Ciara Torres-Spelliscy
Washington Monthly
Gulfport, FL, United States
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Past articles by Ciara:
Lawyers Risk Their Law Licenses Helping Smarmy Politicians
From Watergate to the Big Lie, attorneys on the wrong side of the ethical line should face disbarment and sanctions. → Read More
Beware of ‘Scam PACs’ and PACs that Scam
Tricks can leave political donors hoodwinked. → Read More
Georgia’s New Voter Suppression Law and Corporate Support
Georgia-based companies have gotten backlash from voting advocates for their silence on new regressive legislation. As history shows, it’s working. → Read More
Follow the Money Behind the Capitol Riot
Super PACs contributed to the officials who objected to certifying the 2020 election results, writes Brennan Center Fellow Ciara Torres-Spelliscy. → Read More
How the Capitol Riot Is Affecting Corporate Political Spending
Some major brands are pausing donations to members of Congress who tried to reject the presidential election results. → Read More
20 Things We Learned About Money in Politics in 2020
For fresh examples of why we need to reform our political system, look no further than the past 12 months. → Read More
Dark Money in the 2020 Election
The 2020 federal elections included at least $100 million in the spending of dark money, which hides its true funders. As I detailed here, 2020 will eventually be in the Guinness World Records as the most expensive election ever. The previous winner was Obama’s reelection campaign in 2012. That race was a standout for another reason: it featured the most dark money spent in any federal election… → Read More
A Win Against Dark Money Eight Years in the Making
A federal court has ruled in favor of stronger disclosure requirements just in time for the November 2020 elections, writes Brennan Center Fellow Ciara Torres-Spelliscy. → Read More
Is Facebook Caving on Political Ads?
Change might be coming after civil rights advocates led an advertiser boycott. → Read More
Supreme Court Delivers a Blow to Secret Campaign Spending
The Supreme Court has flashed a warning signal against attempts to evade campaign finance disclosure laws, argues Brennan Center Fellow Ciara Torres-Spelliscy. → Read More
Helping Moms and Dads Become Candidates
A campaign spending rule change makes it easier for parents to run for office. → Read More
19 Things We Learned About Money in Politics in 2019
The year in campaign finance had highs and lows (mostly lows). → Read More
The Fourth Circuit’s Failure of Imagination with Emoluments
Trump has refused to fully divest from his business and continues to receive money from constitutionally prohibited sources, writes Brennan Center Fellow Ciara Torres-Spelliscy. → Read More
The Sheer Weirdness of an Illegal Inaugural
Trump’s team may have violated some of the few campaign finance regulations that still apply to inaugural committees. → Read More
Beware of Scam PACs in This Crowded Presidential Field
People are pretending to fundraise for political candidates while enriching themselves, argues Brennan Center Fellow Ciara Torres-Spelliscy. → Read More
How Will the Courts Handle the Trump Emoluments Cases?
Americans should know whether they’re voting for someone who is putting their own wallet ahead of the national interest. → Read More
Trump's Whataboutism on Campaign Finance
A favorite talking point used by the president and his allies to downplay his potential campaign finance violations is bogus. Here's why. → Read More
18 Things We Learned About Money in Politics in 2018
From dark money to mystery spies, it was a busy year for money in politics. → Read More
Fixing Campaign Finance Needs to Be at the Center of Democracy Reform
In the years following the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling, fixing the way campaigns are funded was at the center of the discussion about reforming our democracy. But in recent years, as concerns about voter suppression and gerrymandering have rightly grown, accompanied by a cavalcade of ethical sleaze from the Trump administration, the issue has at times taken a backseat. In the… → Read More
The Fight For Voting in Florida Isn't Over
We need to make sure the newly enfranchised exercise their right to vote. And the state can help. → Read More