Latest Developments:
- The President-Elect of the United States’ Inaugural Committee is in business and accepting donations. However, the Committee’s donation page makes clear that it “does not accept contributions from lobbyists,… foreign agents…. or fossil fuel companies, their executives, or from PACs organized by them.”
- The United States District Court for the District of Columbia unsealed an opinion and order related to obtaining emails in an investigation, which suggests that an unregistered lobbyist lobbied the White House Counsel’s office in an “alleged LDA (Lobbying Disclosure Act) scheme or Bribery-for pardon scheme.”USA Today summarizes the document by asserting that “The Justice Department is reviewing possible evidence of a secret scheme to obtain a presidential pardon in exchange for a ‘substantial political contribution.’”
- The Senate Rules and Administration Committee approved the three nominees to the Federal Election Commission by voice vote. The nominations of Shana M. Broussard, Sean J. Cooksey, and Allen Dickerson advance to the full Senate for final confirmation.
- The United States Department of Justice announced that five new individuals, including the former Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, have been indicted in the “widespread corruption scheme” centered around Los Angeles City Hall. The Los Angeles Times, reports that the former Deputy Mayor was “involved in shaking down developers who sought help pushing downtown real estate projects through the city’s approval process.”
- The Leon County, Florida Commission adopted amendments (pp. 1022 to 1051) relating to lobbyist registration and reporting under the County’s Code of Ethics Ordinance. Among other things, the amendments (1) provide for electronic lobbyist registration and reporting, including deleting the oath requirement, (2) delete the information exception to registration requirements, (3) revise the penalties for violations, and (4) create an appeal process for any penalties assessed. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, the intent of the revision of the ordinance is “to create more transparency for the public about who may be working to influence policy decisions.”
- California Local Governments continue to enact their own contribution limits to avoid the state’s new default limit of $4,900 per election for local candidates, which takes effect January 1. The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance setting campaign contribution limits at $25,000 per election for county offices. Meanwhile the Inglewood, California City Council approved Ordinance 21-02 (pp. 785–793) capping campaign contributions to city candidates at $100,000 per election.
Reminders:
COGEL, the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws, began its 42nd annual conference on December 1. Did you know Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee had changes in the law impacting the time, place and manner of campaign contributions? Find out more by attending the panel on Campaign Finance Litigation moderated by Nielsen Merksamer’s Jason Kaune and in the Blue Book of federal, state, local and Canadian litigation edited by Mike Kelly and Evann Whitelam. Interested persons may register here. Programs will be available through the month of December.
In Case You Missed It:
- Influence for Sale: The Associated Press describes the actions of a major donor who leveraged his status into an influence peddling scheme and pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations. The article portrays him as “a ‘mercenary’ political donor who gave to anyone — often using illegal straw donor cutouts — he thought could help him. Pay to play, he explained to clients, was just ‘how America work(s).’” It notes that “Imaad Zuberi had the ear of top Democrats and Republicans alike — a reach that included private meetings with then-Vice President Joe Biden and VIP access at Donald Trump’s inauguration.”
- SF Ethics Probe Expands: The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the federal prosecutors made another arrest in the “alleged City Hall corruption scheme.” The Chief of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission was charged for “allegedly accepting bribes from a contractor — taking international trips, free meals and jewelry in exchange for insider information on city contracts.” He resigned his position according to the Mayor.
- Pass the Bucks in the Buckeye State: The FBI arrested another Cincinnati City Council Member on federal corruption charges. Cleveland.com reports that the Council Member “solicited and accepted $40,000 donations, made to a political action committee supporting his bid for mayor, from a city developer and two undercover FBI agents posing as the developer’s business partners. In exchange, [the Council Member] in December 2018 promised to ‘deliver the votes’ on City Council for a development project.” The Council Member said he “is innocent and vowed to fight the charges.”