Links Between Lawmaker, Megadonor” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star Ohio: “Dayton Mayor Using Uncapped Mayoral […]
Campaign Finance
Connecticut: “Divided House Forwards Campaign Bill to Senate” by Christine Stuart for CTNewsJunkie.com
Missouri: “Missouri Pay-to-Play Allegations Heat Up Over New Links Between Lawmaker, Megadonor” by Jason Hancock for Kansas City Star
Ohio: “Dayton Mayor Using Uncapped Mayoral Campaign Fund for Gubernatorial Bid, AP Reports” by Associated Press for Cleveland Plain Dealer
Ethics
“Jared Kushner Now a Focus in Russia Investigation” by Matt Zapotosky, Sari Horwitz, Devlin Barrett, and Adam Entous for Washington Post
Alabama: “Mike Hubbard Appeals Ethics Convictions; Says Prosecutors Misinterpreted Law” by Brian Lyman for Montgomery Advertiser
Arizona: “Ex-Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce, Lobbyist Jim Norton Indicted” by Rachel Leingang and Hank Stephenson for Arizona Capitol Times
California: “Taxpayer Money Wasted on Bar Tabs, Trips to Las Vegas and Expensive Electronics in South El Monte, Audit Shows” by Adam Elmahrek for Los Angeles Times
South Carolina: “More Than 50 Accusations Against Public Officials Await Stalled South Carolina Ethics Commission” by Maya Prabhu for Charleston Post and Courier
Texas: “Bills Aimed at Restricting Lobbyists Die in Texas House” by Sean Collins Walsh for Austin American-Statesman
Elections
“The GOP Inherits What Trump Has Wrought” by Karen Tumulty and Robert Costa for Washington Post
“‘Anyone … with a Pulse’: How a Russia-friendly adviser found his way into the Trump campaign” by Tom Hamburger and Rosalind Helderman for Washington Post
Lobbying
Missouri: “Greitens Nonprofit Lobbies for Legislation, But Isn’t Registered to Lobby” by Kurt Erickson for St. Louis Post Dispatch
May 26, 2017 •
NYCU Video Digest – May 26, 2017
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
May 25, 2017 •
Thursday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Campaign Finance Missouri: “New Campaign Finance Rules Ignore Missouri Voters’ Decision” by Kurt Erickson (Tribune News Service) for Governing Texas: “Dozens of Abbott Appointees Surpass Donor Threshold Targeted by Stalled ‘Pay for Play’ Bill” by Jolie McCullough for Texas Tribune […]
Campaign Finance
Missouri: “New Campaign Finance Rules Ignore Missouri Voters’ Decision” by Kurt Erickson (Tribune News Service) for Governing
Texas: “Dozens of Abbott Appointees Surpass Donor Threshold Targeted by Stalled ‘Pay for Play’ Bill” by Jolie McCullough for Texas Tribune
Virginia: “Dark Money Comes with a Twist in Virginia’s Statewide Races” by Alan Suderman (Associated Press) for Minneapolis Star Tribune
Ethics
“Justice Department Ethics Experts Clear Mueller to Lead Russia Probe” by Matt Zapotosky and Matea Gold for Washington Post
“Fox News Retracts Story Linking Murder of D.N.C. Aide to 2016 Presidential Campaign” by Michael Grynbaum and Daniel Victor for New York Times
Connecticut: “Voting in Your Employer’s Interest? No Conflict in Connecticut” by Mark Pazniokas for Connecticut Mirror
Florida: “New DEP Secretary Says There’s No Conflict in Political Side Businesses” by Mary Ellen Klas for Miami Herald
Lobbying
Colorado: “Shuttering the Revolving Door, Bennet Bill Would Institute Lifetime Lobbying Ban for Lawmakers” by Adam McCoy for Colorado Statesman
Arizona: “Phoenix Moves to Implement New Rules for Lobbyists Following Republic Report” by Rob O’Dell and Dustin Gardiner for Arizona Republic
New York: “JCOPE Settlement Expected to Reveal Glenwood Behind $690K” by Chris Bragg for Albany Times Union
May 24, 2017 •
Wednesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying Iowa: “Ethics Complaint Against Iowa Gun Owners Leader Dismissed” by Brianne Pfannenstiel for Des Moines Register Rhode Island: “Ethics Board: Former Senate President Paiva Weed must wait to lobby General Assembly” by Christine Dunn for Providence Journal Virginia: “A […]
Lobbying
Iowa: “Ethics Complaint Against Iowa Gun Owners Leader Dismissed” by Brianne Pfannenstiel for Des Moines Register
Rhode Island: “Ethics Board: Former Senate President Paiva Weed must wait to lobby General Assembly” by Christine Dunn for Providence Journal
Virginia: “A ‘Personal Friend’ Exemption on Gifts to Virginia’s Elected Officials Leaves Open an Unlimited Loophole” by Bill Bartel for The Virginian-Pilot
Campaign Finance
Maine: “Maine Developer Will Face Jail Time, Fines for Illegal Political Donations” by Edward Murphy for Portland Press Herald
North Carolina: “Former NC Legislator, Fletcher Hartsell, Gets Probation in State’s Campaign Finance Case” by Anne Blythe for Raleigh News & Observer
Ethics
“Kushner Keeps Most of His Real Estate but Offers Few Clues About Potential White House Conflicts” by Amy Brittain and Jonathan O’Connell for Washington Post
Michigan: “Feds: Bag man delivered bribes to Macomb officials” by Robert Snell for Detroit News
New York: “Whose Job Is It to Investigate Legislature’s ‘Lulu’ System?” by Rachel Silberstein for Gotham Gazette
Elections
“Former C.I.A. Chief Reveals Mounting Concern Over Trump Campaign and Russia” by Matt Apuzzo for New York Times
“Trump Asked Intelligence Chiefs to Push Back against FBI Collusion Probe after Comey Revealed Its Existence” by Adam Entous and Ellen Nakashima for Washington Post
May 23, 2017 •
Tuesday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying “White House Moves to Block Ethics Inquiry into Ex-Lobbyists on Payroll” by Eric Lipton for New York Times California: “California Is About to Go Nuts Thanks to Some Fourth-Graders from Merced” by Robert Rodriguez for Fresno Bee Campaign Finance […]
Lobbying
“White House Moves to Block Ethics Inquiry into Ex-Lobbyists on Payroll” by Eric Lipton for New York Times
California: “California Is About to Go Nuts Thanks to Some Fourth-Graders from Merced” by Robert Rodriguez for Fresno Bee
Campaign Finance
“Michael Flynn Invokes 5th Amendment, Citing ‘Public Frenzy’” by The Associated Press for Portland Oregonian
“Supreme Court Affirms Ban on ‘Soft Money’ in Campaigns” by Kate Ackley for Roll Call
“Bullock Vetoes Bill to Raise Allowable Campaign Contributions” by Holly Michels for Billings Gazette
Ethics
Arkansas: “Panel: Dallas Cowboys owner violated Arkansas ethics law” by John Lyon (Arkansas News Bureau) for Arkansas Online
New Jersey: “Frelinghuysen Hit with Ethics Complaint Over Outing of Activist to Her Employer” by Justin Zaremba (NJ Advance Media) for Newark Star-Ledger
South Carolina: “How South Carolina Lawmakers Are Re-examining Their Rule Book after Statehouse Probe Indictments” by Andy Shain for Charleston Post and Courier
Redistricting
North Carolina: “Supreme Court Ruling Wipes Out Republican-Drawn House Districts in N.C.” by Richard Wolff for USA Today
May 22, 2017 •
Monday’s Government Relations and Ethics News
Lobbying Maine: “Democrats Block Bill to Punish Lying at Maine State House” by Christopher Cousins for Bangor Daily News New Mexico: “Loophole and Vague Laws Create Ambiguity in Lobbyist Reporting” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth Ethics “Work […]
Lobbying
Maine: “Democrats Block Bill to Punish Lying at Maine State House” by Christopher Cousins for Bangor Daily News
New Mexico: “Loophole and Vague Laws Create Ambiguity in Lobbyist Reporting” by Sandra Fish for New Mexico In Depth
Ethics
“Work and Politics: What Rights Do Employees Have?” by Charisse Jones and Michael Izzo for USA Today
“F.B.I. Once Warned G.O.P. Congressman That Russian Spies Were Recruiting Him” by Matt Apuzzo, Adam Goldman, and Mark Mazzetti for New York Times
“Russia Probe Reaches Current White House Official, People Familiar with the Case Say” by Devlin Barrett and Matt Zapotosky for Washington Post
“Trump Told Russians That Firing ‘Nut Job’ Comey Eased Pressure from Investigation” by Matt Apuzzo, Maggie Haberman, and Matthew Rosenberg for New York Times
California: “Former Admiral Sentenced to 18 Months in ‘Fat Leonard’ Case” by Craig Whitlock for Washington Post
Pennsylvania: “Township Supervisor Ordered to Pay $107,120 for Illegally Purchasing Surplus Items” by John Beauge for PennLive.com
Nevada: “Laxalt Defends Actions in Taped Conversation; Dems Not Convinced” by Seth Richardson for Reno Gazette-Journal
Elections
“For Voting Rights Advocates, Court Decision Is ‘Temporary Victory’” by Michael Wines for New York Times
Campaign Finance
Connecticut: “Preliminary Ruling: Ganim Ineligible for Public Financing” by Mark Pazniokas for Connecticut Mirror
Illinois: “Ken Griffin Gives Gov. Bruce Rauner’s Campaign Record $20 Million” by Rick Pearson for Chicago Tribune
May 19, 2017 •
NYCU Video Digest – May 19, 2017
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
See what’s happening in government relations this week in our News You Can Use Video Digest. Enjoy!
May 19, 2017 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 19, 2017
Federal: Deputy Attorney General Appoints Special Counsel to Oversee Probe of Russian Interference in Election Washington Post – Devlin Barrett, Sari Horwitz, and Matt Zapotosky | Published: 5/18/2017 The Justice Department appointed Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, as special […]
Federal:
Deputy Attorney General Appoints Special Counsel to Oversee Probe of Russian Interference in Election
Washington Post – Devlin Barrett, Sari Horwitz, and Matt Zapotosky | Published: 5/18/2017
The Justice Department appointed Robert Mueller, a former FBI director, as special counsel to oversee the investigation into ties between President Trump’s campaign and Russian officials, dramatically raising the legal and political stakes in an affair that has threatened to engulf Trump’s presidency. The decision by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein came after a cascade of damaging developments for Trump in recent days, including his abrupt dismissal of James Comey as FBI director, and the subsequent disclosure that the president asked Comey to drop the investigation of his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn.
DOJ Deflects Calls for More Foreign Agents Act Transparency
Bloomberg BNA – Kenneth Doyle | Published: 5/11/2017
Watchdogs are calling for the U.S. Department of Justice to make public all of its advisory opinions on the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a law aimed at letting the public know about foreign influence on U.S. politics. The Justice Department recently posted online brief summaries of three past advisory opinions issued under FARA. It has indicated no plans for further action. Meanwhile, other, more complex questions about who must register under the law have increased. High-profile advocates, including Michael Flynn, President Trump’s former national security adviser, recently filed disclosures under FARA revealing past work for foreign governments or political parties.
Reckless Stock Trading Leaves Congress Rife with Conflicts
Politico – Maggie Severns | Published: 5/14/2017
A Politico investigation found 28 House members and six senators each traded more than 100 stocks in the past two years, placing them in the potential cross hairs of a conflict-of-interest on a regular basis. A handful of lawmakers, some of them frequent traders and some not, disproportionately trade in companies that also have an interest in their work on Capitol Hill. House and Senate members who are active traders insist their buying and selling is a normal part of managing their finances, as with any American who wants to save for retirement. But the clear majority of lawmakers avoid potential conflicts by buying mutual funds, putting their portfolios in blind trusts, or simply staying out of the stock market.
The Right Builds an Alternative Narrative About the Crises Around Trump
New York Times – Jeremy Peters | Published: 5/17/2017
As Americans process a dizzying week of damning revelations about President Trump, he has found shelter on the right, where the collective judgment of the conservative media and the Republican Party so far seems to be to shift the blame and change the subject. His most fervent supporters are building alternative narratives to run alongside the “mainstream media” account, from relatively benign diversions to more bizarre conspiracies. For many Trump loyalists, the issue is not whether his presidency is messy and chaotic and dysfunctional; the more relevant question is whether they see anyone else who is equipped to change Washington in the way Trump promised he would.
What Is Obstruction of Justice? An Often-Murky Crime, Explained
New York Times – Charlie Savage | Published: 5/16/2017
The report that President Trump asked then-FBI Director James Comey to drop the investigation into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn has sparked charges that Trump is obstructing justice. Several federal statutes criminalize actions that impede official investigations. While some examples of illegal ways to thwart the justice system are specific, like destroying evidence, the law also includes broad, catchall prohibitions. Could that cover asking the FBI director to drop part of an investigation, and later firing him?
From the States and Municipalities:
California – Mayor’s Top Aide Got Married at Bayfront Estate of Developer and SoccerCity Supporter
San Diego Union-Tribune – Jeff McDonald | Published: 5/12/2017
Stephen Puetz, chief of staff to San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, took his wedding vows at a private home owned by developer Morgan Dene Oliver, who advocating for the SoccerCity plan for the city-owned Qualcomm Stadium property. Puetz said he received no special treatment from Oliver. As soon as he was offered use of the estate, he said, he contacted the city Ethics Commission to see how he could best meet the conflict-of-interest rules. Puetz said he and his wife, former council aide and registered lobbyist Diana Palacios, paid for the wedding themselves, including a reasonable fee to Oliver for use of the property.
Massachusetts – City Council Debates Level of Transparency in Lobbying Act
Spare Change News – Beth Treffeisen | Published: 5/15/2017
The Boston City Council held a hearing to discuss Mayor Martin Walsh’s re-filing of the proposed home rule petition on lobbying. At the hearing, questions soon arose on whether this draft is what would work best for the city. In its current form, the petition is modeled after existing lobbying regulations at the state-level, but also goes beyond the state’s framework by covering communications not only with elected officials but also with all city employees at all levels of municipal government.
Missouri – Greitens Fails to Meet Promises on Ethics Laws
Southeast Missourian – Summer Ballentine (Associated Press) | Published: 5/15/2017
Bills to strengthen state ethics laws, a campaign pledge of Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, languished and failed to make it to his desk before lawmakers adjourned the 2017 legislative session. While Greitens said he “set the example on ethics” by enacting lobbyist-gift and revolving-door bans in the executive branch, lawmakers said a not-for-profit with secret donors that promotes his agenda helped undermine his policy proposals in the Legislature.
Montana – New Commissioner Takes Over at Political Practices Office
U.S. News & World Report – Matt Volz (Associated Press) | Published: 5/15/2017
Jeff Mangan has taken over as Montana’s commissioner of political practices, succeeding Jonathan Motl. The office is a political hot seat by nature of its role as the independent overseer of the campaign activities of the state’s elected officials. Allegations of partisan bias tend to dog the commissioner, who is appointed by the governor and must be confirmed by the Senate. As a result, the commissioner’s office has seen frequent turnover – Mangan will be the fifth person to hold the office since Dennis Unsworth in 2010, and he is the first in that time to be confirmed to a full six-year term.
New Hampshire – N.H. Ethics Committee Has Fielded Dozens of Complaints, But Issued No Violations
New Hampshire Public Radio – Casey McDermott | Published: 5/15/2017
The Executive Branch Ethics Committee has spent much of the last decade maintaining a remarkably low profile – it has never held a public hearing on a complaint or recommended any penalties against public officials accused of ethics breaches. From the beginning, this seven-member panel was designed to serve as a resource and a kind of conscience-check for state officials. On that end, it has published dozens of advisory opinions, but the committee was also supposed to be a place where the public could turn when they thought executive branch officials were breaking the rules.
New Jersey – ‘P.S.: One of the ring leaders works in your bank!’: Is this congressman’s fundraising letter a threat?
Washington Post – Amber Phillips | Published: 5/15/2017
In a hand-written note, U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen outed a member of an activist group opposing the incumbent Republican to her employer. Saily Avelenda was still a senior vice president and assistant general counsel at Lakeland Bank in March when Frelinghuysen sent a fundraising letter to a member of the bank’s board of directors informing him that Avelenda was one of the “ringleaders” of NJ 11th for Change. The group formed in response to the election of President Trump and has been pressuring Frelinghuysen to meet with constituents in his district and to oppose Trump’s agenda. Avelenda subsequently resigned from her position at the bank.
North Carolina – Strict North Carolina Voter ID Law Thwarted After Supreme Court Rejects Case
New York Times – Adam Liptak and Michael Wines | Published: 5/15/2017
The U.S. Supreme Court will not review a decision that found North Carolina’s 2013 voting law discriminated against African American voters. A unanimous panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit had found in 2016 that North Carolina legislators had acted “with almost surgical precision” to blunt the influence of African American voters. Last summer, the Supreme Court had divided evenly on whether the law could be used in last fall’s election while the appeals continued. As is the court’s custom, the justices gave no reason for declining to hear the case. But Chief Justice John Roberts issued a statement noting there was a dispute about who represented the state in the case and nothing should be read into the court’s decision to decline to hear it.
South Carolina – State Rep. Rick Quinn Indicted by State Grand Jury
Charleston Post & Courier – Glenn Smith | Published: 5/16/2017
State Rep. Rick Quinn is the fourth South Carolina legislator charged as part of a corruption probe. A grand jury indicted Quinn on two counts of misconduct in office. He is accused of using campaign donations for personal profit. Quinn is the son of veteran strategist Richard Quinn, who owns marketing and political consulting firms. Rick Quinn, also a campaign consultant, owns a direct-mail business. The Quinns have said they keep their firms separate, but the indictments allege Rep. Quinn has an economic interest in all of them. Quinn’s father has not been charged. But the millions of dollars the Quinn firms have collected and spent on clients’ behalf have been a central part of the inquiry.
Vermont – Vt. Political Ethics Bill Moves to Governor’s Desk
Burlington Free Press – April McCullum | Published: 5/11/2017
A bill passed by Vermont lawmakers sets up a state ethics commission in 2018 with a part-time executive director that would review complaints, but would have no investigative or enforcement authority. The commission would also create a state ethics code. The bill also limits lawmakers and government officials from lobbying immediately after they leave office. Individuals who give campaign contributions to a candidate would have to wait one year before that politician’s office could consider them for a no-bid state contract over $50,000.
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