[Political Activity Law]

OK TO KUSHNER.  NYT.  “Hours after President Trump took his oath on Friday, the Justice Department issued an opinion saying that his appointment of his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as a senior White House adviser would be lawful despite a federal antinepotism law.”

UPDATED INVESTIGATIONS MANUAL.  InsidePoliticalLaw. “Covington today released an updated version of its manual for Chiefs of Staff to Members of Congress concerning best practices for responding to government investigations of Members and their staff.”

OGE HEAD ADMONISHED.  Fortune.  “Lawmakers from both parties on Monday admonished a federal ethics official who sent a series of tweets commenting on President Donald Trump’s potential conflicts of interest.”

BEHIND COMPLAINT.  WFB.  “Lawsuits filed against President Donald Trump over his alleged violation of a constitutional conflict-of-interest provision are part of a well-funded legal campaign orchestrated by leading Democratic operatives, internal documents show.”

RAVEL:  TRUMP ROLL BACK.  SB.  “There is ample reason to conclude that the new Trump administration and Congress may roll back some of the laws that were intended to protect our democracy, including those ensuring equal access to the ballot and limiting the disproportionate influence of money in the political process.”

RAVEL RETWEET.  WE.  “In retweeting an anti-Trump message, Commissioner Ann Ravel joined with those who marched against the president in the weekend women’s event.”

AK:  GROUP APPEALS.  AS.  “A group of Republicans trying to loosen campaign contribution limits in Alaska — following key decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years — is appealing a ruling by a federal judge in November that upheld the state’s strict limits.”

MD:  LOAN ISSUE.  BS.  “In the final days of Pugh’s effort to defeat rival Sheila Dixon in the April primary, her campaign received $315,000 in loans, including $100,000 from the Baltimore County Victory Slate.”

NJ:  PARTY WOES.  NJ.  “New Jersey’s political parties continued to lose their juice as a fundraising force in 2016, according to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, with coffers coming up short by one-third compared to a similar election cycle eight years ago.”

SD:  REPEAL REFORMS.  HP.  “On Monday afternoon, a joint committee of the South Dakota legislature approved emergency rules to immediately repeal the entire law. The next step is a vote on the floor of the state House of Representatives on Tuesday.”

VT:  TACKLING CAMPAIGN FINANCE.  VTD.  “Vermont’s attorney general and secretary of state are teaming up in an effort to improve compliance with campaign finance rules and to look at possible reforms.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

PAY TO PLAY SNARE.  LEX.  “The pay-to-play rule is designed to address pay-to-play abuses involving campaign contributions made by certain investment advisers or their covered associates to government officials who are in a position to influence the selection of investment advisers to manage government client assets, including public pension fund assets.”

EYEING FEC CHANGES.  CPI.  “Federal Election Commission leaders — dogged by abysmal staff morale and a top manager improperly obtaining employees’ confidential critiques — are considering changes to how the agency operates in a bid to restore staff trust.”

CA:  PROPOSAL EXPLAINED.  NC.  “One week after a group of Los Angeles pols swore off donations from real estate developers, one council member wants to take campaign finance reform a step further and make all donations taxpayer-funded.”

MD:  LOBBYIST REFORM PROPOSALS.  BS.  “Gov. Larry Hogan announced an ‘integrity in government initiative’ Thursday that he says would reform ethics rules on conflicts of interest and corruption.”

VT:  EXPLORING SOLUTIONS.  VB.  “Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan and Secretary of State Jim Condos today announced the launch of a cooperative effort to create a joint Committee on Campaign Finance Education, Compliance and Reform.”

WA:  SOS FINE.  FOX.  “The state Attorney General’s Office says a Thurston County Superior Court judge on Friday approved a $3,950 penalty against Wyman and her campaign, with half suspended as long as no further violations occur for the next four years. Wyman will also pay $8,140 in investigation costs and legal fees.”

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

SEC SETTLEMENTS.  WSJ  (h/t S. Sholk).  “Ten investment firms agreed to pay fines totaling more than $660,000 to settle charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission alleging they managed public pension money illegally after their employees made contributions to state political races.”

10 FIRMS VIOLATED PAY TO PLAY RULES.  SEC.  “The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that 10 investment advisory firms have agreed to pay penalties ranging from $35,000 to $100,000 to settle charges that they violated the SEC’s investment adviser pay-to-play rule by receiving compensation from public pension funds within two years after campaign contributions made by the firms’ associates.”

WHO GOT FINED?  BI.  “Here’s what happened, according to the SEC: In 2013, an employee at Pershing Square made a $500 campaign contribution to a candidate for governor of Massachusetts. Such a donation was not allowed because that candidate, if elected, had the ability to influence the selection of investment funds for the state’s pension plan, PRIM.”

SENTENCING IN IOWA CASE.  WHO. “Former State Senator Kent Sorenson will spend 15 months in prison for breaking campaign finance laws during the 2012 presidential campaign.”

NO LIMIT FOR STEYER.  Bloomberg.  “Tom Steyer, the billionaire environmental activist who spent at least $87 million on the 2016 election, said he can’t begin to estimate how much of his fortune he’ll put toward fighting Donald Trump’s presidency.”

CO:  ETHICS STALL.  DP.  “A Denver City Council committee on Tuesday delayed a vote on an ethics bill until Feb. 21 after members voiced confusion over new limits on meals and tickets they can accept from donors with a city interest.”

CT:  CU CHALLENGE.  Courant.  “Aresimowicz wants to hear ideas at a hearing that’s likely to happen in February. One idea he’s floating is to require out-of-state ‘independent expenditure’ groups to disclose all contributors, as in-state groups must do – not just the largest five.”

MT:  BILL OPPOSED.  BG.  “A bill to allow statewide and legislative candidates to use surplus funds from a past election in their next campaign for office drew opposition from the commissioner of political practices, who said incumbents would have an unfair advantage.”

PA:  LARGEST ETHICS FINE.  PM.  “The fine is the largest in the 10-year history of Philadelphia’s Ethics Board. Per the settlement agreement, Williams admitted his failure to disclose five sources of income and 89 gifts on the City Statements of Financial Interests he filed between 2010 and 2015. An amended statement Williams filed last August did not disclose 10 additional gifts.”

SC:  LEATHERMAN SEEKS DISCLOSURE.  PC.  “Senate President Pro Tempore Hugh Leatherman is aiming to start the ethics reform battle again this year with a renewed attempt to rid South Carolina of anonymous campaign donors and their so-dark money.'”

HAVE A GREAT DAY.