📌 Judge's ruling invalidates FEC regulation on 'dark money' anonymous donations

[Wwcd]

https://www.politico.com/amp/story/2018/08/04/campaigns-dark-money-groups-donors-anonymous-ruling-762440?__twitter_impression=true

Judge's ruling invalidates FEC regulation allowing anonymous donations to 'dark money' groups
By BRENT D. GRIFFITHS 08/04/2018 04:11 PM EDT

A U.S. District Court judge on Friday issued a ruling invalidating a Federal Election Commission regulation that has allowed donors to so-called dark-money groups to remain anonymous, the latest development in a years-long legal battle that could have major implications for campaign finance.

Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled the FEC's current regulation of such groups, including 501(c) 4 non-profits, fails to uphold the standard Congress intended when it required the disclosure of politically related spending.

The decision paves the way for new requirements that could force nonprofits to disclose donors who give least $200 toward influencing federal elections. (Social-welfare nonprofits such as Crossroads GPS are allowed to spend money on elections so long as it's not their "major purpose."

In the post Citizens United era, spending by these groups has ballooned, but they have largely avoided having to report individual donors as a result of the FEC's belief that their names only need to be disclosed in limited circumstances.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a watchdog group that brought the suit against the FEC, hailed the decision as a "major game changer" for political spending.

"This ruling looks like a major game changer,” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) Executive Director Noah Bookbinder said in a statement. “Based on this ruling , the public should know a whole lot more about who is giving money for the purpose of influencing an election, and it will be much harder for donors to anonymously contribute to groups that advertise in elections.”

CREW sued the FEC after Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS, a 501(c) 4 offshoot of the former Bush aide's Crossroads super PAC, failed to disclose the names of contributors behind its $6 million effort to defeat Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in his 2012 race. A representative for Crossroads GPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Former FEC Commissioner Ann Ravel heralded the ruling as "groundbreaking" ....MORE AT LINK

[hlthe2b]

1. Some good news.... n/t

[pecosbob]

2. Hooray for CREW

[Lucky Luciano]

3. Not to worry. Judge Kavanaugh will be along shortly to reinstate this...

...under the cynical guise of “free speech!”

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. It's not free. It costs money. It's paid speech.

Trump: easiest politician Putin's money could buy.

[Lucky Luciano]

5. Hah...but I believe that free speech was the successful argument for citizens united. nt

[stuffmatters]

10. CU where SCOTUS Stephens famously opined that donor anonymity no problem for our democracy!

[Honeycombe8]

6. The same Judge handling the Mueller case fights? Oh, the Repubs are going to try to get rid of HER.

Don't know if there's anything they can do (thank goodness for at least part of our judiciary remaining intact), but they'll be looking for ways to get rid of her, or not be assigned to her.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. She just gutted a major potential defense tRump might have tried to pull:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142126697

[Honeycombe8]

13. I know. That's what I was referring to. The Repubs are going to go after her, or do what htey can...

not to get her on their cases.

I'm guessing they're doing research on her, looking for a reason to get her off these cases.

[elmac]

7. how could this fascist election commission rule even be allowed

when foreign governments could commit cyber warfare using dark-money groups to remain anonymous.

[BobTheSubgenius]

9. Judge Howell is on a ROLL!

If I could use a bigger font for "ROLL," I would. Two huge rulings almost simultaneously.

At the normal pace of federal political law, they are simultaneous.

[Hortensis]

16. :) Yes. Judge Howell's been causing Trump himself

grief for so long. I only wonder why he hasn't been hitting her with tweets "so hard" they make her "head spin." Maybe his aides are hiding her name from him.

Judge Beryl A. Howell, a principled judge where America needs her when we need her.

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[dlk]

11. Money Isn't Free Speech--Money Buys Speech

[FakeNoose]

12. Money buys access and influence

No court or judge can deny it, it's absolutely a given.

Finally they're going after Karl Rove's group, I hope he goes to jail. Throw a spotlight on all these maggots.

[malthaussen]

14. They'll appeal, of course. n/t

[northoftheborder]

15. I suppose this will not apply retroactively.