Latest Developments:
- The Governor of Montana issued Executive Order 3-2021, which repeals the Previous Governor’s Executive Order 15-2018. That prior order required certain state contractors to disclose their political expenditures, including contributions and electioneering communications.
- The Chair of the New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics resigned from his position. The Governor appointed a new chair, Camille Joseph Varlack. The Albany Times Union describes JCOPE’s accomplishments and controversies under the now former chair and notes that JCOPE declined comment on the reasons for the chair’s departure.
- The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission announced fines totaling $162,500 against five people and entities that failed to register as lobbyists. The press release quotes the President of the Commission as pointing out that, “The public has a vital interest in knowing who is attempting to influence City action.”
In Case You Missed It:
- 12 Years and $18 million for Campaign/Lobby Violations: Politico reports that Imaad Zuberi “was sentenced Thursday to 12 years behind bars.” He “pleaded guilty to charges of tax evasion, campaign finance violations and failing to register as a foreign agent” and must also “pay nearly $16 million in restitution and a nearly $2 million fine.”
- First S.F. Corruption Sentence: The first person sentenced in the ever-widening corruption scandal that has engulfed San Francisco City Hall received one year in federal prison. According to the San Jose Mercury News, Florence Kong “pleaded guilty last year to bribing disgraced ex-public works director Mohammed Nuru with a $36,500 Rolex watch, paying for improvements to his summer home, and to lying to the FBI when they confronted her. In exchange, Nuru gave her construction recycling business contracts with the city.”
- HR 1 Moves Forward: Roll Call reports that the House of Representatives plans a floor vote on HR 1, the comprehensive measure that “contains changes to campaign finance, voting and ethics laws.” The House is expected to take a vote the first week of March. The Majority Leader “called HR 1 ‘the centerpiece of Democrats’ agenda to make government more transparent and accountable to the people it serves.’”