Arent Fox’s Brett Kappel Quoted in The New York Times Discussing Democratic “Super PACs”

    February 9, 2012

    Arent Fox’s Brett Kappel, counsel in the firm’s government relations practice, was quoted in the February 8th edition of The New York Times discussing efforts by leading Democrats “to galvanize and expand” a network of wealthy liberal donors, “hoping to recruit them to Democratic-leaning ‘super PACs’ that President Obama now believes will be critical to winning re-election in November.”

    The New York Times reports:

    In a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, senior officials with Mr. Obama’s campaign said the president had personally authorized the decision to allow White House and campaign aides to appear at super PAC events and that federal law permitted such activity. The officials said Mr. Obama’s aides would not solicit money at the events and would communicate with the super PACs only to the extent necessary to facilitate the aides’ appearances and speeches, which would be political in nature.

    Brett Kappel, an election lawyer, said the Federal Election Commission had effectively blessed such workarounds.

    “Welcome to the brave new world of campaign finance after Citizens United,” he said.

    To read the full New York Times article, please click here.