April 8, 2025 • Written by Joe May

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 […]

April 7, 2025 • Written by Joe May

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Ohio: “House Republicans Propose Eliminating the State’s Campaign Finance Enforcer” by Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN West Virginia: “Senate Moves Vetoed Election Bill Across Legislative Finish Line” by Emily Rice for West Virginia Public Radio Elections […]

April 4, 2025 • Written by Joe May

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.

Canada – Former Liberal Minister Worked Government Contacts to Ply COVID Contracts Without Registering as Lobbyist

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.

Ohio – More Women Than Ever Serve in the Ohio Legislature. But They Are Still Underrepresented – and They Still Face Hurdles

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 • Written by Jim Sedor

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 […]

April 2, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Colorado: “Colorado Judges Made Campaign Contributions Despite Rules Prohibiting the Practice” by David Migoya for Denver Gazette Elections Florida: “Republicans Win – But Underperform – in Both Florida Special Elections” by Kimberly Leonard and Gary Fineout (Politico) for Yahoo News National: “Democrats Sue […]

April 1, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Tuesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance California: “Alec Baldwin, a $227,000 Payment and a San Jose Fundraiser at Heart of Allegations Against Former Lawmaker” by Yue Stella Yu (CalMatters) for MSN Florida: “Taxpayer-Funded Staffers for Ron DeSantis Solicit Lobbyist Cash as His Wife Considers a 2026 Run” by […]

March 31, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Washington: “Seattle Committee Weighs Increased Levy Renewal for Public Campaign Financing” by Spencer Pauley (The Center Square) for MSN Elections Arizona: “Measure That Could Affect GOP 2026 Race for Governor Advances” by Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) for Arizona Capitol Times Ethics […]

March 28, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – March 28, 2025

National/Federal Paul Weiss Chair Says Deal with Trump Adheres to Firm’s Principles DNyuz – Matthew Goldstein, Jessica Silver-Greenbergm and Ben Protess (New York Times) | Published: 3/21/2025 The chairperson of Paul Weiss sought to reassure employees at the giant law firm that […]

National/Federal

Paul Weiss Chair Says Deal with Trump Adheres to Firm’s Principles

DNyuz – Matthew Goldstein, Jessica Silver-Greenbergm and Ben Protess (New York Times) | Published: 3/21/2025

The chairperson of Paul Weiss sought to reassure employees at the giant law firm that the deal it reached with President Trump was consistent with principles the firm has long stood by. Brad Karp sent a firm-wide email, detailing the agreement he had reached with Trump, which allowed the firm to escape an executive order that could have cost it significant business. Despite Karp’s assurances, the deal caused concern among the broader legal community that large law firms were capitulating to Trump’s demands instead of fighting them in court.

Federal Judiciary Creates New Task Force with Threats on the Rise

DNyuz – Abbie Van Sickle and Mattathias Schwartz (New York Times) | Published: 3/26/2025

A task force of federal judges will consider how to respond to “current risks” for the judiciary, following a spate of threats against judges who have ruled against the Trump administration. The formation of the task force is another sign the judicial branch is taking seriously an increasingly hostile and politicized climate.

Justice Dept. Tries to Intervene on Trump’s Behalf in Jan. 6 Lawsuits

DNyuz – Alan Feuer (New York Times) | Published: 3/20/2025

The Justice Department made an unusual effort to short-circuit a series of civil lawsuits seeking to hold President Trump accountable for his supporters’ attack on the Capitol. Department lawyers argued in court papers the cases that Trump was acting in his official capacity as president on January 6 and so the federal government itself should take his place as the defendant. That move, if successful, could protect Trump from having to face judgment for his role in the attack and from having to pay financial damages if he were found liable.

Lutnick Urges Fox News Viewers to Buy Tesla Stock, Raising Ethics Questions

MSN – Justine McDaniel and Sabina Rodriguez (Washington Post) | Published: 3/20/2025

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urged Fox News viewers to buy Tesla stock, an apparent violation of federal ethics rules that prohibit officials from endorsing products or businesses. His promotion of Tesla was the latest move by a Trump administration official to bolster support for Elon Musk’s car company as it becomes a target for voters upset about the sweeping cuts Musk is leading across the federal government through the U.S. DOGE Service.

K Street Crashes Into ‘Nearly Un-Lobbyable’ Elon Musk

MSN – Sophia Call and Daniel Lippman (Politico) | Published: 3/20/2025

Washington’s lobbying class is searching for an effective approach to an unprecedented challenge: how do you influence a mercurial outsider like Elon Musk who has immense but unofficial power and is the world’s richest person. But solving for Musk could pay huge dividends. If K Street can figure out how to lobby him, they can capitalize off the anxiety pervading Washington that drives companies and industries to sign six-figure retainers.

Health Benefits Company Co-Founded by Dr. Oz Could Be a Conflict of Interest

MSN – Lauren Weber and Caitlin Gilbert (Washington Post) | Published: 3/24/2025

Mehmet Oz, the nominee to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), co-founded health benefits company ZorroRX with his son last year. ZorroRX and similar companies promise to make hospitals money and save employers cash by connecting patients to the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. As head of CMS, Oz would lead an agency that could directly influence how much money hospitals, and in turn companies like ZorroRX, make from the federal system.

‘This Is Not Your Grandmother’s Easter Egg Roll’: White House seeks corporate sponsorships for Easter event

MSN – Betsy Kline (CNN) | Published: 3/23/2025

The White House, through an outside event production company called Harbinger, is soliciting corporate sponsors for this year’s Easter Egg Roll, which is prompting major concerns from ethics experts and shock from former White House officials from both parties. The solicitation for sponsorships marks an unprecedented offering of corporate branding opportunities on White House grounds running counter to long-established regulations prohibiting the use of public office for private gain.

Trump’s Washington Runs on Secret Chat App Signal

MSN – Shira Ovide, Danielle Abril, and Hannah Natanson (Washington Post) | Published: 3/25/2025

Two months into the Trump administration, there is a sweeping shift underway in Washington as federal workers, and some high-level administration officials, migrate their correspondence to the messaging app Signal in a zeal for secrecy. Adopting Signal and other surveillance-dodging tactics of spies and billionaires comes at the potential loss of a real-time history of the Trump administration. The Atlantic magazine’s top editor said he was accidently added to a signal group in which U.S. officials planned a recent military attack in Yemen.

Trump’s Crackdown on Top Law Firms Spreads to Congress

MSN – Dasha Burns, Caitlin Oprysko, and Daniel Lippman (Politico) | Published: 3/24/2025

An email circulated by a Republican Senate staffer to GOP Senate offices instructs them to pay heed to the lobbying clients of Covington & Burling and Perkins Coie, two law firms that President Trump has singled out in his campaign to crack down on those that oppose his policies. A person familiar with the email said the goal was to signal “that maybe Senate Republican staffers should consider whether they should be helpful to these individuals [that hire Covington and Perkins Coie], given their affiliation with firms deemed to be anti-Trump.”

For Many, Proving U.S. Citizenship to Vote Could Be Costly and Difficult

MSN – Anumita Kaur and Gaya Gupta (Washington Post) | Published: 3/26/2025

Millions of Americans could be prevented from voting after President Trump signed an executive order requiring people to provide documents that prove they are citizens when they register to vote. High costs, bureaucratic delays, and transportation issues are among myriad hurdles preventing many Americans from acquiring these forms of identification, which means Trump’s new mandate will make it harder for citizens to reach the ballot box, experts said.

Masked Agents Whisk Away Tufts Student from Sidewalk, Video Shows

MSN – Niha Masih, Frances Vinall, and Julie Yoon (Washington Post) | Published: 3/27/2025

As Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk made her way to an interfaith center to break the Ramadan, plainclothes agents, some masked, descended on her. Within about a minute, the agents whisked her away in handcuffs. Ozturk’s lawyer said the agent belonged to the Department of Homeland Security. Ozturk is a Fulbright scholar on an F-1 student visa, her lawyer said. President Trump promised to deport international students he alleges are engaging in “pro-terrorist, antisemitic, anti-American” campus protests over Israel’s war in Gaza.

From the States and Municipalities

Europe – Why Banning Huawei from the EU Institutions Is Harder Than It Seems

Euractiv – Anupriya Datta and Nicoletta Ionta | Published: 3/25/2025

The European Parliament quickly suspended lobbyists’ access after a new corruption case emerged involving Huawei, which allegedly paid bribes to politicians to support its 5G expansion in Europe. After the allegations became public, the European Commission issued internal instructions directing commissioners, cabinet members, and staff to immediately suspend all meetings and contacts with Huawei “until further notice.” But Huawei lobbyists could exploit loopholes to retain access to European Union premises despite the ban.

Canada – Canada’s Carney Calls Snap Election as Trump Looms Over Campaign

MSN – Amanda Coletta (Washington Post) | Published: 3/23/2025

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called a snap federal election for April 28, seeking to capitalize on momentum that has his Liberals resurgent. The campaign is likely to come down to one question: who can best handle President Trump and make Canada more resilient in the face of his threats? The election will pit Carney against Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, a populist firebrand who until recently held a commanding lead in the polls.

Arizona – GOP Lawmaker Undermines One of His Party’s Candidates for AZ Governor

Arizona Daily Star – Howard Fischer (Capitol Media Services) | Published: 3/27/2025

The head of the conservative Arizona Freedom Caucus is advancing legislation that would bar Republican Karrin Taylor Robson from becoming the next governor, even if she were to win the election over his favored GOP candidate. The resolution says nothing about Robson, but it does say no person is eligible to become a state elected official who for two years prior to the primary election was required to register as a paid lobbyist.

California – S.F. Is Weak and Ineffective at Preventing Conflicts of Interest, Report Finds

Mission Local – Xueer Lu | Published: 3/24/2025

Since January 2020, San Francisco has had eight department head-level employees forced out of office due to allegations of corruption. A new report suggests the city’s systems meant to limit conflicts-of-interest are lax and ineffective. The Budget and Legislative Analyst’s Office noted a distinct lack of process for reviewing financial disclosure forms, inconsistency across departments in ethics training, and failure of city employees to disclose secondary jobs and failure to catch and check them.

California – What Do the City Records Show About the Alleged Bribe in the Sacramento Mayor’s Race?

MSN – Joe Rubin (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 3/25/2025

Three weeks before allegedly offering a bribe to Sacramento mayoral candidate Flojaune Cofer, California Black Chamber of Commerce President Jay King had a previously undisclosed lunch meeting with then-City Manager Howard Chan and developer Paul Petrovich. During a September phone call, Cofer said she was asked by King to extend Chan’s contract. If she did, she said, King promised that Petrovich would make a substantial campaign contribution.

California – Ousted Official Used City Cash for Son’s UCLA Tuition, Probe Finds

San Francisco Standard – Gabe Greschler, Noah Baustin, Jonah Owen Lamb, and David Sijostedt | Published: 3/20/2025

Investigators revealed new details about a former San Francisco department head who allegedly enriched herself through a corrupt scheme of bribes and illegal gifts that went on for years. The city attorney’s office said Sheryl Davis, who has resigned as the Human Rights Commission director, received tens of thousands of dollars from a city-funded organization that benefitted her personal business ventures, expensive travel, and her son’s tuition at UCLA.

Colorado – Trump Complained About a Portrait of Him in Colorado’s Capitol. Now It’s Being Removed.

MSN – Justine McDaniel (Washington Post) | Published: 3/25/2025

President Trump likes having his name and image on things, but there is one representation of his likeness that he wanted gone – a portrait that hangs in the Colorado Capitol. Trump took to Truth Social to complain about the painting, blaming the state’s Democratic governor for it and demanding it be removed. Republican then asked for the portrait to be taken down, and the Democratic lawmakers who hold the majorities in the Legislature signed off on removing it.

Florida – Florida’s Top Gambling Regulator Became a FanDuel Lobbyist. A Bill Would Bar a Repeat.

MSN – Alexandra Glorioso (Miami Herald) | Published: 3/20/2025

As Florida’s first gambling regulator, Louis Trombetta took an aggressive approach to fantasy sports betting, driving three companies to shut down their games in the state. Then he went to work for one of their competitors. The sudden about-face has raised questions by ethics experts about the “revolving door” between regulators and the industry, a door one state lawmaker wants to shut behind Trombetta.

Idaho – Committee Sends Overhaul of Idaho’s Campaign Finance Law to House

Moscow-Pullman Daily News – Laura Guido | Published: 3/25/2025

A major overhaul of Idaho’s campaign finance law moved to the House floor. House Bill 442 would increase campaign expenditure reporting frequency, raise individual contribution limits, and include a trigger to significantly increase donation limits if a legislative candidate has $50,000 spent against them.

Kansas – Kansas Lawmakers Vote to Let More Organizations to Pay for Their Travel Expenses

MSN – Jack Harvel (Topeka Capital-Journal) | Published: 3/26/2025

A bill sent to the Kansas governor would allow more nonprofits to reimburse politicians for travel to events and conferences and give more leeway for the executive branch to accept gifts or discounted tickets to entertainment events. Organizations like the National Conference of State Legislatures can pay travel-related expenses, but non-nationwide organizations are prohibited. The bill expands who can reimburse lawmakers to any nonprofit nonpartisan group that does not lobby in the state.

Kentucky – Democrat Grimes, Former Kentucky Secretary of State, Wins Appeal in Ethics Case

Yahoo News – Jack Brammer (Kentucky Lantern) | Published: 3/23/2025

The Kentucky Court of Appeals unanimously has upheld a lower court order that cleared former Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes of ethics charges. The court said the Executive Branch Ethics Commission missed its statutory deadline to charge Grimes with improperly ordering the downloading and distribution of voter registration data from her public office while she was secretary of state. The commission argued it was not bound by any statute of limitations.

Louisiana – Supreme Court Presses Louisiana on Use of Race During 2022 Redistricting

MSN – John Fritze (CNN) | Published: 3/24/2025

The Supreme Court grappled with a years-old, messy legal battle over Louisiana’s congressional districts during an oral argument in which several of the court’s conservatives questioned whether the state had violated the Constitution because of its focus on race. Several of those justices signaled they are prepared to further weaken the influence that the Voting Right Act has on redistricting, although it was not clear if there was a majority to do so in Louisiana’s case. That is partly because lower courts had guided the state toward redrawing its lines with race in mind.

Maryland – Gov. Moore’s Planned Attendance at Political Fundraiser Raises Legal Questions

MSN – Brooke Conrad (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 3/27/2025

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore appearance at an upcoming event organized by the Unity First PAC is raising eyebrows in Annapolis. Maryland law places certain limits on fundraising activities by the governor and other state officials during the General Assembly session and the event is scheduled for April 2, five days before the conclusion of the session. David Mitrani, Unity First PAC’s lawyer, said the PAC does not “engage in activity that is covered under Maryland’s campaign finance law and is not a candidate committee … and is therefore not subject to the legislative session blackout period.”

Minnesota – Minnesota State Senator Resigns After He Was Charged with Soliciting a Minor for Prostitution

MSN – Steve Karnowski (Associated Press) | Published: 3/20/2025

Minnesota Sen. Justin Eichorn resigned after he was charged with soliciting a minor for prostitution, stepping down before the Senate could vote on whether to expel him. Investigators had placed multiple ads online offering sex for money, according to the charging documents. Eichorn exchanged text messages with an undercover officer purporting to be a 17-year-old girl for several days until they arranged a meet-up, where he was arrested.

Montana – Former Legislators Could Immediately Become Lobbyists Under Senate Bill

Daily Montanan – Jordan Hansen | Published: 3/20/2025

Former Montana legislators could immediately become lobbyists under legislation from Sen. Greg Hertz. Now, state lawmakers, elected state officials, department directors, appointed state officials, and members of an elected official’s personal staff are not allowed to be licensed as lobbyists if they have served in any of those positions over the previous two years. Senate Bill 222 would remove the statute entirely.

Montana – ‘Buckle Up’: In Montana, Republican lawmakers target the judiciary

DNyuz – David Chen (New York Times) | Published: 3/24/2025

As the Trump administration steps up its attacks on the federal judiciary, similar power struggles are unfolding at the state level. The Montana Legislature is weighing an avalanche of bills to reshape the judiciary and influence who gets to sit on the courts. Judicial elections would become partisan contests. A new court would be created to adjudicate constitutional claims, helmed by judges who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. At least two bills have even proposed that a judge’s “facial expressions” to be construed as evidence of bias, potentially resulting in disqualification.

Montana – Montana Senate Can’t Muster Enough Votes to Punish Former President Ellsworth

MSN – Tom Lutey (Montana Free Press) | Published: 3/24/2025

The Montana Senate drew to a stalemate over whether to expel Sen. Jason Ellsworth for ethics violations, though there is no limit to how many tries they get at taking some sort of disciplinary action. Lawmakers failed twice to get the necessary two-thirds majority required to expel a member. Between attempts to expel, senators were also unsuccessful at censuring Ellsworth. The latter entailed removing him from key committees and banning him from the Senate floor for a few weeks.

New Jersey – Sanctioned Trump Attorney Alina Habba to Be Interim N.J. Prosecutor

MSN – Shayna Jacobs (Washington Post) | Published: 3/24/2025

Alina Habba, a lawyer for President Trump who received sanctions and judicial reprimands while representing him, will be appointed interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey. Habba has been serving as a White House counselor and was a prominent figure on the campaign trail for Trump. Habba was heavily involved in Trump’s legal entanglements before the November election. In that role, she was sanctioned for running afoul of what judges considered appropriate attorney conduct.

New Mexico – One Signature Away from Becoming Law, Lobbyists Worry Over Reporting Bill

Yahoo News – Megan Gleason (Albuquerque Journal) | Published: 3/20/2025

New Mexico lawmakers sent a bill to the governor that would require lobbyists or their employers to file reports disclosing stances on bills they are attempting to influence and, if positions change, to update their stances within 48 hours. Currently, lobbyists only need to publicly report who is employing them and money spent to benefit legislators for lobbying purposes. House Bill 143 has raised red flags for some lobbyists, who are concerned it would worsen existing logistical issues and be overly burdensome.

New Mexico – 60 Days Later, Cicero Institute’s Reason for NM Lobbying Still Hidden from Public

Yahoo News – Patrick Lohmann (Source New Mexico) | Published: 3/24/2025

The legislative session is over and hundreds of bills are closer to becoming law, but it is still unclear which of them a billionaire-backed think tank influenced when it hired two veteran New Mexico lobbyists. The Cicero Institute has been linked to legislative lobbying efforts in other states where lawmakers have made it a misdemeanor to camp in public. The lobbyists would not say, and state law did not require them to disclose which bills they lobbied for or against in the 60-day legislative session that ended March 22.

New York – Cuomo Failed to Disclose Lobbyists Who Bundled Donations

New York Focus – Chris Bragg and Julia Rock | Published: 3/20/2025

.In a recent campaign filing, Andrew Cuomo disclosed having had no “intermediaries” – also known as bundlers – that raised money for his New York City mayoral bid. But records show Tonio Burgos sent out a fundraising email on March 7 seeking donations for Cuomo’s campaign. The email directed potential donors to a fundraising webpage set up by the Cuomo campaign which told them their donations would be matched with taxpayer dollars, even though Burgos’s work as a registered lobbyist means any gifts he solicits are ineligible for matching funds.

New York – Newly Unsealed Memo Sheds Light on Justice Department’s Rush to Drop NYC Mayor’s Corruption Case

Yahoo News – Michael Sisak (Associated Press) | Published: 3/25/2025

New court documents offer a behind-the-scenes look at how federal prosecutors built and then tried to salvage their criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams in the face of unprecedented pressure from President Trump’s Justice Department. The documents include a draft memo by the former interim U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, who resigned in protest rather than carry out a directive from a top Justice Department official to dump the case against Adams.

Ohio – Romantic Partner of Ex-Cleveland City Councilman Basheer Jones Charged in Corruption Probe

MSN – Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 3/26/2025

The romantic partner of former Cleveland City Councilperson Basheer Jones was accused of lining her pockets with money from several schemes that authorities say the two carried out on nonprofits and through real-estate deals. Sinera Jones hid her relationship with Jones in the deals and allowed him to use his sway to get her a job with a nonprofit, according to prosecutors. Basheer Jones has pleaded guilty to similar charges.

Oregon – How Washington County Sewer Officials Scored Annual Hawaii Trips and 5-Star Lodging

MSN – Jamie Goldberg (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 3/20/2025

It is not uncommon for government workers in agencies large and small to attend out-of-state conferences. But what makes trips taken by officials with Washington Count’s sewer agency to Hawaii unusual is their frequency, cost, lack of transparency, and that the recurring tropical location is the result of a local business decision made by design. The trips are not accounted for in the agency’s annual budgets even though ratepayers of Clean Water Services indirectly footed the bill.

Pennsylvania – Democrat Notches an Upset in Pennsylvania State Senate Race

DNyuz – Campbell Robertson (New York Times) | Published: 3/26/2025

A Democrat won a surprise victory in a special election for the Pennsylvania Senate, narrowly prevailing in a district that Donald Trump won by 15 points last fall. The election, conducted in the small towns and suburbs of Lancaster County where no Democrat had won since 1979, joined two currents that are powering the political moment.

Texas – Cornyn, Cruz Ask US Supreme Court to Hear Activist’s Case Against Texas Ethics Watchdog

MSN – Bayliss Wagner (Austin American-Statesman) | Published: 3/25/2025

U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are supporting a conservative activist and political website publisher’s effort to have his case against the Texas Ethics Commission heard in the nation’s highest court. The senators filed a friend-of-the-court brief asking the Supreme Court to take up Michael Quinn Sullivan’s 10-year-old lawsuit challenging a $10,000 fine levied against him in 2014 by the commission. It unanimously found that Sullivan, then the president of advocacy group Empower Texans, failed to register as a lobbyist while he worked to influence state lawmakers.

Texas – Texas Senate Passes Weakened Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Ban Following GOP Amendment

The Texan – Brad Johnson | Published: 3/20/2025

The Texas Senate passed legislation intended to ban “taxpayer-funded lobbying” but tacked on an amendment that exempts groups like the Texas Association of School Boards. The bill prohibits local governments from hiring registered lobbyists and allows citizens to sue those localities if they violate the ban. It applies only to political subdivisions and not constitutional offices, like county sheriffs.

Vermont – Ways and Means: Experts say Vermont Legislature’s ethics disclosures are lacking

Seven Days – Hannah Bassett | Published: 3/26/2025

The public can follow much of Vermont lawmakers’ work easily these days. Bills are updated and tracked from the day they are introduced, and agendas are published online in advance of meetings. Since the pandemic, floor discussions and committee meetings are generally live streamed, and the recordings remain online for viewing after the sessions conclude. For a small state with relatively limited statehouse resources, this is a testament to how even Vermont’s oldest institutions can use modern tools to foster trust in government, when they choose to.

Wisconsin – Why Elon Musk and Tesla Have a Legal Bone to Pick with Wisconsin

DNyuz – Reid Epsien and Neal Boudette (New York Times) | Published: 3/26/2025

Elon Musk is far away the biggest spender in this year’s race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, throwing his fortune behind a conservative candidate aiming to topple the court’s four-to-three liberal majority. The $20 million and counting from Musk and groups tied to him comes as Tesla is suing Wisconsin over its law prohibiting vehicle manufacturers from selling cars directly to consumers. The case is now before a court in Milwaukee County, but it could proceed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the coming months.

March 27, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Wisconsin: “Why Elon Musk and Tesla Have a Legal Bone to Pick with Wisconsin” by Reid Epstein and Neal Boudette (New York Times) for DNyuz Elections Pennsylvania: “Democrat Notches an Upset in Pennsylvania State Senate Race” by Campbell Robertson (New York […]

March 26, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance Idaho: “Committee Sends Overhaul of Idaho’s Campaign Finance Law to House” by Laura Guido for Moscow-Pullman Daily News Ethics California: “S.F. Is Weak and Ineffective at Preventing Conflicts of Interest, Report Finds” by Xueer Lu for Mission Local National: “Trump’s Washington Runs on […]

March 24, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Monday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Campaign Finance New York: “Cuomo Failed to Disclose Lobbyists Who Bundled Donations” by Chris Bragg and Julia Rock for New York Focus Ethics National: “Lutnick Urges Fox News Viewers to Buy Tesla Stock, Raising Ethics Questions” by Justine McDaniel and Sabina Rodriguez (Washington Post) […]

March 21, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

News You Can Use Digest – March 21, 2025

National/Federal Elon Musk’s Starlink Expands Across White House Complex DNyuz – Maggie Haberman, Kate Conger, Eileen Sullivan, and Ryan Mac (New York Times) | Published: 3/17/2025 Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is now accessible across the White […]

National/Federal

Elon Musk’s Starlink Expands Across White House Complex

DNyuz – Maggie Haberman, Kate Conger, Eileen Sullivan, and Ryan Mac (New York Times) | Published: 3/17/2025

Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is now accessible across the White House campus. It is the latest installation of the Wi-Fi network across the government since Musk joined the Trump administration as an unpaid adviser. Musk, who is now an unpaid adviser working as a “special government employee” at the White House, controls Starlink and other companies that have regulatory matters before or contracts with the federal government. Questions about his business interests conflicting with his status as a presidential adviser and major Trump donor have persisted for weeks.

With Orders, Investigations and Innuendo, Trump and G.O.P. Aim to Cripple the Left

DNyuz – Kenneth Vogel and Shane Goldmacher (New York Times) | Published: 3/19/2025

President Trump and his allies are attacking the players and machinery that power the left, taking a series of partisan official actions that, if successful, will threaten to hobble Democrats’ ability to compete in elections for years to come. So far, the attacks have been diffuse and sometimes indiscriminate or inaccurate. But inside the administration, there are moves to coordinate and expand the assault. It is not unusual for partisans in Congress or their outside allies to push for investigations into political groups on the other side of the aisle, but using the levers of government to target the opposition is considered an abuse of power.

Judges Fear for Their Safety Amid a Wave of Threats

DNyuz – Mattathias Schwartz and Abbie VanSickle (New York Times) | Published: 3/19/2025

President Trump’s angry call for the impeachment of a federal judge who ruled against his administration on deportation flights set off a string of social media taunts and threats, including images of judges being marched off in handcuffs. The threats and intimidation may have not become actual violence, but they appear to be mounting, as Trump, his advisers, and his supporters are questioning the legitimacy of the American legal system. There is no evidence that jurists’ judgment has been warped by their antagonists. But at the least, public perceptions of judicial decisions could be shaped by the volume of attacks on the courts.

Trump’s Ending of Hunter Biden’s Security Detail Raises Questions About Who Gets Protection

DNyuz – Eileen Sullivan (New York Times) | Published: 3/19/2025

While former President Joe Biden and his wife are by law allowed to have protection for the rest of their lives, their adult children had it only for a few months. Before leaving office, Biden issued an executive order that extended the protection to them, but President Trump revoked their detail. Despite the legitimate questions of cost for protecting so many people, the sudden announcement of the cessation of protection for Hunter Biden, coupled with Trump’s fixation on the former president and his only living son, raised questions about whether this move was the latest stop on the president’s revenge tour.

Two Democratic Commissioners Fired from FTC

MSN – Julian Mark, Cat Zakrzewski, and Will Oremos (Washington Post) | Published: 3/18/2025

President Trump fired the only two Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission, handing the remaining Republican commissioners exclusive control over the agency that oversees antitrust and consumer protection laws and serves as the U.S. government’s primary regulator of the tech industry. Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter announced their dismissals on social media, with both calling their firings illegal. Bedoya indicated that he intends to sue over his firing.

Judge Says Trump Penalties on Law Firm Send ‘Chills Down My Spine’

MSN – Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 3/12/2025

A federal judge blocked provisions of President Trump’s executive order targeting attorneys at Perkins Coie. U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell said Perkins Coie was likely to ultimately prevail in court with its challenge of the order, which was prompted by the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and its prior work for Trump’s political opponents. Howell warned that the order could damage the integrity of the entire legal profession, intimidating lawyers from taking up cases that the president views as going against his interests.

Trump Asks Supreme Court to Curb Judges’ Power to Block Policies Nationwide

MSN – Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 3/13/2025

President Trump is asking the Supreme Court to eliminate a key tool that lower courts have used to block various aspects of his agenda, Trump asked the justices to rein in or shelve three nationwide injunctions lower-court judges have issued against his bid to end birthright citizenship. But his request could have repercussions far beyond the debate over the controversial citizenship plan.

National Democratic Committees to Stage Town Halls in House GOP Districts

MSN – Patrick Svitek (Washington Post) | Published: 3/14/2025

A coalition of national Democratic committees is launching town hall meetings in Republican-held House districts across the country, ramping up the party’s efforts to put politically vulnerable GOP lawmakers on the defensive over President Trump’s agenda. The groups aim to hold town halls in all 50 states.

Amid ‘DEI’ Purge, Pentagon Removes Webpage on Iwo Jima Flag-Raiser

MSN – Jon Swaine and Alex Horton (Washington Post) | Published: 3/17/2025

Until recently, a page on the Defense Department’s website celebrated Pfc. Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian who was one of the six Marines photographed hoisting a U.S. flag on Iwo Jima in 1945. But the page, along with many others about Native American and other minority service members, has now been erased amid the Trump administration’s wide-ranging crackdown on what it says are “diversity, equity and inclusion” efforts in the federal government.

How Matt Gaetz Poisoned the House Ethics Committee

MSN – Haily Fuchs (Politico) | Published: 3/18/2025

Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz is gone from Congress, but the wounds he inflicted on the House ethics committee that investigated him remain fresh. As the committee prepares in the coming weeks to ramp up after a monthslong delay and a pileup of potential cases, it is still regrouping from its crisis last year over whether to break with recent precedent and release the results of an investigation into Gaetz, who was being considered for attorney general.

Jury Selection Underway in Bribery Trial of Wife of Convicted Ex-New Jersey Senator

Yahoo News – John Russell | Published: 3/18/2025

The public corruption trial of Nadine Menendez, the wife of former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, is underway, having been split off from her co-defendants’ trial last year and then postponed by medical adjournments. Nadine Menendez was initially charged alongside her husband, accusing the couple of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of bribes and gifts, including gold bars, from several businesspeople in exchange for the senator’s political influence.

From the States and Municipalities

Europe – Huawei Lobbyists Banned from Accessing European Parliament After Bribery Arrests

MSN – Associated Press | Published: 3/14/2025

The European Parliament banned lobbyists working for Huawei from its premises following the arrests of several people in a corruption probe linked to the company, in yet another scandal to hit the Legislature. Huawei is suspected by Belgian prosecutors bribing European Union lawmakers. The European Parliament said the decision to suspend the access of Huawei lobbyists has been taken as a precautionary measure, in line with its security rules.

California – An L.A. City Council Member Is Launching a Nonprofit. Ethics Experts Have Questions

Los Angeles Times – Dakota Smith | Published: 3/15/2025

Los Angeles City Councilperson Tim McOsker is launching a nonprofit to pay for basic services, including street lighting and park improvements, in his district, an unusual move that raises questions for ethics experts. The One Five Fund, which formally launches in the next few months, “will make requests of folks throughout the city for money,” McOsker said. McOsker will fundraise for One Five but will not be involved in allocating the money, according to his office.

California – Will Disgraced Former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu Serve Prison Time?

Voice of OC – Spencer Custodio | Published: 3/17/2025

Federal prosecutors asked a judge to sentence disgraced former Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu to eight months in prison and a $40,000 fine for wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and lying to FBI agents about trying to ram through the corrupted Angel Stadium sale to get $1 million in campaign support. Sidhu is asking for three years of probation and community service or a home arrest sentence. Sidhu resigned shortly after revelations of the corruption probe in 2022, and the stadium sale was canceled around the same time.

District of Columbia – D.C. Drops Lawsuit Against Proud Boys, Oath Keepers Over Jan. 6 Attack

Philadelphia Tribune – Ellie Silverman (Washington Post) | Published: 3/17/2025

The District of Columbia dropped a lawsuit against the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers over the attack on the U.S. Capitol, saying the city was unlikely to recover enough money to justify continuing legal action against the far-right groups and others it had sought to hold responsible for the riot. The suit marked the first effort by a government agency to hold individuals and organizations civilly liable for the violence at the Capitol that day.

Florida – 2 Miami-Dade Health Inspectors Accused of Fabricating Violations to Extort Restaurants

MSN – David Goodhue (Miami Herald) | Published: 3/12/2025

Two Miami-Dade County health inspectors were arrested on accusations they extorted bribes from restaurant owners. In total, Charles Bryant II and Craig Bethel extorted $14,620 from 15 businesses, Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said. Both men, who worked for the Department of Environmental Resources Management, are accused of making up bogus health violations and threatening the businesses with shutting them down if they did not pay them money.

Florida – Ron DeSantis’ Team Is Urging Florida Lobbyists Not to Back Rep. Byron Donalds for Governor

MSN – Matt Dixon (NBC News) | Published: 3/18/2025

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s political operation is making calls to state lobbyists, urging them not to support U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, whose 2026 bid for governor has already collected more than $3 million, much of which has come from President Trump’s donors. Donalds announced his Trump-backed bid for governor in February, but there remains the prospect that DeSantis’s wife, Casey, also jumps into the race, which would set up a heavyweight Republican primary and continue the long-running political proxy war between Trump and DeSantis.

Florida – Lee School Board’s $180K Lobbying Contract Sparks Conflict-of-Interest Concerns

Yahoo News – Mickenzie Hannon (Naples Daily News) | Published: 3/13/2025

Some Lee County residents are questioning a new $180,000 contract the school board approved with Ballard Partners for federal lobbying services, raising concerns over potential conflicts-of-interest. Some residents voiced concerns about Ballard Partners’ ties to political consultant Terry Miller, who joined the firm as a partner in the Fort Myers office in 2023. He has also worked on campaigns for several board members. Critics argued the contract could give Miller undue influence over district affairs.

Hawaii – ‘Clean Government’ Bills Have Renewed Support

Yahoo News – Dan Nakaso (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) | Published: 3/18/2025

A series of bills aimed at further cleaning up government ethics, lobbying practices, and campaign contributions, while making it easier for new candidates to campaign for office, are suddenly enjoying renewed energy in the Hawaii Legislature after a lull in 2024. Collectively, the bills that remain alive this session are designed to tighten many of the practices that have directly or indirectly been linked to recent federal trials, guilty verdicts, and pleas by state and county officials.

Kansas – Kansas Senate Adds to Potential Makeover of State Elections with Passage of Two More Bills

Yahoo News – Sherman Smith and Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 3/17/2025

Lawmakers passed two bills that would ban the use of ranked-choice voting in Kansas and restrict funding for election-related activities, such as voter registration efforts. The Legislature now has sent three election bills to the governor’s desk. The other one would narrow the window for advance ballots to arrive at county election offices.

Kansas – Kansas GOP Activist, Democrat Legislator Find Common Ground in Opposition to Campaign Finance Bills

Yahoo News – Tim Carpenter (Kansas Reflector) | Published: 3/17/2025

Democratic Rep. Alexis Simmons and former Kansas Republican Party Executive Director Kris Van Meteren stand uncommonly side-by-side against elimination of contribution limits for political party committees. Both said they could see logic to House Bill 2054’s doubling of contribution limits for candidates seeking election as governor and other statewide offices, the state Legislature and State Board of Education.

Kentucky – Secrecy Shrouds Campaign to Form New Suburban City in Louisville Metro

WDRB – Marcus Green | Published: 3/11/2025

The battle over a new city proposed for Jefferson County has been waged on yard signs, in online forums, and through word of mouth. But one front where the campaign is not occurring is on disclosure forms bringing transparency to groups fighting for and against the city of Eastwood. In many cases, local and state laws require those advocating for high-profile issues in Louisville and Frankfort to identify themselves and explain how much they are spending to influence decision makers. That is not happening in the Eastwood debate.

Michigan – Detroit Chamber Can’t Comp Lawmakers for Mackinac Conference

MIRS – Staff | Published: 3/11/2025

The Detroit Regional Chamber is not allowed to give lawmakers free admission to their annual Mackinac Policy Conference, which other attendees pay $3,200 apiece to attend, the secretary of state’s office said in a preliminary ruling. Normally, registration is $3,200 for chamber members, but state law bans gifts worth more than $79 from lobbyists, like the Detroit Regional Chamber. The Senate is advancing a bill that would allow lawmakers to continue receiving tickets to charity events or admission to a conference or educational event directly related to their duties, like the Mackinac Policy Conference.

Michigan – Michigan House Democrats Take Second Run at Ethics and Transparency Legislation

Yahoo News – Jon King (Michigan Advance) | Published: 3/18/2025

Michigan House Democrats used Sunshine Week, which acknowledges the importance of transparency in government, to re-introduce a package of bills they say will provide needed accountability to the finances of elected officials. The bills failed to get through the House last year during the lame duck session. Several of the sponsors saying the package would improve accountability by stopping election and campaign finance law violations in real-time, while also curtailing the influence of lobbying and financial interests on the legislative process.

Montana – Witness Testimony Wraps in Ellsworth Ethics Probe as Business Associate Skirts Subpoena

Bozeman Daily Chronicle – Seaborn Larson and Blair Miller (Lee Newspapers) | Published: 3/17/2025

Witness testimony over three days before a legislative ethics committee fortified allegations that Sen. Jason Ellsworth failed to disclose an extensive personal and professional relationship when organizing a state-funded contract for a friend, special counsel Adam Duerk argued. The committee’s final meeting before it begins crystalizing its forthcoming report for the Senate included a video statement from Bryce Eggleston, the contractor whom Ellsworth awarded a $170,100 state-funded contract to analyze the rollout of the GOP’s judicial reform agenda after the 2025 legislative session.

Nevada – Nevada Official Faces Ethics Commission over Golden Knights Perks

MSN – Mary Hynes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) | Published: 3/19/2025

Dwayne McClinton, director of the Nevada Office of Energy, is the subject of a state ethics complaint that claims he accepted free Vegas Golden Knights tickets and solicited access to a private watch party while negotiating a potential taxpayer-funded partnership with the National Hockey League team. McClinton neither disclosed the gifts nor abstained from further work on the partnership project.

New Jersey – Pay-to-Play

MSN – Riley Yates (NJ Advance Media) | Published: 3/20/2025

Two years ago, the New Jersey Legislature eviscerated the state’s pay-to-play law, a once-heralded good government measure that seeks to prevent construction companies, insurance brokers, and law offices from buying contracts through campaign donations. That has helped funnel campaign funds to political machines across New Jersey. In total, public contractors poured $3.8 million last year into political parties at the state, county, or local level, more than double what they gave in 2023, when the new rules first took effect.

New Mexico – Campaign Finance Reform Is ‘Dead,’ Says Sponsor

KUNM – Marjorie Childress (New Mexico In Depth) | Published: 3/16/2025

A bill meant primarily to close loopholes in New Mexico’s law governing the reporting of campaign contributions and expenditures crashed in the House Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs committee. Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth has sought to close loopholes in the Campaign Reporting Act since several groups exploited them in a partially successful attempt to evade disclosing their donors and spending in the 2020 election.

New Mexico – Major Lobbyist Transparency Bill Nears Finish Line

New Mexico In Depth – Marjorie Childress | Published: 3/18/2202

The New Mexico Senate voted to require new reports from registered lobbyists and those that pay them about the legislation they support or oppose. The House must now agree with changes made to House Bill 143. Sen. Jeff Steinborn has pushed for this type of lobbyist reporting since 2017, but his bills have not made it far in the Senate before.

New York – Adams’s Associates Under Federal Investigation Over Ties to China

DNyuz – Bianca Pallaro, Jay Root, Michael Forsythe, and William Rashbaum (New York Times) | Published: 3/18/2025

The Trump administration appears likely to succeed in having federal corruption charges dropped against New York City Mayor Eric Adams in Manhattan. But in Brooklyn, a separate group of prosecutors has been conducting a long-running investigation involving the mayor’s most prominent fundraiser, and at one point searched her homes and office for evidence of a possible Chinese government scheme to influence Adams’s election, according to a search warrant.

New York – Judge Upholds Income Limits for State Legislators

Jamestown Post-Journal – John Whittaker | Published: 3/20/2025

A New York Supreme Court justice upheld outside income limits for state legislators but struck down a section of the law that would strip lawmakers of their voting rights if they violate the income limits. Republicans asked the judge to declare the law unconstitutional under the state and federal constitutions while the state argued limiting outside income falls within the Legislature’s legitimate interest in preventing conflict-of-interest and ethics issues caused by outside earned income.

Ohio – Six Years After Bribery Scandal, Ousted First Energy Lobbyists Still Aren’t Talking to the PUCO

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 3/13/2025

Nearly six years ago, the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation that benefitted FirstEnergy, which was later deemed to be the fruit of a bribery scheme. Three corporate lobbyists and one executive, all since ousted from their roles with FirstEnergy, once again avoided answering questions under oath about what happened. The goal of the hearing was to establish a process and build a record that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio could take to court, where a judge could issue an order compelling them to testify while giving immunity from being held criminally accountable for whatever answers they may provide.

Oklahoma – Ryan Walters Used His Official-Looking X Account to Support Trump. It Cost Him $5K to Settle Ethics Complaint.

Yahoo News – Nolan Clay (Oklahoman) | Published: 3/17/2025

State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters agreed to pay a $5,000 settlement after being accused of ethics violations for pushing for Donald Trump’s election on a social media account with his official title. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission voted to settle three cases against Walters over his social media posts in support of Trump. It also voted to sue Walters over alleged campaign finance violations.

Oregon – Oregon’s 3 Most Populous Counties Don’t Track Who Lobbies Their Leaders

MSN – Austin De Dios (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 3/14/2025

None of Oregon’s most populous counties track with whom lobbyists meet or how much they spend on events with public officials. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners is looking to change that.

Tennessee – No Formal Ethics Commission Training Yet for Lee’s Cabinet After September Pledge

Des Moines Register – Vivian Jones (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 3/10/2025

Additional ethics training has not occurred for members of Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s cabinet nearly six months after a state ethics board recommended that they do so. Last year, Lee and Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds both repaid travel payments to nonprofits with connected political groups that employ lobbyists after media reports led to ethics complaints that alleged the travel expenses constituted illegal gifts.

Texas – How At-Large Voting Creates Conservative Majorities on Texas School Boards

MSN – Jeremy Schwartz (ProPublica) and Dan Keemahill (Texas Tribune) | Published: 3/19/2025

The way communities elect school board members plays a key, if often overlooked, role in whether racially diverse districts experience takeovers by ideologically driven conservatives seeking to exert greater influence over what children learn in public schools In Texas. Since the pandemic, such groups have successfully leveraged the state’s long-standing and predominantly at-large method of electing candidates to flip school boards in their direction.

Texas – Bills Filed to Ban ‘Deepfakes’ in Political Ads in Texas

MSN – Bethany Blankley (The Center Square) | Published: 3/19/2025

Two bills were filed in Texas that would require additional disclosures for political ads. The bills were filed after the state Ethics Commission expanded disclosure requirements for campaign ads on social media posts. House Bill 366 would require disclosures on political ads that contain altered images known as “deep fakes.”

Utah – Utah on Path to End Automatic Mail Ballots after Wave of Misinformation

MSN – Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 3/17/2025

Utah is poised to abolish its practice of automatically mailing ballots to all voters, handing a victory to President Trump and Republicans who have vilified voting by mail since his 2020 election defeat. The likely changes in Utah are modest compared with Trump’s calls for ending mail voting altogether but would nonetheless mark a dramatic shift in a Republican stronghold that has long embraced mail balloting as convenient and secure.

Vermont – Vermont House Passes Change to Ethics Law, Despite Objections from the State’s Ethics Commission

VTDigger.org – Shaun Robinson | Published: 3/14/2025

The state panel tasked with reviewing alleged violations of Vermont’s ethical standards for government officials has been at odds with lawmakers over a bill that would limit the panel’s role in reviewing potential misconduct by state leaders. The House passed the bill that would, among other changes, exempt the panels and boards that investigate alleged misconduct by legislators, judges, and attorneys from a legal requirement to “consult” with the state ethics commission.

West Virginia – WV House Republicans Join Dems 54-41 to Reject Bill Allowing Direct Corporate Political Donations

West Virgina Watch – Caity Coyne | Published: 3/13/2025

The West Virginia House rejected a bill that would have allowed businesses and corporations in the state to directly donate up to $2,800, and potentially more, to candidates. Under House Bill 2729, business owners could have given the maximum amount of money to candidates multiple times by donating through their businesses, individual giving, and PACs.

March 20, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Thursday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Elections Kansas: “Kansas Senate Adds to Potential Makeover of State Elections with Passage of Two More Bills” by Sherman Smith and Anna Kaminski (Kansas Reflector) for Yahoo News Texas: “How At-Large Voting Creates Conservative Majorities on Texas School Boards” by Jeremy Schwartz (ProPublica) […]

March 19, 2025 • Written by Jim Sedor

Wednesday’s LobbyComply News Roundup

Ethics National: “Amid ‘DEI’ Purge, Pentagon Removes Webpage on Iwo Jima Flag-Raiser” by Jon Swaine and Alex Horton (Washington Post) for MSN National: “How Matt Gaetz Poisoned the House Ethics Committee” by Haily Fuchs (Politico) for MSN National: “Jury Selection Underway in Bribery Trial of […]

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