SKELOS CONVICTION TOSSED. NYT. “A federal appeals panel on Tuesday overturned the 2015 corruption convictions of Dean G. Skelos, once the powerful majority leader of the New York State Senate, and his son, Adam B. Skelos, toppling the final bookend of what had been historic, back-to-back convictions of two of Albany’s most entrenched leaders.”
BOARD ROLE IN CORPORATE SPENDING. WSJ. “More large companies are disclosing how they spend to influence government, and company boards are taking on a more direct role in overseeing that spending, a new study finds.”
ADS AND CANDIDATES. POL. “Other advertisements paid for by shadowy Russian buyers criticized Hillary Clinton and promoted Donald Trump. Some backed Bernie Sanders and his platform even after his presidential campaign had ended, according to a person with knowledge of the ads.”
SMITH ON ADS. CCP. “Foreign meddling in U.S. elections is not an issue to take lightly. If foreign governments are attempting to undermine our democracy, the FEC can play only a minor role in our response. The Department of Justice and our intelligence agencies should lead the way.”
SPECIAL COUNSEL LOOKS AT FLOW. ABC. “Three Americans with significant Russian business connections contributed almost $2 million to political funds controlled by Donald Trump, ABC News has learned.”
BAN IMPOSSIBLE? POL. “Lost amid the debate over whether Facebook can be trusted to police itself to stop Russian and other foreign interference in future U.S. elections or whether new legislation is necessary to accomplish this task is a potential insuperable roadblock to effective regulation: the conservative justices on the United States Supreme Court and their views of the First Amendment.”
FL: RACE DEPARTURE. MH. “The Miami-Dade state attorney’s office has uncovered evidence that Grieco used a straw donor to conceal at least one illegal contribution from a foreign national, according to sources familiar with a public corruption investigation that began in late June.”
MD: EXPENSES TO BE REPAID. BS. “Former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has agreed to repay her campaign more than $5,000 after a state audit determined the spending was not related to campaign activities.”
HAVE A GOOD DAY.