July 4, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – July 4, 2025

National/Federal The First Rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down MSN – Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 6/29/2025 Across the Trump administration, a culture of secrecy is overtaking personnel and budget decisions, casual social interactions, and everything in […]
National/Federal
The First Rule in Trump’s Washington: Don’t write anything down
MSN – Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 6/29/2025
Across the Trump administration, a culture of secrecy is overtaking personnel and budget decisions, casual social interactions, and everything in between, according to interviews with more than 40 employees across two dozen agencies. No one wants to put anything in writing anymore, federal workers said, and communication among colleagues has increasingly shifted to the encrypted messaging app Signal. This shift is affecting every aspect of external and internal communications. The overall effect has been to impede honest discussion, slow work, stir confusion, and depress morale.
GOP Sen. Thom Tillis Won’t Seek Reelection After Opposing Trump Tax Bill
MSN – Theodoric Meyer, Liz Goodwin, Mariana Alfaro, and Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) | Published: 6/29/2025
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said he will not seek reelection next year, less than 24 hours after President Trump threatened him with a primary challenge for opposing the massive tax and immigration bill. Tillis’s decision not to run for a third term scrambles the Senate race in North Carolina. It injects fresh uncertainty into the GOP’s push to pass the proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Trump’s top legislative priority, by their July 4 deadline. It underscores the perils for Republicans of defying Trump when his grip on the party is stronger than ever.
US Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Campaign Spending Curbs in JD Vance Case
MSN – John Kruzel (Reuters) | Published: 6/30/2025
The Supreme Court announced it will consider a challenge to the limits on how much national political parties can spend in coordination with federal candidates. The justices took up an appeal by two Republican committees and Vice President JD Vance, who was running for the U.S. Senate in Ohio when the litigation began, of a lower court’s ruling that upheld restrictions on the amount of money parties can spend on campaigns with input from candidates they support. The justices are due to hear the case in their next term.
Appeals Court Seems Likely to Back Trump’s Deportations Under Wartime Law
MSN – Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 6/30/2025
A federal appellate panel appeared poised to back President Trump’s use of a centuries-old wartime law to fast-track deportations of Venezuelan migrants in a case widely expected to put that debate back before the Supreme Court. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit grilled an attorney for targeted detainees during oral arguments, asking what authority judges had to “second-guess” the president’s decisions in defending the country amid armed conflicts.
DOGE Has the Keys to Sensitive Data That Could Help Elon Musk
MSN – Desmond Butler, Jonathan O’Connell, Hannah Natanson, and Aaron Gregg (Washington Post) | Published: 6/30/2025
For months, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency plumbed the federal government’s information systems, scouring arcane internal records that the billionaire said were guiding his hunt for waste. Now that Musk has stepped away from his government role, some of that data could be valuable in another way – by giving the world’s richest man a competitive advantage over his rivals in the private sector.
Judge Finds Trump Executive Order Punishing Susman Godfrey Unconstitutional
MSN – Melissa Quinn (CBS News) | Published: 6/27/2025
A federal judge struck down President Trump’s executive order that sought to punish the law firm Susman Godfrey, ruling it is unconstitutional and blocking the administration from enforcing it. The decision from U.S. District Court Judge Loren AliKhan caps an unbroken streak of victories for the four major law firms that were targeted by Trump as part of his efforts to go after his perceived enemies and chose to challenge his directives in court, rather than commit millions of dollars in free legal services, as nine other firms have done.
MSN – Eric Bradner, Sarah Ferris, Lauren Fox, and Annie Grayer (CNN) | Published: 7/1/2025
The fate of President Trump’s domestic agenda was in U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s hands, and she used that leverage to force a series of changes that will deliver more federal dollars to Alaska. The Senate passed the bill after a marathon of negotiations and amendments during which Murkowski, as she put it later, “struggled mightily” with the impacts of cutting Medicaid and food stamp benefits in Alaska before voting for the legislation.
How Trump’s Media War Brought Paramount to Its Knees
MSN – Sarah Ellison and Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 7/2/2025
CBS’s parent company agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit over the network’s editing of a campaign interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris. The deal makes Paramount, which is attempting to complete an $8 billion sale to Skydance Media, the latest company to pay millions of dollars to Donald Trump-aligned entities to avoid punitive government action. The money, minus plaintiffs’ fees and costs, will go to Trump’s presidential library.
MSN – Ross O’Keefe (Washington Examiner) | Published: 7/2/2025
The Department of Justice is considering whether it can charge local or state election officials who do not adhere to Trump administration standards on voting security. The administration is reportedly driving the effort forward based on its skepticism about the security of the nation’s elections. President Trump previously said the 2020 election was “rigged” and called for an investigation into widespread voter fraud.
Trump Says He Will Move Aggressively to Undo Nationwide Blocks on His Agenda
MSN – Justin Jouvenal, Cat Zakrzewski, and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 6/28/2025
An emboldened Trump administration plans to aggressively challenge blocks on the president’s top priorities, from immigration to education, following a major Supreme Court ruling that limits the power of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions. Scholars and plaintiffs in the lawsuits over Trump’s executive orders agreed the ruling could profoundly reshape legal battles over executive power even as other legal experts said the effects would be more muted. Some predicted it would embolden Trump to push his expansive view of presidential power.
Bondi Made Changes to DOJ Policy. Her Former Client Pfizer Might Have Benefited
MSN – Ben Wieder (Miami Herald) | Published: 7/3/2025
For the past several years, Pfizer has been under investigation by the Department of Justice for potential foreign corruption violations related to its activities in China and Mexico, according to the company’s financial filings. But that appears to have changed after the Trump administration tapped Pam Bondi, previously an outside legal counsel for Pfizer, to be attorney general.
Dead Members of Congress Can’t Stop Posting
MSN – Giselle Ruhiyyih Ewing (Politico) | Published: 6/28/2025
After Zohran Mamdani’s apparent victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary on, former U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee liked an Instagram post congratulating him on his win. But Jackson Lee died last July. From new profile pictures to a posthumous endorsement, accounts for dead lawmakers have seemingly resurrected on social media in an unsettling trend of beyond-the-grave engagement. How to handle the social media presence of politicians when they die is a fairly new phenomenon.
Trump Tried to Fire Them. But These Democratic Appointees Are Still on the Job.
MSN – Hassan Ali Kanu (Politico) | Published: 6/30/2025
President Trump fired a host of Democratic appointees at independent boards and commissions across the government. But some of them are still working. More than a dozen leaders of independent federal agencies received emails from the White House purporting to fire or demote them, even though their roles are governed by laws that bar termination without cause. Those officials’ resistance could end up shaping how courts view pending questions about the hiring-and-firing powers of the presidency, and whether Congress can create federal agencies with some degree of independence from the chief executive.
From the States and Municipalities
California – Irvine City Council Re-Adopts Lobbying Rules to Settle Lawsuit
Voice of OC – Angela Hicks | Published: 6/30/2025
Irvine city leaders are settling a lawsuit with a group of residents who alleged the city council violated the state’s open meeting law when it passed new lobbying regulations last year. In a series of meetings, the council discussed and approved new regulations that require lobbyists to register with the city earlier and disclose their activities more often. Orange County Advocates for Transparency alleged the city violated the Brown Act by improperly agendizing the item and failing to fully alert the public.
California – Ex-Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet Gets Probation, No Jail Time for Taking Bribes
Yahoo News – Christopher Damien (Palm Springs Desert Sun) | Published: 7/2/2025
Former Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet was sentenced to two years’ probation, avoiding jail time despite admitting he took bribes from developers for years. Pougnet pleaded guilty to a scheme in which he conspired with real estate developer Richard Meaney to be paid money in exchange for facilitating the developer’s projects in the city council.
Connecticut – CT Veterans Affairs Director Ousted Over Questionable Ethics Violation
Inside Investigator – Mark Fitch | Published: 7/2/2025
The former director of safety and security for the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs says he was forced to retire from his position under threat of termination and the loss of his medical benefits after the department claimed he violated state ethics laws by asking maintenance personnel to do small contracting jobs at his home, contrary to a determination of the Office of State Ethics (OSE). Stephen Scatena said officials threatened if he did not voluntarily sign a stipulated agreement by April 9, 2025, roughly two months before the OSE issued their finding.
Connecticut – Ted Kennedy Jr., Former CT State Senator, Cleared After 11-Year Election Investigation
Stamford Advocate – Ken Dixon | Published: 7/2/2025
Connecticut election regulators closed the books on one of its longest-lingering investigations, finally dismissing a 2014 case involving former state Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. and nearly $300,000 in campaign support he received from the Democratic State Central Committee. The State Elections Enforcement Commission agreed there was not enough evidence to link the party’s contribution to a direct exchange with Kennedy family members and friends who raised more than $308,000 from 188 people for the state party.
District of Columbia – As Indicted Ex-D.C. Lawmaker Seeks Election, Opponents Urge Voters to Move On
MSN – Meagan Flynn and Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) | Published: 6/27/2025
At a rare appearance at a Ward 8 candidates forum, ex-District of Columbia Council member Trayon White Sr. answered one last question. Why, a voter wanted to know, had White never explained himself to residents after his bribery indictment? It was the unignorable question at the center of the July 15 special election, in which White, who stands accused of pocketing tens of thousands of dollars in bribes, is asking voters to reelect him even with the risk he could be disqualified from office if convicted.
Florida – DeSantis Vetoes Bill Aimed at Limiting Corruption in Office
Yahoo News – Lawrence Mower (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 7/1/2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would, in part, have prohibited state officials from using their position to solicit campaign contributions. The legislation was in part a reaction to NBC News reports since 2023 that officials in his administration were asking lobbyists for political donations, raising ethical concerns.
Hawaii – State Watchdogs Are Keeping the Pressure on for Government Reform
Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 6/29/2025
Fired up by the fate of a major “pay-to-play” bill that died in April at the Legislature, the heads of the Campaign Spending Commission and Hawaii State Ethics Commission are stepping up their efforts to lobby for reform in the 2026 session that beings in January. The cooperation between Kristin Izumi-Nitao, executive director of campaign spending, and Robert Harris, executive director of ethics, entered a new phase when Izumi-Nitao appeared by invitation at the ethics commission’s public meeting. The purpose was to hear insights and explore collaboration between the agencies.
Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ‘Pending’ Springfield Lobbyist Team Draws Ethics Questions
Yahoo News – Alice Yin, Jeremy Gorner, and A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/30/2025
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s inner circle worked with outside lobbyists who were not registered to lobby on behalf of the city in the Illinois General Assembly. Email records and sources indicate three lobbyists coordinated with top Johnson officials during the most recent session. But they did not update their state registration to show the city among their lobbying clients before the Legislature adjourned June 1. If state officials were to find the three did not properly disclose their representation, they could be in violation of the law.
Illinois – Cook County Tax Board Commissioner, Staff Face Multiple Fines from Ethics Board
Yahoo News – A.D. Quig (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 6/27/2025
Cook County’s Board of Ethics fined Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele and her aides for a series of breaches, finding she provided confidential information to the press about the Chicago Bears’ Arlington Heights property and wrongly allowed a staffer to attend a conference on county time. Steele is one of three commissioners on the county’s Board of Review, which hears property tax appeals. She must pay the $3,000 fine in 30 days.
Iowa – Trump Drops Federal Lawsuit Against Iowa Pollster, Refiles in State Court
MSN – Brianna Tucker and Frances Vinall (Washington Post) | Published: 6/30/2025
Lawyers for President Trump filed a motion to drop his federal lawsuit against J. Ann Selzer – a longtime Iowa pollster, and the Des Moines Register – and refiled the suit in a state court in Iowa. Attorneys for Trump sued Selzer and the newspaper in December over a poll that showed him trailing Vice President Kamala Harris in the state just days before the 2024 presidential election. The suit alleged Selzer’s poll amounted to “election interference” and accused the newspaper of violating the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act.
Kansas – Judge Allows Kansas Law Barring Foreign Contributions to Constitutional Amendment Campaigns
Yahoo News – Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 7/1/2025
A federal judge sided with state officials and allowed a Kansas law to go into effect that bans “foreign nationals” from contributing financially to campaigns for or against state constitutional amendments. Kansans for Constitutional Freedom, which has accepted such funds directly and indirectly in the past, said the law was broad, vague, and infringed upon constitutionally protected political speech.
Louisiana – Supreme Court to Rehear Case Over Louisiana’s Second Majority-Black District
MSN – Justin Jouvenal and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 6/27/2025
The Supreme Court put off deciding whether to uphold a Louisiana map that added a second majority-Black congressional district in the state, saying it would rehear the case in its next term. The justices said they would consider whether race was the predominant factor in the drawing of the new Louisiana district.
Maine – Why Maine Lawmakers Pulled Back on Ranked Choice Voting Expansion
Portland Press Herald – Randy Billings | Published: 6/27/2025
Lawmakers recalled a bill from Gov. Janet Mills’ desk that would have allowed ranked choice voting to be used in the 2026 gubernatorial race after Mills signaled she would veto the bill. Advocates say they plan to ask the Maine Law Court to revisit its 2017 advisory opinion, which would not be possible if Gov. Janet Mills vetoed the bill as they expected.
Massachusetts – MCAS Ballot Question Supporters Pay $4K Penalty to Resolve Late Reporting Accusations
MSN – Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) | Published: 7/1/2025
The group that backed a successful ballot question to end the use of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System as a high school graduation requirement paid a $4,000 penalty to resolve accusations that officials did not report $2.3 million in contributions in a timely manner ahead of the November 2024 election. The fight between the Massachusetts Teachers Association and business groups was the most expensive ballot question battle in the state in 2024, with tens of millions flowing between the two sides.
Michigan – New Ballot Committee Aims to Get More Corporate, Utility Money Out of Michigan Politics
Detroit Free Press – Arpan Lobo | Published: 6/30/2025
A new ballot committee hopes to ask Michigan voters next year whether the state should ban large corporations that hold government contracts and utility monopolies from making political donations through affiliated PACs. Backers of the committee say companies like DTE and Consumers have outsized political influence due to their contributions to candidates and campaigns. The companies defended their political spending practices, saying the money does not come from ratepayers and they have an obligation to advocate for their best interests.
New Mexico – Joseph Shepard Sued by the New Mexico State Ethics Commission
Yahoo News – Joshua Bowling (Searchlight New Mexico) | Published: 6/28/2025
In addition to staying at five-star resorts, buying luxury furniture, and traveling the world at taxpayers’ expense, former Western New Mexico University President Joseph Shepard also took money intended for building an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant walkway and ramp and used it to build a patio near his house where he could host a welcome event and dancing for his daughter’s wedding, a new lawsuit by the New Mexico State Ethics Commission alleges.
New York – Ex-Trump Lawyer Chesebro Disbarred Over Fake Elector Scheme
Reuters – Dave Thomas | Published: 6/26/2025
A New York appeals court disbarred Kenneth Chesebro, a former lawyer for Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign, following his 2023 guilty plea to a charge stemming from efforts to overturn Trump’s defeat in Georgia. Chesebro had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit filing of false documents in Fulton County after prosecutors accused him of crafting the legal strategy behind a scheme to use alternate electors to circumvent Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in the state.
North Carolina – NC Republicans Unveil Sweeping Elections Bill. Could It ‘Purge’ Nonpartisan Staff?
Yahoo News – Kyle Ingram (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 6/26/2025
North Carolina House Republicans unveiled a broad elections bill that could convert about a third of the State Board of Elections’ nonpartisan civil service staff into political appointees, alongside a host of other changes to ballot counting, voter ID, and more. It comes a month after Republicans gained a majority on the elections board and ousted Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell, replacing her with a lawyer who has worked for the state’s top GOP legislators.
North Dakota – North Dakota Ethics Commission Makes First Finding of Violations by Public Official
Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 6/30/2025
The North Dakota Ethics Commission found Rep. Jason Dockter committed three ethics violations related to his ownership of a Bismarck building, but the agency did not hand down any penalties for the lawmaker. The Ethics Commission noted Dockter likely leveraged his position and his relationships with state employees to arrange a lease with the attorney general’s office.
Oregon – Lawmakers Nix Proposal to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years After Backlash
MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/27/2025
State lawmakers did not advance a bill this year that would have delayed the imposition of campaign contribution limits in Oregon for four years. The effort died after good government advocates said the proposed delay was an attempt by lawmakers to avoid restricting the massive flow of money into politics. Oregon is one of just five states without such limits. Secretary of State Tobias Read said he was “deeply disappointed” that lawmakers finished this year’s session without making any substantial refinements to last year’s law.
Oregon – Longtime Oregon Legislator Faces Ethics Investigation Over Pay Raise
Portland Oregonian – Les Zaitz (Salem Reporter) | Published: 6/28/2025
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission ordered an investigation into whether state Rep. Greg Smith illegally used his position as a public agency executive to raise his own pay. Investigators also were directed to examine whether Smith failed to disclose a conflict-of-interest in the process, a violation of state ethics laws.
South Dakota – Kristi Noem Secretly Took a Cut of Political Donations
MSN – Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan, and Alex Mierjeski (ProPublica) | Published: 6/30/2025
While Kristi Noem was governor of South Dakota, she accepted a portion of the money she raised for a nonprofit that promotes her political career. In what experts described as a highly unusual arrangement, the nonprofit routed funds to a personal company of Noem’s that had been established in Delaware. Since the group is not required to disclose the names of its donors, the original source of the money remains unknown. She did not include the income on her financial disclosure form, which experts called a likely violation of federal ethics requirements.
Tennessee – Tennessee Campaign Finance Agency Seeks Probe of Secret PAC
Yahoo News – Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) | Published: 6/23/2025
The Registry of Election Finance requested an investigation into a former state staffer’s secret PAC to determine whether it involved criminal activity. The registry formally asked the Williamson County district attorney’s office to reactivate a 2020 request for a probe of Cade Cothren, a former aide to one-time House Speaker Glen Casada, and the Faith Family Freedom Fund PAC. Registry Chairperson Tom Lawless has said the investigation should commence now that a trial of Casada and Cothren is complete.
MSN – Lauren McGaughy (Texas Newsroom) | Published: 7/3/2025
Elon Musk’s team of Texas lobbyists during the 2025 legislative session did not rival those of huge energy and telecommunications companies, which typically employ dozens of people to represent them. But Musk and his companies still hired more lobbyists this year than any other since 2021. His lobbyists spent money on things like gifts and meals for elected officials and others during the session. In most cases, the state’s transparency laws do not require lobbyists to disclose which politicians they entertained or on behalf of which clients. Ethics experts said the responsibility to improve transparency lies with Texas lawmakers.
Vermont – Gov. Phil Scott Signs New Campaign Finance Rules, Other Election Changes into Law
VTDigger.com – Shaun Robinson | Published: 6/27/2025
Gov. Phil Scott signed a package of changes to Vermont’s election procedures into law, among them an expansion of who must file campaign finance disclosure forms and a restriction on candidates running in a general election who have lost a preceding primary election. A provision in the new law is meant to clarify that certain campaign finance rules apply to individuals who raise and spend money on behalf of a candidate, but who are not directly affiliated with that candidate.
Virginia – State’s First-Ever Audit of Campaign Finance Report Leaves Many Questions Unanswered
Cardinal News – David Poole | Published: 7/2/2025
Virginia’s inaugural audit of campaign finance reports raises almost as many questions about state oversight than it does in answering how accurately a group of seven randomly selected candidates listed their contributions and expenses. In a report to the General Assembly, the Department of Elections suggested changes to the audit law, providing more time to complete future reviewing and updating the agency’s computer systems.
Washington – Foes of WA Initiative to Repeal Climate Law Fined $20K for Campaign Finance Violations
Yahoo News – Jerry Cornfield (Washington Standard) | Published: 6/26/2025
A political committee that helped defeat last year’s ballot measure to repeal a Washington climate law was fined $20,000 for not disclosing how it spent $1 million until after the election. The Public Disclosure Commission levied the civil penalty on Green Jobs PAC, which admitted to the violation and two other breaches of state campaign finance laws as part of an agreed upon settlement.
July 3, 2025 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Florida: “DeSantis Vetoes Bill Aimed at Limiting Corruption in Office” by Lawrence Mower (Tampa Bay Times) for Yahoo News Michigan: “New Ballot Committee Aims to Get More Corporate, Utility Money Out of Michigan Politics” by Arpan Lobo for […]
Campaign Finance
Florida: “DeSantis Vetoes Bill Aimed at Limiting Corruption in Office” by Lawrence Mower (Tampa Bay Times) for Yahoo News
Michigan: “New Ballot Committee Aims to Get More Corporate, Utility Money Out of Michigan Politics” by Arpan Lobo for Detroit Free Press
Virginia: “State’s First-Ever Audit of Campaign Finance Report Leaves Many Questions Unanswered” by David Poole for Cardinal News
Elections
North Carolina: “NC Republicans Unveil Sweeping Elections Bill. Could It ‘Purge’ Nonpartisan Staff?” by Kyle Ingram (Raleigh News and Observer) for Yahoo News
Ethics
California: “Ex-Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet Gets Probation, No Jail Time for Taking Bribes” by Christopher Damien (Palm Springs Desert Sun) for Yahoo News
National: “How Trump’s Media War Brought Paramount to Its Knees” by Sarah Ellison and Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) for MSN
North Dakota: “North Dakota Ethics Commission Makes First Finding of Violations by Public Official” by Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News
Legislative Issues
National: “Carveouts for Alaska and Tax Breaks for Whalers: How Lisa Murkowski got to yes on Trump’s agenda bill” by Eric Bradner, Sarah Ferris, Lauren Fox, and Annie Grayer (CNN) for MSN
June 27, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – June 27, 2025

National/Federal The D.N.C. Is in Chaos and Desperate for Cash DNyuz – Shane Goldmacher and Reid Epstein (New York Times) | Published: 6/18/2025 Just months into the tenure of a new party leader, Ken Martin, the Democratic National Committee’s financial […]
National/Federal
The D.N.C. Is in Chaos and Desperate for Cash
DNyuz – Shane Goldmacher and Reid Epstein (New York Times) | Published: 6/18/2025
Just months into the tenure of a new party leader, Ken Martin, the Democratic National Committee’s financial situation has grown so bleak that top officials have discussed whether they might need to borrow money this year to keep paying the bills. Fundraising from major donors has slowed sharply. At the same time, he has expanded the party’s financial commitments to every state, and even to far-flung territories like Guam. Some Democrats say he has been unable to help unite his party against Republicans, who control the federal government.
Little Lobbyists’ Urge Senators to Oppose Trump’s Bill Cutting Medicaid
DNyuz – Megan Mineiro and Margot Sanger-Katz (New York Times) | Published: 6/19/2025
The Little Lobbyists formed in 2017 during Donald Trump’s first term to push back against Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, taking to Capitol Hill to demand that lawmakers oppose the move. Their successful campaign to save the law was part of a broader backlash against the proposal, which was driven in large part by major health care lobbies. This year, the bigger lobbying players have been more muted about the sprawling Republican policy measure, which Democrats decry as an abomination. But the little ones are out in force.
Justice Dept. Leader Suggested Violating Court Orders, Whistle-Blower Says
DNyuz – Devlin Barrett (New York Times) | Published: 6/24/2025
A senior Justice Department official, Emil Bove III, told subordinates he was willing to ignore court orders to fulfill President Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign, according to a whistle-blower complaint by a department lawyer who has since been fired. In Erez Reuveni’s telling, Bove discussed disregarding court orders and other top law enforcement officials showed themselves ready to stonewall judges or lie to them to get their way.
Trump’s Name Could Adorn Tel Aviv Hotel, Becoming a Symbol or a Target
DNyuz – Debra Kamin, Ben Protess, and Steve Eder (New York Times) | Published: 6/25/2025
Iran’s counterstrikes in retaliation for Israel’s assault on its nuclear program, littered Tel Aviv’s Sarona neighborhood with smoke and ballistic debris. Eric Trump, who runs the Trump Organization, has discussed a potential partnership with the owners of the Sarona district hotel now under construction. The possible deal would likely allow the Trumps to manage the hotel once it opens and affix their name to the city’s skyline. If a deal in Israel came to fruition, and a Trump hotel eventually towered above a war zone, the president’s foreign policy could alter not only the fate of the region but also his own finances.
Trump Won by Turning Out Voters and Building a Diverse Coalition, Report Finds
DNyuz – Ruth Igielnik and Shane Goldmacher (New York Times) | Published: 6/26/2025
One of the most robust studies of the 2024 election shows Donald Trump’s return to the White House was powered more heavily by his ability to turn out past supporters than by winning over Democratic voters, even as he built one of the most diverse coalitions in Republican Party history. The new report from Pew Research Center offers some of the most detailed analysis yet of what happened last fall, in particular how infrequent voters broke for Trump over former Vice President Kamala Harris.
DHS Tightens Protocol for Lawmaker Visits to Immigration Facilities
MSN – Chris Johnson (Roll Call) | Published: 6/18/2025
The Department of Homeland Security placed new limits on members of Congress seeking to visit and inspect immigration detention facilities as lawmakers from New York and the Chicago delegations become the latest to encounter resistance from federal officials on an attempted tour. The department issued new guidance that includes several changes to the protocol on facility visits that appears to give Immigration and Customs Enforcement the ability to limit or prevent visits, including the power to end a visit if the protocol is not followed.
Trump Cites Presidential Immunity to Try to Toss Out $83M Judgment He Owes to E. Jean Carroll
MSN – Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 6/24/2025
Donald Trump is waging his latest courtroom bid to avoid paying the $83.3 million judgment he owes the writer E. Jean Carroll for defamatory remarks he made about her after she accused him of rape. A lawyer for the president told a panel of appeals court judges the judgment should be tossed out because Trump should have been deemed immune from Carroll’s lawsuit. His argument hinges on the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision that granted Trump broad immunity in one of his criminal cases.
Jan. 6 Rioter Ordered to Pay $500K to Widow of Officer Who Killed Himself
MSN – Victoria Bisset (Washington Post) | Published: 6/24/2025
A federal jury ordered a January 6 rioter to pay $500,000 in damages for assaulting a police officer who died by suicide nine days later. The jury awarded the damages to Erin Smith, the widow of District of Columbia police officer Jeffrey Smith, in her civil lawsuit against David Walls-Kaufman. The jury also ordered Walls-Kaufman to pay a further $60,000 to Smith’s estate for his pain and suffering.
Trump Administration Is Preparing to Challenge Budget Law, U.S. Officials Say
MSN – Jeff Stein, Hannah Natanson, Carolyn Johnson, and Dan Diamond (Washington Post) | Published: 6/25/2025
The Trump administration is preparing to test a 1974 budget law by refusing to spend congressionally mandated funds, senior federal officials say, an escalation that could change the balance of power between Congress and the White House. Key White House aides have long argued the law is an unconstitutional limit on presidential power and suggested they will seek court rulings to overturn it, which could allow the White House to determine which spending to carry out.
Supreme Court Allows Trump to Remove Migrants to South Sudan and Other Turmoil-Filled Countries
MSN – Angélica Franganillo Díaz and John Fritze (CNN) | Published: 6/23/2025
The Supreme Court granted President Trump’s emergency request to resume deporting migrants to countries other than their homeland, including places like South Sudan, with minimal notice. The Trump administration had argued a lower court usurped its authority by ordering the Department of Homeland Security to provide written notice to the migrants about where they would be sent as well as an opportunity to challenge that deportation on the grounds they feared being tortured.
Trump Undermines Watergate Laws in Massive Shift of Ethics System
MSN – Naftali Bendavid (Washington Post) | Published: 6/21/2025
President Trump is taking aim at post-Watergate reforms on transparency, spending, conflicts-of-interest, and more. This broad rejection of the laws underlines the country’s shift from an era focused on clean government and strict ethics to the rise of a president whose appeal stems in part from his willingness to violate such rules and constraints. Many of Trump’s moves face legal challenges, and they may be reversed by the courts, or the U.S. Supreme Court could enshrine them.
Judge Says Government ‘Failed’ to Prove Wrongly Deported Man Poses a Danger
MSN – Maria Sacchetti and Jeremy Roebuck (Washington Post) | Published: 6/22/2025
A federal judge ruled Kilmar Abrego García, a Maryland resident wrongly deported to El Salvador, is eligible for release from criminal custody, saying the government’s allegations that he is a flight risk or a danger to the community are based on problematic testimony and scenarios that “defy common sense.” Abrego García faces charges that he participated in a migrant smuggling ring for nearly a decade.
From the States and Municipalities
California – Newsom Gave His Political Rival a $380k Job. Special Interests Helped Foot the Bill
CalMatters – Alexei Koseff and Byrhonda Lyons | Published: 6/17/2025
Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to lead a state infrastructure project paid for by an outside nonprofit, California Forward. The group relied on fundraising from special interests to cover the costs, but did not have to disclose the identity of those donors because of how the arrangement was structured. Elected officials in California can solicit contributions to outside entities for a governmental or charitable purpose. Newsom had to disclose he asked California Forward to pay Villaraigosa. But that disclosure requirement did not extend to the nonprofit.
California – How a Billboard Company Melded Its Interests with Oakland’s in the New City Budget
MSN – Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) | Published: 6/24/2025
Ahead of the deadline to pass a new two-year city budget, Oakland leaders were desperate to find sources of revenue to patch the city’s $265 million deficit. The city council’s budget-balancing maneuvers included an unusual tactic. The council assumed a proposed deal between the city and a billboard company would pass, delivering millions of dollars in new revenue. What was unusual about this budget decision was that the billboard deal had yet to be voted on by the full council. By baking it into the budget, the council tied its own hands, virtually forcing itself to sign off on the deal when it came before them a week later.
California – Trump Can Keep National Guard in Los Angeles for Now, Appeals Court Rules
MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 6/20/2025
A federal appeals court panel said President Trump can keep the California National Guard in Los Angeles for now, delivering a win for the president as he aims to use the military to police protests against his deportation efforts. The panel disagreed with the federal government’s stance that Trump’s authority to deploy the National Guard could not be scrutinized by the courts. But the judges rejected California’s legal argument that a federal statute clearly requires a governor to be consulted before the deployment.
District of Columbia – D.C. Elected These Noncitizens to Office. Congress Could Oust Them.
MSN – Olivia George and Meagan Flynn (Washington Post) | Published: 6/24/2025
The U.S. House recently voted to repeal a District of Columbia law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. This, in turn, will prohibit noncitizens from holding local office, like the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, because being registered as a voter is required to run. It marked the third time in as many years that the House has voted to repeal the noncitizens voting law. Dozens of Democrats joined Republicans each time bipartisan interest in the city’s affairs that has become more common in recent years, particularly on hot-button political issues.
Florida – A Judge Sided with Trump. Behind the Scenes, He Was lobbying for a Nomination.
Yahoo News – Hailey Fuchs (Politico) | Published: 6/20/2025
A state judge in Florida, Ed Artau, met with staff in the office of U.S. Sen. Rick Scott to angle for a nomination to the federal bench less than two weeks after Donald Trump’s election last fall. In the midst of his interviews, Artau was part of a panel of judges that ruled in Trump’s favor in the president’s case against members of the Pulitzer Prize Board. About two weeks after the court published his opinion, he interviewed with the White House Counsel’s Office. In May, Trump announced Artau’s nomination to the federal judiciary.
Hawaii – Hawai’i Senator Didn’t Disclose Possible Conflict of Interest Before Voting
Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 6/22/2025
Māmaki tea, made from a plant endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, is so valued by state legislators that they near unanimously passed a bill this past session to ensure its viability as a Hawaii-grown cash crop. But a powerful state senator appears to have violated Senate rules for voting in favor of House Bill 496, which seeks to protect māmaki tea by requiring that only packages containing 100 percent of māmaki grown in Hawaii are allowed to use the word “māmaki.”
Louisiana – Louisiana Files Lawsuits Alleging Pharmaceutical Giant CVS Deceived Customers in Text Messages
MSN – Jack Brook (Associated Press) | Published: 6/25/2025
Louisiana filed several lawsuits accusing CVS of abusing customer information and using its dominant market position to drive up drug costs and unfairly undermine independent pharmacies. Attorney General Liz Murrill began investigating CVS after the company sent out mass text messages to thousands of residents to lobby against legislation that took aim at its business structure. The texts warned that medication costs could go up and all CVS pharmacies in the state would close.
Louisiana – Louisiana Ethics Board Will Broadcast Public Meetings Following Lawmakers’ Complaints
Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 6/24/2025
The Louisiana Board of Ethics will be required to broadcast its monthly public meetings starting in January under a new state law. Recordings of the meetings will be stored for at least two years in an online archive reached through the board’s website. Legislators have been frustrated with the ethics board’s decisions over the past year, and part of the motivation for broadcasting its meetings is to allow more scrutiny over its deliberations.
Maryland – Trump DOJ Sues All Federal Judges in Maryland Over Deportation Order
MSN – Salvador Rizzo and Katie Mettler (Washington Post) | Published: 6/25/2025
The Justice Department sued all 15 federal District Court judges in Maryland over an order that pauses any deportations under legal challenge in the state for 48 hours. Legal experts described the move as an unprecedented attack on judicial independence, while government lawyers said it was necessary to preserve President Trump’s constitutional authority over immigration.
Maryland – Pittman’s Rise to Democratic Party Chair Will Be Delayed by Campaign Finances
Yahoo News – Brian Sears (Maryland Matters) | Published: 6/20/2025
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, who is the new head of the Maryland Democratic Party, cannot immediately assume his full duties, and the possibility of an extended delay leaves open the potential the party might have to elect another leader before the end of summer. A snag involving state campaign finance law, and Pittman’s inability to immediately close the account that funded his county executive races, will bar him from fully assuming the role for now.
Massachusetts – GOP’s Mike Kennealy Has Loaned His Campaign Double the Amount Allowed Under State Law
MSN – Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) | Published: 6/25/2025
Mike Kennealy, who is running for Massachusetts governor, has loaned his campaign double the amount allowed under state law since launching his bid, a move that could set up future legal action if he or his family ever decides to recoup the money. Kennealy’s decision to loan his campaign $400,000 and plan to loan another $1.6 million ahead of the 2026 election comes after campaign finance regulators dismissed his request to reconsider the limit on the amount candidates can loan themselves each election cycle.
Michigan – Michigan Lawmakers’ Personal Disclosures Often Leave Out Key Details
ArcaMax – Craig Mauger (Detroit News) | Published: 6/23/2025
Despite vows of transparency, annual financial disclosures filed recently by Michigan lawmakers provided an incomplete picture of the perks they receive from lobbyists. Officeholders were supposed to list gifts, including tickets and meals, they received from lobbyists in the prior year and trips they went on that were financed by lobbyists. Most lawmakers either reported receiving nothing from lobbyists or merely listed the names of firms or interest groups that provided some benefit, while not revealing the price tag or specifics.
Michigan – Benson: State working around the clock to fix campaign finance reporting system
Yahoo News – Ben Solis (Michigan Advance) | Published: 6/20/2025
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson detailed solutions her department was crafting after a disastrous launch of the $9 million Michigan Information Transparency Network project, which replaced its aging, but heavily used and mostly user-friendly campaign finance reporting system. The rollout of the new system caused delays in reporting, and the overall functionality of the website was bothersome for many users, including reporters, watchdogs, and nonprofit groups who rely on access to campaign finance information to better track how politicians spend campaign money and who gives it to them.
Minnesota – Gun Rights, Anti-Abortion Groups Challenge Minnesota Lobbying Disclosure Rules
MSN – Allison Kite (Minneapolis Star Tribune) | Published: 6/24/2025
Minnesota Right to Life and Minnesota Gun Rights filed a lawsuit challenging state laws that require organizations to disclose spending meant to urge individuals to influence lawmakers, arguing the grassroots lobbying requirements violate the First Amendment. The rules require that when an organization or individual spends more than $2,000 on paid advertising to rally public support and influence lawmakers, it must disclose the spending and any specific subjects addressed by the advertising.
Montana Free Press – Zeke Lloyd | Published: 6/18/2025
A coalition of former public officeholders is pushing to end corporate money in Montana politics via a proposed constitutional initiative they aim to put on the ballot in 2026. The Transparent Election Initiative, a nonprofit founded by Jeff Mangan, a former state commissioner of political practices, is pushing a constitutional initiative that would change new and existing corporate charters in the state to explicitly prevent corporations from donating to campaigns.
Nevada – Ethics Commission Fines State Official for Accepting Golden Knights Tickets, Perks
MSN – Mary Hynes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 6/18/2025
The Nevada ethics commission determined the head of the state’s energy office, Dwayne McClinton, committed a willful violation of ethics statutes by accepting free Vegas Golden Knights tickets and other perks while negotiating a potential sponsorship deal with the National Hockey League franchise. The agreement includes a $1,000 penalty, an admonishment, and a requirement for McClinton and office staff to receive ethics training.
Nevada – Nevada Supreme Court Rules in Lombardo’s Favor Over Ethics Commission Dispute
Nevada Current – Eric Neugeboren | Published: 6/19/2025
The Nevada Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Gov. Joe Lombardo’s effort to dismiss sanctions imposed by the state’s ethics commission, sending the case back to a lower court. It is the latest development in the yearslong saga related to Lombardo’s use of his Clark County sheriff’s uniform and badge while running for governor in 2022. The high court’s ruling does not absolve Lombardo of wrongdoing, but it opens the door for a dismissal of the case down the line.
New Jersey – A Bizarre N.J. Corruption Case Ends with a Plea Over Kickbacks, Fraud and Plagiarism
MSN – Ted Sherman (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 6/26/2025
Five years after former New Jersey Assemblyperson Willis Edwards III was indicted in a wide-ranging corruption scheme in 2020, the one-time business administrator of the city of Orange abruptly entered into a plea deal to admit guilt to five of the 31 counts against him. Edwards acknowledged approving a fake “management oversight” contract with a company he helped set up and receiving thousands of dollars in kickbacks from the deal. He also pleaded guilty to charges of mortgage and tax fraud. And, strangely enough, he admitted using public funds to pay a consultant to write his dissertation for a graduate program at Seton Hall University.
New York – A New Political Star Emerges Out of a Fractured Democratic Party
DNyuz – Liam Stack (New York Times) | Published: 6/25/2025
The national Democratic establishment struggled to absorb the startling ascent of a democratic socialist in New York City. Voters turned away from a well-funded familiar face, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and in doing so made a generational and ideological break with the party’s mainstream. They turned to a 33-year-old, three-term state Assembly member, Zohran Mamdani. That Mamdani had such success while running on a far-left agenda, including positions that once were politically risky in New York, may challenge the boundaries of party orthodoxy and unnerve national Democratic leaders.
New York – Former Aide to Hochul and Cuomo Faces Fresh Corruption Charges
DNyuz – Santul Nerkar (New York Times) | Published: 6/26/2025
More legal troubles have been piled on Linda Sun, a former aide to two New York governors who has been accused of using her position to help the Chinese government. Sun and her husband face new charges they helped steer lucrative contracts to Chinese companies to sell masks and ventilators to New York’s government at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. They received millions of dollars from those companies for helping secure the contracts and then failed to report the money as taxable income, according to federal prosecutors.
North Carolina – North Carolina Redistricting Trial Begins, with Racial Gerrymandering Allegations the Focus
MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 6/16/2025
North Carolina congressional and state legislative districts drawn by Republicans that helped them retain majorities in Raleigh and Washington are in court, as federal lawsuits accuse mapmakers of illegally eroding Black voting power in the process. Republican leaders counter that lawfully partisan, and not racial, considerations helped inform their decision-making.
Oregon – Good Government Advocates Blast Lawmakers for Moving to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years
MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 6/25/2025
Oregon lawmakers proposed delaying the establishment of campaign contribution limits by four years amid concern the state would not be ready to enact them by their planned 2027 start date. At the end of last year’s legislative session, lawmakers promised to return this year and make technical fixes to the law before it was scheduled to take effect. But with only days left until the current session ends, they have yet to follow through with that pledge. Oregon is one of just five states without campaign donation limits.
Pennsylvania – GOP Leaders Accused of Pressuring Lobbyists to Drop Gaming Client in ‘Ugly’ Pa. Budget Fight
Spotlight PA – Amanda Berg | Published: 6/24/2025
An all-out political war is erupting at the Capitol between the most powerful Republican lawmakers and a deep-pocketed company that has reshaped the gaming landscape in Pennsylvania. The conflict escalated suddenly and bitterly over the past week, with skill games developer and distributor Pace-O-Matic now accusing the state Senate’s top two GOP leaders of intimidating its lobbyists at the Legislature.
Rhode Island – R.I. Elections Board OKs $140K Contract for Long-Awaited Campaign Finance Software Upgrade
Yahoo News – Nancy Lavin (Rhode Island Current) | Published: 6/18/2025
Rhode Island’s antiquated campaign finance software system is poised for a refresh under a $140,000, one-year contract approved by the Board of Elections. The unanimous vote sets in motion the long-awaited upgrade to the electronic system used to report and share information about campaign donations and spending. Rhode Island’s campaign finance software has not been updated since its 2002 debut.
Tennessee – Nashville Council Members Sue State Over Law Criminalizing a Vote for Sanctuary Policies
Chattanooga Times Free Press – Connor Daryani (Nashville Banner) | Published: 6/25/2025
Seven Metro Nashville Council members are suing over a Tennessee law that imposes felony charges, including terms of up to six years in prison, on local elected officials who vote in favor of immigration policies deemed to be “sanctuary policies.” No other state has ever passed a law criminalizing elected officials for their vote. The suit argues that due to the vagueness of the law, it could criminalize anyone from council members to office staff to clerks to constituents who lobby their representatives to pass sanctuary policies.
Virginia – Virginia Slashes Voter Data Costs Ahead of 2025 Elections
Virginia Mercury – Markus Schmidt | Published: 6/25/2025
In a sweeping move aimed at promoting transparency and leveling the playing field in election access, the Virginia Department of Elections announced it will reduce the cost of purchasing voter lists by 90 percent starting in July. The change dramatically lowers the price of essential voter data – including lists of registered voters, new registrants, and past voters – for candidates, political parties, and PACs legally entitled to access them under state law.
Wisconsin – Wisconsin Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Challenges to the State’s Congressional District Boundaries
MSN – Scott Bauer (Associated Press) | Published: 6/25/2025
The Wisconsin Supreme Court refused to hear challenges brought by Democrats seeking to throw out the battleground state’s current congressional district boundaries before the 2026 midterms. Democrats asked the court to redraw the maps, which would have put two of the state’s six congressional seats currently held by Republicans into play. It was the second time in as many years that the court had refused to hear the challenges.
Wisconsin – Wisconsin Supreme Court Sides with Republican Legislature in Fight with Governor
MSN – Scott Bauer (Associated Press) | Published: 6/26/2025
A unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court handed a victory to the Republican-controlled Legislature in a power struggle with Gov. Tony Evers, reining in the governor’s expansive veto powers. The court struck down Evers’ partial veto of a bill in a case that tested both the limits of his veto powers and lawmakers’ ability to exert influence by controlling funding. The ruling against Evers comes after the court earlier this year upheld Evers’ partial veto that locked in a school funding increase for 400 years.
June 26, 2025 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Massachusetts: “GOP’s Mike Kennealy Has Loaned His Campaign Double the Amount Allowed Under State Law” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) for MSN Oregon: “Good Government Advocates Blast Lawmakers for Moving to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years” […]
Campaign Finance
Massachusetts: “GOP’s Mike Kennealy Has Loaned His Campaign Double the Amount Allowed Under State Law” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) for MSN
Oregon: “Good Government Advocates Blast Lawmakers for Moving to Delay Campaign Finance Limits for Years” by Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Trump’s Name Could Adorn Tel Aviv Hotel, Becoming a Symbol or a Target” by Debra Kamin, Ben Protess, and Steve Eder (New York Times) for DNyuz
Louisiana: “Louisiana Ethics Board Will Broadcast Public Meetings Following Lawmakers’ Complaints” by Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) for Yahoo News
Legislative Issues
National: “Trump Administration Is Preparing to Challenge Budget Law, U.S. Officials Say” by Jeff Stein, Hannah Natanson, Carolyn Johnson, and Dan Diamond (Washington Post) for MSN
Tennessee: “Nashville Council Members Sue State Over Law Criminalizing a Vote for Sanctuary Policies” by Connor Daryani (Nashville Banner) for Chattanooga Times Free Press
Lobbying
California: “How a Billboard Company Melded Its Interests with Oakland’s in the New City Budget” by Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) for MSN
Louisiana: “Louisiana Files Lawsuits Alleging Pharmaceutical Giant CVS Deceived Customers in Text Messages” by Jack Brook (Associated Press) for MSN
Minnesota: “Gun Rights, Anti-Abortion Groups Challenge Minnesota Lobbying Disclosure Rules” by Allison Kite (Minneapolis Star Tribune) for MSN
May 9, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – May 9, 2025

National/Federal Orders to Investigate Columbia Protesters Raised Alarms in Justice Dept. DNyuz – Devlin Barrett (New York Times) | Published: 5/1/2025 A top Trump appointee in the Justice Department ordered an aggressive investigation in the last several months of student protesters at […]
National/Federal
Orders to Investigate Columbia Protesters Raised Alarms in Justice Dept.
DNyuz – Devlin Barrett (New York Times) | Published: 5/1/2025
A top Trump appointee in the Justice Department ordered an aggressive investigation in the last several months of student protesters at Columbia University, raising anger and alarm among career prosecutors and investigators who saw the demand as politically motivated and lacking legal merit, people familiar with the episode said. The demand for the inquiry into students who protested Israel’s conduct of the conflict in Gaza also prompted pushback from a federal magistrate judge, who believed some of the steps being sought by the official, Emil Bove III, were unjustified and might violate the First Amendment.
Trump Sons’ Deals on Three Continents Directly Benefit the President
DNyuz – Eric Lipton and David Yaffe-Bellany (New York Times) | Published: 5/5/2025
A contest of sorts has played out across Europe, the United States, and the Middle East as President Trump’s two older sons have pursued a blitz of family moneymaking ventures capitalizing on their father’s name and power, each seemingly trying to outdo the other. It is a rush to cash in that involves billions of dollars with few precedents in American history.
States Are Tightening Rules for Getting Citizen-Led Proposals on the Ballot
DNyuz – Emily Cochrane (New York Times) | Published: 5/5/2025
Some state Legislatures are making it harder for members of the public to put ballot measures before voters. Less than half of the nation’s 50 states allow citizens to collect signatures and to place proposals on the ballot. Legislatures can also put questions on the ballot and typically author the majority of constitutional amendments. But after the fall of Roe v. Wade allowed states to restrict abortion access, abortion rights groups turned to the ballot initiative process to circumvent conservative lawmakers and to put the question directly before voters.
Chief Justice Says Courts Must Be Free to Check ‘Excesses’ of Congress, White House
MSN – Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 5/7/2025
Chief Justice John Roberts championed the independence and authority of the nation’s judicial system to serve as a check on Congress and the president at a time when federal courts are being attacked by the Trump administration. His comments drew applause from the audience of lawyers and judges who were aware that President Trump’s second term has led to escalating tensions between executive branch officials pushing the boundaries of presidential power and federal trial court judges whose rulings often slow or scale back those efforts.
Hegseth Attorney’s Dual Roles Trip Conflict of Interest Alarms
MSN – Daniel Lippman and Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 5/2/2025
Tim Parlatore is a personal attorney and top adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. At the same time, he is suing the Navy and defending private clients against the U.S. government. While Parlatore insists his arrangement is above board, it is highly unusual for a sitting top adviser for a Cabinet secretary to be working in government while at the same time representing clients suing the government or working for clients as they challenge the federal decisions.
Abbe Lowell Launches His Own Law Firm
MSN – Daniel Barnes (Politico) | Published: 5/2/2025
Prominent defense lawyer Abbe Lowell launched Lowell & Associates, his own boutique law firm with an initial client roster that includes several opponents of President Trump. Lowell is teaming up with two attorneys who publicly resigned from their positions at Skadden Arps, after the firm chose to make a deal with the White House to avoid being targeted by the president.
DOGE Aide Who Helped Gut CFPB Was Warned About Potential Conflicts of Interest
MSN – Jake Pearson (ProPublica) | Published: 5/7/2025
A Department of Government Efficiency aide at the nation’s consumer watchdog agency was told by ethics attorneys he held stock in companies that employees are forbidden from owning and was advised not to participate in any actions that could benefit him personally, according to a person familiar with the warning. But days later, court records show, Gavin Kliger, a 25-year-old software engineer who has been detailed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau since March, went ahead and participated in mass layoffs at the agency anyway, including the firings of the ethics lawyers who had warned him.
Voice of America Will Carry One America News Programming
MSN – Scott Nover (Washington Post) | Published: 5/7/2025
Voice of America (VOA) will carry programming from television network One America News, according to a post on X from Kari Lake, a senior adviser to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the government body that oversees VOA. Lake’s announcement was met with outrage from VOA staffers, who pointed to OAN’s right-wing slant and support of President Trump. VOA White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara said this agreement violates the congressional mandate of VOA.
U.S. Pushes Nations Facing Tariffs to Approve Musk’s Starlink, Cables Show
MSN – Jeff Stein and Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 5/7/2025
Numerous countries decided to assist Elon Musk’s Starlink while trying to fend off U.S. tariffs. A series of internal government messages reveal how U.S. embassies and the State Department have pushed nations to clear hurdles for American satellite companies, often mentioning Starlink by name. The documents do not show the Trump team has explicitly demanded favors for Starlink in exchange for lower tariffs. But they do indicate that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed officials to push for regulatory approvals for Musk’s satellite firm at a moment when the White House is calling for wide-ranging talks on trade.
Judge Strikes Down Trump Order Punishing Law Firm Perkins Coie
MSN – Mark Berman (Washington Post) | Published: 5/2/2025
A federal judge barred the Trump administration from implementing an executive order targeting the law firm Perkins Coie. U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell said President Trump’s order was an unconstitutional effort to punish the firm for taking on clients and cases he dislikes. Trump has issued several executive orders punishing prominent law firms. He directed that firms lose government contracts and their employees be blocked from entering government buildings, interacting with government officials; or being hired for government jobs.
Report Spotlights Lobbying by White House Chief’s Former Clients
MSN – Martine Powers (Washington Post) | Published: 5/5/2025
In the first three months of the new Trump administration, several former lobbying clients of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles met with White House staff, drawing concern from Public Citizen about potential conflicts-of-interest. The White House says Wiles was not part of any meetings or decision-making involving the former clients except for a single phone call with the Big Three automakers that included General Motors, which Wiles last represented in 2019. Public Citizen argues Wiles should be required to recuse herself from decisions that affect her former clients.
Catholic Leaders Recoil from Trump’s Pope Post
MSN – Michelle Boorstein and Anthony Faiola (Washington Post) | Published: 5/4/2025
As Catholic cardinals prepared to choose a successor to Pope Francis, church leaders, politicians, and pundits blasted President Trump for sharing an Artificial Intelligence-generated image of himself on a throne in the cassock and miter of the pontiff. The pope is the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. The image, shared by both Trump and the White House, drew quick condemnation.
Trump’s Return to Power Elevates Ever Fringier Conspiracy Theories
Seattle Times – Emily Cochrane (New York Times) | Published: 5/5/2025
Conspiracy theories that were relegated to random and often anonymous online forums are now being championed or publicly debated by increasingly powerful people. President Trump has embraced, elevated, and even appointed to his cabinet people promoting these theories, giving the ideas a persuasive authority and a dangerous proximity to policy.
From the States and Municipalities
Alaska – Alaska’s Attorney General Flew to South Africa and France. A Corporate-Funded Group Paid.
Yahoo News – Nathaniel Herz (Anchorage Daily News) | Published: 5/7/2025
Trips taken by Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor to France and South Africa underscore watchdogs’ concerns about the group that paid for the travel, the Attorney General Alliance (AGA), which has raised millions of dollars from corporations – including some that have had legal disputes with states. CNN reported the group collected nearly $27 million in sponsorships between 2019 and 2023, and allows companies to suggest “speakers, panelists, working groups, white papers and events.”
California – China Allegedly Tried to Influence This Politician. She Says She’s Not Going Anywhere
MSN – Rebecca Ellis (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 5/2/2025
After being sworn in as second-in-command of the Arcadia City Council, Eileen Wang addressed a controversy that has taken a back seat in the months since the Eaton fire devastated nearby Altadena. Wang said her romantic relationship with Yaoning Sun ended eight months before federal prosecutors charged Sun with conspiracy and acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government. Sun allegedly worked with China to cultivate Wang, in hopes she would rise in politics and help promote pro-China policies, including opposition to Taiwan.
Colorado – Bill to Put School Boards, Special Districts Under Colorado Ethics Commission Fails
Colorado Politics – Marianne Goodland | Published: 5/6/2025
For the third year in a row, a bill that would add school boards and special districts to the jurisdiction of the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission failed. The commission has issued hundreds of opinions regarding its authority, the vast majority tied to financial issues, such as gift bans and travel expenses. It has never issued an opinion that would define the standards of conduct or reporting requirements that would fall under its purview.
District of Columbia – As D.C. U.S. Attorney Nomination Falters, Ed Martin’s Past Feeds Doubts
MSN – Tom Jackman and Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 5/8/2025
Ed Martin’s nomination to be the top federal prosecutor in the District of Columbia is now faltering in the U.S. Senate. The same headlong style that fed controversies over his 15 weeks as interim U.S. attorney has over the years both fueled his rise through conservative politics and burned him repeatedly, costing him jobs, tens of thousands of dollars in fines, and court contempt citations. Democratic critics say they see a pattern in what they call Martin’s repeated abuse of his powers in office to threaten political opponents, and his indifference to the law and legal ethics.
Georgia – Another Ethics Complaint Filed Against Conservative Lobbying Group with Influence at Georgia Capitol
Yahoo News – Ross Williams (Georgia Recorder) | Published: 5/6/2025
An influential conservative lobbying group allegedly failed to file the proper disclosures in connection with advertisements for Gov. Brian Kemp and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in the 2022 election, according to a complaint filed with the State Ethics Commission. Frontline Policy Action is an evangelical 501(c)(4) organization that successfully lobbied during the 2025 legislative session for bills including the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act and a ban on transgender women and girls playing on women’s school sports teams.
Louisiana – As Charges Linger Over Landry, Louisiana House Votes to Overhaul Ethics Investigations
Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 5/6/2025
Investigations of public officials for alleged misconduct could be significantly blunted under a bill passed by the Louisiana House. House Bill 674 targets the same process used to bring ethics charges against Gov. Jeff Landry two years ago. Members of the state Board of Ethics said the legislation would make it harder to pursue charges over ethical misconduct.
Louisiana – Louisiana Lawmakers Might Lift Restrictions on Gifts to Elected Officials, Government Employees
Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 5/6/2025
Louisiana lawmakers are quickly moving legislation that would eliminate a prohibition in state ethics law on public sector employees and elected leaders from receiving gifts in most circumstances. Instead, government employees would be able to receive any type of gift worth up to $100 per event with an annual cap of $200. They would be able to accept an additional $200 in “seasonal or holiday food” gifts for a total limit of $400 in gifts.
Louisiana – Louisiana Lawmakers Might Shield Campaign Spending on Constitutional Amendments, Tax Proposals
Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 5/5/2025
Louisiana lawmakers might eliminate requirements that political donations and spending on constitutional amendments, tax millages, and other election propositions be made available to the public. The change would result in voters knowing less about who is working to pass or defeat ballot measures they are asked to consider. House Bill 596 would make dozens of changes to Louisiana campaign finance reporting laws.
Maryland – After Hogan Controversy, Maryland Passes New Ethics Law
MSN – Eric Cortellessa (Time Magazine) | Published: 5/8/2025
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed into law a bipartisan overhaul of the state’s ethics laws requiring future governors to put their financial holdings in a blind trust or disinvest from them entirely. During former Gov. Larry Hogan’s eight years in office, nearly 40 percent of the competitive affordable housing awards overseen by the governor went to developers listed as clients on Hogan’s real estate firm’s website. A media report found one of the projects Hogan approved was being developed on his family’s property.
Massachusetts – Boston City Councilor Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Corruption Charges
MassLive – Ryan Mancini | Published: 5/5/2025
Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson pleaded guilty to two of the six federal corruption charges in federal court – one count of wire fraud and one count of theft involving federal funds. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop four of the charges against her and recommended she serve 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and pay $26,000, as well as an additional fine set by the court.
Michigan – Michigan Lawmakers Hear Out Testimony on Rules to Close the Lobbyist Gift Loophole
Michigan Advance – Anna Liz Nichols | Published: 5/7/2025
Michigan lawmakers heard testimony on rules currently being considered that would halt elected officials from working around state prohibitions on accepting gifts from lobbyists. State law bars elected officials from accepting gifts like sports tickets or flights valued above $79. The change being considered by the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules, would ban public officials from reimbursing lobbyists for the value of a gift that exceeds the maximum allowed limit.
Montana – Montana Republicans Dominated the 2024 Election. Things Got ‘Weird’ as Some Sided with Democrats
MSN – Matthew Brown and Hannah Schoenbaum (Associated Press) | Published: 4/30/2025
Montana lawmakers meet for just a few months every two years. It remains a true citizen Legislature, opening the playing field for compromise, said political analyst Jeremy Johnson. Minority Democrats took full advantage, remaking legislative committees and banding with a handful of moderate Republicans to thwart GOP leaders’ efforts to make Montana’s judicial system more partisan. Similar alliances bolstered Medicaid expansion, raised teacher pay, and passed a state budget increase that includes investments in affordable housing and health care.
New York – Andrew Cuomo Warned: Don’t pass notes to super PAC
MSN – Jeff Coltin and Nick Reisman (Politico) | Published: 5/5/2025
Campaign finance regulators sent a warning shot to Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic front-runner in the New York City mayoral race, over a recent practice that raised concerns. The New York City Campaign Finance Board emailed all city campaigns noting the board adopted new rules in November, strengthening those outlawing coordination between candidates and super PACs. That followed reporting last week that Cuomo was using an increasingly common legal practice known as “redboxing” to communicate his preferred messaging and advertising strategy.
New York – NYC Mayor Adams’ Appeal of Matching Campaign Funds Ruling Denied, Can’t Try Again Until Mid-July
Yahoo News – Chris Sommerfeldt (New York Daily News) | Published: 5/7/2025
New York City’s Campaign Finance Board is sticking to its guns in denying Mayor Eric Adams more than $4 million in public matching funds for his reelection run and will not give him another chance to challenge the decision until mid-July. The board first denied Adams the matching funds in December 2024, citing compliance issues, including his federal corruption indictment accusing him of taking bribes and illegal campaign cash from Turkish government operatives. After the Department of Justice secured a controversial dismissal of Adams’ indictment, his campaign filed a formal petition urging the board to reconsider its denial of funds.
North Carolina – Republican Concedes Long-Unsettled North Carolina Court Election to Democratic Incumbent
MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 5/7/2025
Jefferson Griffin, the Republican challenger for a North Carolina Supreme Court seat, conceded last November’s election to incumbent Allison Riggs two days after a federal judge ruled that potentially thousands of disputed ballots challenged by Griffin must remain in the final tally. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Myers ordered the State Board of Elections to certify results showing Riggs is the winner by 734 votes. Democrats and voting rights groups called Griffin’s efforts an attack on democracy that would serve as a road map for the GOP to reverse election results in other states.
North Dakota – Effort to Improve North Dakota Campaign Finance Reporting Fails
Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 5/3/2025
A stripped-down campaign finance bill failed in the North Dakota Senate after a prolonged disagreement between chambers. Some lawmakers hoped House Bill 1377 would be a vehicle for ambitious changes in campaign spending transparency, as well as for streamlining financial disclosure regulations for candidates.
North Dakota – North Dakota Lawmakers Approve Ethics Commission Bill with Deadline Removed
Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 5/2/2025
State lawmakers approved a North Dakota Ethics Commission budget full of major policy changes, though they abandoned a controversial proposal that would have imposed a deadline for complaints. Legislators agreed to fund a $50,000 case management system to help the commission track filings, which staff say will help them work more efficiently. Other noteworthy provisions in the budget include a handful of changes intended to fix bottlenecks in the Ethics Commission’s complaint process.
Ohio – Court Upholds Racketeering Convictions of Ex-Ohio House Speaker and Lobbyist in $60M Bribery Scheme
MSN – Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) | Published: 5/6/2025
A federal appeals court upheld the racketeering convictions of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and a one-time lobbyist in a $60 million bribery scandal described as the largest corruption scheme in state history. Householder was sentenced to 20 years in prison , and lobbyist and former Ohio Republican Party Chairperson Matt Borges was sentenced to five years in prison.
Ohio – Ohio Elections Commission Urges State Senators to Restore Funding in Budget
Ohio Capital Journal – Nick Evans | Published: 5/6/2025
The future is far from certain for the Ohio Elections Commission after House budget drafters moved to eliminate the agency. Now the state Senate gets its turn to tweak the two-year spending plan. Commission Executive Director Phil Richter went before a Senate committee to make the case for his agency. Richter warned that turning campaign finance laws over to an official appointed by the secretary of state or the county board of elections will create chaos.
Oklahoma – Oklahoma Ethics Commission Clears Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett
Oklahoman – Nolan Clay | Published: 5/2/2025
The Oklahoma Ethics Commission cleared Corporation Commission member Todd Hiett after an investigation into accusations he violated a conflict-of-interest rule. The allegations arose because Hiett continued to vote on rate hikes despite disclosures about his drunken behavior at a regulatory conference in Minnesota last year.
Oregon – Former OLCC Director to Pay $500 Ethics Fine for Pappy Van Winkle Diversion
MSN – Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 5/5/2025
Steve Marks, the former executive director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, agreed to pay a $500 civil penalty to the state’s ethics commission for using his position to obtain a prized bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon. It mirrors those reached by two other commission executives in April. In all, six managers received reprimands after an internal investigation found they had used their positions for personal gain when they had scarce bourbon set aside for themselves. They were subsequently fired or stepped down.
Oregon – Former Oregon Secretary of State Faces $1,600 Fine for Ethics Violations
MSN – Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 5/4/2025
Former Secretary of State Shemia Fagan agreed to pay $1,600 in civil fines to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission for using her position to obtain a $10,000-a-month side job and for seeking state reimbursement for roomier accommodations on work trips where she was accompanied by her children and the family dog. In 2023, the commission opened its investigation into whether Fagan violated ethics rules for her side job with an associated company of La Mota, which operates cannabis stores in Oregon.
Oregon – Oregon’s Most Populous County Moves Forward with Lobbying Rules
MSN – Austin De Dios (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 5/1/2025
In a unanimous vote, the Board of Commissioners gave final approval to an ordinance that establishes Multnomah County’s first-ever lobbying reporting requirements and other transparency measures. It requires lobbyists to register and report quarterly on any efforts to influence policy and any gifts they give over $50. The ordinance takes effect on July 1.
Texas – Fifth Circuit Signals Support for Free Speech Claims in Legal Services Dispute
Courthouse News Service – Cameron Thompson | Published: 4/28/2025
A Fifth Circuit panel appeared likely to side with a campaign finance advocacy group in a dispute over a small piece of Texas election law. The Institute for Free Speech appealed to the three-judge panel that the Texas Election Commission’s advisory opinion on providing free legal services to candidates unfairly restricted their First Amendment rights. The institute wanted to represent a city council candidate who wanted to challenge a separate piece of the election code related to a warning printed on political signs. When they asked the commission if that conduct would violate the law, the commission ruled it would be a form of in-kind contribution.
Texas – Texas’ Highest Criminal Court Rehears Houston-Area Case That Could Impact Enforcement of Ethics Laws
Houston Public Media – Natalie Weber | Published: 5/1/2025
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals heard oral arguments in a case that could determine how the state’s ethics laws are enforced. In September, Texas’ highest criminal court ruled the state Ethics Commission had exclusive authority over certain ethics, campaign finance, and political advertising laws. In practice, the ruling meant prosecutors had to seek permission from the commission before bringing criminal charges against politicians and lobbyists. The debate centers on whether state lawmakers intended for the ethics commission to have exclusive authority over this area.
Texas – Texas Republican Lawmakers May ‘Financially Handcuff’ Cities That Don’t Play by Their Rules
MSN – Joshua Fechter (Texas Tribune) | Published: 5/5/2025
Two years after Texas lawmakers enacted a sweeping law aimed at sapping authority from the state’s urban areas, GOP legislators once more advanced bills intended to stop local governments from adopting progressive policies. Republicans in the Legislature want to give the state the authority to effectively torpedo cities’ budgets if they pursue local rules that might conflict with state law, intended to deter them from adopting left-leaning ideas in the first place.
Washington – Seattle City Council to Consider Changing Ethics Code for Votes
Seattle Times – David Kroman | Published: 5/1/2025
The Seattle City Council will soon consider a law changing the city’s ethics code and making it easier for members to vote on legislation even if they have a possible financial conflict-of-interest. A year after several perceived conflicts among council members altered the path of a number of bills, the proposed change could clear the way for how this council considers laws regulating landlord-tenant relations and business in the city.
May 6, 2025 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Ethics National: “Catholic Leaders Recoil from Trump’s Pope Post” by Michelle Boorstein and Anthony Faiola (Washington Post) for MSN National: “Trump Sons’ Deals on Three Continents Directly Benefit the President” by Eric Lipton and David Yaffe-Bellany (New York Times) for DNyuz Massachusetts: “Boston City Councilor […]
Ethics
National: “Catholic Leaders Recoil from Trump’s Pope Post” by Michelle Boorstein and Anthony Faiola (Washington Post) for MSN
National: “Trump Sons’ Deals on Three Continents Directly Benefit the President” by Eric Lipton and David Yaffe-Bellany (New York Times) for DNyuz
Massachusetts: “Boston City Councilor Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Corruption Charges” by Ryan Mancini for MassLive
North Dakota: “North Dakota Lawmakers Approve Ethics Commission Bill with Deadline Removed” by Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News
Oregon: “Former Oregon Secretary of State Faces $1,600 Fine for Ethics Violations” by Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) for MSN
Texas: “Texas’ Highest Criminal Court Rehears Houston-Area Case That Could Impact Enforcement of Ethics Laws” by Natalie Weber for Houston Public Media
Legislative Issues
Montana: “Montana Republicans Dominated the 2024 Election. Things Got ‘Weird’ as Some Sided with Democrats” by Matthew Brown and Hannah Schoenbaum (Associated Press) for MSN
Lobbying
National: “Report Spotlights Lobbying by White House Chief’s Former Clients” by Martine Powers (Washington Post) for MSN
April 25, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – April 25, 2025

National/Federal After Harvard, Liberal Donors and Groups Fear New Scrutiny from Trump DNyuz – Theodore Schleifer and Lisa Friedman (New York Times) | Published: 4/17/2025 The close-knit world of liberal donors and the nonprofit groups they support are worried that President Trump […]
National/Federal
After Harvard, Liberal Donors and Groups Fear New Scrutiny from Trump
DNyuz – Theodore Schleifer and Lisa Friedman (New York Times) | Published: 4/17/2025
The close-knit world of liberal donors and the nonprofit groups they support are worried that President Trump could go after their assets or their tax-exempt status. Trump confirmed he was potentially seeking to pull Harvard’s tax-exempt status, in an apparent act of retaliation for the university’s refusal to bow to a long list of demands. And he said there “could be” others. while some of these donors and their allied groups have cozied up to the Trump administration, more of them have worked diligently to lie low, de-emphasizing viewpoints that could attract scrutiny.
Appeals Court Panel Hears Arguments on AP’s Access to White House
MSN – Hassan Ali Kanu (Politico) | Published: 4/17/2025
A federal appeals court panel appeared skeptical at a hearing of the Trump administration’s request that it immediately lift a lower court’s order restoring the Associated Press to the White House press pool. The panel seemed wary of the administration’s arguments that they must immediately intervene in the case, saying there was not a risk of some imminent harm, especially since the Associated Press already had a longstanding, permanent slot in the small group of reporters who get access to the Oval Office and other White House spaces.
DOJ Questions Science Journal About Bias, Triggering Free Speech Concerns
MSN – Mark Johnson (Washington Post) | Published: 4/18/2025
The acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia sent a letter to the editor of a scientific journal for chest doctors, implying the journal was partisan and asking a series of questions about how the publication protects the public from misinformation, whether it included competing viewpoints, and whether it was influenced by funders. Free speech experts raised alarm over the letter. “The government has no authority under the First Amendment to regulate the editorial decisions of publications, and the letter suggests that’s what Martin intends to do,” said David Snyder, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition.
The Supreme Court Could Be Poised to Hobble the Trump Resistance
MSN – Hassan Ali Kanu and Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 4/21/2025
The Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments on the extent of lower court judges’ power to block a president’s policies nationwide. If the high court grants the Trump administration’s request to limit or lift three nationwide injunctions blocking the president’s bid to end birthright citizenship, it could cripple the ability of Trump’s opponents to seek, and judges’ ability to grant, such blocks entirely.
Wife of Former Senator Bob Menendez Found Guilty in Corruption Case
MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 4/21/2025
The wife of former U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez was found guilty of helping her husband generate a steady flow of bribes and gifts that totaled about $1 million and included gold bars, cash, and a luxury car. Nadine Menendez was convicted of bribery, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit those crimes, and related counts. She faces the possibility of decades in prison.
Politically Connected Firms Benefit from Trump Tariff Exemptions Amid Secrecy, Confusion
MSN – Robert Faturechi (ProPublica) | Published: 4/22/2025
Critics say the Trump administration’s process for crafting its tariff policy has been opaque. Major stakeholders are in the dark about why certain products face levies and others do not. Tariff rates have been altered without any clear explanation for the changes. Administration officials have given conflicting messages about the tariffs or declined to answer questions at all. The lack of transparency about the process has created concerns among trade experts that politically connected firms might be winning carve-outs behind closed doors.
The Top Producer at ’60 Minutes’ Has Quit. He Says He Can No Longer Run the Show as He Always Has
MSN – David Bauder (Associated Press) | Published: 4/22/2025
With his show involved in a bitter dispute with President Trump, the top executive at the storied CBS News show “60 Minutes”, Bill Owens, abruptly resigned while saying he is losing the freedom to run it independently. Trump sued “60 Minutes” for $20 billion last fall, claiming it deceptively edited an interview with Kamala Harris. CBS denied it had done anything to give an advantage to Harris and released the full transcript of its interview.
Watchdog Agency Tells Fired Workers They Have No Legal Basis for Complaints
MSN – Meryl Kornfield (Washington Post) | Published: 4/21/2025
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) told thousands of probationary federal workers it will not pursue their complaints about their firings. The decision was a reversal of the position of the previous head of the independent office, who was fired by President Trump. The watchdog agency said it does not have the purview to pursue the complaints made by more than 2,000 federal employees. It acknowledged many of the workers disputed the poor performance that was cited in their removals. But the OSC said it was impossible for them to challenge the firings as unlawful.
Jury Finds New York Times Didn’t Defame Sarah Palin
MSN – Corinne Ramey and Isabella Simonetti (Wall Street Journal) | Published: 4/22/2025
A federal jury rejected former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s claims that the New York Times defamed her in an editorial about gun violence. The verdict of not liable was the same conclusion a previous jury had reached in 2022 during the first trial in the case. The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year ordered a new trial, finding the judge acted improperly when he said, during jury deliberations, that he planned to dismiss the case.
Two Major Law Firms Urge Judges to Permanently Block Trump’s Executive Orders
MSN – Eric Tucker (Associated Press) | Published: 4/23/2025
A federal judge expressed deep skepticism over President Trump’s executive order targeting a prominent law firm, signaling she was inclined to grant a request to permanently block its enforcement. U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell grilled a Justice Department lawyer over the government’s plans to suspend security clearances from lawyers at the firm of Perkins Coie and pressed him to explain why the Trump administration was forcing law firms to disavow the use of diversity, equity, and inclusion considerations in its hiring practices.
Elon Musk Had the Government in His Grasp. Then It Unraveled.
MSN – Dan Diamond, Faiz Siddiqui, Trisha Thadani, and Jeff Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 4/24/2025
Elon Musk has had numerous confrontations with top Trump administration appointees in a three-month government stint that has been peppered with controversy. He has rebuked officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and economic adviser Peter Navarro. He also alienated Trump aides with unscripted remarks and abrupt edicts, forcing political appointees to scramble to explain his decisions. With Tesla battered by declining sales, Musk told investors his “time allocation to [the Department of Government Efficiency] will drop significantly,” though he added he will probably stay involved.
From the States and Municipalities
Arizona – Cannabis Company Alleges Gov. Hobbs’ Aide Improperly Intervened in Marijuana License Case
Arizona Capitol Times – Kiera Riley | Published: 4/19/2025
Arizona Wellness Center Springerville filed a lawsuit against state public health department officials, the governor, and her chief of staff, accusing them of improperly issuing a dual-use cannabis license after the statutory deadline to Arizona’s largest cannabis retailer. The company and Cave claim Gov. Katie Hobbs’ chief of staff, Chad Campbell, coordinated with a lobbyist for the cannabis retailer Trulieve to grant a dual license to one of its subsidiaries despite past court orders finding it unlawful to grant a license after the deadline.
California – Former L.A. Councilmember Kevin de León Faces Ethics Fine for Voting on Issues in Which He Had a Financial Stake
MSN – Ben Poston (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 4/19/2025
Former Los Angeles Councilperson Kevin de León is facing an $18,750 ethics fine for voting on council decisions in which he had a financial interest and for failing to disclose income. A report from the city Ethics Commission said that in 2020 and 2021, De León voted on three city council issues that benefited the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and one that helped the University of Southern California, all decisions that were made less than a year after he received income from each.
California – Another Top Staffer Quits Oakland Public Ethics Commission
MSN – Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) | Published: 4/17/2025
Nicolas Heidorn, executive director of the Oakland Public Ethics Commission, is leaving his post in July. Heidorn is the second high-level staffer to leave the agency in recent months. Last September, Simon Russell, the commission’s enforcement chief, announced he was resigning and criticized city officials for refusing to give his team more resources, despite repeated warnings that his staff are overwhelmed with work.
California – $5K in a Coffee Mug: Indictment details Bay Area developers’ alleged bribe to elected official
MSN – Bob Egelko and Molly Burke (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 4/23/2025
The owners of a Bay Area housing development firm, David Sanson and his son, Trent Sanson, were charged with offering bribes to an Antioch City Council member to win approval for a residential project. Prosecutors said Trent Sanson met with the council member and said his father was willing to pay $10,000 to put the project on the council’s agenda and win approval. He told the council member his father would likely give them $5,000 in cash and another $5,000 as a donation to a political action committee or as an independent expenditure.
California – Top S.F. Official Ousted After Probe Finds Misconduct, ‘Unlawful Activities’
MSN – Michael Barba (San Francisco Chronicle) | Published: 4/23/2025
A city commission voted to remove a beleaguered official from her post after an administrative investigation found she committed what San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie described as misconduct and “unlawful activities.” Kimberly Ellis, director of the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women, faced a months-long investigation for secretly working a side job for a political group and directing city money to her friends.
Colorado Politics – Marianne Goodland | Published: 4/22/2025
House Bill 1079, which would add school and special districts to the jurisdiction of Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission, was approved by the House Appropriations Committee. Under the bill, the commission would handle complaints tied to members of 178 school boards and board members for 2,713 special districts, covering fire, water, sanitation, metropolitan, hospitals, libraries, and others. That would also extend to “direct hires” of those boards, such as district directors and school superintendents.
Florida – The $10M Steered to Hope Florida by the State was Medicaid Money, Document Shows
MSN – Alexandra Glorioso and Lawrence Mower (Tampa Bay Times) | Published: 4/23/2025
The $10 million that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration diverted to a state-created charity last year consisted of Medicaid dollars owed to state and federal taxpayers, contrary to what the governor and other officials have publicly asserted. The administration sent the $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity overseen by first lady Casey DeSantis. The money was then sent to two nonprofits that are not required to report how they spend their funds. Those dark money groups later gave $8.5 million to a political committee overseen by the governor’s chief of staff.
Florida – Man Detained in Florida on Immigration Hold Despite Being Citizen, Lawyer Says
MSN – Vivian Ho (Washington Post) | Published: 4/18/2025
Florida authorities detained a U.S.-born citizen on the charge of entering the state as an “unauthorized alien,” forcing him to spend more than 24 hours in a county jail on an immigration hold, despite the man having proof of his citizenship through his birth certificate and social security card. His lawyers said Juan Lopez-Gomez was arrested under a law that was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in February but was temporarily blocked in federal court.
Hawaii – Hawai’I County Moves to Adopt Nepotism Rules for Government Employees
Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair | Published: 4/21/2025
It was an awkward moment for the Hawaii County Council as the board was considering the mayor’s nomination of Rebecca Inaba to serve on the island’s Leeward Planning Commission. The discomfort had nothing to do with her qualifications, experience, or reputation. The issue was that Inaba is the mother of the council chair, Holeka Goro Inaba. That same morning the council considered legislation to update the county code to prohibit nepotism.
Idaho – Woman Seeks $5M in Damages After Removal from GOP Town Hall for Heckling
MSN – Daniel Wu (Washington Post) | Published: 4/22/2025
An Idaho woman who was dragged out of a local Republican town hall in February by private security guards for heckling lawmakers is seeking $5 million in damages after the confrontation drew widespread attention and led city officials to press criminal charges against the guards. Video of plainclothes guards hauling Teresa Borrenpohl out of her seat and forcing her to the ground in an auditorium went viral as stories emerged across the country of constituents speaking out against Republican policies in town halls. Critics saw Borrenpohl’s ejection as an assault on free speech.
Indiana – Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith Signs No-Bid Contract with Law Firm Closely Tied to His Church
Indianapolis Star – Haleigh Columbo | Published: 4/24/2025
Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith’s office signed a no-bid contract with a law firm that is closely affiliated with Life Church, the church where Beckwith still serves as a pastor, a move that has raised red flags for ethics experts and lawmakers. Multiple ethics experts questioned the optics of awarding a no-bid contract to a company that has close ties to Beckwith’s other employer. Adler Attorneys’ chief executive officer, Raymond Adler, is a member of the church, and another attorney at the firm serves on the church’s board of directors. The law firm has also recently represented Life Church in municipal government matters.
Iowa – House Ethics Committee Reprimands Group for Claiming Lawmaker Was a Former Stripper
Iowa Capital Dispatch – Robin Opsahl | Published: 4/23/2025
The Iowa House Ethics Committee voted to publicly reprimand members of the “Bitches Get Stuff Done” organization for publishing content online claiming state Rep. Samantha Fett was a “former stripper.” Fett told the committee she filed the complaint because the group was registered to lobby lawmakers. “When you do register as a lobbyist, you agree to operate at a higher level of professionalism, under rules,” Fett said.
Louisiana – While Facing Ethics Charges, Landry Pushes Overhaul of Investigation Process
Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 4/23/2025
Gov. Jeff Landry wants to reform the Louisiana Board of Ethics’ investigation process. The changes Landry seeks would make it easier for subjects of an ethics complaint – like he is – to avoid charges or a probe into their alleged wrongdoing. House Bill 397 also loosens limits on elected officials and state employees’ state travel, weakens restrictions on government contracts with public officials and their families, and reduces requirements for elected officials and candidates’ disclosure of financial interests.
Maine – Judge Denies Laurel Libby’s Request to Immediately Restore Her Right to Vote in Maine House
Yahoo News – Rachel Ohm (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 4/18/2025
A federal judge denied a request from Rep. Laurel Libby to immediately restore her speaking and voting rights on the floor of the Maine House of Representatives. Libby was censured by House Democrats in February after she used a Facebook post to criticize a transgender athlete’s high school track championship and shared photos of the student without their consent.
Mississippi – House Speaker Jason White, Staff Treated to Super Bowl by Gambling Giant Pushing for Legalized Betting
MSN – Michael Goldberg and Taylor Vance (Mississippi Today) | Published: 4/23/2025
The sports gambling lobby has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Mississippi politicians trying to convince them to legalize mobile sports betting. Part of that effort was a trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans this year for House Speaker Jason White, his staff, and two of their spouses. The trip was paid for, at least in part, by DraftKings, which has lobbied for legal online betting. Thanks to a loophole in Mississippi’s lobbying laws, there is no public account of the expensive weekend in lobbying reports that are supposed to document spending on behalf of state employees.
Missouri – Missouri Campaign Watchdog Is Once Again Unable to Function Due to Vacancies
Yahoo News – Rebecca Rivas (Missouri Independent) | Published: 4/22/2025
Seventeen complaints have been dismissed in the more than 100 business days since the Missouri Ethic Commission last had enough members to reach a quorum. It is the second time in less than a year that the commission has not had enough members to enforce campaign finance and ethics laws. In January, former Gov. Mike Parson withdrew two commissioners who he appointed months earlier but who had not yet been confirmed by the Senate. That left only two of the six seats on the commission filled. The last time the commission had enough members to meet was November 20.
Nevada – Nevada Lawmakers Often Fail to Disclose Rental Property Income, Point to Confusing Forms
Nevada Independent – Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren | Published: 4/20/2025
One-third of Nevada lawmakers who report owning rental properties did not disclose receiving income from them, which could be a violation of campaign finance disclosure laws if they are making money from them. But most of the lawmakers said the omission was an accident or a result of not taking income from the properties. A review of financial disclosure forms shows Nevada’s stipulations for filing are not always clear-cut to lawmakers or detailed about how to report rental income, leaving room for errors.
New Jersey – Racketeering Charges Against George Norcross Should Be Reinstated, N.J. Prosecutors Tell Appeals Court
MSN – Andrew Seidman (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 4/22/2025
State prosecutors urged an appeals court to reinstate criminal racketeering charges against New Jersey power broker George Norcross III, arguing a judge erred in dismissing the indictment without reviewing evidence that was presented to the grand jury. In his decision, prosecutors said Mercer County Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw effectively threw out five months of work by the grand jury, which heard 2,000 pages of testimony and hundreds of exhibits, and reached determinations about Norcross’ motivations through a faulty analysis.
New York – Federal Prosecutors in Eric Adams Case Resign After Being Put on Administrative Leave
MSN – Erica Orden (Politico) | Published: 4/22/2025
Three of the Manhattan federal prosecutors who worked on the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams resigned, accusing the Justice Department of trying to force them to admit wrongdoing in connection with their resistance to dropping the charges. The prosecutors, Celia Cohen, Andrew Rohrbach, and Derek Wikstrom, had been placed on administrative leave after they, along with the then-acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, balked at accepting the Justice Department’s orders to drop the corruption case against the mayor.
North Carolina – North Carolina Judges Weigh GOP Law Shifting Election Board Control Away from Democratic Governor
MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 4/16/2025
Judges in North Carolina heard arguments from attorneys for Republican legislative leaders who insist their latest method to attempt to wrest control of the State Board of Elections from a Democratic governor is lawful, this time giving the job of appointing members to the GOP state auditor. But lawyers for Gov. Josh Stein, who sued to stop the changes approved by the General Assembly and begin in earnest in May, contend the alteration suffers constitutional flaws similar to those that caused courts to strike down previous GOP attempts.
North Dakota – North Dakota House Passes Campaign Finance Bill Changing Deadlines, Donor Disclosures
Fargo Forum – Grant Coursey (Bismarck Tribune) | Published: 4/18/2025
The North Dakota House passed a number of changes to campaign finance disclosures. The version passed by the House solidifies reporting deadlines for political candidates, district parties and committees so they are based on dates instead of a certain number of days before or after an election, with the exception of special elections, among other changes.
North Dakota – Ethics Commissioners Say Bill Would Impose an Arbitrary Cutoff for Investigations
Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 4/17/2025
The North Dakota Ethics Commission fears changes approved by state lawmakers could allow alleged ethical violations by public officials to go unaddressed. The House voted to approve a number of amendments to the commission’s budget, Senate Bill 2004, which included a new provision requiring the commission to dismiss ethics complaints older than 180 days. If the bill is signed into law, it would take effect immediately.
MSN – Tyler Carey (WKYC) | Published: 4/21/2025
Kent State University asked the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to investigate head football coach Kenni Burns earlier this year, and its findings eventually contributed to Burns’ recent firing. The probe found Burns accepted a loan of more than $100,000 from Kent State booster and area restaurant owner Mike Awad, and while Burns was found to have paid the money back, the transaction was found to “highly likely” be a violation of Ohio ethics laws.
Oregon – OLCC Manager Who Diverted Bottles of Elmer T. Lee Bourbon Back on the Job
MSN – Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 4/21/2025
Brian Flemming, the retail services manager for the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) who diverted sought-after Elmer T. Lee bourbon for himself, a colleague, and his bosses is back on the job after two years on leave. The allegations that Flemming used his position and insider knowledge of the state’s liquor inventory for his own benefit mirror the findings of a previous human resources investigation into six high-ranking OLCC executives. Those top managers were reprimanded and later resigned or were fired.
Pennsylvania – How the Restoration of Philly’s Historic 30th St. Station Became a Corruption Bonanza
MSN – Andrew Seidman and Chris Palmer (Philadelphia Inquirer) | Published: 4/24/2025
In 2018, Amtrak officials invited the media to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia for a tour of the rail operator’s work on a yearslong project to restore the historic building’s facade. Although the taxpayer-funded project’s cost had nearly doubled to $109 million, the price tag was worth it, said Ajith Bhaskaran, the Amtrak manager overseeing the project, “because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do this work.” What Bhaskaran did not say at the time was that in exchange for signing off on all the extra work, he seized an opportunity to line his own pockets.
Tennessee – Corruption Trial of Ex-House Speaker Casada, Aide Cothren Starts This Week. What to Know
Yahoo News – Evan Mealins (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 4/21/2025
After more than three years of investigation, ex-Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former top aide Cade Cothren are on trial, facing 20 fraud-related charges that could lead to decades in prison. Several current and former state legislators, and alleged co-conspirator Robin Smith are expected to testify that Casada and Cothren orchestrated a scheme to take advantage of a state-funded mailer program through a shadowy company organized under a fake persona.
Washington – Seattle Council Sends Democracy Voucher Renewal to August Ballot
Seattle Times – David Kroman | Published: 4/23/2025
Voters will decide this August whether to continue with Seattle’s experiment in taxpayer-funded Democracy Vouchers that have helped finance the campaigns of local candidates since 2017. The city council signed off on Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed 10-year, $45 million renewal, officially sending the question to the ballot this summer. If approved, the average Seattle homeowner would spend around $13 a year in property taxes on the program.
Washington – As in D.C., a Fight Breaks Out in Washington State Over Who Gets Access to Lawmakers
Spokane Public Radio – Daniel Walters (InvestigateWest) | Published: 4/20/2025
The White House Correspondents’ Association condemned the Trump administration’s move in February to handpick the reporters who get access to the White House, stripping that power from the association. But just eight days later, Washington state’s own Capitol Correspondents Association willingly chose to give up its own influence over which reporters get access to the Legislature, handing that gatekeeping role solely to the same lawmakers they cover.
Wisconsin – Wisconsin Governor Can Lock in 400-Year School Funding Increase Using a Veto, Court Says
MSN – Scott Bauer (Associated Press) | Published: 4/18/2025
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ creative use of his uniquely powerful veto to lock in a school funding increase for 400 years may be “attention grabbing,” but it was constitutional, the state Supreme Court ruled. The ruling affirms the partial veto power of Wisconsin governors, which is the broadest of any state. Wisconsin is the only state where governors can partially veto spending bills by striking words, numbers, and punctuation to create new meaning or spending amounts.
April 22, 2025 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance North Dakota: “North Dakota House Passes Campaign Finance Bill Changing Deadlines, Donor Disclosures” by Grant Coursey (Bismarck Tribune) for Fargo Forum Ethics California: “Another Top Staffer Quits Oakland Public Ethics Commission” by Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) for MSN Hawaii: “Hawai’i County Moves to Adopt […]
Campaign Finance
North Dakota: “North Dakota House Passes Campaign Finance Bill Changing Deadlines, Donor Disclosures” by Grant Coursey (Bismarck Tribune) for Fargo Forum
Ethics
California: “Another Top Staffer Quits Oakland Public Ethics Commission” by Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) for MSN
Hawaii: “Hawai’i County Moves to Adopt Nepotism Rules for Government Employees” by Chad Blair for Honolulu Civil Beat
Nevada: “Nevada Lawmakers Often Fail to Disclose Rental Property Income, Point to Confusing Forms” by Tabitha Mueller and Eric Neugeboren for Nevada Independent
Ohio: “Ethics Probe Set Stage for Kenni Burns’ Firing as Kent State Football Coach, with Independent Firm uncovering $100K Loan from Booster” by Tyler Carey (WKYC) for MSN
Oregon: “Former OLCC Execs Agree to Ethics Fines for Diverting Pappy Van Winkle” by Noelle Crombie (Portland Oregonian) for MSN
Tennessee: “Corruption Trial of Ex-House Speaker Casada, Aide Cothren Starts This Week. What to Know” by Evan Mealins (Nashville Tennessean) for Yahoo News
Legislative Issues
Washington: “As in D.C., a Fight Breaks Out in Washington State Over Who Gets Access to Lawmakers” by Daniel Walters (InvestigateWest) for Spokane Public Radio
April 21, 2025 •
Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Ethics California: “Former L.A. Councilmember Kevin de León Faces Ethics Fine for Voting on Issues in Which He Had a Financial Stake” by Ben Poston (Los Angeles Times) for MSN National: “After Harvard, Liberal Donors and Groups Fear New Scrutiny from Trump” by Theodore […]
April 11, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – April 11, 2025

National/Federal Trump Sidelines Justice Dept. Legal Office, Eroding Another Check on His Power DNyuz – Charlie Savage (New York Times) | Published: 4/4/2025 The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel has traditionally been a powerful guardrail in government. It has issued interpretations […]
National/Federal
Trump Sidelines Justice Dept. Legal Office, Eroding Another Check on His Power
DNyuz – Charlie Savage (New York Times) | Published: 4/4/2025
The Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel has traditionally been a powerful guardrail in government. It has issued interpretations of the law that bind agencies across the executive branch, decided which proposed policies were legally permissible, and approved draft executive orders before they went to presidents to be signed. But in President Trump’s second term, the office has largely been sidelined. As Trump issues policies that push legal limits and asserts an expansive view of his power, the White House has undercut its role, delaying giving it senior leadership and weakening its ability to impose quality control over executive orders.
Democratic Attorneys General Sue to Block Trump’s Voting Restrictions
MSN – Maeve Reston (Washington Post) | Published: 4/3/2025
A coalition of 19 Democratic state attorneys general sued the Trump administration seeking to block President Trump’s effort to impose new voting restrictions across the country, calling his recent executive order unconstitutional, antidemocratic, and un-American. Though the constitution grants most power over elections to the states, Trump signed an executive order last week demanding changes including a new requirement for voters to produce documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
Justice Department Lawyers Struggle to Defend a Mountain of Trump Executive Orders
MSN – Carrie Johnson (NPR) | Published: 4/3/2025
In courtrooms all over the country, the Justice Department has been busy defending President Trump’s executive actions. But in many of those cases, the government’s own lawyers have been struggling to answer questions and having to correct the record. It is a function of how aggressively Trump has moved so far and how the attorneys have been having a hard time keeping up.
Judge Orders White House Ban on AP Lifted
MSN – Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) | Published: 4/8/2025
A judge ordered the White House to lift a nearly two-month-long set of access restrictions it placed on the Associated Press (AP) while the news organization’s lawsuit against three Trump administration officials plays out. Since February 11, AP reporters have been prevented from being at Oval Office events, on Air Force One flights. and at other official presidential events because the news organization refused to primarily use the name Gulf of America when referring to the body of water, instead of the Gulf of Mexico.
As Tariffs Set to Take Effect, Confusion Reigns on K Street
MSN – Caitlin Oprysko and Gabby Miller (Politico) | Published: 4/8/2025
As the White House rolls out its tariff plan, lobbyists across Washington are working to decipher the administration’s muddled messaging and translate it into a strategy for relief for their clients. In some cases, lobbyists are still puzzling out who they should contact at the White House to ensure their concerns are heard, or how the new duties will be implemented.
House Rejects Proxy Voting for New Parents, Chooses ‘Pairing’ Instead
MSN – Justin Papp (Roll Call) | Published: 4/8/2025
A weeks-long dustup over proxy voting for new parents in the U.S. House came to an end despite a last-ditch effort from one of its chief proponents. “Congress is stuck doing things the way that we did hundreds of years ago, and it’s time that we move it to the 21st century,” said Rep. Brittany Pettersen. She has led the charge to allow proxy voting for up to 12 weeks after birth.
Trump Directs Justice Dept. to Probe Officials Who Opposed Him in First Term
MSN – Kelly Kasulis Cho (Washington Post) | Published: 4/10/2025
President Trump signed sweeping presidential memorandums targeting two former government officials who opposed his actions in his first term, his latest effort to use the powers of the presidency to punish people and institutions who have challenged him. Trump directed the Justice Department to investigate former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency director Chris Krebs and former homeland security official Miles Taylor, who penned an anonymous 2018 New York Times op-ed titled “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration.”
U.S. Will Monitor Immigrants’ Social Media for ‘Antisemitic Activity’
MSN – Anumita Kaur and María Luisa Paúl (Washington Post) | Published: 4/9/2025
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin screening immigrants’ social media accounts for antisemitic content as grounds to deny visa and green-card applications, a move immigration law and free-speech experts condemn as an alarming federal overstep. The announcement raised concern among experts that the policy is too vague and would rely heavily on the personal opinions of officials.
Trump Told People to Buy. Hours Later, His Tariff Pause Sent Markets Soaring.
MSN – Rachel Lerman and Douglas MacMillan (Washington Post) | Published: 4/9/2025
Less than four hours before President Trump’s announcement that he was pausing tariffs sent markets soaring, he posted online telling his millions of social media followers it was a good time to buy. Democrats are now accusing Trump of “market manipulation.” The president holds much of his net worth in his stake in Truth Social’s parent company, Trump Media & Technology Group. The company’s stock rallied with the broader markets after the tariff announcement, closing the day up more than 21 percent.
White House Says It Ignores Journalists Who Use Pronouns in Email Bios
MSN – Gaya Gupta (Washington Post) | Published: 4/9/2025
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she will not engage with reporters who list their pronouns in their email signatures, the Trump administration’s latest move to target expressions of gender identity in the workplace. Including one’s pronouns in introductions, over email and in-person, has become normalized across many industries in recent years as a way to show support with the transgender or nonbinary community and prevent misgendering. But the practice has since been fiercely rejected by Republican politicians.
US Appeals Court Blocks Trump from Removing Democrats from Labor Boards
Reuters – David Wiessner and Jonathan Stempel | Published: 4/7/2025
A federal appeals court blocked President Trump from removing Democratic members from two federal labor boards, setting aside its earlier ruling. The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit further complicates a pair of cases that are emerging as key tests of Trump’s efforts to bring federal agencies meant to be independent from the White House under his control.
He Said He Would Ban Congressional Stock Trading. Now in Office, He Trades Freely.
Scranton Times-Tribune – Annie Karni (New York Times) | Published: 4/6/2025
When Rob Bresnahan, Jr., a wealthy Republican business executive, was running to represent a competitive U.S. House district in Pennsylvania, he published a letter to the editor in a local newspaper demanding an end to stock trading by members of Congress. If elected, Bresnahan told voters, he would co-sponsor legislation to ban stock trading by members of Congress. More than two months after being sworn in, Bresnahan has not introduced or co-sponsored such a bill. He has emerged as one of the most active stock traders in the freshman class.
Musk’s DOGE Using AI to Snoop on U.S. Federal Workers, Sources Say
Yahoo News – Alexandra Ulmer, Marisa Taylor, Jeffrey Dastin, and Alexandra Alper (Reuters) | Published: 4/8/2025
Trump administration officials have told some U.S. government employees that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team of technologists is using artificial intelligence to surveil at least one federal agency’s communications for hostility to President Trump and his agenda. While much of DOGE remains shrouded in secrecy, the surveillance would mark an extraordinary use of technology to identify expressions of perceived disloyalty in a workforce already upended by widespread firings and cost cutting.
From the States and Municipalities
California – Pro-Car Great Highway Group Faces Ethics Fine for Skirting S.F. Campaign Laws
Mission Local – Eleni Balakrishnan | Published: 4/9/2025
Open the Great Highway faces a fine from the San Francisco Ethics Commission for violating campaign finance law. It has been reported that Open the Great Highway was campaigning against Proposition K and soliciting donations without registering as a PAC with the California Secretary of State, a requirement for any group soliciting political donations above a certain threshold.
Florida – Florida Teacher Loses Job for Calling Student by Preferred Name
MSN – Laura Meckler and Lori Rozsa (Washington Post) | Published: 4/10/2025
A Florida high school teacher lost her job after calling a student by an alternative name without parental permission, sparking community backlash in the conservative area as school officials sought to comply with state law. It is the first known dismissal resulting from the campaign to shut down recognition of alternative gender identities, a policy piloted by Florida that spread to other Republican states and now has been taken up by the Trump administration.
Florida – Transgender Student’s Arrest for Violating Florida Bathroom Law Is Thought to Be a First
MSN – Hannah Schoenbaum (Associated Press) | Published: 4/3/2025
A transgender college student declared “I am here to break the law” before entering a women’s restroom at the Florida Capitol and being led out in handcuffs by police. Civil rights attorneys say the arrest of Marcy Rheintgen is the first they know of for violating transgender bathroom restrictions passed by numerous state Legislatures across the country.
Florida – State Officials Steered $10 Million Settlement to Casey DeSantis’ Hope Florida Charity
MSN – Lawrence Mower and Alexandra Glorioso (Miami Herald) | Published: 4/8/2025
Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration diverted $10 million in state settlement money last year to the charity arm of a welfare initiative led by his wife. The unusual injection of cash was part of an undisclosed settlement agreement involving Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration. The money went to the Hope Florida Foundation, a nonprofit that was established by the state to help realize Casey DeSantis’s vision to reshape welfare.
Idaho – Idaho Republican’s Bill Would Have Let Her Husband Sue Boise. Rules Say It’s OK
MSN – Sarah Cutler (Idaho Statesman) | Published: 4/7/2025
State Sen. Codi Galloway sponsored a bill to ban homeless encampments in large Idaho cities, including Boise, which she represents. In its initial form, the bill would have allowed business owners to sue cities that failed to enforce the ban. Galloway did not disclose that her husband could be one of the people filing such a lawsuit.
MSN – Addison Wright and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 4/9/2025
The Illinois State Board of Elections said Senate President Don Harmon’s campaign committee has accepted $4 million in prohibited donations. At issue is whether a loophole that allows politicians to remove campaign contribution limits was in effect when he collected what is deemed extra cash. Harmon has repeatedly given or loaned his campaign fund more than $100,000 over the years, opening the loophole and allowing him to collect unlimited sums of money. It is a maneuver political insiders call “the money bomb.”
Illinois – Anointed by Powerful Father, State Sen. Emil Jones III Heads to Trial on Bribery Charges
Yahoo News – Jason Meisner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 4/6/2025
Illinois Sen. Emil Jones III, whose father led the state Senate for years, is on trial for allegedly agreeing to help a red-light camera company alter legislation in exchange for $5,000 and a job for his legislative intern. It is the first case from a sprawling red-light camera probe to go before a jury, and will feature testimony from FBI mole Omar Maani, a founder and executive at SafeSpeed.
Indiana – Diego Morales’ $90K SUV Came from Dealership That Gave Him $65K in Campaign Donations
Indianapolis Star – Hayleigh Columbo | Published: 4/4/2025
Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith are under scrutiny after using state funds to buy premium SUVs costing the state around $90,000 each. In Morales’ case, his 2024 GMC Yukon Denali comes from Kelley Automotive Group in Fort Wayne, owned by Thomas Kelley, who has given Morales’s campaign $65,000 since 2022. Kelley sits on the state’s Motor Vehicle Advisory Board with Morales, which advises the secretary of state’s office on matters related to the regulation of automobile dealers in Indiana.
Kansas – Kansas Governor Signs Bill Doubling Campaign Finance Limits on Legislative Candidates
Yahoo News – Tim Carpenter (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 4/9/2025
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill into law that doubles campaign contribution limits to statewide and legislative candidates. The governor also signed legislation that creates a new definition for “cooperation or consent” in relation to express advocacy expenditures. For example, it would exclude a candidate’s or political party’s expenditures in response to inquiries about positions on legislative issues or the endorsement of a candidate.
Maine – Censured Lawmaker Seeks Immediate Restoration of Voting Rights in House
Yahoo News – Emily Allen (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 4/4/2025
A Maine lawmaker is asking a federal judge to immediately restore her ability to vote in the Legislature despite being over social media posts she made that identified a transgender student-athlete. Rep. Laurel Libby has argued the censure violates her First and 14th Amendment rights by punishing her for “protected speech outside the walls of the State House.”
Massachusetts – Canadian Utility Company Paid for Parts of Mass. Lawmakers’ Trip to Hydroelectric Facility
MSN – Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) | Published: 4/9/2025
A group of Massachusetts lawmakers who visited Canadian hydroelectric facilities in March were ferried there at the expense of a public utility company that runs a power line between Quebec and Ayer. The cadre of elected officials, which was made up of three senators and eight representatives, touted the three-day trip as an “alternative energy fact finding” mission.
Massachusetts – Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson to Plead Guilty in Federal Corruption Case, and Will Resign
MSN – Gayla Cawley (Boston Herald) | Published: 4/8/2025
Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson plans to plead guilty in a federal public corruption case tied to allegations she stole thousands of dollars from taxpayers in a kickback scheme that took place in City Hall and intends to resign. Prosecutors recommend that Fernandes Anderson be sentenced to prison for a year and a day, and that she pay $13,000 in restitution.
Minnesota – DFL Senate President Steered Millions in Public Funds to a Legal Client
Yahoo News – Christopher Ingraham (Minnesota Reformer) | Published: 4/4/2025
Minnesota Senate President Bobby Joe Champion faces questions about a possible conflict-of-interest related to his legal work and funding bills he sponsored. It was reported that Champion worked with a client, the Rev. Jerry McAfee, on a pro bono basis. McAfee’s nonprofit group 21 Days of Peace later received state grant funds from an account that Champion worked to authorize.
Mississippi – Judge Tosses Former Miss. Governor’s Suit Against Pulitzer-Winning Reporter
MSN – Samantha Cherry and Avi Selk (Washington Post) | Published: 4/5/2025
A judge dismissed former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant’s defamation lawsuit against a news nonprofit that investigated his connections to a $77 million public welfare scandal, sparing the newsroom from being forced to reveal internal documents and confidential sources it used for the Pulitzer-winning series. The dismissal was applauded by press freedom groups that viewed the suit as an effort to punish Mississippi Today and its journalists for scrutinizing government officials.
New Jersey – A Teachers’ Union Is Spending Millions to Elect Its Boss Governor
DNyuz – Tracey Tully (New York Times) | Published: 4/9/2025
Sean Spiller failed to qualify for matching state campaign funds and fell short of the threshold to participate in two upcoming debates as he runs for governor of New Jersey. His spokesperson works for a consulting firm in Washington, and he has no paid campaign manager. But Spiller has something the other five Democrats running for governor do not: a $35 million blank check from a group with close ties to the labor union he leads, the New Jersey Education Association.
New Mexico – NM Ethics Commission Has Authority Over Lobbying Advertising Campaigns, Court of Appeals Rules
Yahoo News – Austin Fisher (Source New Mexico) | Published: 4/7/2025
The New Mexico Court of Appeals ruled that when lawmakers passed the State Ethics Commission Act, they intended to give the panel power to handle complaints not only about individual lobbyists and their employers, but also to organizations that run lobbying advertising campaigns. The ruling stems from a complaint filed against New Mexico Families Forward. Former Rep. Ambrose Castellano alleged the group violated the law by failing to disclose the identity of its donors, and how much they had given.
New York – This Agency Fights Corruption. New York City Leaders Have Weakened It.
DNyuz – Jan Ransom (New York Times) | Published: 4/6/2025
In recent months, New York City’s government has been rocked by corruption scandals at a pace not seen in nearly a century. Yet over the past few years, New York’s leaders have presided over a gradual weakening of the city’s leading corruption-fighting agency, the Department of Investigation. In recent months, the agency has been so strapped for funds that it has tapped millions of dollars forfeited by people convicted of crimes to cover basic operating costs.
North Carolina – Court Directive to Notify Voters in Close North Carolina Election Blocked for Now
MSN – Gary Robertson (Associated Press) | Published: 4/7/2025
The North Carolina Supreme Court temporarily halted enforcement of an appeals court decision that favored a Republican candidate in a close and unresolved November election for a seat on the state’s highest court. The Supreme Court issued a temporary stay of an order by a Court of Appeals panel that in part directed election workers to identify and contact potentially tens of thousands of voters whose ballots were challenged by Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin.
North Dakota – House Committee Recommends Removing New Ethics Commission Position, Adding Deadline
Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 4/8/2025
A House committee recommended several sweeping changes to the North Dakota Ethics Commission’s budget, including cutting a new full-time staff member and adding a new six-month deadline for processing ethics complaints. The commission called the changes “a roadblock intended to hamper the commission’s work.”
Ohio – House Republicans Propose Eliminating the State’s Campaign Finance Enforcer
MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 4/4/2025
Ohio House Republicans want to eliminate a regulatory body that enforces deadlines and accuracy of candidates’ campaign finance spending and fundraising reports. While their proposed state budget does not repeal the section of state law that created the Ohio Elections Commission 30 years ago, it reduces its budget from about $432,000 this year to zero in the next two fiscal years.
MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 4/2/2025
Former Cleveland City Councilperson Basheer Jones was sentenced to two years and four months in prison for using his influence to benefit him and a romantic partner. The judge also ordered the one-time mayoral candidate to pay back $143,000 that he and others made off three schemes in which they swindled nonprofits. Jones is the sixth council member in the last two decades to be convicted of corruption-related charges.
Pennsylvania – Emails Between Pa. Lawmakers and Lobbyists Will Remain Hidden from the Public After Court Ruling
Yahoo News – Angela Couloumbis (Spotlight PA) | Published: 4/8/2025
A panel of Commonwealth Court judges ruled the state Legislature can continue to shield from public view written interactions lawmakers have with lobbyists. Good-government advocates called the ruling a missed opportunity to create more transparency around the inner workings of the Legislature, which has exempted itself from having to disclose many records – including emails – the executive branch routinely makes public.
Tennessee – Pardoned Ex-Sen. Kelsey Wrangles for Amendment to Campaign Finance Bill
Yahoo News – Sam Stockard (Tennessee Lookout) | Published: 4/9/2025
Straight off a prison stint cut short by a presidential pardon, former Tennessee Sen. Brian Kelsey is maneuvering for legislation to pay his legal expenses. Kelsey, who served two weeks in prison for directing an illicit campaign finance scheme, is lobbying lawmakers to pass legislation that would enable him to use his state campaign account to pay legal fees after three years of court battles.
Texas – Gov. Greg Abbott Sets Nov. 4 Special Election to Fill U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s Seat
MSN – Jasper Scherer, Kayla Guo (Texas Tribune), and Natalia Contreras (Votebeat) | Published: 4/7/2025
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott set November 4 as the special election date to fill the congressional seat left vacant by former U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s death, a timeline that leaves the solidly Democratic seat vacant for at least seven months as Republicans look to drive President Trump’s agenda through a narrowly divided Congress. Turner died March 5, two months into his first ter. State law does not specify a deadline for the governor to order a special election.
Texas – Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Former Aides Win $6.6 Million in Whistleblower Case
MSN – Ayden Runnels and Jasper Scherer (Texas Tribune) | Published: 4/4/2025
A judge awarded $6.6 million to four former senior aides to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who said they were improperly fired after reporting Paxton to the FBI. The case was sparked when eight former aides, including the four plaintiffs, reported Paxton to federal authorities in over his relations with Nate Paul, a friend and real estate investor. The whistleblowers accused Paxton of abusing his office to do favors for Paul, including by hiring an outside lawyer to investigate claims made by Paul and providing him confidential law enforcement documents.
VTDigger – Shaun Robinson | Published: 4/8/2025
The bag-soaking scandal that catapulted the Vermont House into national headlines last year and focused attention on the chamber’s internal committee that investigated the incident has prompted lawmakers to tweak the rules guiding inquiries into their colleagues allegedly bad behavior. The House gave preliminary approval to a set of rule changes that would give the secretive House Ethics Panel more leeway to describe its work to the public and the press. It would also require the panel to issue public reports on each of its investigations.
Wisconsin – Former Wisconsin Justice to Give Up Law License Over 2020 Election Review
MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 4/7/2025
Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman agreed to give up his law license for three years after facing a string of ethics allegations stemming from his error-riddled review of the 2020 election for Republican lawmakers. Gableman conceded that legal regulators had produced enough evidence to find he had violated state ethics rules for lawyers. He gave up his legal fight over the matter a week after a candidate backed by Democrats won a seat on the state’s high court and locked in a likely liberal majority for years.
April 10, 2025 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Illinois: “Illinois Senate President Don Harmon Improperly Accepted $4 Million in Campaign Cash, Election Authorities Say” by Addison Wright and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) for MSN Kansas: “Kansas Governor Signs Bill Doubling Campaign Finance Limits on Legislative Candidates” by Tim Carpenter (Kansas […]
Campaign Finance
Illinois: “Illinois Senate President Don Harmon Improperly Accepted $4 Million in Campaign Cash, Election Authorities Say” by Addison Wright and Ray Long (Chicago Tribune) for MSN
Kansas: “Kansas Governor Signs Bill Doubling Campaign Finance Limits on Legislative Candidates” by Tim Carpenter (Kansas Reflector) for Yahoo News
New Jersey: “A Teachers’ Union Is Spending Millions to Elect Its Boss Governor” by Tracey Tully (New York Times) for DNyuz
Elections
North Carolina: “Court Directive to Notify Voters in Close North Carolina Election Blocked for Now” by Gary Robertson (Associated Press) for MSN
Ethics
National: “Judge Orders White House Ban on AP Lifted” by Jeremy Barr (Washington Post) for MSN
Florida: “Transgender Student’s Arrest for Violating Florida Bathroom Law Is Thought to Be a First” by Hannah Schoenbaum (Associated Press) for MSN
North Dakota: “House Committee Recommends Removing New Ethics Commission Position, Adding Deadline” by Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News
Legislative Issues
National: “House Rejects Proxy Voting for New Parents, Chooses ‘Pairing’ Instead” by Justin Papp (Roll Call) for MSN
Lobbying
Massachusetts: “Canadian Utility Company Paid for Parts of Mass. Lawmakers’ Trip to Hydroelectric Facility” by Chris Van Buskirk (Boston Herald) for MSN
April 8, 2025 •
Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Ethics National: “He Said He Would Ban Congressional Stock Trading. Now in Office, He Trades Freely.” by Annie Karni (New York Times) for Scranton Times-Tribune National: “US Appeals Court Blocks Trump from Removing Democrats from Labor Boards” by David Wiessner and Jonathan Stempel for […]
Ethics
National: “He Said He Would Ban Congressional Stock Trading. Now in Office, He Trades Freely.” by Annie Karni (New York Times) for Scranton Times-Tribune
National: “US Appeals Court Blocks Trump from Removing Democrats from Labor Boards” by David Wiessner and Jonathan Stempel for Reuters
Minnesota: “DFL Senate President Steered Millions in Public Funds to a Legal Client” by Christopher Ingraham (Minnesota Reformer) for Yahoo News
Mississippi: “Judge Tosses Former Miss. Governor’s Suit Against Pulitzer-Winning Reporter” by Samantha Cherry and Avi Selk (Washington Post) for MSN
New York: “This Agency Fights Corruption. New York City Leaders Have Weakened It.” by Jan Ransom (New York Times) for DNyuz
Texas: “Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Former Aides Win $6.6 Million in Whistleblower Case” by Ayden Runnels and Jasper Scherer (Texas Tribune) for MSN
Legislative Issues
Maine: “Censured Lawmaker Seeks Immediate Restoration of Voting Rights in House” by Emily Allen (Portland Press Herald) for Yahoo News
Lobbying
New Mexico: “NM Ethics Commission Has Authority Over Lobbying Advertising Campaigns, Court of Appeals Rules” by Austin Fisher (Source New Mexico) for Yahoo News
April 4, 2025 •
News You Can Use Digest – April 4, 2025

National/Federal Disbanded Anti-Kleptocracy Unit Had Entangled Trump Allies MSN – Peter Whoriskey (Washington Post) | Published: 3/27/2025 For 14 years, a team at the Justice Department investigated foreign kleptocrats, recovering hundreds of millions in cash and valuables that had been […]
National/Federal
Disbanded Anti-Kleptocracy Unit Had Entangled Trump Allies
MSN – Peter Whoriskey (Washington Post) | Published: 3/27/2025
For 14 years, a team at the Justice Department investigated foreign kleptocrats, recovering hundreds of millions in cash and valuables that had been embezzled by corrupt politicians. In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi disbanded the “kleptocracy team,” explaining the move was necessary to redirect staff to prosecuting drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations. Left unmentioned the team’s investigations had entangled three prominent allies of President Trump who had done business with an accused kleptocrat or a close associate.
Judge Orders Government to Preserve Signal Messages About Houthi Military Strike
MSN – Michael Kunzelman (Associated Press) | Published: 3/27/2025
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to preserve records of a text message chat in which senior national security officials discussed sensitive details of plans for a U.S. military strike against Yemen’s Houthis. The images of the text chain show the messages were set to disappear in one week. American Oversight sued to ensure the records are kept in accordance with the Federal Records Act.
Ethics Watchdog Says Congressman Cory Mills May Have Lied About Finances and Isn;t Cooperating
MSN – Jack Newsham and Brent Griffiths (Business Insider) | Published: 3/27/2025
U.S. Rep. Corey Mills, whose military background and fortune from a grenade-manufacturing business helped him win a Florida congressional seat in 2022, is being investigated by Congress for possibly lying on his personal financial disclosures and campaign finance filings. The board of the Office of Congressional Conduct said Mills’ inconsistent financial statements raised questions about how he got $1.8 million to fund his campaign in 2021 and 2022.
Trump Order Launches Smithsonian and Its Visitors into Confusion, Dismay
MSN – Manuel Roig-Franzia, Kyle Swenson, Emma Uber, and Gaya Gupta (Washington Post) | Published: 3/28/2025
President Trump’s executive order to eliminate what he considers “anti-American ideology” from the Smithsonian Institution cast the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex into a state of confusion. Trump’s executive order makes clear he intends to influence the finances of the Smithsonian, which receives about 60 percent of its funding from congressional appropriations and federal grants and contracts.
Democrats Sue Trump Administration Over Elections Executive Order
MSN – Mariana Alfaro (Washington Post) | Published: 3/31/2025
Several Democratic groups and lawmakers sued the Trump administration over an executive order calling for changes to the election system, including a requirement that people provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote. President Trump has baselessly claimed the 2020 presidential race was riddled with fraud. Specifically, he has said noncitizens voted illegally in the race.
Trump White House Plans to Shake Up Briefing Room Seating, Flexing Power Over Press Corps
MSN – Brian Stelter (CNN) | Published: 3/30/2025
In the Trump administration’s latest assertion of power over the press corps, the White House intends to take over the seating assignments in the press briefing room, according to a senior official. The plan may cause a tug-of-war with the White House Correspondents’ Association, the independent group that currently assigns seats and manages the relationship between the White House and the press corps.
Pardoned by Trump, Rod Blagojevich Has New Job: Lobbying for Bosnian Serbs
MSN – Aaron Schaffer, Beth Reinhard, and Michael Birnbaum (Washington Post) | Published: 4/2/2025
Less than two months after President Trump pardoned Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois who served prison time on corruption charges has been hired to lobby on behalf of the Bosnian Serb republic. The contract with Blagojevich’s firm, RRB Strategies, was filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. It calls for Blagojevich to engage in a sweep of activities to boost the Bosnian Serb republic, including taking aim at long-held U.S. government policies intended to keep the peace in Bosnia.
Appeals Court: Trump pardon ‘plainly’ did not cover Jan. 6 defendants’ unrelated crimes
MSN – Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney (Politico) | Published: 4/2/2025
A federal appeals court rejected the Justice Department’s claim that President Trump’s pardon of crimes related to the riot at the Capitol is so broad it sweeps in convictions for illegal possession of weapons five months later. The panel’s majority concluded the “plain terms” of Trump’s mass pardon for the defendants included only crimes directly connected to the attack on the Capitol, not those discovered by “happenstance” during the investigation of the riot.
Trump-Allied Prosecutor Looks to Undermine Biden Pardons
Seattle Times – Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 4/2/2025
Ed Martin, the Trump loyalist serving as interim U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia, is pursuing an inquiry into whether former President Joe Biden was competent to pardon his family members and others during his final days in office. The inquiry includes previously unreported letters to Biden’s family and former White House staff members. The letters are informal but provocative, questioning a presidential clemency power that has generally gone unchallenged.
From the States and Municipalities
Europe – From Brussels to Berlin: The rules on transparency and ethics for European lawmakers
MSN – Paula Soler (Euro News) | Published: 4/2/2025
A string of recent headlines, including a fresh corruption probe linked to Chinese company Huawei and the findings of the French court debarring Marine Le Pen for embezzlement, has put transparency and ethics in Europe under the spotlight. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) must follow a code of conduct with rules on transparency and ethics. First introduced in 2012 and refreshed in 2023, it is designed to keep MEPs in check, ensuring they act with integrity, transparency, and honesty, all while safeguarding the institution’s reputation.
MSN – Patti Sonntag (National Post) | Published: 3/31/2025
An Ontario lobbyist with close connections to Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative Party violated the province’s lobbying rules, according to the integrity commissioner, after requesting lands be removed from Greenbelt on behalf of a client and offering government staff tickets to a hockey game. Nico Fidani-Diker was found in non-compliance with the Lobbyists Registration Act in five separate instances, ranging from unregistered lobbying to placing public office holders in a position of conflicts-of-interest.
Canada – Ontario Lobbyist Found to Have Violated Rules, Including Relating to Greenbelt
MSN – Colin D’Mello and Isaac Callan (Global News) | Published: 3/31/2025
Sheila Copps said she did not lobby during the pandemic for providers of personal-protection equipment. But newly released emails show Copps requested at least two meetings in connection with multiple medical equipment supply companies during the pandemic. She did not record these meetings in the lobbying registry. Canada’s Lobbying Act requires hired lobbyists to register communications about meetings and contracts. It requires potential contractors to register the activities of their in-house lobbyist if that employee spends 20 per cent or more of their time lobbying.
Arizona – Measure That Could Affect GOP 2026 Race for Governor Advances
Arizona Capitol Times – Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) | Published: 3/27/2025
The GOP head of the Arizona Freedom Caucus is advancing legislation that would bar fellow Republican Karrin Taylor Robson from becoming the next governor, even if she were to win the election. The resolution says nothing about Robson, who formally jumped in the 2026 gubernatorial race earlier this year. But what the measure crafted by Sen. Jake Hoffman does say is that no person is eligible to become a state elected official who, for two years prior to the primary, has been required to register as a paid lobbyist.
California – Alec Baldwin, a $227,000 Payment and a San Jose Fundraiser at Heart of Allegations Against Former Lawmaker
MSN – Yue Stella Yu (CalMatters) | Published: 3/29/2025
Former Assemblyperson Evan Low was fined $106,000 for campaign reporting violations. Most of the allegations concern payments to actor Alec Baldwin for a campaign appearance as Low was running for Congress. The proposed penalty stems from an investigation into Low and the nonprofit he founded. He has reported raising $505,000 for the Foundation for California’s Technology and Innovation Economy. Ethics experts have cautioned those “behested payments” could give groups special access to officials.
California – Disgraced Former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu Sentenced to Two Months in Prison
Voice of OC – Spencer Custodio | Published: 3/28/2025
Former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu was sentenced to two months in prison and a year of supervised release, along with a $55,000 fine after pleading guilty to corruption charges. The sentence comes nearly three years after revelations of an FBI corruption probe into Anaheim City Hall surfaced when federal investigators first detailed a sketchy Angel Stadium sale process and the outsized influence Disneyland resort interests have on the city.
Colorado – Colorado Judges Made Campaign Contributions Despite Rules Prohibiting the Practice
Denver Gazette – David Migoya | Published: 4/1/2025
More than a half dozen judges in Colorado, each of them specially appointed and paid to oversee a divorce case since 2019, have made at least one political contribution while serving in that capacity despite a prohibition against the practice. The private judges handle civil cases, nearly all divorces by wealthy couples, away from the courthouse and the public, and their salaries and expenses are paid for by both parties.
Colorado – Colorado House Member Faced Investigation Over Ignored Harassment Complaint, Aide Mistreatment
Denver Post – Seth Klamann | Published: 3/31/2025
Rep. Regina English has been repeatedly accused of retaliating against and mistreating her legislative aides, including documented allegations she ignored an aide’s complaint of sexual harassment by a relative of the lawmaker last year. At the direction of a bipartisan legislative committee, English was quietly investigated by a third-party last year. English is at least the second state legislator to be investigated for allegedly mistreating aides in the past year.
Colorado – Colorado Lawmakers Kill Bill Aimed at Banning Lobbyists from Donating to Campaigns
Denver Post – Seth Klamann | Published: 3/28/2025
Colorado lawmakers defeated a proposal that would have prohibited lobbyists from donating to legislators, statewide elected officials, or candidates for those offices. The bill would have expanded a law that bars lobbyists from donating to campaigns during the Legislature’s 120-day annual session.
District of Columbia – Former D.C. Council Member, Expelled After Bribery Charge, Seeks Reelection
MSN – Meagan Flynn (Washington Post) | Published: 3/31/2025
Former District of Columbia Council member Trayon White Sr., who faces a federal bribery indictment that led to his expulsion in February, will run again for his old seat on the council. White enters the race while facing significant legal jeopardy in the case, in which he could face up to 15 years in prison. He remains a popular figure in the ward, however. He won reelection in November with more than 20,000 votes, even as he was under indictment.
District of Columbia – Transparency Law Slashed by D.C. Council as Lawmakers Want More Privacy
MSN – Meagan Flynn and Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) | Published: 4/1/2025
The District of Columbia Council voted to shut the public out of many of its meetings, including any meetings with Mayor Muriel Bowser on any topic. The short-term legislation could have lasting impacts on public access to elected leaders’ discussions if lawmakers ultimately make the changes permanent. Because lawmakers passed the legislation on an emergency basis – meaning it will take effect for 90 days, unless Bowser vetoes it – council members were able to quickly push it through without having to hold public hearings.
Florida – Trump-Backed Patronis, Fine Are Projected to Win House Special Elections in Florida
MSN – Patrick Svitek (Washington Post) | Published: 4/1/2025
Republicans won special elections to fill two House seats in Florida, withstanding a well-funded effort by Democrats to flip the solidly red districts and pull off a major upset that could have derailed President Trump’s agenda in Congress. The GOP margins of victory were notably smaller than when Trump carried each district by more than 30 percentage points in November. The wins give House Republicans a little more breathing room as they ramp up efforts to pass Trump’s legislative priorities in one ambitious bill this spring.
Florida – Newberry’s Marden to Withdraw Lobbying Registration After Learning It Could Violate State Law
MSN – Alan Festo (Gainesville Sun) | Published: 3/29/2025
Newberry City Commissioner and mayoral candidate Tim Marden plans to withdraw a recently filed federal lobbying registration form after learning it could violate state law. The issue was raised during a forum streamed by the city of Newberry, where Marden was asked how he would serve as a nonpartisan mayor while also lobbying for the John Birch Society and chairing the local Republican Party.
Florida – Taxpayer-Funded Staffers for Ron DeSantis Solicit Lobbyist Cash as His Wife Considers a 2026 Run
MSN – Ken Dixon (NBC News) | Published: 3/28/2025
Taxpayer-funded staffers in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s office have been making fundraising calls to state lobbyists, asking them to commit to raise money for a DeSantis-aligned political committee as his wife considers a campaign for governor. “It’s kind of a no-brainer for most of us. Of course we will give. He’s the governor,” said one person who said they received a call.
Georgia – Justice Department Instructed to Dismiss Legal Challenge to Georgia Election Law
MSN – Kate Brumback (Associated Press) | Published: 3/31/2025
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi instructed the Justice Department to dismiss a lawsuit challenging a sweeping election overhaul that Republican lawmakers in Georgia passed in the wake of Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss in the state. The lawsuit, filed in June 2021, alleged the Georgia law was intended to deny Black voters equal access to the ballot. Bondi said the Biden administration was pushing “false claims of suppression.”
Hawaii – Government Reform Bills Move Ahead at Hawaii Legislature
Yahoo News – Dam Nakaso (Honolulu Star-Advertister) | Published: 4/2/2025
Bills aimed at clamping down on campaign contributions from government contractors while separately providing more public money to run for political office remain alive following a key Senate committee hearing, joining other bills aimed at government reform that continue to move through the Hawaii Legislature. House Bill HB 412 would void state contracts if there are violations of state lobbying laws.
Illinois – Mayor Brandon Johnson Adds Springfield Alderwoman to Lobbying Team
Yahoo News – A.D. Quig, Jeremy Gorner, and Alice Yin (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 3/28/2025
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office will hire Lakeisha Purchase, a current Springfield City Council member and registered state lobbyist, on a contract basis. Although state lawmakers are prohibited from lobbying other units of local government, local elected officials are not barred from lobbying in Springfield. State lobbyists are, however, required to declare they hold a local elected office on their registration forms.
Kansas – New Kansas Law Limits Groups Funded by Foreign Money from Supporting Referendums
Topeka Capital-Journal – Jack Harvel | Published: 4/3/2025
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly allowed a bill to become law without her signature that bans campaigns for state constitutional amendments from accepting large amounts of foreign money. The law prohibits organizations that have received over $100,000 in foreign funds over the past four years from contributing to campaigns concerning constitutional amendments.
Maine – How the Trump Administration Took Aim at Maine
MSN – Joanna Slater and Lisa Rein (Washington Post) | Published: 4/2/2025
President Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills had a brief but pointed exchange during a National Governors Association event at the White House. Trump demanded that Maine comply with his executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports. Trump threatened to cut off all funding to the state. “See you in court,” Mills responded. Since then, the state has been subjected to unusual, overlapping investigations and arbitrary reversals of funding, turning it into a test case for the Trump administration’s approach to perceived adversaries.
Massachusetts – Massachusetts Mayor Who Shuttered a Libelous Newspaper Faces Renewed Corruption Allegations
MSN – Michael Casey (Associated Press) | Published: 3/28/2025
For years, the mayor of a Boston suburb dreaded Wednesdays. That was the day when a local weekly would publish shocking allegations that he was on the take, sexually harassing women, or under investigation by the FBI. But almost everything the paper wrote about Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria turned out to be fake, enabling him to win a $1.1 million settlement that shut down the paper. Now preparing for his seventh mayoral campaign, he has been accused of padding his salary with bonus payments and this time, Massachusetts is pressing the city council to take action.
Michigan – New Michigan Transparency Portal a Work in Progress, Leaving Some Disclosures Hard to Find
Bridge Michigan – Simon Schuster | Published: 3/28/2025
A multimillion-dollar update to Michigan’s transparency portals is a work in progress after the Department of State rolled out the new software. Used to provide the public with information about campaign finance, lobbying reports, and personal financial disclosures of politicians, the new Michigan Transparency Network provides less information to the public in its current form than the old system.
Michigan – Lawmakers Cleared for Free Conference Tickets
Michigan Public – Colin Jackson | Published: 4/2/2025
Michigan public officials can continue accepting free tickets to the Mackinac Policy Conference. The gathering hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber often draws big names in government and business to Mackinac Island each May for a few days of informational sessions, networking, and partying. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson changed course in her final ruling after receiving information from the Detroit Regional Chamber, which had sought her guidance.
Montana – Ellsworth Receives Lifetime Ban from Montana Senate Floor for Ethics Violation
Montana Free Press – Tom Lutey | Published: 4/1/2025
Montana Sen. Jason Ellsworth was banned from the Senate floor for life as part of a censure stemming from an ethics investigation into a government contract awarded to a friend. The Legislative Audit Division concluded Ellsworth attempted to split the work into two contracts to avoid a $100,000 threshold that would have required the work to go out for bid.
New York – New York Mayor Eric Adams’s Corruption Case Dismissed by Federal Judge
MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 4/2/2025
A judge dismissed the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. U.S. District Court Judge Dale Ho denied a request by federal officials for the option of reinstating the charges because it could appear the mayor was beholden to government demands. The Justice Department’s decision to seek the dismissal of charges against Adams led to the resignations of several federal prosecutors, including the former interim head of the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, who alleged federal officials and Adams engaged in a “quid pro quo.”
North Dakota – Democratic ND Senator Proposes Doubling Ethics Commission Budget, Citing Holmberg Case
Yahoo News – Mary Steuer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 4/2/2025
Sen. Tim Mathern wants to more than double the staff for the North Dakota Ethics Commission, arguing the state should be doing more to prevent public corruption. He said his proposal was prompted by news coverage of former Sen. Ray Holmberg’s prison sentence. The Ethics Commission also faces an unprecedented number of complaint filings.
MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 3/30/2025
The Ohio General Assembly has 46 women serving in its two chambers, more than at any other time in the state’s 222-year history. That figure, which has been steadily trending up in recent years, is significant not just because it reflects the ability of Ohio women to make inroads into the halls of power. Several women lawmakers say it has a real effect on what happens at the statehouse, including what issues are prioritized. At the same time, women are still underrepresented in Columbus.
Oregon – Washington County Sewer Officials Ran Up Huge Food Tab on Ratepayers’ Dime
MSN – Jamie Goldberg (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 3/22/2025
Washington County’s sewer agency paid a long list of food and beverage expenses for its executives, employees, and others over five years that cost ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. The agency spent four times more on meals during that time than its counterparts in Portland and Clackamas County combined. Its expenditures offer a glimpse into lax spending practices at a sizable government agency that receives limited public scrutiny despite filling a crucial public need.
South Dakota – Kristi Noem Refused to Say Who Financed Some of Her Travel. It Was Taxpayers Who Were on the Hook
Yahoo News – Joshua Goodman, Jim Mustian, and Sarah Raza (Associated Press) | Published: 3/29/2025
As then-South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem crisscrossed the country stumping for Donald Trump and boosting her political profile beyond her home state, she refused to reveal what her extensive travel was costing taxpayers. In the weeks since Noem became Homeland Security secretary, that mystery has been solved: South Dakota repeatedly picked up the tab for expenses related to her jet-setting campaigning.
Texas – Hakeem Jeffries Threatens Lawsuit Over Delayed Texas Special Election
MSN – Melanie Zanona (NBC News) | Published: 4/2/2025
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is threatening a lawsuit against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for holding off on calling a special election to fill a vacant House seat in Houston, which Democrats allege is a deliberate move designed to help pad the GOP’s razor-thin majority. the Houston-area district, which has a predominantly Hispanic and Black population could go as long as seven months without representation in this Congress, unless Abbott calls a special election.
Washington – Seattle Committee Weighs Increased Levy Renewal for Public Campaign Financing
MSN – Spencer Pauley (The Center Square) | Published: 3/27/2025
A Seattle City Council committee is deliberating a levy renewal to fund a public campaign financing voucher program, with signs pointing to council support. The renewal proposal totals $45 million over 10 years. Central Staff Policy Analyst Brian Goodnight said the jump in revenue is needed to cover increased administrative costs and is the amount city officials said avoided putting revenue in the red under anticipated spending over a 10-year period.
Wisconsin – Liberal Wins Wisconsin Supreme Court Race in Blow to Trump
MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 4/1/2025
Wisconsin voters elected Susan Crawford to the state Supreme Court, maintaining the court’s liberal majority in a setback for President Trump and Elon Musk, who backed her conservative rival. It was the most expensive court race in American history, costing more than $100 million, nearly doubling the past record. The loss was a rebuke to Musk, whose outpouring of cash appeared to do little to close the electoral gaps conservatives have faced in recent Wisconsin court races.
April 3, 2025 •
Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Ethics Washington DC: “Transparency Law Slashed by D.C. Council as Lawmakers Want More Privacy” by Meagan Flynn and Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) for MSN Europe: “From Brussels to Berlin: The rules on transparency and ethics for European lawmakers” by Paula […]
Ethics
Washington DC: “Transparency Law Slashed by D.C. Council as Lawmakers Want More Privacy” by Meagan Flynn and Jenny Gathright (Washington Post) for MSN
Europe: “From Brussels to Berlin: The rules on transparency and ethics for European lawmakers” by Paula Soler (Euro News) for MSN
National: “Trump White House Plans to Shake Up Briefing Room Seating, Flexing Power Over Press Corps” by Brian Stelter (CNN) for MSN
Maine: “How the Trump Administration Took Aim at Maine” by Joanna Slater and Lisa Rein (Washington Post) for MSN
New York: “Judge Dismisses Bribery Case Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams” by Corinne Ramey and James Fanelli (Wall Street Journal) for MSN
Legislative Issues
Montana: “Ellsworth Receives Lifetime Ban from Montana Senate Floor for Ethics Violation” by Tom Lutey for Montana Free Press
Lobbying
National: “Pardoned by Trump, Rod Blagojevich Has New Job: Lobbying for Bosnian Serbs” by Aaron Schaffer, Beth Reinhard, and Michael Birnbaum (Washington Post) for MSN
Michigan: “Lawmakers Cleared for Free Conference Tickets” by Colin Jackson for Michigan Public
State and Federal Communications, Inc. provides research and consulting services for government relations professionals on lobbying laws, procurement lobbying laws, political contribution laws in the United States and Canada. Learn more by visiting stateandfed.com.