On February 8, 2016, CfA, on behalf of activist investor Stephen Silberstein, petitioned the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to order the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to act on Mr. Silberstein’s pending request for an SEC rule that would require corporations to disclose their political contributions and other corporate political spending.
On February 3, 2016, CfA filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) requesting an investigation into illegal coordination between the campaign of Andrew Heaney, who is running for Congress in New York’s 19th district, and a super PAC he appears to have established, New York Jobs Council.
On December 16, 2015, congressional leaders unveiled an omnibus spending bill that prohibits the SEC from requiring corporations to disclose their political spending. Congressional negotiators included the provision, known as a “policy rider,” despite overwhelming public support for increased disclosure of campaign contributions.
On December 15, 2015, asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate three former Obama administration officials, David H. Stevens, Michael D. Berman and Jim Parrott, for possible violations of laws restricting post-employment activities. While working for the government, all three had focused on the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. After joining the private sector, they continued to work on this issue, now on behalf of some of the country’s largest banks.
On December 8, 2015, CfA issued a statement in response to the press conference held by Councilman Michael Kubosh and Councilman Dave Martin.
On November 10, 2015, CfA filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, alleging Sen. Robert Corker (R-TN) may have engaged in insider trading and made false statements on his personal financial disclosure forms in violation of federal law and Senate rules.
On November 3, 2015, CfA asked the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Federal Election Commission to investigate Sheldon Adelson and the Las Vegas Sands Corporation’s ties to Chinese organized crime in its Macau operations and determine whether illegally laundered foreign funds are making their way into the campaign coffers of American politicians.
On November 2, 2015, CfA released a new report, Academic Deception, exposing the payday lending industry’s efforts to produce so-called “academic research” to promote its agenda.
On October 21, 2015, the Utah Attorney General’s Office concluded its investigation of Utah State Rep. Ken Ivory.
On October 5, 2015, CfA asked the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate 11 members of Congress for possible criminal and ethics violations by accepting contributions from the payday lending industry shortly before or after taking official actions in support of the industry.