On November 13, 2019, CLC submitted this statement to the Interim Judiciary Committee of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, on behalf of North Dakotans for Public Integrity. The statement urges the Committee to implement North Dakota’s new state constitutional amendment, Article XIV, in a way that provides transparency in election spending. An effective implementation of Article XIV would make sure that there are no loopholes by which wealthy special interests can secretly spend in North Dakota elections and keep their identities hidden from the public. The Committee has an opportunity now to ensure that state law complies with the transparency mandate in Article XIV and that North Dakotans have the information they need to effectively participate in our democracy.

By state, learn how online ad archives are hosted and what information must be made public.

In the face of Congressional inaction on the critical issue of online political ad transparency, states have picked up the slack, and are passing effective digital ad disclosure policies. These are the most important features of those laws.

A supplemental handbook for community leaders and activists in Davidson County to help people with felony convictions restore their right to vote. To be used in tandem with the “Restore Your Vote Tennessee Rights Restoration Manual.”

Public financing is a promising way to amplify the voices of all citizens in a democracy of, by, and for the people. A well-designed program can create an incentive for candidates to fundraise and connect with the people they seek to represent.

A supplemental handbook for community leaders and activists in Shelby County to help people with felony convictions restore their right to vote. To be used in tandem with the “Restore Your Vote Tennessee Rights Restoration Manual.”

A checklist of tasks that can guide efforts to implement successfully a voting rights restoration law.

32 states require online political ads to either to include disclaimers directly or make disclaimer information available via link.

Campaign Legal Center requests that the Interior Inspector General review emails between Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and members of the agency ethics staff. The emails raise questions about whether Mr. Bernhardt used his authority and influence to interfere with ethics advice.

This manual is designed to provide all the tools citizens with convictions, activists, and advocates need to help people in Iowa know if they can vote or to restore their right to vote.

This manual is designed to provide all the tools citizens with convictions, activists, and advocates need to help people in Alabama know if they can vote or to restore their right to vote.

CLC sent its original FEC complaint, its supplemental FEC complaint, and a separate cover letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Available evidence suggests not only that Donald J. Trump, the Trump campaign, and the Trump Foundation committed civil violations of campaign finance law, over which the FEC has jurisdiction, but also that those respondents may have committed criminal violations of campaign finance law by knowingly and willfully violating the Federal Election Campaign Act’s soft money restrictions. DOJ has the authority to prosecute knowing and willful violations of federal campaign finance law.

CLC filed a supplemental complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) outlining additional facts, including a New York state court decision and settlement agreement, that came to light after CLC filed its original complaint against Donald J. Trump, the Trump campaign, and the now-dissolved Trump Foundation.

On November 21, 2019, CLC also flagged this matter for DOJ.

CLC filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging that Donald Trump, his 2016 campaign committee, and the Donald J. Trump Foundation violated federal campaign finance law by soliciting and spending “soft money” funds in connection with his 2016 run for president. The complaint provides evidence and analysis in addition to the New York State Attorney General’s FEC referral on June 14.

Federal law prohibits candidates and their agents from soliciting and spending funds in connection with an election that don’t comply with federal contribution limits and reporting requirements.

On November 21, 2019, CLC filed a supplemental complaint with the FEC outlining additional facts. CLC also flagged this matter for DOJ. 

The office of Inspector General (IG) wrote a letter back to CLC to announce that it is opening an investigation into potential ethics violations committed by multiple Department of the Interior senior executives, after CLC flagged this for the IG in a complaint filed on February 20.

CLC filed an ethics complaint with Mary Kendall, the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of the Interior, to call to her attention the troubling conduct of Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. CLC is urging Kendall to conduct a full investigation to determine whether Bernhardt violated his ethics pledge, and whether he violated his ethical obligation to avoid the appearance of favoritism in government decision-making.

See also CLC’s March 28, 2019 supplement to the complaint.

The Office of Inspector General at the Department of the Interior responded to CLC's request for an investigation into potential ethics violations committed by several senior members of Interior including Acting Secretary Bernhardt.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of the Interior (DOI) responded to the complaints submitted by CLC and other groups about various conflicts of interest by David Bernhardt and announced on April 15, 2019 that it is opening an investigation.

CLC sent a letter to Interior’s Inspector General in response to the February 19, 2019 memo from Interior ethics officials seeking to retroactively clear Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt’s participation in California water matters. CLC filed a complaint in February alleging that Bernhardt violated his ethics pledge by participating in these matters.

See also CLC’s original February 28, 2019 complaint.

The conduct of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has shown a concerning pattern with respect to his compliance with the legal requirements of public service and his stewardship of public funds. CLC is urging the Inspector General to open a full investigation into these matters and take appropriate action.