Latest Developments:
- The United States Department of Justice announced that it is “considering changes to key regulations” with an intent to “modernize and clarify the scope and meaning of [the] Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).”While the DOJ does not offer specific language, it has posted a notice describing portions of the regulations that it intends to update.
- The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance to limit behested payments. The ordinance would prohibit “elected officials, department heads, commissioners, and designated employees from soliciting behested payments from interested parties.” The measure would take effect 30 days after approval by the mayor
In Case You Missed It:
- Campaign Finance Disclosure Upgrade: The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that “state lawmakers and the Arkansas secretary of state’s office are taking steps to procure a new computerized system [‘for tracking political campaign contributions and expenditures’]at an estimated cost of $750,000 to $1 million.” The current system has been described as “‘clunky,’ ‘tedious,’ ‘not user-friendly,’ ‘inaccurate,’ [and] ‘antiquated.’” However, the new system “isn’t expected to be in place until after the November 2022 general election.”
- Group Sues FEC over Disclosure: A Wisconsin group filed a lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission “seeking to strike down campaign finance regulations that it says limit its free speech rights.” According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the group “was reluctant to spend money in two congressional races because it feared the Federal Election Commission would try to force it to disclose the names of its donors.”
- Four Years for Scam PACs: According to the Washington Post (via MSN), a Las Vegas man who operated both pro-Trump and pro-Biden PACs, as well as obtaining fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loans was sentenced to 4 years in federal prison. He “copied his ads, website and online donation page from legitimate digital fundraising groups.” He raised nearly $350,000, “mostly in small amounts.”