Category: Challenging Foreign Influence

In a decision that tramples over a state’s right to protect its own democratic self-governance from foreign interference, a federal district court judge in Minnesota on February 7, 2025, permanently enjoined Minn. Stat. § 211B.15, a Minnesota statute that bars foreign-influenced corporations from spending unlimited money in Minnesota’s elections. The decision undermines the state’s authority
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If passed in the Assembly and signed into law, New York would be the second state following Minnesota to ban foreign-influenced corporations from spending money to influence state and local elections.  ALBANY, NY (January 14, 2025) – On January 13th, the New York State Senate passed, with bipartisan support, the Democracy Preservation Act (S324), a
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On September 26, 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted by federal prosecutors in Manhattan on five counts including soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. The evidence presented in this indictment, if proven in court, demonstrates the clear threat to our democracy and to the promise of American self-government when foreign actors try to
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HARRISBURG, PA—Following a three-day, 35-mile march from Lancaster to Harrisburg, on Monday, September 16th, MarchOnHarrisburg led a group of anti-corruption activists to the State Capitol Building to demand the State Senate follow the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and pass HB2433, a bill banning foreign-influenced corporations from spending money to influence state and local elections.  Alexandra
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On August 16, Free Speech For People and the Minnesota law firm, Lockridge Grindal Nauen, on behalf of Clean Elections Minnesota, filed an amicus brief in federal court in support of the State of Minnesota and its landmark law prohibiting foreign-influenced corporations from spending money in state elections. The law, which protects Minnesota voters and
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Congressman Jamie Raskin and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse are featured in a new video about their new bill to end foreign-influenced corporate spending in US elections.  The Get Foreign Money Out of Politics Act was reintroduced in July with 22 cosponsors in the House (H.R. 8988) and 4 cosponsors in the Senate (S.4666). The bill would
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A new op-ed in the Portland Press Herald by Free Speech For People’s Legal Director Courtney Hostetler and Counsel Amira Mattar makes the case that Maine voters have the right to prohibit foreign government-influenced corporations from spending money to try and sway Maine’s elections. They write: The ballot measure passed in Maine effectively puts an
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A new nationwide poll from Data for Progress shows strong support among voters for banning foreign-influenced corporate money in our elections.  82% of voters agree that there should be new limits on U.S. corporations spending money in our elections if the corporations have any foreign ownership.  72% of voters support a proposal to ban companies
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The Get Foreign Money out of US Elections Act aims to close a loophole that allows foreign investors to influence US elections.  WASHINGTON (July 10, 2024)—Congressman Jamie Raskin and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse re-introduced the Get Foreign Money Out of Politics Act today. Rep. Raskin filed H.R.8988 with 22 cosponsors. And Sen. Whitehouse filed S.4666 with 4 cosponsors. The
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HARRISBURG, PA (July 1, 2024)—Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed HB2433 with bipartisan support. The bill bans foreign-influenced corporations from spending money to influence state and local elections. If passed by the State Senate and signed into law, this bill would close a significant loophole to preserve American self-government and to strengthen democracy in
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