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Aug 4, 2006 -- Legal Center Weekly Report: August 4, 2006 Legal Center Files Amicus Brief in Illegal Gratuities Case
On August 1, 2006, the Campaign Legal Center filed an amicus curiae brief in the case of United States v. Valdes, a case pending before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia sitting en banc. The Campaign Legal Center's brief supports the position of the United States in a case that could potentially undermine the gratuities statute.
Nelson Valdes, a former D.C. Metropolitan Police Department detective, was convicted in the District Court of accepting illegal cash gratuities in exchange for disclosing vehicle registration and arrest warrant information. Valdes obtained the information and gave it to an acquaintance, who turned out to be an FBI informant. The information Valdes obtained was taken from a database accessible only to law enforcement personnel. On appeal, a split D.C. Circuit panel ruled that Valdes' actions were not a sufficiently "formal" part of his job and thus did not constitute an "official act" within the meaning of the gratuities statute. The case is being watched closely because a ruling in Valdes' favor would significantly weaken the federal anti-gratuities statute and could have far-reaching implications. Oral argument is scheduled for September 2006.
To view the Legal Center's brief, click here.
Legal Center Urges Senate to Hold Redistricting Reform Hearings
On July 31, 2006, the Campaign Legal Center sent a letter to Chairman Sam Brownback (R-KS) urging him to hold hearings on Congressional redistricting before the end of the 109th Congress. The letter to Brownback, who chairs the Senate Judiciary's Subcommittee on the Constitution, stresses the need to hold hearings so that a serious discussion of the controversial redistricting issue can begin.
The Legal Center cites the importance of these hearings now, in the wake of the Supreme Court's recent decision in the Texas redistricting case (League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry) and the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. The letter states the bill introduced in the Senate - The Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act of 2006, S. 2350, introduced by Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) - can be used as starting points in consideration of this important issue.
To view the complete letter, click here.
To read the full text of the Fairness and Independence in Redistricting Act of 2005 (S. 2350), click here.
This week, David Vance, Director of Communications and Research, met with Mr. Ivan C. K. Choy, at the request of the U.S. State Department. A former journalist and current professor of Government at the University of Hong Kong, Mr. Choy is touring the U.S. as part of the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program. The meeting included discussions of past and current U.S. reform initiatives, Congressional ethics and government regulation and enforcement of campaign finance laws.
Legal Center Blog Highlights
Each week, the Campaign Legal Center staff posts blog entries on its site, www.clcblog.org. To read this week's entries, "Mr. Hastert Goes to Alaska," "Remember Public Integrity?" and "Fooled by the Fines?," or to sign up for blog updates, click here.
To read a variety of this week's editorials and articles on campaign finance, please click here.
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