[EL] ELB News and Commentary 9/20/19

Fri Sep 20 07:42:54 PDT 2019

From ELB June 2019 Archives: Trump Says He Would Accept Foreign Government In-Kind Contributions of Opposition Research in the 2020 Elections, in Violation of American Law<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107398>
Posted on September 20, 2019 7:40 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107398> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

In light of the Ukraine story,<https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/us/politics/intelligence-whistle-blower-complaint-trump.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage> reupping this:

Trump Says He Would Accept Foreign Government In-Kind Contributions of Opposition Research in the 2020 Elections, in Violation of American Law

Posted on June 12, 2019 5:31 pm<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=105595> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Watch the clip<https://twitter.com/evanmcmurry/status/1138936855435591681>:
[cid:image001.jpg at 01D56F87.031BF690]<https://twitter.com/evanmcmurry>
<https://twitter.com/evanmcmurry>
Evan McMurry<https://twitter.com/evanmcmurry>
✔@evanmcmurry<https://twitter.com/evanmcmurry>

<https://twitter.com/evanmcmurry/status/1138936855435591681>

EXCLUSIVE: Pres. Trump tells @GStephanopoulos<https://twitter.com/GStephanopoulos> he wouldn't necessarily alert the FBI if approached by foreign figures with information on his 2020 opponent: "It’s not an interference. They have information. I think I’d take it." https://abcn.ws/2R8UZp2 <https://t.co/7gvoAViw9r>
<https://twitter.com/evanmcmurry/status/1138936855435591681>
[Embedded video]<https://twitter.com/evanmcmurry/status/1138936855435591681>
<https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1138936855435591681>
9,196<https://twitter.com/intent/like?tweet_id=1138936855435591681>
3:31 PM - Jun 12, 2019<https://twitter.com/evanmcmurry/status/1138936855435591681>
Twitter Ads info and privacy<https://support.twitter.com/articles/20175256>
<https://twitter.com/evanmcmurry/status/1138936855435591681>
9,534 people are talking about this<https://twitter.com/evanmcmurry/status/1138936855435591681>

In a few pieces<https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/07/donald-trump-jr-s-free-speech-defense-is-as-bogus-as-it-sounds.html> in Slate, I explained<https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/04/donald-trump-jr-mueller-report-campaign-finance.html> [corrected] why an offer of free opposition research from a foreign government is a crime, and there is no good First Amendment defense for doing so. (I also have explained that the Steele Dossier involved the payment at market rates from a foreign individual for services, which is legal.) I’m not going to rehash it all here. Click the links for more.
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Posted in Uncategorized<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>

“De Blasio to Developers: Donate to My Nonprofit. $125,000 Came.”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107396>
Posted on September 20, 2019 7:34 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107396> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NYT<https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/nyregion/de-blasio-2020-ethics.html> reports.
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Posted in Uncategorized<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>

“The Cybersecurity 202: McConnell’s support for election security funding is just the start of a big fight”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107394>
Posted on September 20, 2019 7:32 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107394> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

WaPo reports.<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-cybersecurity-202/2019/09/20/the-cybersecurity-202-mcconnell-s-support-for-election-security-funding-is-just-the-start-of-a-big-fight/5d83e2a5602ff1737aef7323/>
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Posted in Uncategorized<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>

“Iowa Democrats Propose ‘Satellite Caucuses’ to Expand Contest”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107392>
Posted on September 20, 2019 7:25 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107392> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Bloomberg<https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-19/iowa-democrats-propose-satellite-caucuses-to-expand-contest>:

The Iowa Democratic Party proposed instituting “satellite caucuses” to let voters participate even if they can’t get to an official caucus site, according to Democratic National Committee members who have been briefed on the plan.

The proposal, which would take effect for the state’s caucuses in February, was unveiled Thursday during the Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee meeting. It will be presented Friday during a DNC Rules and By-Laws meeting. It comes after the DNC vetoed the state party’s plan<https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-06/democrats-drop-virtual-caucus-in-iowa-nevada-on-security-issue> to let some people participate by telephone, citing cybersecurity concerns<https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-24/dnc-virtual-caucus-at-risk-after-experts-hacked-conference-call>.
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Posted in Uncategorized<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>

Watch Archived Video of 2019 Supreme Court Preview at Hammer Museum Featuring Jennifer Chacon, Kimberly West-Faulcon, Derek Muller and Me<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107390>
Posted on September 20, 2019 7:20 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107390> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Watch here<https://livestream.com/accounts/5045103/events/8825807/videos/196587023>:

It was a great conversation!
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Posted in Uncategorized<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>

“Tech takes over political fundraising”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107388>
Posted on September 20, 2019 7:15 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107388> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Axios<https://www.axios.com/tech-takes-over-political-fundraising-2414b16c-39a2-4d49-b80f-6d63ddc38378.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top>:

Small-dollar political donations have exploded this campaign cycle, thanks in large part to technology that makes it possible for candidates to target potential donors with cheap ads and easy-to-use online donation platforms.

Why it matters: A surge in fundraising for contributions under $200 has expanded the 2020 election field, propelling lesser-known candidates to the debate stage and political stardom.
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Posted in campaign finance<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, campaigns<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>

“Federal judge blocks California law to force disclosure of Trump’s tax returns”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107386>
Posted on September 19, 2019 2:40 pm<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107386> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

LAT:<https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-19/trump-tax-returns-federal-court-challenge-california>

A federal judge ordered a temporary injunction Thursday against California’s first-in-the-nation law requiring candidates to disclose their tax returns for a spot on the presidential primary ballot, an early victory for President Trump but a decision that will undoubtedly be appealed by state officials.

U.S. District Judge Morrison England Jr. said he would issue a final ruling in the coming days but took the unusual step of issuing the tentative order from the bench. He said there would be “irreparable harm without temporary relief” for Trump and other candidates from the law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in July.
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Posted in campaigns<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>

“In turnaround, McConnell backs $250 million in election security funding”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107384>
Posted on September 19, 2019 11:55 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107384> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

WaPo:<https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-turnaround-mcconnell-backs-250-million-in-election-security-funding/2019/09/19/b9f64462-daec-11e9-ac63-3016711543fe_story.html?wpmk=MK0000200>

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell came out Thursday in support of providing states with an additional $250 million in election security funding, an abrupt turnaround after more than a year of opposition from the Kentucky Republican on the issue.

McConnell, who has been derided by Democrats as “Moscow Mitch” for repeatedly blocking efforts to combat Russian interference in U.S. elections, announced his position in remarks on the Senate floor Thursday morning.

“I’m proud the financial services and the general government bill included a bipartisan amendment providing another $250 million from the administration . to help states improve their defenses and shore up their voting systems,” McConnell said. “I’m proud to have helped develop this amendment and co-sponsor it in committee.”
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Posted in election administration<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=18>

“New maps would still give GOP disproportionate power in NC legislature, analysts say”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107382>
Posted on September 19, 2019 9:43 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107382> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

News and Observer<https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article235176992.html> reports.
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Posted in redistricting<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=6>

“NYC, vote for ranked-choice elections: November ballot question would encourage more citizen participation and more civil campaigns”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107380>
Posted on September 19, 2019 9:31 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107380> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Josh Douglas and Adam Eichen oped<https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-take-the-ranked-choice-plunge-nyc-20190919-3uxiiq7zvvfhhdrruy6dnf3xgi-story.html> in the NYDN.
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Posted in Uncategorized<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=1>

“Political Fundraiser Pleads Guilty To Fraud”<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107378>
Posted on September 19, 2019 7:19 am<https://electionlawblog.org/?p=107378> by Rick Hasen<https://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

ProPublica<https://www.propublica.org/article/political-fundraiser-pleads-guilty-to-fraud>:

In one of the first Justice Department cases of its kind, Maryland political consultant Kelley Rogers pleaded guilty to wire fraud<https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/political-consultant-pleads-guilty-fraud-scheme-involving-scam-pacs> on Tuesday for operating multiple fraudulent political action committees that raised money from donors for conservative causes but kept much of the funds for Rogers and his associates.

Rogers’ arrest and indictment took place shortly after Politico and ProPublica investigated<https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/26/conservative-majority-fund-political-fundraising-pac-kelley-rogers-1428260> one of Rogers’ PACs, Conservative Majority Fund<https://projects.propublica.org/itemizer/committee/C00524454/2020>, which since 2012 has raised close to $10 million — mostly from small-dollar donors, many of them elderly — while giving out just $48,400 to politicians.
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Posted in campaign finance<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=10>, campaigns<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=59>, chicanery<https://electionlawblog.org/?cat=12>

--
Rick Hasen
Chancellor's Professor of Law and Political Science
UC Irvine School of Law
401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-8000
949.824.3072 - office
rhasen at law.uci.edu<mailto:rhasen at law.uci.edu>
http://www.law.uci.edu/faculty/full-time/hasen/
http://electionlawblog.org<http://electionlawblog.org/>

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