Newsletter: Not Above the Law

Donald Trump has become the first president in U.S. history to be convicted of a felony.
 
The jury in his hush money trial found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records. The verdict could have major implications for the presidential election, and is an important reminder that no one — not even former presidents — are above the law.
 
Our democracy depends on an informed public and leaders who are held accountable. That’s why this week American Oversight and the ACLU of Arizona sued Sheriff Mark Lamb and Pinal County, Ariz., for the release of a range of public records that could shed light on Lamb’s election denial and anti-immigration activities. 
 
Lamb has emerged as a key figure in the far-right constitutional sheriffs movement, whose adherents believe that sheriffs are the ultimate authority in determining the constitutionality of the laws they must enforce. 

• Following Trump’s verdict, which he denounced Friday in a speech packed with lies, Lamb’s deputy posted to Instagram an image of an upside-down flag.
• The upside-down flag, once used to mean an instance of extreme danger to life or property, has been co-opted as a symbol of the “stop the steal” movement. It’s what was flying in early 2021 outside of the home of Justice Samuel Alito, who this week refused to recuse himself from cases related to Jan. 6.

• Lamb’s communications with organizations and individuals who falsely claim widespread voter fraud and undermine public confidence in the 2020 election;
• Documents related to his attendance at a June 2022 rally put on by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a group known for its anti-immigrant initiatives; and
• Records that could shed light on his ties to the constitutional sheriffs movement.

• The order was rescinded by President Biden shortly after taking office in 2021. It would now be harder — but not impossible — for a potential second Trump administration to reinstate the policy, which would strip federal employees of certain protections and make it easier to hire or fire them. And Trump reportedly intends to reimpose it if elected.
• We sued the Office of Personnel Management in February for related communications with the Trump White House, as well as for guidance and directives and any records of internal dissent.
• This week’s proposed amendment adds the Office of Management and Budget as a defendant, and now includes three additional records requests to which OMB has failed to provide a sufficient response.

• American Oversight obtained contracts that show ADF represented Labrador’s office in US v. Idaho, Washington v. FDA, Roe v. Critchfield, and Poe v. Labrador.
• In each case, ADF — which the Southern Poverty Law Center classifies as an anti-LGBTQ hate group — agreed to represent Labrador’s office “without charge.”
• Read more about our investigation into attacks on gender-affirming care here.

• This week, the New York Times published an in-depth investigation of the conservative network that brought about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, in which ADF plays a central role.
• We’ve uncovered other records showing ADF’s influence, including at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the offices of Florida Gov. DeSantis and conservative state lawmakers.

• Florida is using a fraud-hunting tool used by the right to look for voters to remove from the rolls (NBC News)
• Jenna Ellis, Trump lawyer who pleaded guilty in Georgia case, is barred from practicing law in Colorado for three years (Colorado Sun)
• Rudy Giuliani receives summons in Arizona fake electors case at birthday party (Arizona Republic)
• Eastman is first Trump ally arraigned in Arizona election case (New York Times)
• Nessel, Benson remind county canvassing boards about their duty to certify election results (Michigan Advance)
• Activists fail to convince Board of Elections to move toward hand-counting (South Dakota Searchlight)
• Judge wants to throw out lawsuit alleging fraud in Shasta County's primary election (Redding Record Searchlight)
• Virginia board considers ousting GOP election official accused of sharing voting machine info (Virginia Mercury)
• Michigan clerks hit with 'new reality' as activists seek voting records in lawsuits (Detroit News)
• After Florida left voting system, tips about illegal voters plummeted (Tampa Bay Times)

• Prominent pollster spreads Dominion voting machine misinformation (Washington Post)
• Texas officials compromised ballot secrecy as they increased election transparency (Votebeat/Texas Tribune)
• Pennsylvania’s rule on dating mail ballots faces new challenge in state court (Votebeat)
• Bill to require citizenship documents for NH voter registration would be unique in US (New Hampshire Bulletin)

• At least 66 members of far-right group in rural Oregon standing for office (Guardian)
• Group seeks to recall Assembly Speaker Robin Vos a second time (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Texas’ attorney general is increasingly using consumer protection laws to pursue political targets (ProPublica)
• Pronouns and tribal affiliations are now forbidden in South Dakota public university employee emails (Associated Press)
• Therapists, social workers face scrutiny in Missouri AG investigation of transgender care (Missouri Independent)
• Atlanta police surveil people opposing ‘Cop City’: ‘There’s this constant stalking feeling’ (Guardian)

• Amy Coney Barrett’s husband is representing Fox in a lawsuit (Rolling Stone)
• County sheriffs wield lethal power, face little accountability: ‘A failure of democracy’ (CBS News)

• Despite pressure, Amarillo City Council punts on abortion travel ban petition (Texas Tribune)
• Tennessee governor OKs penalizing adults who help minors receive abortions, gender-affirming care (Associated Press)
• Nebraska activists seek to put opposing abortion questions on the ballot (NPR)
• Nebraska abortion initiative with the most votes would become law, if voters pass more than one (Nebraska Examiner)

• School choice programs have been wildly successful under DeSantis. Now public schools might close. (Politico)
• Free speech groups say Florida misrepresents book objection law, causing mass removals (Palm Beach Post)
• How did Moms for Liberty end up on WA’s approved list of groups training teachers? (News from the States)
• Critics call updated training for public school librarians on book challenges confusing (Florida Phoenix)

• New records shed small light on state dollars spent for Rokita discipline, Bernard cases (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
• Journalism groups sue Wisconsin Justice Department for names of every police officer in state (Associated Press)

• Inside Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s growing alliance (Wall Street Journal)
• Trump makes sweeping promises to donors on audacious fundraising tour (Washington Post)