CONVICTION TOSSED.  BLT.  “The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit vacated the wire fraud conviction of a former Capitol Hill staffer on Friday, in a ruling that addresses when a defendant can erase convictions after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors.”

FINRA LOBBYING.  Story here.  “The Wall Street regulator of broker-dealers has decreased its spending on lobbying federal lawmakers substantially over the past year, in part because it’s not pushing for legislation that would allow it to expand its reach to investment advisers.”

AK:  MILLER ISSUE.  Story here.  “Even before tea party candidate Joe Miller gets his campaign going for a possible U.S. Senate run in 2014, his campaign spending may already be under the lens.”

AZ: LAWSUIT ON LIMITS.  Story here.  “Members of the Citizens Clean Elections Commission asked the Arizona Supreme Court Wednesday to void a new state law that sharply raises — and in some cases blows the cap off — how much candidates can collect in campaign donations from individuals and political action committees.”

LA:  CAR CURIOUS.  Story here.  “Harahan Police Chief Mac Dickinson drives a police car, owned by the city, and a personal vehicle that he bought with his own money. In June he asked the Louisiana Board of Ethics whether he may use $3,000 from his campaign coffer to buy a new ride that he might use for both political and personal use.”

SC:  REFUND ISSUE.  Story here.  “Politicians typically don’t like to return donations, but Democratic S.C. Senate 42 candidate Emanuel Ferguson is trying to do just that.  With a $1 donation.”

VA:  DENTAL ALLEGATION.  WJLA.  “Federal investigators are looking into whether Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s wife received free dental care from a dentist who the governor appointed to the Virginia Commonwealth University board of visitors, The Washington Post reports.”

VA:  IS IT CORRUPT?  Lithwick.  “If you’re looking for indoor fun in 100-degree weather, go ahead and Google Virginia’s ethics laws for elected officials.”

HAVE A GREAT DAY.