Latest Developments:
- FEC Commissioner Departs, Leaving Gap: Federal Election Commission Commissioner Allen J. Dickerson announced his departure from the FEC, leaving only three remaining commissioners; as Politico and other outlets have observed, high-level enforcement and policy decisions cannot be made by the FEC until the president nominates and the Senate confirms another commissioner as these types of official actions must have four commissioners’ votes.
- Multnomah County, OR Adopts Lobbyist Ordinance: Multnomah County, OR has adopted an ordinance requiring lobbyist registration upon reaching certain triggers, as well as quarterly reporting.
- Trump Targets ActBlue: After receiving a report regarding ActBlue’s Democratic fundraising operations, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to “investigate allegations regarding the unlawful use of online fundraising platforms to make ‘straw’ or ‘dummy’ contributions or foreign contributions to political candidates and committees.”
Reminders:
- Join Evann Whitelam of Nielsen Merksamer for a Practising Law Institute (PLI) one-hour briefing on July 1, 2025, at 3:00 pm Eastern time on “Corporate Political Activity and ESG Under the Trump Administration – A Six-Month Review.” Registration is available now.
In Case You Missed It:
- Former CIA Agent Pleads Guilty to FARA Violation: The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia has announced that a former CIA agent has pled guilty to acting as a foreign agent required to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and removing classified materials; the sentence includes the forfeiture of $85,000 and up to 7 years’ prison time.
- Florida Senate Blocks Ethics Commission Appointees: From Florida Politics, the Florida Senate has, for the second year in a row, declined to hold a confirmation vote for two appointees by Governor DeSantis to the Ethics Commission. This means neither can be reappointed, and both must leave their posts at the end of session.
- Former Kentucky Secretary of State Wins Ethics Case: The Kentucky Lantern reports that the Kentucky Court of Appeals has issued an opinion ending the former secretary of state’s battle with the state’s Executive Branch Ethics Commission, which had found the secretary improperly used state voter files to benefit candidates and herself; the Franklin Circuit Court reversed the commission’s decision, finding it was arbitrary, not supported by substantial evidence and time barred, and the Court of Appeals agreed that the proceeding was time-barred.
- Federal Election Funding Requires Anti-DEI Approach: From the Washington Post, federal election officials from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission are suggesting states must pledge to follow President Donald Trump’s directive curbing diversity, equity and inclusion programs as a condition for receiving $15 million in election security funding; Maine has decided to forego the federal funding, and Colorado is leaning toward rejecting the money rather than agreeing to the conditions.
- Suspension of Wyoming’s Bureau of Land Management State Director: From WyoFile, Wyoming’s Bureau of Land Management state director has been placed on administrative leave after a federal investigation found he accepted a gift of dinner and drinks and otherwise misused his position.
- “Honest Gabe” Gets Prison Time: From the Indiana Capital Chronicle, the former Indiana Congressional candidate whose slogan was “Honest Gabe for Congress” has been ordered to spend 3 months in prison after pleading guilty to falsifying campaign finance records and lying about raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions ahead of the May 2024 primary.