the excuse? "nor do we have authority over ads produced by any third-party PAC that we contribute to in Arizona" Except you do, big donor. You can't just hand off a bag of cash (and claim the 1A right to do so without limit because it funds speech) & then wash your hands of that speech.

Rick Hasen@rickhasen.bsky.social · 5d ago

#ELB: “Airbnb Disavows Anti-Trans Ad From Republican Super PAC It Supported” https://electionlawblog.org/2026/airbnb-disavows-anti-trans-ad-from-republican-super-pac-it-supported/

#ELB: “Airbnb Disavows Anti-Trans Ad From Republican Super PAC It Supported” https://electionlawblog.org/2026/airbnb-disavows-anti-trans-ad-from-republican-super-pac-it-supported/

Trump may now be paying for his campaign ads with maga inc funds rather than taxpayer funds, but it’s still illegal. Office holders can’t direct super PAC spending.

COURT WIN: In 2024, we sued on behalf of 2 GA voters over $5 million in spending on Senate races that was routed through multiple groups to hide its source. The FEC had split along partisan lines, with 3 commissioners improperly raising the bar and declining to investigate.

Good News: The 9th Circuit upheld an Arizona law created to combat corrupt elections and strengthen the state’s disclosure rules. In 2024, we filed an amicus brief in support of it. State laws can help close federal loopholes and bring real transparency to state elections.

BREAKING: In a victory for voters, a federal appeals court upheld Arizona's Prop 211, the landmark voter-approved law that reveals the original sources of dark money election spending. Campaign Legal Center Action represents Voters’ Right to Know in this case.

Federal Court Upholds Landmark Campaign Finance Transparency Law in Arizona

SAN FRANCISCO — Yesterday, in a major victory for Arizonans, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld Proposition 211, also known as the Voters’ Right to Know Act. Approved by 7...

campaignlegal.org

NEW - 9th Circuit upholds Arizona's anti-dark money initiative. Importantly, holds voters right to know doesn't end with the immediate funder of the ad, but goes back to the donor behind it - the person likely to buy influence. cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/op...

NEW: ProPublica revealed that the FBI was circling Sen. Collins over a defense contractor’s donations — until Trump gutted the unit in charge. Collins has since mustered a defense with a series of incorrect and misleading claims.

ProPublica Debunks Susan Collins’ Claims About FBI Anti-Corruption Probe

ProPublica revealed that the FBI was circling Sen. Collins over a defense contractor’s donations — until President Trump gutted the unit in charge. Collins has since mustered a defense with a series o...

propublica.org

Must read piece in Pro Publica on the reality of today’s campaign finance system that shows the false promises SCOTUS made that got us here. 🧵https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation

The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way

After the FBI caught a defense contractor’s CEO making illegal campaign contributions, it sought to launch a sweeping political bribery probe involving Collins and others. Then the second Trump admini...

propublica.org

Since Trump’s pardons, insurrectionists have sought offices from town clerk and school board all the way up to governorships and congressional seats—but voters across the country are overwhelmingly rejecting them. 🧵

Conditioning funding based on a recipient’s support or opposition to a particular political candidate or party is a violation of the Hatch Act. The Office of Special Counsel must investigate the Trump admin's "partisan punishment of American citizens."

Trump administration’s politicized federal grant decisions violate the Hatch Act - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

The Trump administration’s admitted cancellation of federal grants to states based on their political identity is a Hatch Act violation.

citizensforethics.org

Trump became the presumptive GOP nominee on March 12, 2024, and within days, he started creating new companies and slapping his name on products. He hasn't stopped since. The tally now stands at 81 new businesses—36 since taking office (he started two more while I was drafting this report)

Trump incorporated dozens of new companies in lead up to second term—and never stopped - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

Trump filed a financial disclosure in June revealing he brought in more than $2.2 billion in revenue during 2025. We found that more than a third of that revenue came from dozens of companies Trump ha...

citizensforethics.org

One year ago, I started highlighting the growing number of enforcement matters that the FEC cannot resolve until we regain a quorum. Last year, there were 154. Now, it’s doubled to 307. We need a quorum to tackle this backlog and fully achieve the agency’s mission this election.

So Meta is donating $5 million to dark money groups for both the R and D sides of the house and senate. But I've been assured by SCOTUS that donors only contribute to these groups to fund speech they support....

Rick Hasen@rickhasen.bsky.social · 2mo ago

#ELB: Quote of the Day https://electionlawblog.org/2026/quote-of-the-day-183/

NEW: Trump reported bringing in over $2.2 billion in revenue during 2025. More than a third of that revenue came from dozens of companies Trump had just incorporated months before. The data makes clear Trump’s intention to capitalize on the presidency like *never* before.

👀 More examples of big super PAC contribs buying access to POTUS. By @issueonereform.bsky.social's count, these will be at least the 13th and 14th big money super PAC fundraising events President Trump will have attended since he was elected in Nov 2024. h/t @cbsnews.com @gabekaminsky.bsky.social

Massive political spending is an avenue for the sort of undue influence that most American voters view as corrupt. Restoring confidence in government will require major reforms to address the concentration of private wealth and public power.

Cyclospora Outbreak Shows Why So Many Americans Are Angry About Corruption

Following major lobbying and campaign spending from the food industry, an important safety rule has been delayed for years.

brennancenter.org

EXCLUSIVE: Committee Review Finds Trump Pardons Have Cost Crime Victims $1.7 Billion and Enriched Trump Allies macfarlanenews.substack.com/p/exclusive-...

NEW: Trump's second term has taken corruption to an entirely new level—expanding the ways he can profit from the presidency, reward allies and use the power of his office for personal gain. Here are 10 ways Trump's second term is even more corrupt than his first.

10 ways President Trump is more corrupt this term - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

Crypto schemes, corrupt politicians pardon, foreign deals, funding the ballroom, promoting his properties—Trump's corruption has worsened.

citizensforethics.org

NEW: With partners, @citizensforethics.org just filed suit on behalf of The Intercept and Freedom of the Press Foundation to stop TruthSocial's early access subscriptions. www.citizensforethics.org/legal-action...

Truth Social's $100,000-per-month subscription for early access to Trump posts is unconstitutional - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

President Trump's scheme to charge $100,000 per month for advance access to official government announcements on Truth Social violates the First and Fifth Amendments to the Constitution.

citizensforethics.org

But I've been assured that all the court decisions during that time striking down campaign finance laws have been expanding free speech rights (if you're rich enough to afford them of course)?

Jameel Jaffer@jameeljaffer.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Most Americans think the freedom of speech is eroding (hard to disagree with that) and, more disturbing still, that it will continue to erode over the next decade.

BREAKING: We just sued the Treasury Department for illegally withholding information about who is receiving settlement money from its Judgement Fund. Taxpayers need to know whether Jan. 6ers and Trump allies are getting massive payouts from the federal government.

CREW sues Treasury Department for concealing January 6th settlement details  - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

The Treasury Department is illegally concealing who is receiving settlement money from its Judgment Fund, obscuring whether January 6th insurrectionists are receiving payouts.

citizensforethics.org

NEW: The Jan. 6 insurrection left American taxpayers with $2.7 billion in costs that were never recovered. Now, convicted Jan. 6 defendants are trying to use the Federal Tort Claims Act to extract substantial and secretive payouts from the government.

January 6ers cost taxpayers $2.7 billion. Now they're seeking secret payouts. - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

January 6ers could seek negotiations for secretive payouts through the Federal Tort Claims Act should Congress fail to take action.

citizensforethics.org

We helped secure a big win for Arizona voters! The Arizona Supreme Court upheld Prop 211, the voter-approved law that reveals the original sources of money spent in elections and protects voters’ right to know who is spending big money to influence their vote. 1/3

Major Victory for Election Transparency as Arizona Disclosure Law is Upheld

In a huge victory for Arizonans, Campaign Legal Center, our local Arizona partners, and for the fight against dark money in our elections, the Arizona Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of...

campaignlegal.org

BREAKING: We filed for a temporary restraining order to block the transfer of $1.8B from the Treasury Dept to Trump's slush fund. Trump can't unilaterally and secretly disburse these taxpayer funds. The court must stop this grift before it's too late. www.citizensforethics.org/news/press-r...

CREW files for restraining order to immediately block Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

The court should issue a temporary restraining order to immediately halt the transfer of $1.776 billion to Trump’s secretive slush fund.

citizensforethics.org

BREAKING: We sued the DOJ, Treasury Department and IRS to block the Trump admin from handing out $1.8 billion in taxpayer funds to Trump's allies who claim to be victims of government weaponization. This settlement is one of the single most corrupt acts in American history.

CREW sues to block Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

The Trump administration’s $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” slush fund is unconstitutional and violates multiple federal laws.

citizensforethics.org

NEW: CLC and @citizensforethics.org are suing the FEC to stop a loophole that permits outside groups — like Elon Musk’s super PAC in 2024 — to coordinate with candidates and spend millions of dollars on canvassing.

New Lawsuit Challenges Illegal FEC Opinion That Greenlights Coordinated Spending on Canvassing

In a new lawsuit, Campaign Legal Center, alongside Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington (CREW) as co-counsel, is calling on the courts to step in and immediately declare a 2024 FEC Advisory O...

campaignlegal.org

BREAKING: We, alongside @campaignlegal.org, sued the FEC over its advisory opinion allowing wealthy donors and special interests to spend millions in coordination with candidates—while hiding who may be spending big to influence votes. The court must reject this illegal opinion.

CREW, CLC sue FEC to strike down unlawful advisory opinion on canvassing coordination - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

Campaign Legal Center and CREW filed a complaint asking the U.S. District Court for DC to strike down an unlawful 2024 FEC advisory opinion.

citizensforethics.org

Fascinating deep dive into backroom deals and double dealing that led to perhaps the most consequential campaign finance case that put up elections up for sale. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/06/u...

A Look Inside the Case That Enshrined Political Power for Billionaires

nytimes.com

NEW: We just submitted an amicus brief urging the court to reject the National Park Service's effort to remove an exhibit about freedom and slavery from Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. Read more:

CREW files amicus brief in support of restoring Freedom and Slavery Exhibit - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

Removing the Freedom and Slavery Exhibit at the Independence National Historical Park would undercut an accurate portrayal of U.S. history.

citizensforethics.org