White Collar Crime: Federal and Ohio: Campaign Finance Crimes

10/16/25

The Hill 10/17/25

MSNBC.com 9/25/25

Forbes 10/8/25

CNN 8/21/18 - including bank fraud and tax fraud.

The transcript.

3/19

7/23/19 Bijan Rafiekian,was convicted of failing to register as a foreign agent.

Politico 9/5/2019

CRS Report 10/9/19

8/2020

CNBC 12/15/20

12/23/20

MSNBC 9/19/21 Has a good discussion of the elements of the crime of making a false statement to the FBI.

Michael Sussman found not guilty of lying 6/1/22

NBC News 10/18/22

The US Supreme Court will decide in 2026 whether the limits on coordinated party expenditures in 52 U.S.C. § 30116 violate the First Amendment, either on their face or as applied to party spending in connection with "party coordinated communications" as defined in 11 C.F.R. " 109.37.

Criminal penalties for interfering in the election procsess

The Federal Election Campaign Act.

Limitations on contributions and expenditures of individuals.

Contributions or expenditures by national banks, corporations, or labor organizations. It is unlawful for any corporation to make a contribution or expenditure in connection with any election.

FECA creates a statutory dichotomy between non-willful violations involving any amount, and willful violations involving $2,000 or more within a calendar year. The former are expressly subject to the exclusive civil jurisdiction of the FEC. 52 U.S.C. §§ 30109(a), 30107(e). The latter are subject to both civil enforcement proceedings by the FEC and criminal prosecution by the Justice Department. 52 U.S.C. § 30109(a)(5)(B) & (C) & (D).

Federal Elections

Campaigns, Political parties

Coercing political contributions

Failure to file statements

Filing a complaint with Ohio Elections Commission

Infiltration of campaign - false statements in campaign materials - election of candidate.

Infiltration of campaign - false statements in campaign materials - issues.

Penalties

When the Ohio Election Commission finds a violation, by the appropriate evidentiary standard, of sections 3517.081 to 3517.13, 3517.17, 3517.18, 3517.20 to 3517.22, 3599.03, and 3599.031 of the Revised Code, it may refer the matter to the appropriate county prosecutor.

Ohio Capital Journal 8/4/25

GAO-20-66R: Published: Feb 3, 2020.

by Rick Hasen, a professor at University of California, Irvine Law School who specializes in election and campaign finance law.

Richard C. Pilger, Director, Election Crimes Branch, Public Integrity Section, US Dept of Justice. 2017

Federal Elections Commission

NBC News 2/18/21

Politico 2/8/21 He pled guilty to swindling investors out of $2.3 million and obscuring the source of political donations in a case closely tied to Rudy Giuliani.

DOJ 3/17/20

8/19/24

AP News 6/29/22

MSNBC 11/18/22

US Attorney's Office 5/9/24

Huff Post 12/16/24, but Trump's sentencing is indefinitely delayed.

Ohio Capital Journal 6/16/23

Meet the Press 12/9/18. Sen. Paul makes the classic mistake of confusing civil and criminal violations of campaign finance law. Criminal violations contain a "willfully" element. Just making a mistake in paperwork is civil.