Essential Ethics

Latest Developments: COVID-19 Update:  Government officials, agencies, and courts continue to respond to the COVID-19 emergency.  Each week we will add the latest information.  For more information about filing deadlines, contact our Political Reporting Unit.  Among…

Latest Developments: The North Dakota Ethics Commission is seeking an opinion from the state’s Attorney General concerning the extent of its authority over gifts.  The commission is in the process of adopting proposed gift rules.  The Bismarck Tribune reports…

Latest Developments: The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced the indictment of the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, in addition to indicting a nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization and four other individuals, including three lobbyists.   The announcement alleges…

Latest Developments: The Wisconsin Ethics Commission issued a formal opinion that lobbyists may make contributions to state candidates during contribution window regardless of whether or not the candidate appears on the ballot in the next election. COVID-19 Update:  Government…

Latest Developments: The United States Supreme Court, in Barr v. American Assn. of Political Consultants, upheld most of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991, which banned most robocalls.  Political consultants and others challenged the law…

Latest Developments: The President of the United States announced his intention to nominate Allen Dickerson to the Federal Election Commission.  The Wall Street Journal has background information about Mr. Dickerson. The United States Department of Justice issued a release detailing the arrest of “four…

Latest Developments: The Federal Election Commission is losing its quorum, again.  Commissioner Caroline Hunter tendered her resignation to the President, effective July 3, 2020.  Politico reports that she will join the legal team of a nonprofit that works on criminal…

Latest Developments: The Federal Election Commission met for the first time in 9 months, with a quorum as a result of the recent appointment of Trey Trainor to the Commission.  The Commission elected Mr. Trainor as its…

Latest Developments: James E. Trainor III was formally sworn in as a member of the Federal Election Commission, according to an announcement by the Commission.  The Commission now has a quorum.  The Commission’s first public meeting is scheduled for June…

Latest Developments:   The United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals, in Deon v. Barasch, struck down Pennsylvania’s broad ban on campaign contributions from the gaming industry.  The Harrisburg Patriot-News reports that the court found that the “state’s prohibition…