National/Federal

Courtroom Clash in Trump’s Election Interference Case as the Judge Ponders the Path Ahead

Associated Press News – Eric Tucker, Alanna Durkin Richer, and Michael Kunzelman | Published: 9/5/2024

In the first court hearing in nearly a year, a lawyer for Donald Trump clashed with the judge in the federal election interference prosecution of the former president after suggesting the government was rushing forward with an “illegitimate” indictment at the height of the White House campaign. Prosecutors and defense lawyers are bitterly at odds over the next steps in the case after the Supreme Court narrowed the scope of the prosecution by ruling former presidents are entitled to broad immunity from criminal charges.

Iran Emerges as a Top Disinformation Threat in U.S. Presidential Race

DNyuz – Steven Lee Myers, Tiffany Hsu, and Faranz Fassihi (New York Times) | Published: 9/4/2024

American officials and tech company analysts say Iran is waging an intensifying campaign to sway this year’s American presidential election. Iran has long carried out clandestine information operations against its adversaries, especially Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, but until now most of its activities were conducted under the shadow of similar campaigns by Russia and China. Its latest propaganda and disinformation efforts have grown more brazen, more varied, and more ambitious, according to the U.S. government, company officials, and Iran experts.

Republicans Seize on False Theories About Immigrant Voting

DNyuz – Alexandra Berzon (New York Times) | Published: 9/5/2024

There is no indication that noncitizens are voting in large numbers. Yet the notion they will flood the polls, and vote overwhelmingly for Democrats, is animating a network of Republicans who mobilized around Donald Trump’s false claims of a rigged election in 2020 and are now preparing for the next one. Activists, prominent lawyers, Republican lawmakers, right-wing influencers, and other Trump allies have pressed for voter roll purges, filed lawsuits, prepared for on-the-ground monitoring of polling places, and spread misinformation online.

Whistle-Blower Groups Push to End Secret Seizure of Congressional Communications

DNyuz – Luke Broadwater (New York Times) | Published: 8/31/2024

As President Trump hunted for people inside the government who were divulging details of an investigation into whether his 2016 election campaign colluded with Russia, the Justice Department turned to a covert tactic. Department officials secretly collected the phone and email records of roughly a dozen people connected to Congress, including lawmakers and aides who routinely deal with anonymous whistleblowers, to see who might be coming forward with confidential information. Now, whistleblower advocacy groups hope to shame the agency into ending the practice of secretly collecting congressional communications records.

GOP Network Props Up Liberal Third-Party Candidates in Key States, Hoping to Siphon Off Harris Votes

MSN – Brian Slodysko and Dan Merica (Associated Press) | Published: 9/1/2024

Across the country, a network of Republican political operatives, lawyers, and their allies is trying to shape November’s election in ways that favor Donald Trump. Their goal is to prop up third-party candidates such as Cornell West who offer liberal voters an alternative that could siphon away support from Vice President Kamala Harris. It is not clear who is paying for the effort, but it could be impactful in states that were decided by miniscule margins in the 2020 election won by Joe Biden.

13-Month Sentence for Man Who Made 12,000 Harassing Calls to Congress Members

MSN – Spencer Hsu (Washington Post) | Published: 9/3/2024

Ade Lilly was sentenced to 13 months in prison for making more than 12,000 harassing phone calls to members of Congress over an 18-month period and threatening to kill a congressional aide. Addressing the defense’s argument that Lilly was motivated by childhood tragedy and a zealous belief lawmakers must do more for the nation’s young people, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly said, “it is easy to see” how his offense might be the result of “good intentions gone wrong.”

Ginni Thomas Privately Praised Group Working Against Supreme Court Reform: ‘Thank you so, so, so much’

MSN – Andy Kroll (ProPublica) and Nick Surgery (Documented) | Published: 9/4/2024

Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, privately heaped praise on a major religious-rights group for fighting efforts to reform the nation’s highest court – efforts sparked, in large part, by her husband’s ethical lapses. Ginni Thomas expressed her appreciation in an email sent to Kelly Shackelford, an influential litigator whose clients have won cases at the Supreme Court. Shackelford runs the First Liberty Institute. It came shortly after President Biden announced support for a slate of reforms for the high court.

Convicted Fraudsters Launch AI Lobbying Firm Using Fake Names

Yahoo News – Daniel Lippman (Politico) | Published: 9/2/2024

A K Street startup pitched as a service to integrate AI into lobbying is covertly run by a pair of well-known, far-right conspiracy theorists and convicted felons who are using pseudonyms in their new business, according to four former employees and other evidence. LobbyMatic was founded last year by Jacob Wohl, who in 2022 was convicted along with his longtime associate Jack Burkman of fraud after running a robocall campaign in largely Black neighborhoods in several states telling people not to vote by mail. LobbyMatic, whose website does not list any company leadership, temporarily signed up at least three brand-name clients.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – She Was Arrested After Speaking at a City Meeting. Now She’s Suing.

MSN – Praveena Somasundaram (Washington Post) | Published: 9/4/2024

An Arizona woman is suing the city of Surprise for arresting and charging her with trespassing during a recent city council meeting after she criticized the city attorney’s proposed pay raise. Mayor Skip Hall interrupted Rebekah Massie’s remarks, accusing her of “attacking the city attorney personally” and violating a council policy. Her lawsuit requests that a judge order the city to halt a policy that stipulates comments during council meetings “may not be used to lodge charges or complaints against” public officials.

California – Mayor Breed Orders Increased Scrutiny of San Francisco Contract Work, Grantees

KQED – Sydney Johnson | Published: 9/3/2024

City contractors and grant recipients will face tighter scrutiny to receive public dollars, according to a directive from San Francisco Mayor London Breed. The order, which is effective immediately, comes after numerous scandals. Breed also announced legislation to support her directive that would require contractors to keep separate accounts for political activities and prevent them from using city funds or lobbying officials.

California – While an Orange County Supervisor Was Under Scrutiny, His Daughter Interned with County Prosecutors

MSN – Salvador Hernandez (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 8/29/2024

Within weeks of it being revealed that Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do directed millions of dollars in contracts to a nonprofit without disclosing a link to his daughter, a scandal that sparked a lawsuit and a possible federal probe, his daughter began working as an intern for the county’s top prosecutor. Two county supervisors said they were unaware of Rhiannon Do’s stint at the district attorney’s office while county officials considered a lawsuit against Viet America Society, a nonprofit that once listed the supervisor’s daughter as its president, and asked for local and federal officials to step in.

California – Anaheim Hires City’s First Ethics Officer

Orange County Register – Michael Slaten | Published: 9/3/2024

Anaheim has hired its first ethics officer. Artin Berjikly will be the assistant city attorney-ethics officer, leading a new ethics division. Berjikly will report to the city attorney and provide legal expertise on ethical issues, campaign finance laws, conflict-of-interest rules, and the city’s lobbying laws.

Florida – Activists Charged with Pushing Russian Propaganda Go on Trial in Florida

WLRN – Patricia Mazzei (New York Times) | Published: 9/3/2024

Experts say a trial in Florida offers a rare glimpse into how Russia has tried to secretly influence American politics. Prosecutors say Russia sought out a sympathetic group in the U.S., invited its leader to visit Moscow, and established a long-term relationship. The group then promoted Russian views on its website, social media accounts, and radio station. Four Americans face charges they conspired to have other U.S. citizens act as illegal agents of the Russian government or acted as unregistered Russian agents themselves.

Florida – Miami Lakes Sues Law Firm Over Role in FBI Corruption Sting That Led to Mayor’s Arrest

Yahoo News – Catherine Odom (Miami Herald) | Published: 8/29/2024

Miami Lakes is suing a law firm over its involvement in an FBI sting operation that led to the arrest of the town’s mayor in 2013. The suit is seeking more than $5 million in damages over the role of Richard Candia, who was an employee at the law firm Becker & Poliakoff, in the FBI operation. Candia was party to an alleged corruption scheme involving then-Mayor Michael Pizzi and later became an FBI informant. Miami Lakes is suing the firm, which was under contract to provide lobbying and consulting services to the town, for negligence, as well as breach of contract and fiduciary duties.

Iowa – Iowa Lieutenant Governor Resigns to Take Over State Lobby Group Representing Bankers

MSN – Hannah Fingerhut (Associated Press) | Published: 9/3/2024

Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg resigned to take the helm of the Iowa Bankers Association. The association advocates for its members with state and local governments and has been led for 28 years by John Sorensen, who is stepping down this year. Sorensen was registered as a lobbyist for the current General Assembly, but Iowa law specifies a statewide elected official “shall not within two years after the termination of service or employment become a lobbyist.”

Louisiana – Shreveport Lawmaker Fought Ethics Board for Years Before Authoring New Ethics Laws

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 8/29/2024

The first two bills state Rep. Steven Jackson authored had an unusual target for a new lawmaker: Louisiana’s Board of Ethics. His interest in restricting the board’s activities follows five years of angry exchanges between Jackson and ethics staff over financial penalties he has accrued while running for office. Since his first race for the Caddo Parish Commission in 2015, Jackson has racked up $10,080 in late fees after failing to file or improperly submitting 12 campaign finance and personal disclosure reports.

Maine – Maine Utilities Will Be Banned from Spending Ratepayer Money on Lobbying, Advertising

Yahoo News – Stephen Singer (Portland Press Herald) | Published: 9/4/2024

Maine regulators announced they will draft rules that prohibit utilities from billing ratepayers for spending on advertising, lobbying, and political expenses and require spending disclosures to the state. Legislation passed last year bars utilities from passing on expenses for contributions or gifts to candidates, political parties, and political or legislative committees; to a trade association, chamber of commerce, or public charity; for lobbying or grassroots lobbying; or for educational expenses, unless approved by the Public Utilities Commission.

Montana – Tim Sheehy Was Recorded Using Racist Stereotypes About Native Americans

Seattle Times – Kellen Browning (New York Times) | Published: 9/3/2024

Tim Sheehy, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Montana, made comments perpetuating racist stereotypes about Native Americans during private fundraisers last year, according to recordings of the events. In one recording, Sheehy can be heard saying he had participated in roping and branding cattle on the Crow Reservation, and it was “a great way to bond with all the Indians out there, while they’re drunk at 8 a.m.”

New Hampshire – Ex-Biden Official in NH Primary Raises Questions with ‘Bizarre’ Financial Disclosure

MSN – Taylor Giorno (The Hill) | Published: 8/30/2024

Maggie Goodlander, a candidate in the Democratic primary in New Hampshire for retiring U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster’s seat, filed a personal financial disclosure that has raised questions over the actual value of sizable assets she holds. The disclosure puzzled experts because it lists the value of multiple easily verifiable assets as “undetermined,” including checking, retirement, and investment accounts, and several properties or pieces of land, even those the report indicates are currently for sale.

New Mexico – The New Mexico Project Ordered to Disclose Donors, Campaign Expenditures

Yahoo News – Colleen Held (Albuquerque Journal) | Published: 8/29/2024

A state judge ordered a dark money group that paid for political advertising in support of legislative candidates in New Mexico earlier this year to disclose the sources of its funding and its spending by September 9. Judge Joshua Allison ruled the New Mexico Project meets the definition of “political committee” and must comply with the state’s campaign finance law. The state Ethics Commission based its case partly on statements the group’s founder made on talk radio, social media, and in radio advertisements.

New York – Former Aide to N.Y. Governors Charged with Secretly Helping China

MSN – Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) | Published: 9/3/2024

Linda Sun, a former deputy chief of staff to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, was accused of trading on her connections to act as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese government. Federal prosecutors also indicted Sun’s husband, Chris Hu, for allegedly illegal conduct dating back to her time as an aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Sun was accused of using her influence as a top aide to both governors to shape state policy toward China and Taiwan. U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said the couple’s scheme made them millions of dollars.

New York – Federal Judge Rejects Donald Trump’s Request to Intervene in Wake of Hush Money Conviction

MSN – Michael Sisak (Associated Press) | Published: 9/3/2024

A federal judge rejected Donald Trump’s request to intervene in his New York hush money criminal case, spurning the former president’s attempt at an end-run around the state court where he was convicted and is set to be sentenced on September 18. U.S. District Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein’s ruling – just hours after Trump’s lawyers asked him to weigh the move – upends Trump’s plan to move the case to federal court so he could seek to have his conviction overturned in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling.

North Carolina – In North Carolina, the Math for a Supermajority May Come Down to One

DNyuz – David Chen (New York Times) | Published: 8/31/2024

This fall, as Democrats and Republicans vie for control of state Legislatures across the country, much of the attention has focused on states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Arizona, where one or two seats could tip the balance. But in a handful of states, the Legislature is dominated by one party, while the governor’s office is held by another. In those states, an effort is underway to either preserve an existing supermajority, which confers the ability to override a governor’s veto, or to break it. Nowhere has the battle been more magnified than in North Carolina.

Ohio – Federal Judge Blocks Ohio’s Ban on Foreign Political Donations

Ohio Capital Journal – Morgan Trau (WEWS) | Published: 9/3/2024

A federal judge blocked Ohio’s new law limiting who can participate in the political process just hours before it was set to go into effect. The controversial legislation would have prevented lawful permanent residents, known as green card holders, from making contributions or expenditures regarding ballot issues or candidates. It would also prevent campaigns from accepting donations from them.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma’s Election Laws Inhibit Voter Participation, Create More Extreme Candidates, Experts Say

Oklahoma Voice – Emma Murphy | Published: 8/30/2024

Oklahoma’s voting system is leading to low turnout rates, the election of more extreme candidates, and disenfranchisement of voters who are excluded from participating in primary elections, experts said. That is prompting conversations about whether reforms are needed to increase voter participation rates and how the state can ensure hundreds of thousands of independent voters have a voice at the ballot box at a time when most outcomes are determined months ahead of November’s general election.

Pennsylvania – A Court Just Told Pa. Not to Reject Mail Ballots Missing Handwritten Dates. The Case Isn’t Over Yet.

Spotlight PA – Carter Walker (Votebeat) | Published: 8/30/2024

Not counting a voter’s mail ballot because they failed to properly date the return envelope violates their rights under the state constitution, a Pennsylvania appellate court ruled. “The refusal to count undated or incorrectly dated but timely mail ballots submitted by otherwise eligible voters because of meaningless and inconsequential paperwork errors violates the fundamental right to vote recognized in the free and equal elections clause,” Judge Ellen Ceisler wrote for the majority, referring to a provision in the state constitution. Republicans said they would immediately appeal the ruling to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Tennessee – Tennessee Education Commissioner Remains Under the Microscope

Yahoo News – Sam Stockard (Tennesse Lookout) | Published: 9/5/2024

Tennessee lawmakers have been scrutinizing state Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds almost since she took the post in 2023 to push the governor’s private-school voucher plan, and some want to take an even closer look at her administration. Reynolds has been dogged by revelations that she did not meet state requirements to hold the education commissioner position. A complaint was filed about trips Reynolds took to two out-of-state education conferences paid for by her former employer, the pro-voucher group ExcelInEd, which hires a lobbyist to work on education issues in Tennessee.

Texas – Paxton’s Election Fraud Charges Upend Lives but Result in Few Convictions

MSN – Arelis Hernández and Molly Hennessy-Fiske (Washington Post) | Published: 9/2/2024

Leticia Sanchez was an activist in her majority-Latino community helping register people to vote before she was arrested in 2018. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused her and three other Hispanic women of forming an “organized voter fraud ring” that targeted elderly voters by applying for mail-in ballots they had not requested. Five years later, the case was dismissed by the state’s highest criminal court. The case fits a pattern that has emerged in Texas under Paxton: aggressive prosecutions for alleged election fraud crimes that upend lives but result in few cases that go to trial and end in a conviction.

Texas – Top Harris County Health Official Fired after Chronicle Investigation into $6 Million Contract

MSN – Mike Morris (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 8/30/2024

Harris County Public Health Executive Director Barbie Robinson was fired amid a scandal over her department’s hiring of an embattled California consulting company for a lucrative contract. Records showed Robinson arranged for DEMA Consulting & Management to run two county COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites two months after she was named executive director in 2021. Then DEMA won a bigger, more competitive public health contract. Several email exchanges during the county’s procurement process for the second contract suggested possible conflicts-of-interest.

Utah – ‘Deceptive’ and ‘Misleading’: Ballot language to limit voters’ initiative power thrashed by critics – including Republicans

Salt Lake Tribune – Robert Gehrke (Sal Lake Tribune) | Published: 9/4/2024

Groups opposing a constitutional amendment that will ensure the Utah Legislature can repeal or amend any future ballot initiative are outraged by the way the issue will be presented on voters’ ballots in November. The question put before voters is whether to prohibit “foreign influence” on ballot initiatives and “clarifying the voters and legislative bodies’ ability to amend laws.” Opponents contend the description of the amendment “clarifying” the power of voters minimizes what they say is a power grab by the Legislature that would strip voters of their constitutional right to run ballot initiatives.

Vermont – House Ethics Panel Provided ‘Restorative Justice’ Response to Legislator’s Bag-Soaking Scheme

VTDigger.org – Sarah Mearhoff | Published: 8/29/2024

After investigating accusations that a state representative repeatedly bullied a colleague throughout the 2024 legislative session by secretly pouring water into his tote bag, the Vermont House Ethics Panel initiated a “restorative justice process as a response.” Rep. Jim Carroll, the target of the bullying, and Rep. Mary Morrissey, who admitted to the acts, said they met with the panel throughout this summer to discuss the incidents. A statement said Morrissey “is committed to making amends, including activities that encourage the development and strengthening of collaborative and positive relationships within the legislative community.”

Washington – Group Behind State Initiatives Accused of Violating State Anti-Corruption Laws with Discount Gas, Burgers

Spokane Spokesman-Review – Emry Dinman | Published: 9/4/2024

Let’s Go Washington was accused of illegally trying to sway voters to support four initiatives the group backs with offers of discount gas and burgers. The complaint filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission alleges Let’s Go Washington’s offer of cheaper gas, and in one case food during promotional events for the four initiatives, ran afoul of the state’s anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws.

Campaign Finance

Ohio: “Federal Judge Blocks Ohio’s Ban on Foreign Political Donations” by Morgan Trau (WEWS) for Ohio Capital Journal

Elections

Florida: “Activists Charged with Pushing Russian Propaganda Go on Trial in Florida” by Patricia Mazzei (New York Times) for WLRN

Oklahoma: “Oklahoma’s Election Laws Inhibit Voter Participation, Create More Extreme Candidates, Experts Say” by Emma Murphy for Oklahoma Voice

Pennsylvania: “A Court Just Told Pa. Not to Reject Mail Ballots Missing Handwritten Dates. The Case Isn’t Over Yet.” by Carter Walker (Votebeat) for Spotlight PA

Texas: “Paxton’s Election Fraud Charges Upend Lives but Result in Few Convictions” by Arelis Hernández and Molly Hennessy-Fiske (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “Convicted Fraudsters Launch AI Lobbying Firm Using Fake Names” by Daniel Lippman (Politico) for Yahoo News

New York: “Former Aide to N.Y. Governors Charged with Secretly Helping China” by Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) for MSN

Procurement

California: “Mayor Breed Orders Increased Scrutiny of San Francisco Contract Work, Grantees” by Sydney Johnson for KQED

National/Federal

Feds Charge Crypto Lobbyist Linked to Former FTX Executive with Campaign Finance Crimes

Courthouse News Service – John Russell | Published: 8/22/2024

Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment accusing convicted former FTX executive Ryan Salame’s girlfriend of receiving illegal campaign contributions during her unsuccessful bid for a New York congressional seat in 2022. Authorities say cryptocurrency lobbyist Michelle Bond illegally financed her campaign with hundreds of thousands of dollars wired to her from Salame. She then lied to the House ethics committee about the origin of those campaign funds, they say. Salame pleaded guilty for his role in a conspiracy to make unlawful political contributions.

Free Booze, a Lake Cruise and Selfies Galore: How Democrats courted influencers at the D.N.C.

DNyuz – Ken Bensinger (New York Times) | Published: 8/23/2024

At the Democratic National Convention, “content creators” – better known as an influencers – got face time with Gwen Walz, the wife of Tim Walz, aboard a private boat; they were treated to tiki bar parties and catered rooftop luncheons; and many were offered one-on-one interviews with some of the Democratic Party’s biggest names. The treatment was part of a campaign to flood social media with positive messages about Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Democrats hoped that free stuff and access would reap posts on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, the primary sources of news for a critical, and growing, slice of voters.

Inside the Democratic Schmoozefest, Where Hotel Lobbies Are ‘Prime Territory’

DNyuz – Michael Shear and Theodore Schleifer (New York Times) | Published: 8/23/2024

Powerful relationships are born and nurtured at political conventions, far from K Street lobbying offices or boardrooms. “Hotel lobbies are prime territory,” said Steve Elmendorf, a veteran Democratic lobbyist who compared the schmoozing to a college reunion. “People are unobstructed. You see the governor or the senator walk through the lobby, you can go talk to them.”

How a Federal Court in New Orleans Is Driving the Conservative Agenda

DNyuz – Mattathias Schwartz (New York Times) | Published: 8/26/2024

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has turned its corner of the federal judiciary into a proving ground for some of the most aggressive conservative arguments in American law. In a few of the biggest Supreme Court decisions of the last few years – including Dobbs v. Jackson, which ended a 49-year right to abortion – it was the Fifth Circuit that first ruled on the case, teeing it up for Supreme Court review and a seismic moment in law and politics. In the Supreme Court’s upcoming term, the justices have agreed to hear five more cases from the Fifth Circuit.

Sarah Palin Is Granted New Libel Trial Against The New York Times

DNyuz – David Enrich (New York Times) | Published: 8/28/2024

A federal appeals court ordered a new trial in a long-running libel lawsuit that Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska and Republican vice-presidential nominee, brought against The New York Times. The court found Palin’s original trial against newspaper, which she lost in 2022, had been tainted by problematic rulings by the presiding judge. The suit accused The Times of defaming her in an editorial that wrongly suggested she incited a 2011 shooting at a political event in Arizona.

In Some States, Having a Guardian Means Not Having a Vote

DNyuz – Rachel Nostrant (New York Times) | Published: 8/29/2024

Seven states have laws that say anyone under a guardianship agreement cannot cast a ballot. Guardianships give a court-approved guardian, who might be a parent, a caretaker, or even a public defender, decision-making authority over a person. It may be limited to certain matters, like financial decisions, or it could extend to every facet of the person’s life. Many of the state laws are decades or even centuries old and presume that anyone under guardianship is mentally incompetent. The Justice Department said earlier this year that such blanket policies are illegal under federal civil rights laws.

Head of EPA Air Office Violated Ethics Rules, Agency Watchdog Says

MSN – Maxine Joselow (Washington Post) | Published: 8/28/2024

Joseph Goffman, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) air office, violated federal ethics rules by failing to disclose his financial interest in a company regulated by the agency. Goffman did not disclose he held more than $25,000 worth of stock in Sherwin-Williams, which makes paint and coatings, before helping to craft a rule that directly affected the company. The rule is intended to limit harmful air pollution from facilities across the country that manufacture coatings.

Exec at Trump Media Jumped the Line for U.S. Visa After Company Lobbied GOP Lawmaker

MSN – Robert Faturechi, Justin Elliott, and Alex Mierjeski (ProPubica) | Published: 8/29/2024

U.S. Rep. Rep. Don Bacon intervened to help Donald Trump’s social media company jump the line for a difficult-to-obtain foreign-worker visa to bring a company executive to the U.S. A former staffer said Bacon personally instructed her to help Trump Media, even though she thought it was inappropriate to mix politics with the office’s constituent services duties.

How a Trump Visit Sparked Turmoil at America’s Most Sacred Cemetery

MSN – Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dawsey, and Dan Lemothe (Washington Post) | Published: 8/28/2024

Donald Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery to mark the anniversary of a bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members during the evacuation from Afghanistan. Officials said they wanted to respect the wishes of family members who wanted Trump there but were wary of his record of politicizing the military. Federal law prohibits election-related activities at military cemeteries. Officials laid out ground rules they hoped would wall off politics from the final resting place of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. Instead, they got sucked into exactly the kind of crisis they were hoping to avoid.

Why Extreme Heat Is Making Campaign Rallies More Dangerous

MSN – Maxine Joselow (Washington Post) | Published: 8/29/2024

At least 78 attendees of Donald Trump’s rallies have been hospitalized for heat-related illnesses in the past three months. An attendee of a Kamala Harris’s rally in Wisconsin appeared to suffer from heat stroke, prompting a pause in the programming. The incidents underscore how climate change, which is making heat waves longer and more extreme, is complicating plans for outdoor events of all kinds. Such rallies have become a hallmark of campaigning, especially in swing states in the sweltering Sun Belt and the unseasonably warm Midwest.

New Trump Indictment Tries to Salvage Case after Supreme Court Ruling

MSN – Devlin Barrett and Perry Stein (Washington Post) | Published: 8/27/2024

Special counsel Jack Smith filed an updated indictment against Donald Trump in a bid to strengthen the historic election obstruction case, following a Supreme Court ruling that granted broad immunity to presidents for official acts and sharply criticized the prosecutor’s approach. Even a whittled-down indictment could end up the subject of protracted fights between the special counsel and Trump’s attorneys about what is allowed to be charged or used as evidence, battles that once again may have to be settled by the Supreme Court.

Jack Smith Appeals Judge Cannon Decision to Throw Out Trump Case

MSN – Perry Stein and Devlin Barrett (Washington Post) | Published: 8/26/2024

Special counsel Jack Smith urged an appeals court to reverse U.S. District Cort Judge Aileen Cannon’s dismissal of Donald Trump’s classified-documents case, arguing Attorney General Merrick Garland had clear authority to appoint Smith to lead the prosecution. Smith wrote Cannon ignored decades of precedent when she issued her decision to toss out the entire indictment, in which she said Smith was wrongfully appointed and wielded too much power for someone who was not in a Senate-confirmed position.

Trump Special Counsel Opts Against Mini-Trial Before Election

Yahoo News – Chris Strohm (Bloomberg News) | Published: 8/23/2024

Special counsel Jack Smith has decided against seeking a major hearing to present evidence in the election-interference case against Donald Trump before voters go to the polls, according to people familiar with the matter. The move means it is unlikely a so-called mini-trial, which would include evidence and testimony from possible blockbuster witnesses like former Vice President Mike Pence, would take place before the presidential election.

From the States and Municipalities

Canada – Horizon Ottawa to Face Legal Action Over Alleged Campaign Finance Violations

Yahoo News – Arthur White-Crummey (CBC) | Published: 8/29/2024

Ottawa’s election compliance audit committee decided to launch legal proceedings against a progressive advocacy group for alleged breaches of campaign finance law during the last municipal election. An audit found Horizon Ottawa possibly violated the Municipal Elections Act by failing to keep proper records, improperly collecting cash donations, and incurring expenses before it registered as a third-party advertiser.

Arizona – In Arizona Fake Electors Case, Judge Weighs New Protection for Defendants

MSN – Betsy Woodruff Swan (Politico) | Published: 8/27/2024

Allies of Donald Trump are using an unusual new Arizona law to urge a judge to throw out a criminal case charging them with fraudulently trying to overturn the state’s 2020 presidential election result. The law was designed to stop prosecutors from bringing flimsy cases out of political animus. The defendants now trying to harness it include former Trump legal adviser John Eastman and other Trump confidants, as well as Arizona Republicans who falsely claimed Trump won Arizona and held themselves out as the state’s legitimate electors in the Electoral College.

Arizona – Arizona May Require Proof of Citizenship on State Voter Forms for Now

MSN – Justin Jouvenal and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) | Published: 8/22/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for a provision of Arizona law that requires proof of citizenship to register to vote in some circumstances, the first time the high court has weighed in on a voting dispute in the run-up to the presidential election. The order means Arizona election officials must reject state registration forms if voters do not provide documentation of citizenship. The justices kept on hold provisions of the law that could have disqualified voters who register with separate federal forms from casting ballots in a presidential contest in person or by mail.

California – DWP Officials Attended a Fancy Conference. Their Tab Was Paid with Mislabeled Invoices

MSN – Dakota Smith (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 8/22/2024

Several Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) officials, including then-DWP board President Cynthia McClain-Hill, attended the International Utilities and Energy Conference last year. McClain-Hill opted for a $980 food, drink, and gifts package for the three days of the conference. Under the city’s ethics rules, McClain-Hill could not accept gifts of more than $100 annually from the conference host, Accenture, because the company has contracts with the DWP. Some DWP and Accenture staff found a way for the department to pick up the tab for the package by mislabeling an invoice for McClain-Hill.

California – A Pricey City Contract Was Slipping Away. Then a Call Was Made – and It May Be Linked to Oakland FBI Investigation

MSN – Eli Wolfe (Oaklandside) | Published: 8/22/2024

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao will likely soon cast a tie-breaking vote, deciding whether the city will extend a lucrative contract with security company ABC Services, which has provided guards who check in and search visitors before they enter City Hall and other municipal properties. ABC Security’s owner has longstanding business ties to Mario Juarez, a businessperson who is a key figure in the FBI’s ongoing probe of Oakland politicians and businesses. Records reveal Juarez and Julie Wedge, also named in the FBI’s probe, lobbied on behalf of ABC Security two years ago when the company was at risk of not being considered for a new contract.

California – FBI Raids Homes of Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do and His Daughter

MSN – Salvador Hernandez and Hannah Fry Los Angeles Times) | Published: 8/22/2024

Federal agents raided the homes of Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do and his daughter as well as several other properties in an investigation into the alleged improper use of taxpayer money. At least five locations, including several homes and a restaurant, were searched as part of allegations made against local nonprofit Viet America Society in a lawsuit brought by Orange County. The county alleges the nonprofit misused money it was awarded to feed the elderly and needy during the pandemic, instead spending the funds on “lavish purchases,” the lawsuit states.

California – San Bernardino County OKs $100,000 Cap for Political Party Committee Campaign Donations

Riverside Press-Enterprise – Michael Ricaforte | Published: 8/23/2024

San Bernardino County supervisors moved to significantly raise the limit on local campaign donations and, in what officials called an effort to promote transparency, created an oversight committee responsible for enforcing the new rules. The state’s limits act as the default for cities and counties that have not already enacted a contribution limit; however, cities and counties are permitted to set their own caps.

California – How California Became a New Center of Political Corruption

Yahoo News – Ralph Vartabedian (New York Times) | Published: 8/29/2024

Over the last 10 years, 576 public officials in California have been convicted on federal corruption charges, exceeding the number of cases in states better known for public corruption, including New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. A heavy concentration of power at City Halls, the receding presence of local news media, a population that often tunes out local politics, and a growing Democratic supermajority in state government have all helped insulate officeholders from damage, political analysts said.

Delaware – Delaware Election Officials Communicated with Lieutenant Governor’s Office Amid Finance Scandal

MSN – Randall Chase (Associated Press) | Published: 8/23/2024

State election officials in Delaware communicated directly with one or more aides in Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long’s office last year amid a scandal involving her campaign finance reports, according to emails. They show Elections Commissioner Anthony Albence, a fellow Democrat, wanted to keep Hall-Long’s office apprised of reporters’ questions about amendments to years of campaign finance reports in which Hall-Long failed to disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans.

District of Columbia – FBI Says Trayon White Took Bribes on Tape. Convicting Him May Still Be Hard.

MSN – Peter Hermann and Emily Davies (Washington Post) | Published: 8/21/2024

The affidavit that alleges District of Columbia Council member Trayon White Sr. accepted tens of thousands in bribes appears damning. White was caught on camera taking envelopes full of cash as he vowed to use his influence to steer contracts to the man handing the money over, the affidavit alleges. But the legal case will be more complicated than the affidavit suggests, according to some legal analysts. Because of recent Supreme Court decisions limiting what counts as public corruption, federal prosecutors will have to meet a high bar to convince jurors that White broke the law.

Georgia – Democrats Sue to Block Georgia Rules That They Warn Will Block Finalization of Election Results

MSN – Jeff Amy and Kate Brumback (Associated Press) | Published: 8/26/2024

Democrats sued to block two recent rules adopted by Georgia’s State Election Board that could be used by county officials who want to refuse to certify an election, potentially causing delays in finalizing the state’s results. The lawsuit argues the rules violate a state law that makes certification a mandatory duty. It asks the judge to find the rules are invalid because the State Election Board, now dominated by allies of Donald Trump, is exceeding its legal authority.

Georgia – Former Atlanta CFO Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Embezzling Money, Falsifying Tax Records

WSB – Jonathan O’Brien and Miles Montgomery | Published: 8/27/2024

Former Atlanta Chief Financial Officer Jim Beard was sentenced to three years in prison for embezzling money and falsifying tax records. Beard served as chief financial officer during former Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed’s administration. He is one of the highest-ranking officials caught up in the City Hall corruption probe. According to the Department of Justice, in total, Beard stole tens of thousands of dollars from the city. He ordered two custom-built machine guns using a $2,641.90 check from the city, telling the manufacturer the machine guns were for the use of the Atlanta Police Department even though Beard took the guns to his own home.

Illinois – Seeking History, an Archivist Gathers What Protesters at the DNC Left Behind

MSN – Reis Thebault (Washington Post) | Published: 8/23/2024

Julie Wroblewski is the director of collections for the Chicago History Museum. In a city with a more explosive political convention history than anywhere else, she has been ensuring a record of what unfolds inside and outside the United Center at the 2024 Democratic convention is documented for posterity. Wroblewski and others have been considering what could be important to museum visitors in the decades to come. As society’s shared history becomes increasingly digital, living mostly on unstable and ephemeral formats, old-fashioned preservation work is even more important, Wroblewski said.

Illinois – Illinois Supreme Court Sides with GOP, Upholds Unconstitutionality of Ban on Slating Candidates

Yahoo News – Jeremy Gorner (Chicago Tribune) | Published: 8/27/2024

The Illinois Supreme Court upheld a judge’s ruling that found unconstitutional a law preventing the slating of legislative candidates for the November election in races where political parties did not field contenders. Before Democrats moved to change the law, local Democratic and Republican committees regularly filled vacancies for legislative spots on the general election ballot in races where no candidates from their party had run in the primary.

Maryland – Ex Pr. George’s Council Member Pleads Guilty to Theft Scheme, Perjury

MSN – Jasmine Hilton and Lateshia Beacham (Washington Post) | Published: 8/26/2024

Former Prince George’s County Council member Jamel Franklin pleaded guilty to dipping into his campaign coffers to make at least $130,000 in payments on rent, loans, credit cards, and cosmetic procedures for himself and a close friend and then falsifying campaign finance reports. He faces up to one year of incarceration under a plea agreement. As part of the agreement, Franklin must pay restitution of $133,168.67 to his campaign committee, which will be given to a charity of his choice.

Michigan – Michigan Sheriff Under Investigation for Hosting Trump Campaign Stop

MLive – Michael Kransz | Published: 8/23/2024

Livingston County Sheriff Mike Murphy is under investigation by the Michigan Bureau of Elections after he used his department to host Donald Trump for a campaign event. Trump spoke for about an hour inside an equipment and vehicle storage warehouse managed by the Sheriff’s Department. During the remarks, he railed against his Vice President Kamala Harris’ record on crime and immigration.

Nebraska – Nebraska Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Felon Voting Law

Yahoo News – Aaron Sanderford (Nebraska Examiner) | Published: 8/28/2024

Nebraska Supreme Court justices peppered lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union and the state attorney general’s office with questions about whether the Legislature has the constitutional authority to restore the voting rights of people who committed felonies. Some justices asked whether the court should consider the broader constitutional question on voting rights and pardons or decide only whether Secretary of State Bob Evnen had the authority to avoid implementing a law the Legislature passed this spring.

Nevada – Ex-Politician Found Guilty of Murder in Vegas Reporter’s Stabbing Death

MSN – Eric Levenson (CNN) | Published: 8/28/2024

The former Nevada politician who was accused of fatally stabbing a Las Vegas investigative reporter after a series of critical stories was found guilty of murder in a trial that highlighted concerns around press safety. Robert Telles, a former Clark County public administrator, was convicted in the September 2022 death of Jeff Garman, a longtime Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter. Prosecutors alleged Telles killed German because he was angry about the reporter’s articles exposing turmoil in his little-known political office and was concerned about another upcoming article.

New Mexico – Political Group The New Mexico Project Still Fighting Disclosure

Yahoo News – Colleen Heild (Albuquerque Journal) | Published: 8/25/2024

Former gubernatorial candidate Jeff Apodaca has claimed his fledgling nonprofit group, The New Mexico Project, has raised nearly $1 million. Exactly what has been done with the funds, and where they came from, became no clearer after a two-hour court hearing in which attorneys for the state Ethics Commission argued that under state law, The New Mexico Project is really a campaign committee and should divulge its independent expenditures and sources of funding.

North Carolina – She Was Accused of a Crime for Taking a Ballot Selfie. Now She’s Suing.

MSN – Kyle Melnick (Washington Post) | Published: 8/27/2024

After Susan Hogarth visited her local school to vote in North Carolina’s March primary election, she held the ballot under her chin and took a photo of herself with her phone. She posted the selfie from the voting booth on X. The next week, Hogarth received a letter from the North Carolina State Board of Elections that accused her of committing a misdemeanor, according to a new lawsuit. North Carolina is one of several states that prohibit taking photos or videos of filled-in ballots.

North Dakota – Ethics Commission Investigating Complaint Against State-Funded Filmmaker

Yahoo News – Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) | Published: 8/21/2024

The North Dakota Ethics Commission is investigating whether a Bismarck filmmaker broke lobbying rules before securing grant money from the state Department of Commerce. A complaint alleges Daniel Bielinski, founder of Canticle Productions, acted as an unregistered lobbyist when he hosted Sen. Brad Bekkedahl at a private dinner and screening of his film “End of the Rope.” The complaint said roughly two weeks after the film screening, Bekkedahl alluded on the Senate floor that a $600,000 grant included in the Commerce Department’s budget bill was intended to go to Canticle Productions.

Ohio – Ohio Lawsuit Seeks Rewrite of Redistricting Ballot Language Dubbed ‘Biased, Inaccurate, Deceptive’

MSN – Julie Carr Smyth (Associated Press) | Published: 8/22/2024

The Ohio Supreme Court should step in on behalf of voters and order a rewrite of ballot language for a redistricting measure that “may be the most biased, inaccurate, deceptive, and unconstitutional” the state has ever seen, argues a lawsuit. The proposed amendment calls for replacing the state’s troubled existing map-making system with a 15-person citizen-led commission of Republicans, Democrats, and independents. Members would be selected by retired judges.

Oklahoma – As Oklahoma Considers Loosening Campaign Finance Rules, Outside Groups Run Wild

MSN – Clifton Adcock (The Frontier) | Published: 8/15/2024

Independent expenditure groups continue to shower Oklahoma politicians with millions of dollars as the state eyes ways to rein in the secretive groups’ spending. The financial support from these shadowy groups added up to more than the candidate spent through their own campaigns during the June 18 primary, state Ethics Commission records show.

Oregon – Records Reveal Major Oversights in Democratic Party of Oregon’s Misreporting of $500,000 Contribution

MSN – Carlos Fuentes (Portland Oregonian) | Published: 8/27/2024

Key leaders of the Oregon Democratic Party overlooked indications the actual source of a $500,000 donation was a cryptocurrency executive, not a financial transaction firm the organization named as a donor. The state Democratic Party reported the contributor of the largest ever donation to the party was Prime Trust. Following media inquiries, the group’s executive director admitted weeks later the contribution had come from Nishad Singh, then director of engineering at now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, and employees had not checked carefully enough into the source of the contribution.

Oregon – Portland Elections Office Investigating Rene Gonzalez for Using Taxpayer Funds on Wikipedia Edits

Portland Mercury – Courtney Vaughn | Published: 8/19/2024

Portland’s Elections Office is investigating potential campaign finance violations by city Commissioner Rene Gonzalez after receiving three complaints about the commissioner’s expenditure of $6,400 in city funds to edit his Wikipedia page. The expense raises questions about whether the sitting commissioner and mayoral candidate used city money for his own personal and political benefit during the thick of campaign season.

Tennessee – Judges Dismiss Suit Alleging Tennessee’s Political Maps Discriminate Against Communities of Color

MSN – Kimberly Kruesi (Associated Press) | Published: 8/22/2024

A federal judicial panel dismissed a lawsuit alleging Tennessee’s U.S. House maps and those for the state Senate amount to unconstitutional racial gerrymandering. The three judges on the panel argued there was another clear motivation behind the state’s Republican legislative supermajority by pointing to “naked partisanship” as the likely “straightforward explanation.”

Texas – Latino Civil Rights Group Demands Inquiry into Texas Voter Fraud Raids

DNyuz – Edgar Sandoval (New York Times) | Published: 8/25/2024

A civil rights group is asking the Department of Justice to open an investigation into a series of raids conducted on Latino voting activists and political operatives as part of a sprawling voter fraud inquiry by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The League of United Latin American Citizens said many of those targeted were Democratic leaders and election volunteers, and some were older residents. Gabriel Rosales, director of the group’s Texas chapter, said officers took cellphones, computers, and documents. He said the raids were an effort to suppress Latino voters.

Campaign Finance

Delaware: “Delaware Election Officials Communicated with Lieutenant Governor’s Office Amid Finance Scandal” by Randall Chase (Associated Press) for MSN

National: “Feds Charge Crypto Lobbyist Linked to Former FTX Executive with Campaign Finance Crimes” by John Russell for Courthouse News Service

Elections

Arizona: “Arizona May Require Proof of Citizenship on State Voter Forms for Now” by Justin Jouvenal and Ann Marimow (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “DWP Officials Attended a Fancy Conference. Their Tab Was Paid with Mislabeled Invoices” by Dakota Smith (Los Angeles Times) for MSN

Washington DC: “FBI Says Trayon White Took Bribes on Tape. Convicting Him May Still Be Hard.” by Peter Hermann and Emily Davies (Washington Post) for MSN

Ohio: “FirstEnergy Exec Was Fired Amid Bribery Probe After His Daughter Pitched a $44k/Month Contract, Records Show” by Jake Zuckerman and Adam Ferrise (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “Inside the Democratic Schmoozefest, Where Hotel Lobbies Are ‘Prime Territory'” by Michael Shear and Theodore Schleifer (New York Times) for DNyuz

North Dakota: “Ethics Commission Investigating Complaint Against State-Funded Filmmaker” by Mary Steurer (North Dakota Monitor) for Yahoo News

Elections

National: “FBI Concludes Iran Tried to Hack Campaigns of Trump, Biden-Harris” by Perry Stein (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Women Running for Office Are Talking About Their Reproductive History, Once Seen as a Liability” by Dylan Wells and Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

Alaska: “Alaska Legislative Ethics Committee to Consider Reforms After Identity of a Complainant Was Exposed Online” by Iris Samuels for Anchorage Daily News

National: “He Regulated Medical Devices. His Wife Represented Their Makers.” by Christina Jewett (New York Times) for DNyuz

Kentucky: “‘Deeply Uncomfortable & Increasingly Unsafe:’ Women allege harassment by KY lawmaker” by Austin Horn and Alex Acquisto (Lexington Herald-Leader) for Yahoo News

Rhode Island: “RI Prisons Director Agrees to Pay Penalty After Failing to Disclose Out-of-State Travel” by Eli Sherman (WPRI) for MSN

Lobbying

Florida: “Sarasota City Commission Votes Down Ordinance for Formal Lobbying Rules” by Christian Casale (Sarasota Herald-Tribune) for Yahoo News

Procurement

Georgia: “State Supreme Court Rules Open Records Act Applies to Private Contractors Working for Governments” by Jill Nolin for Georgia Recorder

Campaign Finance

Arizona: “Kari Lake Promising Donors Extravagant Matches for Campaign Contributions. Does It Happen?” by Laura Gersony (Arizona Republic) for MSN

Elections

Georgia: “This Georgia Republican Defied Trump. Now He’s Fighting a Defamation Suit.” by Nick Corasaniti (New York Times) for DNyuz

Ethics

Washington DC: “D.C. Council Member Trayon White Took Tens of Thousands in Bribes, U.S. Says” by Perry Stein, Peter Hermann, Emily Davies, Spencer Hsu, Salvador Rizzo, Keith Alexander, and Michael Brice-Saddler (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “House GOP Accuses Biden of Impeachable Conduct with No Direct Evidence” by Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Former US Rep George Santos Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Identity Theft in His Federal Case” by Philip Marcello (Associated Press) for MSN

New Jersey: “Feds Investigate Property Flip Involving Two New Jersey State Senators” by Matt Friedman (Politico) for Yahoo News

Oregon: “Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez Spent Thousands in City Funds to Polish Wikipedia Page” by Shane Dixon Kavanaugh (Portland Oregonian) for MSN

Lobbying

Florida: “A Lobbyist Paid for City’s $594 Supper. Then Came the Warning about Broward’s Gift Prohibitions.” by Lisa Huriash (South Florida Sun-Sentinel) for NewsBreak

Campaign Finance

National: “Sen. Ted Cruz’s Campaign Says It Will Return Tens of Thousands in Illegal Donations” by Sanford Nowlin for San Antonio Current

New York: “Eric Adams and His Campaign Receive Subpoenas in Federal Investigation” by William Rashbaum and Dana Rubinstein (New York Times) for DNyuz

Elections

National: “Fake Accounts on Meta Pushed Conservatives to Run for Office as Independents” by Naomi Nix (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Local News Is Dying, but Not in San Francisco” by Eli Tan (New York Times) for DNyuz

New Jersey: “After Ex-N.J. Mayor’s Indictment, City Revising Rules That Could Help Pay for Her Defense” by Matthew Enuco (New Jersey Advance Media) for MSN

Texas: “Ken Paxton Sues to Shut Down Houston Immigration Nonprofit for Posts Criticizing Trump, Abbott” by Benjamin Wermund (Houston Chronicle) for MSN

Lobbying

California: “Do Outgoing Legislators ‘Shop’ for Lobbying Jobs in Final Weeks of the Session?” by Ryan Sabalow (CalMatters) for MSN

Redistricting

Ohio: “Ohio Ballot Board OKs Language for Redistricting Issue; Backers Say It Will Deceive Voters” by Jessie Balmert (Cincinnati Enquirer) for Yahoo News

National/Federal

Hunter Biden Sought State Department Help for Ukrainian Company

DNyuz – Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) | Published: 8/13/2024

Hunter Biden sought assistance from the U.S. government for a potentially lucrative energy project in Italy while his father was vice president, according to records and interviews. The records, which the Biden administration had withheld for years, indicate Hunter Biden wrote at least one letter to the U.S. ambassador to Italy in 2016 seeking assistance for the Ukrainian gas company Burisma, where he was a board member. Embassy officials appear to have been uneasy with the request from the son of the sitting vice president on behalf of a foreign company.

Trump Gambles on Outside Groups to Finance Voter Outreach Efforts

DNyuz – Theodore Schleifer (New York Times) | Published: 8/14/2024

The Republican campaign for president is quietly being remade by new federal guidelines that empower big-money groups and threaten to undermine party control well beyond the 2024 election. Donald Trump’s team has enlisted some of these groups to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to knock on hundreds of thousands of doors across the country, saving the campaign significant money in the process. This transformation is a consequence of a decision by the FEC earlier this year that allows campaigns to coordinate their canvassing efforts with outside groups like super PACs.

Arizona and Missouri Greenlight Abortion Rights Amendments

MSN – Sandhya Raman (Roll Call) | Published: 8/13/2024

Voters in at least eight states will vote on ballot measures related to abortion access in November after officials in Arizona and Missouri certified proposed amendments in the states. The measures are part of a strategy from abortion rights advocates who see direct voting as a way to elevate the issue and circumvent legislative gridlock on abortion. All seven state ballot measures considered following the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision have favored the side of abortion rights.

How Elon Musk Is Using His Wealth, Reach to Support Trump’s Campaign

MSN – Julia Shapiro and Taylor Giorno (The Hill) | Published: 8/15/2024

Elon Musk is tapping into his wealth and the power of his social platform X to help sway the election toward Donald Trump, spurring controversy along the way. After years of drifting toward the political right, the billionaire owner of Tesla and SpaceX is throwing his fortune behind a pro-Trump super PAC and has inundated X, which he purchased in 2022, with content criticizing Democrats and Vice President Harris. “The big difference [between Musk and other wealthy donors] is that he is himself a sort of Trump-esque figure,” said Sarah Bryner, director of research and strategy at OpenSecrets.

Man Who Violently Fought Cops Gets 2nd-Longest Jan. 6 Sentence: 20 years

MSN – Tom Jackman (Washington Post) | Published: 8/9/2024

David Dempsey came to the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, well-prepared to commit violence. He wore a bulletproof tactical vest, a black helmet, and a gaiter to obscure most of his face. Dempsey repeatedly attacked police for more than an hour, throwing poles and deploying bear spray at the line of officers protecting the Capitol. He used a crutch to smash an officer’s head, giving him a concussion. A judge recently sentenced Dempsey to 20 years in prison, the second-longest sentence of the approximately 950 defendants sentenced so far.

Experts Warn of Election Disruptions After Trump Says Campaign Was Hacked

MSN – Abbie Cheeseman and Joseph Menn (Washington Post) | Published: 8/11/2024

Analysts and intelligence experts warned that wider efforts may be underway by foreign powers to disrupt the U.S. presidential election, after the Trump campaign said it believed its email systems had been breached by hackers working for Iran. So far, two Democratic House members who have served on intelligence and security committees have called for briefings and for declassification of information related to the possible foreign interference in the election.

Empty Chairs at Candidate Debates a Sign of These Very Partisan Times

MSN – Karin Brulliard (Washington Post) | Published: 8/12/2024

Seeing candidates standing side-by-side is getting rarer as more contenders opt out of debates or forums with their opponents. Strategists say the shift reflects not just an erosion of a ritual long central to American elections and democracy, but also a divided political landscape where sparring takes place online and candidates prioritize attention for supporters instead of the broader community.

Inside Project 2025’s Secret Training Videos

MSN – Andy Kroll (ProPublica) and Nick Surgery (Documented) | Published: 8/10/2024

Project 2025, the policy agenda for a right-wing presidential administration, has lost its director and faced criticism from both Democratics and Donald Trump. But Project 2025’s plan to train an army of political appointees who could battle against the so-called deep state government bureaucracy on behalf of a future Trump administration remains on track. One centerpiece of that program is dozens of videos created for Project 2025’s Presidential Administration Academy. Some of the content is routine advice any incoming political appointee might be told. Other segments offer guidance on radically changing how the federal government works and what it does.

Pro-Israel PAC Notches Striking Electoral Victories with Bush, Bowman Defeats

MSN – Patrick Svitek (Washington Post) | Published: 8/8/2024

After losing reelection in her Democratic primary, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush did not hesitate to direct supporters to the alleged culprit. “AIPAC, I’m coming to tear your kingdom down,” a defiant Bush said, referencing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, whose super PAC spent at least $8.6 million to defeat Bush, helping make the race the second-most expensive House primary of the year. Her loss came weeks after the super PAC, United Democracy Project, helped unseat Rep. Jamaal Bowman.

Want to Speed Up a Road or Transit Project? Just Host a Political Convention

MSN – Jeff McMurray (Associated Press) | Published: 8/12/2014

Chicago officials planned to reopen an elevated train station near the United Center more than four years ago, but numerous delays left some wondering if it ever would happen. Then the Democratic National Committee picked the city to host its convention. Construction crews scrambled to finish work before delegates arrived, with most of the high-profile events set for less than a half mile away. Cities might factor in the ability to host major events when prioritizing infrastructure upgrades, but rarely do they embark on big-ticket projects just to land a political convention or woo its delegates. Speeding up construction is another matter.

Biggest Lobbying Interests Buck Trend with Higher 2024 Spending

MSN – Caitlin Reilly (Roll Call) | Published: 8/13/2024

Trade groups and companies responsible for this year’s largest lobbying expenditures so far upped the ante in the first half of 2024 compared to a year earlier, defying expectations for an election year slump. K Street’s top 10 clients shelled out $162.3 million through June, up 13 percent from the first half of 2023. Part of that was due to heavy legislative activity during the first quarter, which saw enactment of two big spending packages and House passage of a $79 billion tax bill that got hung up in the Senate.

Feds Ask Ted Cruz’s Campaign to Explain Dozens of Illegal Donations It Received

San Antonio Current – Sanford Nowlin | Published: 8/8/2024

The FEC wants U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz to explain or return tens of thousands of dollars in recent campaign contributions that appear to violate legal limits. Although individuals are prohibited under federal law from giving more than $3,300 to a candidate’s election committee, a letter from the FEC raises concerns that 45 Cruz campaign donors blew past that limit during the second quarter, some by thousands of dollars. The inquiry comes as Cruz faces scrutiny over a deal to distribute his podcast which has so far pumped $786,000 in corporate dollars into a super PAC focused on his reelection.

How a Small Group of Nuns in Rural Kansas Vex Big Companies with Their Investment Activism

Yahoo Finance – Tiffany Stanley (Associated Press) | Published: 8/15/2024

Among corporate America’s most persistent shareholder activists are 80 nuns in a monastery outside Kansas City. The Benedictine sisters of Mount St. Scholastica have taken on the likes of Google, Target, and Citigroup, calling on major companies to do everything from Artificial Intelligence oversight to measuring pesticides to respecting the rights of Indigenous people.

Elections Officials Battle a Deluge of Disinformation

Yahoo News – Tiffany Hsu (New York Times) | Published: 8/12/2024

Increasingly, elections officials must multitask as defenders against disinformation and its consequences. They are debunking claims that masses of dead people are contaminating the voting pool or that mail-in balloting is susceptible to fraud. In the past year, they have been flooded with demands for details about their employees and subjected to threats of bombings and break-ins. The stress has pushed many public servants to resign or retire. The remaining officials are once again marshaling their limited resources to try to reach people unmoved by earlier efforts to debunk and limit persistent rumors.

From the States and Municipalities

Alabama – Alabama Legislator Wants to Limit Power of Political Parties Regarding Campaign Contributions

Alabama Reflector – Ralph Chapoco | Published: 8/13/2024

Alabama Rep. Phillip Pettus prefiled a bill for the coming legislative session that would prohibit political parties from disqualifying candidates for elected office based solely on the campaign contributions they receive from specific people or organizations. The legislation stems from a rule that the Alabama Republican Party adopted in August 2023 that prohibits GOP candidates for superintendent or school board from accepting campaign contributions from the Alabama Education Association, an organization that represents teachers in the state.

Alabama – House Representative Plans to Refile Bill Overhauling Alabama’s Ethics Code

Alabama Reflector – Alander Rocha | Published: 8/13/2024

Rep. Matt Simpson plans to revive a proposal to overhaul the state’s ethics laws. Simpson said he will reintroduce the legislation in the 2025 session, after a bill he filed last year failed to pass. The bill faced significant opposition, particularly from the Alabama Ethics Commission and the attorney general’s office.

Alaska – How Alaska Wound Up with No Limits on Campaign Donations – and How Some Hope to Restore Them

Alaska Public Media – Eric Stone | Published: 8/8/2024

Alaska used to have some of the strictest campaign spending laws in the country. Since 2021, thanks to a court decision, Alaska has been one of only about a dozen states with no limits on contributions from individuals. A ballot initiative campaign is underway to set limits of $2,000 per candidate per election cycle, with higher limits for group donations and contributions to a gubernatorial ticket.

California – Nonprofit Linked to OC Supervisor’s Daughter Says It Won’t Refund $2.2M in Taxpayer Funds Demanded by County

MSN – Nick Gerda (LAist) | Published: 8/8/2024

A nonprofit group says it is refusing a demand by Orange County officials to refund $2.2 million that Supervisor Andrew Do directed to the organization outside of the public’s view. Do’s daughter, Rhiannon Do, led the group, Viet America Society (VAS), off and on over the time that money was awarded. County officials determined VAS failed to show it did the work it was paid to do. They demanded a full refund by August 26 for two contracts meant to feed needy residents during the coronavirus pandemic.

California – State Sting Operation Busts 11 Contractors Making Bids Without a License in Sacramento County

MSN – Vincent Medina (Sacramento Bee) | Published: 8/5/2024

An undercover sting operation in Elk Grove found 11 unlicensed contractors placing bids, according to the Contractors State License Board.  The contractors were caught making bids between $2,100 and $17,500, exceeding the $500 threshold that requires a contractor’s license in California.

Colorado – Former Colorado Official Found Guilty for Role in Election Equipment Tampering

MSN – Yvonne Winget Sanchez and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 8/12/2024

A Colorado jury found a former county election official guilty of seven charges connected to allowing a purported computer expert to copy election data from her office as Donald Trump and his allies spread false claims that the 2020 election was stolen and searched for evidence to prove it. Tina Peters, the former Mesa County clerk, was found guilty on seven of 10 charges. Peters is one of the few officials to face consequences for using their positions in local elections offices to try to prove false claims that took root after Trump’s defeat.

Delaware – Emails Show Delaware Lieutenant Governor’s Staff Engaged in Campaign Matters During Business Hours

MSN – Randall Chase (Associated Press) | Published: 8/14/2024

Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long’s office staff was in regular communication last year with her husband and other people involved in her campaign for Delaware governor and worked during office hours to help facilitate the use of campaign funds, according to emails. The emails show Hall-Long enlisted her office staff, working with her husband, to help with matters bearing little if any relevance to her role as lieutenant governor. Under Delaware law, state employees are prohibited from engaging in any political activity during work hours. As an elected official, Hall-Long is exempt from that provision, but her office staff is not.

Florida – A Court Will Weigh ‘Legislative Privilege’ and Whether Florida Legislators Should Testify in a Redistricting Case

WMNF – Jim Saunders (News Service of Florida) | Published: 8/13/2024

In a potentially far-reaching case, an appeals court said it will hear arguments in a dispute about whether Florida lawmakers should be shielded from testifying in lawsuits. The House and Senate contend a concept known as “legislative privilege” shields lawmakers from having to testify in civil lawsuits. Ultimately, the House and Senate want to take the issue to the Florida Supreme Court and undo a 2013 Supreme Court ruling that allowed legislative testimony in certain circumstances.

Indiana – Seventh Circuit Orders Injunction on Indiana Campaign Finance Rule

Courthouse News Service – Dave Byrnes | Published: 8/8/2024

An appellate court panel overturned an Indiana law that limits the amount of money corporations can give to super PACs. The panel unanimously ruled to vacate an order from the lower court which barred media company Sarkes Tarzian from contributing $10,000 to the Indiana Right to Life Victory Fund, an anti-abortion PAC. The judges considered the relevant campaign finance rules inconsistent with the First Amendment and remanded the case to the lower court with instructions to enjoin it.

Kansas – Ex-Police Chief Who Led Raid on Kansas Newspaper Faces Felony Charge

MSN – Ben Brasch, Sofia Andrade, and Anumita Kaur (Washington Post) | Published: 8/13/2024

A former Kansas police chief was charged with a felony for allegedly tampering with an investigation into his raid of a small-town newspaper’s office last year. Gideon Cody faces a count of interference with a judicial process. Barry Wilkerson, a special prosecutor assigned to the case, alleged the ex-chief “induced a witness to withhold information,” according to a court filing. The search sparked outrage from press freedom advocates and other news organizations who said the raid threatened to suppress free speech.

Kentucky – Louisville Official Says She Was in the Process of Filing Ethics Complaints When Fired

MSN – Eleanor McCrary (Louisville Courier Journal) | Published: 8/9/2024

A senior Louisville official said she was in the process of filing two ethics complaints against members of Mayor Craig Greenberg’s administration when she was fired. Keisha Dorsey, who was the mayor’s deputy chief of staff, believes the administration may have engaged in a pattern of discriminatory behavior “based on race, gender, and age …,” according to one of the complaints.

Louisiana – Louisiana Lawmaker Who Authored Bill to Reduce Politicians’ Ethics Fines Has Racked Up Her Own

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 8/15/2024

The lawmaker who pushed through a new state law to reduce fines for candidates who do not file campaign finance reports on time has failed to submit her own paperwork properly several times over the 15 years she has been in public office. State Rep. Denise Marcelle, a Democrat, missed deadlines to turn in campaign finance reports and personal financial disclosure forms at least eight times. On six other occasions, staff for the Board of Ethics questioned whether the personal financial disclosure forms Marcelle had submitted were filled out properly.

Massachusetts – Cesar Ruiz Dissolves Latino Political Action Committee Due to Campaign Finance Violations

MSN – Jim Kinney (MassLive) | Published: 8/9/2024

Businessperson Cesar Ruiz dissolved his PAC and agreed to donate $190,000 to charity as punishment for breaking state campaign finance laws. The Latinos Leaders Now Independent Expenditure Committee and supported Latino in candidates statewide. But the committee made direct contributions last year totaling $5,500 to 13 candidates for municipal offices. Under state law, PACs that are set up like Ruiz’s cannot coordinate with campaigns and cannot contribute to them.

Michigan – Lawyer Contended Curtailing Lawmakers’ Ticket Perks Could Have ‘Destabilizing Impact’

Detroit News – Craig Mauger | Published: 8/12/2024

The Michigan Secretary of State’s office finalized guidance that concluded a strategy used by lobbyists to put sports and concert tickets in the hands of legislators was illegal. Lobbyists had been circumventing the state’s ban on gifts to public officeholders, worth more than $76, by providing tickets to lawmakers and then privately sending them letters asking for the value of the tickets over $76 to be paid back to lobbying firms.

Michigan – Michigan Lawyer Who Claimed Election Fraud Arrested after Dominion Hearing

MSN – Rachel Weiner and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 8/13/2024

An attorney involved in efforts to upend the results of the 2020 election was arrested and ordered to turn herself in to authorities in Michigan as civil and criminal cases involving claims of voter fraud collided. Stefanie Lambert’s arrest came after officials had issued a bench warrant for failing to appear for a hearing in her criminal case in Michigan, where she is charged with illegally breaching voting machines, and after she came under scrutiny for the release of documents as the attorney for an ally of Donald Trump in a federal defamation case.

Mississippi – MS Sec. of State Wants to Work with AG on Campaign Finance Violations, AG Gives Nonresponse

MSN – Grant McLaughlin (Jackson Clarion Ledger) | Published: 8/11/2024

When Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson told a crowd of people at Neshoba County Fair it might be a good idea for an assistant attorney general to work in his office on campaign finance and elections fraud, it was not just a suggestion. It was a call for something to be done about the more than 20 related violations he has sent to Attorney General Lynn Fitch, whose office has not enforced campaign finance fines the secretary of state has issued and left dozens of election fraud cases unprosecuted, Watson said.

Nevada – Jury Hears Opening Arguments in Trial Against Nevada Official Accused of Killing Journalist

Yahoo News – Julia Reinstein (ABC News) | Published: 8/14/2024

Opening statements were made in the murder trial against Robert Telles, the former Clark County public administrator accused of killing journalist Jeff German in September 2022. Telles has been accused of stabbing the Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter to death outside his home after an investigation into corruption in his office destroyed his political career and marriage. German’s story detailed the alleged hostile work environment in Telles’ office.

New Jersey – New Jersey Governor to Name Former Aide the Caretaker for Bob Menendez’s Senate Seat

MSN – Matt Friedman and Daniel Han (Politico) | Published: 8/14/2024

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy plans to name his former chief of staff, who was a longtime Senate aide, as the state’s temporary replacement to the seat of disgraced U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez. Murphy will appoint George Helmy, a former staffer for Sen. Cory Booker who is now a health care executive in one of the biggest hospital systems in New Jersey, to the seat following Menendez’s resignation that takes effect August 20.

New York – Judge Denies Trump’s Recusal Bid, Rebuking Him for Claiming Harris Ties

DNyuz – Kate Christobek and Ben Protess (New York Times) | Published: 8/14/2024

The judge who oversaw Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial declined for a third time to step aside from the case, rebuking the former president’s lawyers for claiming the judge had a distant yet problematic connection to Vice President Kamala Harris. Justice Juan Merchan’s decision enables him to soon decide two crucial matters that will shape Trump’s legal fate.

New York – Trash Hauler Won Coveted Garbage Pickup Rights After Donating to Mayor Adams’ Campaign

Gothamist – Liam Quigley | Published: 8/13/2024

New York City’s campaign watchdog is scrutinizing a series of donations to Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign by owners and employees of a waste hauling company that later won a set of licenses from the sanitation department. Records show five employees of Royal Waste Services gave a combined $10,800 to then-candidate Adams on the same day just two weeks before Adams won the Democratic primary. The donations from the company’s employees were flagged in a draft audit of Adams’ 2021 election fund by the Campaign Finance Board.

North Carolina – Group That Took NC Legislators on Bourbon Tour Violates Ethics Rules, Complaint Says

MSN – Dan Kane and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi (Raleigh News and Observer) | Published: 8/9/2024

Greater Carolina confirmed it hosted North Carolina legislators on a distillery tour in Kentucky where participants were accused of being drunk and disorderly. A complaint says the group is a “lobbying front,” providing gambling-industry officials and their lobbyists access to state lawmakers for what it calls “development events,” and using its status as a 501(c)(4) organization to avoid disclosure. The complaint says Greater Carolina violated a ban on gifts to public officials, and it is not disclosing its relationships with lobbyists involved in its events.

Ohio – FirstEnergy Makes $20 Million Deal with AG Dave Yost’s Office to Avoid HB6 Prosecution, Drop Company from Civil Lawsuits

MSN – Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 8/12/2024

FirstEnergy will avoid state criminal prosecution over its starring role in the House Bill 6 bribery scandal in exchange for paying $20 million, under a deal with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office. The agreement, which follows a similar $230 million fine paid in 2021 avoid federal charges, means FirstEnergy will pay $250 million to elude criminal prosecution (plus another $100 million in expected regulatory penalties) for paying tens of millions in bribes to top state officials to secure lucrative policy priorities.

Ohio – Ohio Economic Developer JobsOhio Loans $2 Million to Company Headed by Insider

Ohio Capital Journal – Marty Schladen | Published: 8/12/2024

When JobsOhio was formed in 2011, officials placed tens of millions of from the state liquor franchise in the hands of a newly formed “private” corporation. Even though the corporation was formed by the state, its assets were placed beyond the transparency required of the public money it previously had been. It was done in the name of economic development. But critics feared it would open the door to insider dealing and possible corruption. Now, JobsOhio is granting more than $2 million in economic incentives to a company run by a man who also heads up a regional entity created by JobsOhio.

Oklahoma – Corporation Commissioners Have Accepted Thousands in Donations, Raising Ethical Questions

MSN – Kennedy Thomason (The Oklahoman) | Published: 8/9/2024

An analysis of campaign finance records filed from January 2018 to July 2024 show the state’s three Corporation Commission members have accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars combined from individuals or industries with direct links to those they are tasked with regulating. Although it is legal under state law to accept those contributions experts say it raises some ethical questions about whether certain donors may receive preferential treatment.

Texas – Inside ‘The Pond’ – CenterPoint’s Private Houston-Area Retreat Used for Lobbying Texas Politicians

MSN – Mike Morris, Amanda Drane, Neena Satija, and Eric Dexheimer (Houston Chronicle) | Published: 8/14/2024

A retreat known as “The Pond” has been a cornerstone of CenterPoint Energy’s lobbying efforts for decades, a space where the company’s lobbyists and executives can enjoy nature alongside the same Texas lawmakers who have voted to make it easier for CenterPoint to charge Houston customers more for electricity. More than 70 current or former state and local elected officials said they have visited the site, reported spending campaign funds on trips there, or were shown on the grounds in public images posted on social media, according to a media investigation.

Wisconsin – Wisconsin Election Overseers Donate Thousands to Candidates

Capital Times – Andrew Bahl | Published: 8/12/2024

Despite their key decision-making roles in the elections process, members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission and the state Ethics Commission, as well as dozens of county clerks, have so far given a combined $26,000 this year to candidates, parties, and politically affiliated groups in the state and across the country. Those officials are allowed to donate, as long as they abide by the same limitations on contributions as everyone else. The intense scrutiny on elections in one of the nation’s foremost swing states has left some wondering if the rules, and Wisconsin’s system for running elections, make sense.

Campaign Finance

National: “Trump Gambles on Outside Groups to Finance Voter Outreach Efforts” by Theodore Schleifer (New York Times) for DNyuz

Elections

Michigan: “Michigan Lawyer Who Claimed Election Fraud Arrested after Dominion Hearing” by Rachel Weiner and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Arizona and Missouri Greenlight Abortion Rights Amendments” by Sandhya Raman (Roll Call) for MSN

Ethics

Alabama: “House Representative Plans to Refile Bill Overhauling Alabama’s Ethics Code” by Alander Rocha for Alabama Reflector

Kansas: “Ex-Police Chief Who Led Raid on Kansas Newspaper Faces Felony Charge” by Ben Brasch, Sofia Andrade, and Anumita Kaur (Washington Post) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “Hunter Biden Sought State Department Help for Ukrainian Company” by Kenneth Vogel (New York Times) for DNyuz

Texas: “Inside ‘The Pond’ – CenterPoint’s Private Houston-Area Retreat Used for Lobbying Texas Politicians” by Mike Morris, Amanda Drane, Neena Satija, and Eric Dexheimer (Houston Chronicle) for MSN

Redistricting

Florida: “A Court Will Weigh ‘Legislative Privilege’ and Whether Florida Legislators Should Testify in a Redistricting Case” by Jim Saunders (News Service of Florida) for WMNF

Campaign Finance

Alabama: “Alabama Legislator Wants to Limit Power of Political Parties Regarding Campaign Contributions” by Ralph Chapoco for Alabama Reflector

New York: “Trash Hauler Won Coveted Garbage Pickup Rights After Donating to Mayor Adams’ Campaign” by Liam Quigley for Gothamist

Elections

Colorado: “Former Colorado Official Found Guilty for Role in Election Equipment Tampering” by Yvonne Winget Sanchez and Patrick Marley (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Elections Officials Battle a Deluge of Disinformation” by Tiffany Hsu (New York Times) for Yahoo News

National: “Want to Speed Up a Road or Transit Project? Just Host a Political Convention” by Jeff McMurray (Associated Press) for MSN

Ethics

Ohio: “FirstEnergy Makes $20 Million Deal with AG Dave Yost’s Office to Avoid HB6 Prosecution, Drop Company from Civil Lawsuits” by Jeremy Pelzer (Cleveland Plain Dealer) for MSN

Lobbying

National: “Biggest Lobbying Interests Buck Trend with Higher 2024 Spending” by Caitlin Reilly (Roll Call) for MSN

Michigan: “Lawyer Contended Curtailing Lawmakers’ Ticket Perks Could Have ‘Destabilizing Impact'” by Craig Mauger for Detroit News

Campaign Finance

Alaska: “How Alaska Wound Up with No Limits on Campaign Donations – and How Some Hope to Restore Them” by Eric Stone for Alaska Public Media

National: “Feds Ask Ted Cruz’s Campaign to Explain Dozens of Illegal Donations It Received” by Sanford Nowlin for San Antonio Current

Oklahoma: “Corporation Commissioners Have Accepted Thousands in Donations, Raising Ethical Questions” by Kennedy Thomason (The Oklahoman) for MSN

Elections

National: “Pro-Israel PAC Notches Striking Electoral Victories with Bush, Bowman Defeats” by Patrick Svitek (Washington Post) for MSN

National: “Man Who Violently Fought Cops Gets 2nd-Longest Jan. 6 Sentence: 20 years” by Tom Jackman (Washington Post) for MSN

Ethics

California: “Nonprofit Linked to OC Supervisor’s Daughter Says It Won’t Refund $2.2M in Taxpayer Funds Demanded by County” by Nick Gerda (LAist) for MSN

Kentucky: “Louisville Official Says She Was in the Process of Filing Ethics Complaints When Fired” by Eleanor McCrary (Louisville Courier Journal) for MSN

Lobbying

North Carolina: “Group That Took NC Legislators on Bourbon Tour Violates Ethics Rules, Complaint Says” by Dan Kane and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi (Raleigh News and Observer) for MSN

National/Federal

How an Elon Musk PAC Is Using Voter Data to Help Trump Beat Harris in 2024 Election

CNBC – Brian Schwartz | Published: 8/2/2024

The combination of owning a social media company that gives him an enormous platform to push his political views, and creating a PAC with effectively unlimited resources, has made Elon Musk a major force in an American presidential election. The America PAC has spent more than $800,000 on digital ads that target voters in battleground states. Many of the ads encouraged people to register to vote at America PAC’s website. The PAC’s effort to collect information from people using the idea of “voter registration” is a critical piece to its plan to make personal contact with these voters.

Hearing Set to Discuss Next Steps in Trump’s Federal Election Case

DNyuz – Alan Feurer (New York Times) | Published: 8/3/2024

The judge overseeing Donald Trump’s federal election interference case scheduled a hearing for August 16 to discuss next steps. The Supreme Court granted Trump broad immunity against criminal prosecution for acts arising from his presidency. A key element of that decision requires U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to sort through the indictment accusing Trump of plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election and decide which of its many allegations can move forward to trial and which will have to be tossed out.

Justice Thomas Failed to Reveal More Private Flights, Senator Says

DNyuz – Abbie VanSickle (New York Times) | Published: 8/5/2024

Justice Clarence Thomas failed to publicly disclose additional private travel provided by the wealthy conservative donor Harlan Crow, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said. Customs and Border Protection records revealed the justice and his wife, Virginia Thomas, took a round trip between Hawaii and New Zealand in November 2010 on Crow’s private jet. Wyden, writing to Crow’s lawyer, demanded he supply more information about the financial relationship between the two men.

Harris Decides on Tim Walz as Running Mate

MSN – John King, Jeff Zeleny, Jamie Gangel, MJ Lee, Daniel Strauss, Gregory Krieg, and Kristen Holmes (CNN) | Published: 8/6/2024

Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, elevating the former teacher and Army National Guard veteran to help lead the party’s fight to defeat Donald Trump. Walz is in his second term as governor and chairs the Democratic Governors Association. He previously served 12 years in Congress, representing a conservative-leaning rural district. Walz has delivered a handful of memorable haymakers against Republicans, especially its presidential ticket of Trump and Sen. JD Vance. Walz has referred to the duo as “weird dudes.” The phrase has stuck, becoming a central meme in the campaign.

FBI Searches Rep. Ogles’s Phone as Part of Campaign Finance Probe, Lawyer Says

MSN – Perry Stein and Jacqueline Alemany (Washington Post) | Published: 8/6/2024

FBI agents used a court order to search and seize U.S. Rep. Andrew Ogles’s cellphone as part of federal campaign finance probe. A complaint stated Ogles did not include that he reportedly used a $320,000 loan to fund his 2022 campaign. He also allegedly failed to report a $700,000 line of credit that he opened in 2022. The complaint from the Campaign Legal Center alleged that, in all, Ogles’s financial report contained more than $1 million in discrepancies.

Elon Musk’s X Accused of Bias After Pro-Harris Accounts Labeled as ‘Spam’

MSN – Trisha Thadani (Washington Post) | Published: 8/7/2024

Prominent X accounts advocating for Vice President Kamala Harris have been labeled as spam and restricted in recent weeks, triggering alarm among some Democrats that Elon Musk’s social media platform is tilted in favor of his chosen candidate, Donald Trump. The recurring issues are raising questions about whether Musk’s platform is intentionally censoring the pages, or if the deep staff cuts that he made after buying the company in 2022 have left the platform ill-equipped for the surge in political speech ahead of the November election.

About Half of US State AGs Went on France Trip Sponsored by Group with Lobbyist and Corporate Funds

MSN – Geoff Mulvihill (Associated Press) | Published: 8/3/2024

Many state attorneys general traveled to France on a recent trip cosponsored by the Attorney General Alliance (AGA). The trip illuminates how corporate lawyers and lobbyists can gain access to officials who regulate their businesses with help from the AGA. Companies that have picked up the bill and sent representatives in recent years have been from the pharmaceutical, financial, and tech industries, among others.

$10M Cash Withdrawal Drove Secret Probe into Whether Trump Took Money from Egypt

MSN – Aaron Davis and Carol Leonnig (Washington Post) | Published: 8/2/2024

Five days before Donald Trump became president in January 2017, a manager at a bank branch in Cairo received an unusual letter from an organization linked to the Egyptian intelligence service. It asked the bank to “kindly withdraw” nearly $10 million from the organization’s account, all in cash. Four men arrived and carried away the bags. The discovery intensified a secret criminal investigation, with classified U.S. intelligence indicating Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi sought to give Trump $10 million to boost his 2016 presidential campaign, a Washington Post investigation found.

Without ‘Zuckerbucks,’ Limited Private Funding Available for Elections

MSN – Patrick Marley (Washington Post) | Published: 8/2/2024

In 2020, a group funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife gave $332 million to local governments to run the presidential election amid a global pandemic, prompting a Republican backlash that led to more than two dozen states banning or limiting private funding for elections. The Center for Tech and Civic Life is again awarding grants this fall but in much smaller amounts. The grants will have nowhere near the nationwide effect they did in the last presidential election but could nonetheless spark controversy.

Court Rules Against Black and Hispanic Voters in Redistricting Case

MSN – Patrick Marley and Maegan Vazquez (Washington Post) | Published: 8/1/2024

A federal appeals court made it harder for Black and Hispanic voters to form coalitions to elect the candidates they prefer in three southern states, overruling long-standing precedents. For decades, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held the Voting Rights Act allows voting districts that give Black and Hispanic voters the ability to elect candidates of their choice when they have common interests and can form coalitions.

Trump Took a Private Flight with Project 2025 Leader in 2022

MSN – Isaac Arnsdorf, Josh Dawsey, and Hannah Knowles (Washington Post) | Published: 8/7/2024

Donald Trump has denied knowing about the Project 2025 policy blueprint or the people behind it. But in April 2022, Trump shared a private flight with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts. They flew together to a Heritage conference where Trump delivered a keynote address that gestured to the organization’s forthcoming policy proposals. The flight and Trump’s speech cut against the former president’s efforts to distance himself from Project 2025 once Democrats turned some of its most controversial proposals into a frequent campaign attack.

Drag Queens Unite to Form Political Action Committee Ahead of 2024 Election

OpenSecrets – Albert Sema Jr. | Published: 7/26/2024

A new political committee is bringing together some of the biggest names in drag to push back against anti-LGBTQ legislation and politicians. As a hybrid PAC, Drag PAC can make limited donations to politicians from one account but raise and spend unlimited money to make independent expenditures from another. FEC filings show that the PAC has raised more than $140,000 so far, with long-time Democratic donor Dylan Bulkeley-Krane contributing $60,000 since March.

Conway Registers as Lobbyist for Ukrainian Billionaire with Past Ties to Trump

Yahoo News – Soo Rin Kim, Lalee Ibssa, and Kelsey Walsh (ABC News) | Published: 8/4/2024

Former Trump administration official Kellyanne Conway registered as a foreign agent representing Ukrainian billionaire Victor Pinchuk’s foundation. In 2015, the Ukrainian steel magnate donated $150,000 to Donald Trump’s charitable organization to book the then-presidential candidate to speak at a conference in Kyiv. The donation was later reportedly investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller.

From the States and Municipalities

Arizona – Arizona Judges Allow More Access to Voting, Much to Republicans’ Dismay

KAWC – Howard Fischer (Capitol News Services) | Published: 8/3/2024

Arizonans who lack proof of citizenship can again sign up to vote in this year’s presidential and congressional races. A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals restored an order issued last year by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton who concluded federal law specifically allowed people to register to vote in federal elections without the same kind of proof that Arizona requires of those wanting to cast ballots in state or local elections.

Arizona – Arizona Grand Jurors Discussed Indicting Trump, but Prosecutors Urged Them Not To

MSN – Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (Washington Post) | Published: 8/6/2024

An Arizona grand jury that indicted 18 allies of Donald Trump for their role in efforts to overturn the 2020 election had expressed interest in possible charges against the former president, according to a legal motion. It is unclear how many of the jurors were in favor of indicting the former president, who by then had been federally charged for his attempts to subvert Joe Biden’s win in a case brought by special counsel Jack Smith. The interest prompted the Arizona case’s lead prosecutor to give a PowerPoint presentation and request that jurors not indict Trump, according to the motion.

California – What Does a California Lobbyist Do?

Comstock’s Magazine – Laurie Lauletta-Boshart | Published: 8/5/2024

Lobbyists who spend their day impacting legislation and regulatory decisions in California work long, frenetic days and no two look alike. They come from a myriad of different backgrounds: law, political science, government affairs, and communications, with outliers in engineering, psychology, and education. But most share similar character traits: good analytical, networking, relationship, and communication skills, with a side of political savvy and a desire to get the best possible outcome for their clients, even when politics prevail.

California – SF Political Group That Bankrolled DA Recall on Hook for $54K Ethics Fine

Mission Local – Joe Rivano Barros | Published: 8/5/2024

The San Francisco Ethics Commission will consider levying a $53,916 fine against the powerful political group Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy and its president, Jay Cheng. Ina negotiated stipulation, both the Ethics Commission and Cheng agreed the group failed to disclose payments it made to a campaign spokesperson who was working to recall then-District Attorney Chesa Boudin in 2021 and 2022.

California – Govern for California, Group Under Investigation by State, Bundling Donations to SF Candidates

Mission Local – Joe Rivano Barros | Published: 8/6/2024

In San Francisco, supervisor races have strict $500 contribution limits per donor. But a nonprofit called Govern for California, which has historically financed state races, has employed eight of its different chapters to give $500 each to six supervisor candidates and District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. Each of the candidates has collectively received $4,000 from the group’s chapters. Govern for California is currently being investigated by the California Fair Political Practices Commission after a media investigation into its use of local chapters as “force multipliers” to influence politics.

California – County Demands Refund of Millions OC Supervisor Awarded to His Daughter’s Group

MSN – Nick Gerda (LAist) | Published: 8/2/2024

Orange County officials are demanding the refund of millions of dollars in tax dollars that county Supervisor Andrew Do gave to a nonprofit linked to his daughter, saying Viet America Society (VAS) failed to show it did the work it was paid to do. The repayment demands come after the nonprofit failed to meet a deadline to submit an audit, which was supposed to answer how the money was spent. VAS fired the auditors it hired for the work the day after those auditors said they would find the group failed to follow requirements to track what it did with the money.

California – LA Council Member Kevin de Leon’s Ballot Measure Shell Game

MSN – Will McCarthy (Politico) | Published: 8/5/2024

Los Angeles City Councilperson Kevin de León is playing a shell game with three different campaign accounts as he fights for his political life. He moved $550,000 from an account created to back a 2026 run for lieutenant governor to a newly formed Kevin de León Believing in a Better California Ballot Measure Committee. It’s all likely designed to help him win a tough race for another term on the city council. Unlike with his campaign fund, de León can raise and spend from his ballot measure committee with few constraints.

California – California Lawmakers Got Ticket Freebies as They Cracked Down on Ticketmaster’s Taylor Swift Debacle

MSN – Lara Korte (Politico) | Published: 8/5/2024

An investigation by Politico found 66 state lawmakers in California received more than $30,000 total worth of free tickets last year. The giveaways included entrance to Disneyland, passes to a country music festival, and San Francisco 49ers seats. The gifts came the same year some lawmakers mounted bids to loosen the power of the ticketing giant Ticketmaster and other elected officials sought to limit third-party resellers like StubHub.

California – Ex-L.A. Sheriff’s Corruption Squad Targeted Kuehl. Now State Has Dropped the Case

Yahoo News – Keri Blakinger (Los Angeles Times) | Published: 8/7/2024

Two years after Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies showed up for an early morning raid on former county Supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s home, the investigation is officially over and there will be no criminal charges. Instead, a judge approved an agreement in which the California Department of Justice said there was a “lack of evidence of wrongdoing.” The department had taken over the politically charged investigation originally launched by then-Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s controversial public corruption squad.

Colorado – Divided Appeals Court Strikes Down Campaign Disclosure Requirement in Colorado Law

Colorado Politics – Michael Karlik | Published: 8/1/2024

Colorado’s second-highest court said the state’s requirement that ballot issue advocacy groups disclose the name of their legal representative on their election communications violates the First Amendment. A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals believed there was no material benefit to the public from knowing who the registered agents are for groups that advocate for or against ballot measures. Judge Jerry Jones, writing for the majority, noted Colorado is the only state with such a requirement in its campaign finance laws.

District of Columbia – D.C. Buildings Official Resigns After Probe Finds She Had 2nd Full-Time Job

MSN – Maegan Flynn (Washington Post) | Published: 8/7/2024

A top official at the District of Columbia Department of Buildings resigned after an investigation found she was secretly working a separate full-time private-sector job on her city “telework” days, violations that resulted in a $25,000 fine from the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability. The official, Deputy Director Caroline Lian, is a Falls Church City Council member and allegedly performed council business when she should have been working for the District of Columbia.

Florida – Miami Ballot Measures Propose New, More Robust Inspector General’s Office

Yahoo News – Catherine Odom (Miami Herald) | Published: 8/7/2024

Miami voters will decide if they want to do away with the auditor general’s office and install a new, more powerful watchdog in its place. The new office would be tasked with investigating legal and ethical violations by city employees, agencies with ties to the city, and candidates running for office in Miami. The office could initiate these investigations itself and would be required to report any wrongdoing it finds to the appropriate authorities, city Commissioner Manolo Reyes said.

Georgia – Federal Election Commission Fines Georgia Republicans for Illegal Campaign Coordinating

MSN – Dave Williams (Columbus Ledger-Inquirer) | Published: 8/6/2024

The FEC fined the Georgia Republican Party $14,500 for failing to report a contribution from a nonprofit during the 2021 U.S. Senate runoff elections. The fine settled a complaint targeting an in-kind contribution the group True the Vote made to the state GOP. In this case, True the Vote and the state Republican Party collaborated on election-related activities, including challenging voter eligibility and monitoring drop boxes, and failed to report those activities.

Georgia – Georgia Election Board Clears County Officials to Delay Vote Certification with Information Demands

Yahoo News – Stanley Dunlap (Georgia Recorder) | Published: 8/7/2024

The Georgia State Election Board pushed through new election rules that have sparked fierce debates over giving county officials greater authority to refuse to certify voter tallies. Today, certification by local election boards is considered an administrative task that does not allow members to delay as they investigate results provided to them by county officials. The new process could delay the certification of a Georgia election in a large county if a single board member called for an investigation into equipment or administration of the vote.

Hawaii – Hawaii Carpenters Union PACs Are Training Candidates to Run for Office

Honolulu Civil Beat – Chad Blair and Blaze Lovell | Published: 8/6/2024

A political organization with connections to the local construction industry has found a new tool to help candidates get elected: train them. Over the past two election cycles, four PACs with ties to the Hawaii Carpenters Union have spent more than $70,000 to instruct 17 people in running for office. Several of the candidates running for office this year praised the program, crediting it with teaching the basics of campaigning such as running phone banks, mailing fliers, and improving public speaking. The training is done through in-kind contributions.

Louisiana – Making Room for Landry’s Expanded Ethics Board Requires a Costly Upgrade

Yahoo News – Julie O’Donoghue (Louisiana Illuminator) | Published: 8/8/2024

The Louisiana Board of Ethics expects the state will have to spend $50,000 to more than $100,000 to accommodate four more board members in its meeting room in Baton Rouge.  In January, the ethics board will grow from 11 to 15 members at the behest of Gov. Jeff Landry. The governor is in an ongoing dispute with current board members over his failure to disclose flights he took on a campaign donor’s private plane while he was attorney general. “They decided to pass this legislation, but yet they want us to pay the cost,” ethics board Chairperson La Koshia Roberts.

Maryland – Fired Health Commissioner May Have Violated Baltimore’s Ethics Laws

Baltimore Banner – Lee Sanderlin and Adam Willis | Published: 8/1/2024

Baltimore’s former health commissioner, Dr. Ihuoma Emenuga, who is the subject of a criminal investigation, may have also violated city ethics laws when she was working for Chase Brexton while also a city employee. While some City Hall personnel, like council members, work outside jobs, the law makes clear that employees are prohibited from working for or receiving payment from organizations that have contracts with their agency, as Chase Brexton does with the health department. Even organizations that are in negotiations for a city contract are off limits.

Maryland – Baltimore County Executive Appointed Employee of Firefighter Who Received Secret Settlement [from] Ethics Commission

MSN – Lia Russell and Cassidy Jensen (Baltimore Sun) | Published: 8/1/2024

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. appointed a high school classmate and real estate agent to the county ethics commission in 2020, the same year her boss, former county firefighter Philip Tirabassi, received a secret $83,675 settlement from the county. Tirabassi also helped handle Olszewski’s personal real estate transactions. County spokesperson Erica Palmisano said Laura Ray’s nomination to the commission was based on her credentials and her party affiliation.

New Mexico – Federal Judge Sends Dark Money Group Lawsuit Back to State Court

Source New Mexico – Marjorie Childress (New Mexico In Depth) | Published: 8/7/2024

A federal judge rejected a nonprofit group’s bid to move to federal court a campaign finance case brought against it by New Mexico’s Ethics Commission. Chief U.S. District Court Judge William Johnson said his court lacked jurisdiction over the question of whether the New Mexico Project, a nonprofit formed last year, must register as a political committee and disclose its donors.

New York – Former Addison Clerk Forfeits Pension After ‘Stunning,’ ‘Shameless’ Theft of $1.1 Million

Corning Leader – Jeff Smith | Published: 8/2/2024

Ursula Stone, the former clerk-treasurer of the Village of Addison, will be sentenced to between three and nine years in state prison and ordered to pay back $1.1 million stolen from taxpayers. Stone will also forfeit her public pension, marking the first pension forfeiture in New York state.

New York – Mayor Adams’ 2021 Campaign Flagged for $2.3 Million Gap in Fundraising Records

Gothamist – Brigid Bergin | Published: 7/31/2024

The New York City Campaign Finance Board’s 900-page draft audit provides an unprecedented look at extensive problems with Mayor Eric Adams’ record-keeping. Experts say the sheer length of the report suggests careless financial management by the campaign and a failure to comply with laws and rules required of candidates who take taxpayer-funded matching funds. The Board flagged 22 separate categories of financial discrepancies, prohibited donations, straw donors, and other issues with the Adams campaign.

New York – Asian Americans Mobilize After NY Lawmaker Allegedly Bites Cop

MSN – Emily Ngo (Politico) | Published: 8/5/2024

An under-the-radar bloc of Asian Americans is ready to test its political clout after a New York City Council member of Chinese descent allegedly bit a police officer during a recent protest. The bite was a moment that energized a movement, they say. Supporters have rallied by the thousands to defend council member Susan Zhuang, and by extension themselves. Zhuang’s treatment by tabloid news outlets, political rivals, and police has galvanized predominantly Chinese, immigrant, and working-class New Yorkers who have long felt invisible.

New York – Non-Profit Started by Eric Adams’ Brother Auctioned Off Dinner with the Mayor During Hamptons Party

MSN – Craig McCarthy (New York Post) | Published: 8/5/2024

A charitable organization co-founded by Mayor Eric Adams’ brother auctioned off a dinner with the mayor during a Hamptons fundraiser, raising eyebrows with ethics watchdogs. But Angels Helpers, a non-profit that provides city youngsters access to arts and culture, said it would be pulling the prize. Asked whether the nonprofit cleared the dinner prize with the city’s Conflict of Interest Board, co-founder Alisa Roever called it an “oversight.”

New York – Supreme Court Nixes Effort to Stall Trump’s Sentencing in Hush Money Case

MSN – Josh Gerstein (Politico) | Published: 8/5/2024

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a bid by Missouri to block the sentencing of Donald Trump in his New York hush money case. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Trump ally, filed an unusual set of motions asking the justices to postpone the sentencing until after the November election and to lift the gag order the judge imposed in the case. Missouri’s bid was styled as a lawsuit against New York. Missouri claimed the prosecution violated the rights of the state’s voters by preventing them from “fully engaging with and hearing from a major-party Presidential candidate in the run up to the November election.”

Ohio – An Ousted FirstEnergy CEO Signed a Deal Blaming His Mentor for a Bribery Scheme. He Said the Feds Never Talked to Him

MSN – Jake Zuckerman (Cleveland Plain Dealer) | Published: 8/1/2024

Steven Strah, thrust into the role of chief executive officer ahead of schedule, in 2021 signed a contract similar to a plea agreement with federal prosecutors on FirstEnergy’s behalf. The agreement depicted his predecessor, Chuck Jones, as the architect of a scheme to bribe two top state government officials. But Strah said during a newly revealed deposition from 2023 that he has never been interviewed by federal authorities investigating what they have described as the biggest public corruption scheme in Ohio history.

Pennsylvania – Pa. Lawmakers Moonlight as Lawyers, Landlords, and Even as a Pilot. Advocates Say It’s a Conflict of Interest.

Philadelphia Inquirer – Sarah Nicell | Published: 8/5/2024

More than half of the Pennsylvania General Assembly reports an outside business interest or alternative forms of income, according to an analysis of state lawmakers’ statements of financial interest. Other states restrict or ban secondary employment, but Pennsylvania is one of 25 states allowing legislators to take on other careers with no limitations. Pennsylvania is the third highest-paid Legislature in the country with a $102,000 annual salary for lawmakers. Even so, the General Assembly gathers fewer than 50 days a year, giving some members time to partake in personal endeavors, which has raised ethical concerns.

Tennessee – TN Education Chief Repaid $2k in Travel, Attorney Says Complaint Politically Motivated

MSN – Vivian Jones (Nashville Tennessean) | Published: 8/8/2024

Tennessee Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds repaid ExelinEd, her former employer, for travel and expenses for two out-of-state conferences after an ethics complaint said the expenditures constituted an illegal gift. State ethics law prohibits public officials from accepting gifts from lobbyists or employers of lobbyists. ExcelinEd employs a lobbyist registered in Tennessee who advocated for Gov. Bill Lee’s statewide universal school voucher proposal.

Campaign Finance

California: “SF Political Group That Bankrolled DA Recall on Hook for $54K Ethics Fine” by Joe Rivano Barros for Mission Local

California: “LA Council Member Kevin de Leon’s Ballot Measure Shell Game” by Will McCarthy (Politico) for MSN

National: “Drag Queens Unite to Form Political Action Committee Ahead of 2024 Election” by Albert Sema Jr. for OpenSecrets

Elections

National: “Harris Decides on Tim Walz as Running Mate” by John King, Jeff Zeleny, Jamie Gangel, MJ Lee, Daniel Strauss, Gregory Krieg, and Kristen Holmes (CNN) for MSN

Ethics

National: “Justice Thomas Failed to Reveal More Private Flights, Senator Says” by Abbie VanSickle (New York Times) for DNyuz

New York: “Non-Profit Started by Eric Adams’ Brother Auctioned Off Dinner with the Mayor During Hamptons Party” by Craig McCarthy (New York Post) for MSN

New York: “Supreme Court Nixes Effort to Stall Trump’s Sentencing in Hush Money Case” by Josh Gerstein Politico) for MSN

Lobbying

California: “What Does a California Lobbyist Do?” by Laurie Lauletta-Boshart for Comstock’s Magazine

Gov. Sununu signed a bill amending lobbyist reporting requirements.

House Bill 1666 requires lobbyists to register and file statements through an online filling system to be developed by the Office of Secretary of State.

Lobbyist statements will be due on January 31, May 31, and September 30.

Currently, the statements are due quarterly.

These changes do not go into effect until January 1, 2027.