Eric Petry
@eepetry.bsky.social
Counsel in the Elections and Government Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, working to address money in politics and public corruption. Opinions my own.
Reposted by Eric Petry
President Trump has already made well over $1B off the presidency in his 2d term. Many of the deals he is profiting from appear to violate the Constitution’s foreign and domestic emoluments clauses. But Congress needs to codify them. Our new paper explains how: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
How Congress Can Rein in Surging Political Corruption
Federal lawmakers can protect the American public by passing a new law to fully implement the Constitution’s oldest anticorruption safeguards.
www.brennancenter.org
November 6, 2025 at 5:09 PM
President Trump has already made well over $1B off the presidency in his 2d term. Many of the deals he is profiting from appear to violate the Constitution’s foreign and domestic emoluments clauses. But Congress needs to codify them. Our new paper explains how: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
Reposted by Eric Petry
Corruption is hardly a new problem, but the abuses taking place now are unlike anything seen in generations. Here’s what Congress can do about it: bit.ly/43MmpHM
How Congress Can Rein in Surging Political Corruption
Federal lawmakers can protect the American public by passing a new law to fully implement the Constitution’s oldest anticorruption safeguards.
www.brennancenter.org
November 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Corruption is hardly a new problem, but the abuses taking place now are unlike anything seen in generations. Here’s what Congress can do about it: bit.ly/43MmpHM
Reposted by Eric Petry
To prevent corruption, the Constitution prohibits the president and other officials from receiving benefits from outside influences. However, Congress must act to ensure these provisions are enforceable. Our latest report offers recommendations for reform. bit.ly/3XdgCaq
Codifying the Constitution’s Emoluments Clauses
To prevent corruption, the Constitution prohibits the president and other officials from receiving untoward benefits. Congress, however, must take action to enable enforcement.
www.brennancenter.org
November 7, 2025 at 6:02 PM
To prevent corruption, the Constitution prohibits the president and other officials from receiving benefits from outside influences. However, Congress must act to ensure these provisions are enforceable. Our latest report offers recommendations for reform. bit.ly/3XdgCaq
Reposted by Eric Petry
A strategy that helped antiabortion activists in their quest to overturn Roe v. Wade could also work for campaign finance reform: enacting state "trigger laws" that challenge the legitimacy of Citizens United. bit.ly/3Xsczat
State Legislatures Can Push Back Against Citizens United
State lawmakers can fight the influence of big money in politics by passing trigger laws that would go into effect if the Supreme Court’s misguided ruling is reversed.
www.brennancenter.org
November 13, 2025 at 8:58 PM
A strategy that helped antiabortion activists in their quest to overturn Roe v. Wade could also work for campaign finance reform: enacting state "trigger laws" that challenge the legitimacy of Citizens United. bit.ly/3Xsczat
There's an underutilized tool states can use to directly challenge Citizens United and build momentum for legal change. My colleague @jayswanson.bsky.social and I write about the potential for trigger laws in our latest piece.
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
State Legislatures Can Push Back Against Citizens United
State lawmakers can fight the influence of big money in politics by passing trigger laws that would go into effect if the Supreme Court’s misguided ruling is reversed.
www.brennancenter.org
November 14, 2025 at 8:08 PM
There's an underutilized tool states can use to directly challenge Citizens United and build momentum for legal change. My colleague @jayswanson.bsky.social and I write about the potential for trigger laws in our latest piece.
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
Reposted by Eric Petry
A number of Trump’s actions in his second term potentially violate the Emoluments Clauses — which bar the president and other federal officials from receiving benefits from foreign governments, as well as federal or state governments. Join us for a Reddit AMA:
November 14, 2025 at 6:12 PM
A number of Trump’s actions in his second term potentially violate the Emoluments Clauses — which bar the president and other federal officials from receiving benefits from foreign governments, as well as federal or state governments. Join us for a Reddit AMA:
Reposted by Eric Petry
The DISCLOSE Act—which would require dark money groups to disclose contributions of $10k+—passed the House in 2010 and came within one vote of defeating a Republican filibuster. It's since passed the House multiple times in democracy packages. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/u...
The D.N.C.’s New Leader Seeks to Curb Dark Money Influence in 2028 Primaries
www.nytimes.com
August 12, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The DISCLOSE Act—which would require dark money groups to disclose contributions of $10k+—passed the House in 2010 and came within one vote of defeating a Republican filibuster. It's since passed the House multiple times in democracy packages. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/u...
My latest with @lisadanetz.bsky.social explaining what we can do to combat political corruption
America has seen corruption throughout our history, especially during the Gilded Age. But this moment is different, as constitutional safeguards are being eroded by a president unchecked by Congress and the Supreme Court. bit.ly/4mbQKqv
What Is Political Corruption and What Can We Do About It?
It hurts ordinary Americans in concrete ways, and the risk has never been greater given today’s unprecedented mixing of private wealth with political power.
www.brennancenter.org
August 12, 2025 at 5:23 PM
My latest with @lisadanetz.bsky.social explaining what we can do to combat political corruption
Reposted by Eric Petry
During the Gilded Age, demonstrations and political organizing led to reforms that reduced corporate influence over elections. Today, intense pressure from the public is needed to fight corruption and restore accountability. bit.ly/4mcMsPL
Corruption in the United States
The threat that corruption poses to democracy has never been greater, requiring bold reforms to return power to the American people.
www.brennancenter.org
August 11, 2025 at 11:02 PM
During the Gilded Age, demonstrations and political organizing led to reforms that reduced corporate influence over elections. Today, intense pressure from the public is needed to fight corruption and restore accountability. bit.ly/4mcMsPL
Reposted by Eric Petry
THREAD: This morning, President Trump and members of his cabinet announced a set of sweeping, unprecedented, and unwarranted actions to impose federal control over local policing in Washington, D.C.
August 11, 2025 at 10:33 PM
THREAD: This morning, President Trump and members of his cabinet announced a set of sweeping, unprecedented, and unwarranted actions to impose federal control over local policing in Washington, D.C.
NEW: The most comprehensive analysis to date of online political spending in 2024 shows that groups spent at least $1.9 billion, with striking differences in how candidates, parties, and outside groups used their ad dollars.
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
Online Ad Spending in 2024 Election Totaled at Least $1.9 Billion
The most comprehensive analysis to date shows the scale of political spending on the four largest digital platforms, as well as stark differences in strategy between candidates, parties, and outside g...
www.brennancenter.org
July 3, 2025 at 4:34 PM
NEW: The most comprehensive analysis to date of online political spending in 2024 shows that groups spent at least $1.9 billion, with striking differences in how candidates, parties, and outside groups used their ad dollars.
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
The question isn’t hypothetical: the president now oversees regulators with power over his own business interests. That’s a structural threat to democratic accountability that Congress can and should fix.
June 17, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The question isn’t hypothetical: the president now oversees regulators with power over his own business interests. That’s a structural threat to democratic accountability that Congress can and should fix.
I broke down how this kind of self-dealing is possible and what reforms are needed in this Brennan Center report:
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Uncovering Conflicts of Interest and Self-Dealing in the Executive Branch
The new administration could use federal contracts, tariffs, regulations, taxes, and other levers of government to benefit campaign donors, high-level officials, and the president himself.
www.brennancenter.org
June 17, 2025 at 12:07 AM
I broke down how this kind of self-dealing is possible and what reforms are needed in this Brennan Center report:
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
This fits a broader pattern: Trump is blurring the lines between public power and private profit through his crypto, hotels, licensing deals, and other businesses unlike any president before.
June 17, 2025 at 12:07 AM
This fits a broader pattern: Trump is blurring the lines between public power and private profit through his crypto, hotels, licensing deals, and other businesses unlike any president before.
Telecom is a heavily regulated industry, which means the Trump administration has power over policies that could affect (and directly benefit) this new company.
June 17, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Telecom is a heavily regulated industry, which means the Trump administration has power over policies that could affect (and directly benefit) this new company.
Trump is launching a branded mobile phone and cell service, with profits going to the Trump Organization. This isn’t just a business move—it raises serious concerns about conflicts of interest.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Trump Organization unveils mobile phone service
The latest offshoot of President Donald Trump’s family business also plans to roll out a “sleek, gold” U.S.-made smartphone.
www.washingtonpost.com
June 17, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Trump is launching a branded mobile phone and cell service, with profits going to the Trump Organization. This isn’t just a business move—it raises serious concerns about conflicts of interest.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Reposted by Eric Petry
A tech mogul tied to the CCP was able to buy personal access to the president and even go to the White House. He can’t legally donate $5 to the president’s campaign he can spend $3.7M on the president’s meme coin, no questions asked. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/u...
Buyer With Ties to Chinese Communist Party Got V.I.P. Treatment at Trump Crypto Dinner
www.nytimes.com
June 9, 2025 at 3:58 AM
A tech mogul tied to the CCP was able to buy personal access to the president and even go to the White House. He can’t legally donate $5 to the president’s campaign he can spend $3.7M on the president’s meme coin, no questions asked. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/u...
The Emoluments Clauses are some of our nation's oldest anticorruption safeguards. In our latest, @danw329.bsky.social and I explain what emoluments are, why they've been in the news lately, and what Congress can do to improve enforcement.
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
The Emoluments Clauses, Explained
The framers wanted to insulate the president and federal officials from corrupting influences, but a new law is needed to ensure effective enforcement.
www.brennancenter.org
May 28, 2025 at 7:56 PM
The Emoluments Clauses are some of our nation's oldest anticorruption safeguards. In our latest, @danw329.bsky.social and I explain what emoluments are, why they've been in the news lately, and what Congress can do to improve enforcement.
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Reposted by Eric Petry
"The Rockefellers and the Vanderbilts back in the Guilded Age had a lot of influence [on] American politics," @danw329.bsky.social told @techcrunch.com. But "they didn't literally have offices in the White House."
What founders need to know about tech’s growing influence in D.C.
When it comes to the general public, ‘move fast and break things’ isn’t exactly popular. But that Silicon Valley culture continues to seep into policy as tech billionaires expand their influence in Wa...
techcrunch.com
May 28, 2025 at 5:39 PM
"The Rockefellers and the Vanderbilts back in the Guilded Age had a lot of influence [on] American politics," @danw329.bsky.social told @techcrunch.com. But "they didn't literally have offices in the White House."
Reposted by Eric Petry
A foreign government is gifting the president a “flying palace” luxury plane that his library gets to keep after he leaves office, reportedly so that he can keep using it. It should be obvious why this a big problem if true. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/05...
May 11, 2025 at 5:43 PM
A foreign government is gifting the president a “flying palace” luxury plane that his library gets to keep after he leaves office, reportedly so that he can keep using it. It should be obvious why this a big problem if true. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/05...
Reposted by Eric Petry
This is another unconstitutional notion. Only Congress can suspend habeas corpus and only during rebellion or invasion. As a Trump-appointed judge recently found, the U.S. isn't under invasion.
Trump administration 'looking at' suspending habeas corpus, Stephen Miller says
Multiple court cases challenging the Trump administrations effort to deport undocumented immigrants from the U.S. are based on habeas claims.
www.cnbc.com
May 9, 2025 at 9:40 PM
This is another unconstitutional notion. Only Congress can suspend habeas corpus and only during rebellion or invasion. As a Trump-appointed judge recently found, the U.S. isn't under invasion.
Reposted by Eric Petry
Politicians won’t have any incentive to curb reliance on secret spending unless campaign finance law changes.
New Study Shows Runaway Influence of Dark Money in Politics
Unknown entities poured billions of dollars into the 2024 election.
www.brennancenter.org
May 8, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Politicians won’t have any incentive to curb reliance on secret spending unless campaign finance law changes.
Reposted by Eric Petry
Dark money in the 2024 elections reached a record high of $1.9 billion, about double the prior record in 2020. New analysis from @brennancenter and @annalecta.bsky.social www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Dark Money Hit a Record High of $1.9 Billion in 2024 Federal Races
Spending by groups that do not disclose their donors has increased and become harder to trace.
www.brennancenter.org
May 7, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Dark money in the 2024 elections reached a record high of $1.9 billion, about double the prior record in 2020. New analysis from @brennancenter and @annalecta.bsky.social www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
Reposted by Eric Petry
The president attending a private dinner followed by a tour of the White House for the largest investors in his crypto business is truly wild, even by today’s standards. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/t...
April 24, 2025 at 10:43 PM
The president attending a private dinner followed by a tour of the White House for the largest investors in his crypto business is truly wild, even by today’s standards. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/23/t...
Reposted by Eric Petry
New piece. Canada & the US each passed major campaign finance reform packages in the 70s — but ours fell victim to the juristocracy. Today, Canada’s elections are made fairer by spending limits, contribution limits, and public funding, while our system betrays democratic values. Gotta change that…
Canada shows how democracies can regulate campaign finance for the common good.
The Campaign Finance System Americans Could Have Had
Canada shows how democracies can regulate campaign finance for the common good.
www.brennancenter.org
April 23, 2025 at 10:30 PM
New piece. Canada & the US each passed major campaign finance reform packages in the 70s — but ours fell victim to the juristocracy. Today, Canada’s elections are made fairer by spending limits, contribution limits, and public funding, while our system betrays democratic values. Gotta change that…