The Trump Justice Department is reversing the federal government’s Supreme Court defense of longstanding campaign finance laws and is now urging justices to strike down some of the last remaining limits on election spending.
To defend the law in the upcoming case — which was initially brought by Republicans including now-Vice President JD Vance — the court has appointed a former law clerk who worked for Justices Brett Kavanaugh and John Roberts. The attorney previously argued against government regulators and the expansive enforcement of anti-bribery laws, as he represented a top business lobbying group now fighting to repeal the campaign finance rule.
Taken together, the moves mean the little-noticed case is being surrounded by conservatives who could deliver the most sweeping c