White Collar Crime: Federal and Ohio: Campaign Finance Crimes

3/19

12/23/20

CNBC 12/15/20

2/20/18

2/16/18

Special Counsel Mueller's indictment of 2/16/18 of the Russian Internet Research Agency for conspiracy to defraud the US Government by meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
Indictment serves notice that forfeiture will sought as a part of any sentence.

Mr. Papadopoulos admitted that in a January interview with the F.B.I., he lied about his contacts with a Russian professor, whom he knew to have “substantial connections to Russian government officials,” according to court documents. Mr. Papadopoulos told the authorities that the conversation occurred before he became an adviser to Mr. Trump’s campaign. In fact, he met the professor days after joining the campaign. He pled guilty to violating 18 USC Sec. 1001. 10/30/17

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

The transcript.

Politico 9/5/2019

Bijan Rafiekian,was convicted of failing to register as a foreign agent.

CRS Report 10/9/19

8/2020

CNN 12/23/20

CNN 7/13/21 Stephen Calk, the former chairman and CEO of The Federal Savings Bank, was found guilty of conspiring with onetime Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort to exchange risky bank loans for a high-ranking position in the presidential administration.

Justice Dept press release 9/20/21

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

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

Cleveland.com 4/5/24

Ohio Capital Journal 7/28/23

2023

Ohio Capital Journal 6/16/23

Business Insider 12/30/22

Daily Beast 12/15/22

MSNBC 11/18/22

AP News 6/29/22

NBC News 2/18/21

DOJ 3/17/20

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.

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.

Campaigns, Political parties

Coercing political contributions

Failure to file statements

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

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

Penalties

Filing a complaint with Ohio Elections Commission

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.

End Citizens United is suing the Vance campaign for election donation violations. 6/6/22

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

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

Federal Elections Commission