CIMA Law Group Blog

Lawsuit Emerges: NRA Illegally Funded Trump

FILE - President Donald Trump listens as Republican Senate candidate Josh Hawley speaks during a campaign rally at Columbia Regional Airport, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, in Columbia, Mo. A federal lawsuit accuses the National Rifle Association of violating campaign finance laws by using shell companies to illegally funnel up to $35 million to Republican candidates, including former President Trump, Sen. Hawley of Missouri and others. The Campaign Legal Center filed the lawsuit Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, in Washington on behalf of Giffords, a gun control nonprofit founded by former Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) — **Former President Trump listens to** **Republican candidate** **speaking at a campaign rally**

A Federal lawsuit arises as the NRA is accused of illegally funding Former President Trump’s Campaign and other Republican Candidates. The lawsuit alleges they violated finance laws by using shell companies to illegally raise up to $35 million. This, however, is no news as The Campaign Legal Center founded by Gabrielle Giffords, representing the 8th District of Arizona, accuses the NRA of violations that date back to 2014. As a result of the illegal funneling scheme, the former President received up to $25 million for his 2016 campaign.

Gabrielle Giffords first publicized these allegations in 2018 when she filed several complaints to the Federal Election Committee against the misconduct of the NRA. However, the FEC failed to bring any action which resulted in Giffords filing a lawsuit against the NRA to bring awareness to the public eye and demand accountability. Furthermore, the lawsuit more specifically accuses the Cotton, Tillis, and Gardener campaign in the 2014 election. The Johnson and Trump campaigns in the 2016 election, and the Hawley and Rosendale campaigns in the 2018 election.

NRA HQ — **NRA** **defends itself by claiming the public has a clear anti-freedom agenda**

Moreover, it also highlights how GOP candidates received excess and secret aid by coordinating with Two NRA affiliates — National Rifle Association of America Political Victory Fund and the National Rifle Association of America Institute for Legislative Action. It was found they were linked because they utilized similar vendors and people for campaign ads. Due to this, the Lawsuit seeks an official order that prevents the NRA from repeating these violations in the future and, it seeks to penalize them by matching the amount that was supposedly spent unlawfully during the campaign being, $35 million.

This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group Blog. If you are in need of legal help, the CIMA Law Group is a law firm in Phoenix, Arizona which possesses expertise in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.

How Do Virginia’s Elections Impact the Furure of Politics?

With Biden’s midterm election quickly approaching, cracks are starting to show in the Democrat’s hold on the legislature across the country.

Republican’s completed an election sweep in Virginia as they won the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. A Republican hadn’t won the governor’s race in Virginia since 2009. With these victories, Republicans hold the majority in the House of Delegates, and Democrats are beginning to worry about their standing heading into the 2022 and 2024 election cycle. With Biden still having yet to sign off on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, voters are becoming impatient. Constituents from across party lines are not satisfied with the lack of progress. President Biden has seen a major decline in approval rating over the last few months among Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike.

One major issue within the Democratic party is the contrast between senators like Joe Manchin and Bernie Sanders. These senators, although both part of the Democratic party, couldn’t be more different. Bernie Sanders pride’s himself on pushing America toward a more leftist vision while Manchin is still very much a swing vote. This conflict reared its head in recent weeks as Democrats attempted to pass the infrastructure bill and had to make several concessions to satisfy Senators like Manchin and Sinema.

The Bidan administration remains hopeful that both the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the social spending package will both be passed in the near future and thus bring back Biden’s approval rating to a more workable number for Democrats. Democrats know that in order to keep the majority in the House and Senate they must be willing to spend money regardless of the deficit.

$1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill Awaits President Biden’s Signature

House Democrats pass $1.2 trillion dollar infrastructure bill Friday night, November 5.

A $1.2 trillion dollar infrastructure bill was passed by congress on November 5 and is being sent to President Joe Biden’s desk where it awaits his signature. The house passed the bipartisan plan for the bill on Friday night. Saturday, President Biden said he will hold a signing ceremony when legislators return from recesses.

The new legislation is intended to reach all areas of the country and is considered to be a historical investment, with President Biden comparing it to the development of the transcontinental railroad and Interstate Highway System. The executive branch has also predicted the new infrastructure bill to add two million jobs to the American economy annually over the next decade.

Amidst a crumbling infrastructure the bill will spend $550 billion dollars on improving the nations highways, roads, broadband, water and energy systems. According to a report made by the American Society of Civil Engineers, which rated the nation’s infrastructure at a C-, this investment is sorely needed to ensure safe travel and transport of goods.

Visual representation of how money will be spent in the infrastructure bill.

The infrastructure bill is roughly half the price of President Biden’s $2.25 trillion dollar bill proposed in March known as the American Jobs Plan, and Democrats claim that this infrastructure bill is mostly being paid for by itself.

Democratic legislators claim that the five year spending package will be paid for by tapping into unspent COVID-19 relief aid and unemployment insurance. These statements are in contrast to a report made by the Congressional Budget Office, which reported that the bill would ultimately add $256 billion to the deficit over the next ten years.

Immigrant Families Separated at the Border May Receive $450,000 in Compensation

The U.S. Department of Justice is currently considering making payments of $450,000 to every immigrant affected by family separation policies at the border. These payments would serve as compensation for lasting psychological harm resulting from previous border policy.

Almost needless to say, this plan drew instant backlash from Republican politicians. They argue that the family separation policy was essentially forced by the Flores Settlement Agreement, which occurred during the Clinton administration and put restrictions on the detention of alien minors. The terms of this settlement, they say, forces the administration to choose between family separation and catch-and-release policies. Additionally, they argue that such a payment only incentivizes more illegal immigration than our borders can handle.

But, even if you accept this criticism, these payments are possibly cheaper than the alternative. These $450,000 payments are essentially settlement offers. Legal experts say that if such a claim went to trial, a jury could foreseeably award much greater amounts in damages. This plan, then, can be thought to maximize accountability at a minimized cost.

No matter which side you fall on the issue, the DOJ’s plan to make these payments raises interesting questions about the consequences of our border policy. If the terms of the Flores Settlement truly force an administration to choose between family separation or catch-and-release, how should the government address the consequences of that dichotomy? If both policies produce negative consequences, how does the government minimize harm?

Texas Abortion Ban: Supreme Court hears Oral Arguments

Supreme Court declines to block Maine health care employee vaccine mandate - CNNPolitics — **Supreme Court of the United States hears oral arguments from the Providers and the Biden Administration**

Today, Monday, November 1st the Supreme Court of the United States heard the Oral arguments for the recent Texas Abortion Ban. To provide some context, the State of Texas passed Senate Bill 8 — a law that prohibits abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. In continuance, if a woman receives help when she undergoes an abortion, the person helping her could be sued under S.B.8. As a result of this unprecedented decision, there has been controversy surrounding this issue ever since it became effective on September 1st, 2021. However today, the Supreme Court heard the arguments against the Texas Abortion ban while it remains in place throughout the state of Texas. Although a decision won’t be made for months, it decided to hear the parties before it dictates a direction.

Capitol Police officers stand guard as abortion rights demonstrators participate in a protest at the Supreme Court. — **Supreme Court justices raise questions and concerns during** **the proceeding to gain clarity about the purpose**

After the hearing concluded, it seems that the court may allow the providers to challenge the Texas Abortion Law, but perhaps not the Biden Administration to challenge it. “Justice Barrett said the law was structured to prevent the providers from presenting a ‘full constitutional defense.'” Furthermore, the purpose of this proceeding isn’t to declare it to be constitutional or unconstitutional but to remit it to the lower courts. It lacked clarity because it allowed the law to remain in place while the case was moving forward. Due to this action, the reality in Texas caused clinics to turn away women seeking an abortion and as a result, they turned to out-of-state clinics.

This Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, photo shows the Supreme Court in Washington. The Supreme Court's decision this past week not to interfere with the state's strict abortion law, provoked outrage from liberals and cheers from many conservatives. President Joe Biden assailed it. But the decision also astonished many that Texas could essentially outmaneuver Supreme Court precedent on women's constitutional right to abortion. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) — **The court is scheduled to hear a relative case, where Mississippi urges the court to consider overruling Roe V. Wade**

Moreover, the court will also tackle another case on December 1st that interconnects with this one, where Mississippi will challenge the monumental, Roe V. Wade. Here, the state of Mississippi is eager to urge the Supreme Court to overrule Roe v. Wade on the grounds that it is unconstitutional. Despite these claims, the landmark case is designed to protect the rights of private citizens from restrictions placed on them by the government, which is constitutional. Now although the legal questions in both cases differ, the main inquiry about the extension of governmental powers remains the same. Should the government extend its powers in a case that would not only shut down future cases regarding the protection of the private right, but also enforce a federal restriction that would oversee all women seeking an abortion? The controversy around this question remains as external pressure from both sides of the spectrum seek an answer.

Texas Law Banning Most Abortions Taken Up By Supreme Court

On Monday the supreme court is hearing various arguments regarding the Texas law that has outlawed most abortions in the state. The hearing does not apply to abortion directly but rather if past landmark Supreme Court rulings conflict with the Texas law. If the Supreme Court rules that they due conflict then the federal government would be able to sue Texas. Many have speculated on how a Republican majority supreme court might make changes to precedent of famous abortion cases such as Roe. Vs Wade or Planned Parenthood Vs. Casey.

One notable aspect of the hearing is that a conservative justice must have changed positions regarding the Texas law. Justice Brett Kavanaugh is the most likely to switch positions as he is most aligned with institutional protection. Michael C. Dorf, a law professor at Cornell, says “Kavanaugh is probably the most susceptible to changing positions, mostly because I see him as most closely aligned with the chief’s institutional-protection instincts, but I don’t think he’s very susceptible.” Brett Kavanaugh has garnered a considerable amount of power considering the political leaning of the other justices.

The law, which has been in place since September, has outlawed abortions in which cardiac activity is detected and doesn’t make any exceptions for rape or incest. This widely controversial law has decreased public approval of the supreme court in recent months. Some have speculated that this supreme court hearing is an attempt to gain back public approval.

Haiti Kidnaps US Missionaries

According to a study released recently by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, at least 328 kidnappings were documented to Haiti’s National Police during the first eight months of 2021, compared to 234 for the entire year of 2020. Compared to the United States ranking 30th for crime level, Haiti has ranked 1st with a 34% difference.

Members of a gang have recently kidnapped a total of 16 Americans and one Canadian all of who formed part of a U.S.-based missionary group. There are adults from the ages 18 to 48 and children from 8 months to 15 years among the missionaries kidnapped. These missionaries had been helping rebuild homes that were lost during the 7.2 earthquakes back on August 14th. Their mission was to minister throughout Haiti’s impoverished country. Unfortunately, their work did not seem worthy of this criminal affiliation.

The members of the missionary had just returned from a visit to an orphanage, where they dedicated their time when they were abducted. According to the Christian Aid Ministries, the missionaries carried out tasks such as distributing Christian literature, giving clinics the medicine they needed, and helping the elderly of the community get fed.

The group of individuals involved in the kidnapping is asking for $1million per person coming to a total of $17million. Kidnappings of foreign assistance workers were once uncommon, despite the fact that kidnapping has long been a threat to Haitians. In August, the United States State Department issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advice for Haiti, citing kidnappings, criminality, and civil turmoil.

In light of the recent event, missionary organizations have decided to stay home but continue to influence the support of Haitians.

Fatality Following Large Group of Swimmers Entering San Diego Border

A total of 36 individuals were detained at the San Diego beach border after trying to swim around a metal border fence that spans into the Pacific Ocean and divides Mexico and the United States.

© Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post

According to Customs and Border Protection, a woman passed away while attempting to come to the U.S. She was part of a group of roughly 70 migrants who attempted to enter the United States late Friday night by swimming from Tijuana, Mexico, past the border barrier and into San Diego.

One responding agent came upon a lone, unresponsive woman later thought to be among the same group of swimmers after an agent in the area reported multiple individuals in the water. Due to the frequency in the number of migrants attempting to reach California’s coast, CBP has been prompt to enhance patrolling operations along 114 miles of the coast.

There has been a rise in the number of migrants referring to the sea as means of transporting into the United States. CBP has continuously reported record levels in California’s Orange, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties. This year alone, the apprehension of 90 undocumented individuals crossing by sea has been reported. Members of the Department of Homeland Security’s Regional Coordination Mechanism (ReCoM), working with local law enforcement agencies, reacted to 12 smuggling incidents in the month of July alone.

The United States Border Patrol, along with Air and Marine Operations, the United States Coast Guard, the San Diego Fire Department, and California State Parks, continued to search the region for any missing persons who may have been in difficulty. Border Patrol agents apprehended 36 of 70 adult Mexican nationals who had swum around the border barrier, 25 men and 11 women, including 13 people rescued from the water by the US Coast Guard. All 36 immigrants were safely apprehended and sent to a nearby station to be processed.

From Facebook to the Metaverse: What You Should Know

Last Thursday CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerburg announced a huge rebranding of the social media giant, Facebook. The new brand, named Meta, brings together all of Facebook’s apps and technologies under one new parent company. “Meta” signifies the company’s new commitment to developing the “metaverse”, a 3D immersive version of the internet.

The company is marketing the metaverse as a space where humans will be able to live, work, and play. The creation of the metaverse holds endless opportunities for virtual reality developers, content creators, marketers, and other tech related fields. Experiences in the metaverse could include social connection, entertainment, gaming, fitness, work, education, and commerce. Instead of looking at a screen full of faces on video conference applications such as Zoom, imagine being in a virtual room with your coworkers when working “from home”.

This virtual world is composed of endless interconnected virtual communities. Although Facebook has its sights set on controlling the metaverse market, other tech companies are focused on creating the metaverse as well. With so many different companies looking to create their own virtual worlds, Facebook says it hopes to develop a set of standards that would allow people to “teleport” between worlds similar to jumping between different web pages.

Although Facebook is celebrating the rebranding of their name some critics speculate this rebranding is to distract attention from recent controversies surrounding privacy issues. It is also of concern that this virtual ad space will only open more opportunities for Facebook, or Meta, to harness people’s data.

Biden’s Scaled Back “Human Infrastructure” Package and Wealth Tax

Originally a $3.5 trillion dollar proposal, Biden’s social services and climate change package has been scaled back significantly to about $1.75 trillion. This has been the expected outcome for months as some concessions must to made in order for the plan to have enough votes.

“It is less than what was projected to begin with, but it’s still bigger than anything we have ever done in terms of addressing the needs of America’s working families,” Pelosi said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Lisa Mascaro and Hope Yen of AP News

This “human infrastructure” bill, as some Democrats are calling it, is crucial in the passing of the bipartisan infrastructure bill as well. Leading Democrats have been adamant that they will not vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill in the House until the social services bill is passed in the Senate. The social services bill includes expanded child tax credit, expanded Medicare, and various investments into climate change. Democrats have remained stubborn on the issue and have forced Biden to negotiate the social services package before the infrastructure bill is passed.

One key debate has been over how to pay for the social services bill. Initially the plan was to reverse the Trump administrations tax cuts and raise rates on corporations but this was quickly rejected by Democrat Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. Now the White House is considering a tax on the investment incomes of billionaires. Senator Joe Manchin has reportedly been okay with this kind of wealth tax however it is unclear how much of a tax he would support.

Biden said on Monday October 25th that he felt very positive about reaching an agreement on his domestic policy bill and hopes Congress can vote as soon as this week. Democrats have been working intensely so President Biden can spotlight his administrations accomplishments to world leaders at two overseas summits later this week.