Sean J. Cooksey
Biography
Sean J. Cooksey was nominated to the Federal Election Commission by President Donald J. Trump on October 30, 2020, and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 9, 2020.
Prior to his appointment, Mr. Cooksey served as General Counsel to U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, working on the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary and advising the Senator on issues including constitutional law, judicial nominations, election law, federal criminal law, immigration law, antitrust policy, intellectual property, and ethics compliance. He previously served as Deputy Chief Counsel for U.S. Senator Ted Cruz.
Prior to his Senate service, Mr. Cooksey worked as an attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Washington, D.C., where his practice focused on appeals and constitutional law. He also served as a law clerk for Judge Jerry E. Smith of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Houston, Texas.
Mr. Cooksey received his B.A. in economics, summa cum laude, from Truman State University. He received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, where he graduated with High Honors and Order of the Coif, and served as a Managing Editor on the University of Chicago Law Review.
Statements and opinions
Statements
- Year-End Message from Chairman Sean J. Cooksey, December 12, 2024
- Welcome Message from Chairman Sean J. Cooksey, January 11, 2024
Testimony and congressional correspondence
Policies and procedures
- Interpretive Statement of Chairman Sean J. Cooksey on the application of soft-money regulations to ballot initiatives, February 14, 2024
- Statement of Chairman Allen Dickerson and Commissioners Sean J. Cooksey and James E. “Trey” Trainor, III Regarding Freedom of Information Act Litigation, June 28, 2022
- Policy Statement of Chairman Allen Dickerson and Commissioners Sean J. Cooksey and James E. “Trey” Trainor, III concerning the Application of 52 U.S.C. § 30104(c), June 8, 2022
- Statement of Chairman Allen J. Dickerson and Commissioners Sean J. Cooksey and James E. “Trey” Trainor, III Regarding Concluded Enforcement Matters, May 13, 2022
- Interpretive Statement of Commissioner Sean J. Cooksey on the regulation of republished campaign materials, November 30, 2021
- Interpretive Statement of Commissioner Sean J. Cooksey on the application of the personal use restriction to leadership PACs, May 6, 2021
Rulemaking and litigation
- Concurring Statement of Chairman Sean J. Cooksey on Notification of Disposition of REG 2023-02: Artificial Intelligence in Campaign Ads, September 19, 2024
- Letter from FEC Chairman Sean Cooksey to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel on proposed artificial intelligence rulemaking, June 3, 2024
- Concurring Statement of Commissioner Sean J. Cooksey on the Final Rule for Internet Communication Disclaimers, December 1, 2022
- Statement on the Commission’s Settlement and Dismissal of Josh Hawley for Senate v. FEC, November 17, 2022
- Statement on the Commission’s Interim Final Rule and Advisory Opinion on the Repayment of Candidate Loans, August 31, 2022
- Statement of Commissioner Sean J. Cooksey on the Commission’s Failure to Approve Proposed Interim Final Rule: Repayment of Candidate Loans, May 26, 2022
- Statement of Commissioner Sean J. Cooksey on the Supreme Court’s Decision in FEC v. Ted Cruz For Senate, May 16, 2022
Advisory Opinions
- Dissenting Opinion on Advisory Opinion 2024-08 (Representative Bob Good and Good for Congress), July 25, 2024
- Concurring Statement on Advisory Opinion 2024-02 (Citizens for Waters), February 16, 2024
- Concurring Statement on Advisory Opinion 2023-10 (Sony Pictures Television), January 11, 2024
- Concurring Statement on Advisory Opinion 2023-09 (Senator Catherine Cortez Masto), January 11, 2024
- Statement on Advisory Opinion 2023-08 (Cowboy Analytics), December 14, 2023
- Concurring Statement on Advisory Opinion 2023-03 (Colorado Republican State Central Committee), May 4, 2023
Enforcement
- MURs 8117 & 8118, Fox Corporation, et al., November 8, 2024
- MUR 8168, Donald J. Trump, et al., November 7, 2024
- MUR 7146R, Correct the Record, et al., November 6, 2024
- MUR 7892, Turning Point Action, et al., October 30, 2024
- MUR 8024, GrassoforCongress6, et al., September 30, 2024
- MUR 8100, Singh for Senate and Hirsh Singh in his official capacity as treasurer, et al., September 16, 2024
- MUR 7800, Kanye 2020, et al., September 10, 2024
- MUR 8144, Keith Gross for Florida, et al., September 9, 2024
- MUR 8123/8182, Biden for President, et al., September 6, 2024
- MURs 8016 and 8018, Jarome Bell for Congress, et al., August 26, 2024
- MUR 8149, Tim Sheehy for Montana et al., August 7, 2024
- MURs 8215 & 8216, Last Best Place PAC and David M. Lewis in his official capacity as treasurer, August 6, 2024
- MUR 8167, Detroit Int'l Bridge Co., et al., August 6, 2024
- MUR 8110, Amer. Coal. for Conservative Politics, et al., July 29, 2024
- MUR 7773, Eugene DePasquale, et al., May 30, 2024
- MURs 8017/8023, Unknown Respondent(s), et al., April 23, 2024
- MUR 8071, National Republican Senatorial Committee, April 11, 2024
- MUR 8091, Beth Harwell, et al., April 9, 2024
- MUR 8082, Unknown Respondents, et al., April 8, 2024
- MUR 8058, SQI Limited, LLC, et al., April 2, 2024
- MUR 7833, Montcalm, LLC, et al., March 7, 2024
- MUR 7772/8204, Salvemos a Puerto Rico and Joseph Fuentes-Fernandez in his official capacity as treasurer, et al., February 26, 2024
- MUR 7537, Care in Action, Inc., February 7, 2024
- MUR 8044, Taddeo for Congress, et al., January 17, 2024
- MUR 7908, Marjorie Taylor Greene, et al., December 28, 2023
- MURs 7340/7609R, Great America Committee, et al., November 1, 2023
- MURs 7931/8059, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., et al., and 7968/7969, Donald J. Trump, et al., October 6, 2023
- MUR 8062, Andrew Garbarino, et al., September 13, 2023
- MUR 7938, Greitens for US Senate and Eric Greitens in his official capacity as treasurer, Greitens for Missouri, and Eric R. Greitens, August 18, 2023
- MUR 7897, Ted Cruz for Senate, et al., August 14, 2023
- MUR 7964, White Coat Waste PAC and Janna Rutland as treasurer, White Coat Waste Project, Inc., Anthony Bellotti, and Justin Goodman, July 27, 2023
- MUR 7943, Common Good Virginia and Lillie Louise Lucas as treasurer, Val Demings for U.S. Senate and Lauren Decot Lee as treasurer, and Val Demings, July 27, 2023
- MUR 7943, Common Good Virginia and Lillie Louise Lucas, in her official capacity as treasurer, et al., July 24, 2023
- MUR 7957, Marie Newman, et al., July 21, 2023
- MURs 7724 & 7752, Johnny Teague for Congress Campaign Committee, et al., July 12, 2023
- MUR 7464, LZP, LLC and Independence and Freedom Network, Inc., July 7, 2023
- MUR 7464, Honor and Principles PAC and Lisa Lisker, in her official capacity as treasurer, July 5, 2023
- MURs 7722 and 7723, Michael R. Bloomberg, Mike Bloomberg 2020, Inc. and Hayden Horowitz as treasurer, DNC Services Corporation/Democratic National Committee and Virginia McGregor as treasurer, and Unknown State Party Committees, July 5, 2023
- MUR 8038, Angel Staffing, Inc, et al., July 3, 2023
- MUR 7987, Phil Rizzo for Congress, et al., May 31, 2023
- MUR 7940, Americans for Parnell Committee, et al., May 12, 2023
- MUR 7874, Patriots for America, et al., March 14, 2023
- MURs 7668, 7689, and 7685, Bloomberg News, et al., March 7, 2023
- MUR 7961, Leaders Only Unite PAC, et al., March 2, 2023
- MUR 8011, Daniel Defense, et al., March 1, 2023
- MUR 7912, Senate Leadership Fund, et al., March 1, 2023
- MUR 7760, SMP and Rebecca Lambe in her official capacity as treasurer, February 27, 2023
- MUR 7951/8003, Kistner for Congress, et al., February 23, 2023
- MUR 7585/7588, Lori Trahan, et al., February 22, 2023
- MUR 7889, SIG SAUER, Inc., et al., January 20, 2023
- MUR 7901, Ethan Owens, Angela Fisher, Adam Kokesh American Referendum Project and Angela Thornton in her official capacity as treasurer, Adam Kokesh, and Roger Ver, January 18, 2023
- MUR 7495, Common Defense Action Fund, et al., January 17, 2023
- MUR 7670, Hickenlooper for Colorado, et al., November 1, 2022
- MUR 7903, Tomfoolery, LLC, et al., October 27, 2022
- MUR 7491, American Ethane Co., LLC, et al., October 27, 2022
- MUR 7759, William Figlesthaler for Congress and Steven Martin in his official capacity as treasurer, William M. Figlesthaler, Matthew Hurley, Collin Osborne, Rachael Schaaf, Landslyde Media Group, LLC, and Southern Strategies, LLC, September 16, 2022
- MUR 7904, Hansjorg Wyss, The Wyss Foundation, Berger Action Fund, Inc., New Venture Fund, and Sixteen Thirty Fund, September 7, 2022
- MUR 7879, NRA Victory Fund, Inc., September 7, 2022
- MUR 7581 and 7614, Li Juan "Cindy" Yang a/k/a Li Juan "Cindy" Gong, et al., September 6, 2022
- MURs 7645, 7663, and 7705, Donald J. Trump, et al., August 31, 2022
- MUR 7486, 45Committee, Inc., August 30, 2022
- MUR 7581 and 7614, Li Juan "Cindy" Yang a/k/a Li Juan "Cindy" Gong, et al., August 30, 2022
- MUR 7917, Derrick Van Orden and Van Orden for Congress and Mary Clancy in her official capacity as treasurer, July 28, 2022
- MUR 7907, Nebraska Democratic Party and Ted Kessler in his official capacity as treasurer, July 28, 2022
- MURs 7826 & 7862, Iowa Democratic Party and Ken Sagar in his official capacity as treasurer, Theresa Greenfield and Theresa Kehoe in her official capacity as treasurer, and Rita Hart for Iowa and Sheila Spickermann in her official capacity as treasurer, July 28, 2022
- MUR 7790, John James, John James for Senate and Timothy Caughlin in his official capacity as treasurer, July 21, 2022
- MUR 7770, Singh for Senate and Elizabeth Curtis in her official capacity as treasurer, Hirsh Singh, Shore News Network, Paul Stilton, and Recall Murphy/Conservative NJ, July 13, 2022
- MUR 7310, Mark Takai for Congress and Dylan Beesley in his official capacity as treasurer, Dylan Beesley, and Lanakila Strategies, LLC, July 5, 2022
- MUR 7442, Global Energy Producers, LLC, et al., June 29, 2022
- MUR 7835, WMTW-TV, June 28, 2022
- MUR 7864, Salt River Valley Water Users' Association, Salt River Valley Water Users' Association Political Involvement Committee and Heidi Rowe Schaefer in her official capacity as treasurer, and Mike Jones, June 14, 2022
- MUR 7784, Make America Great Again f/k/a Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., et al., June 9, 2022
- MUR 7783, Byron Donalds for Congress and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer, et al., May 31, 2022
- MUR 7882, Christy Smith for Congress, et al., May 17, 2022
- MUR 6589R, American Action Network, May 13, 2022
- MURs 6915 and 6927, John Ellis Bush et al., May 13, 2022
- MUR 7726, David Brock, et al., May 13, 2022
- MURs 7672, 7674, and 7732, Iowa Values, Inc., Senator Joni Ernst, Joni for Iowa and Cabell Hobbs in his official capacity as treasurer, and Jobs Opportunity and New Ideas PAC and Cabell Hobbs in his official capacity as treasurer, May 13, 2022
- MUR 7516, Heritage Action for America, May 13, 2022
- MUR 7776, Unknown Respondent, May 11, 2022
- MUR 7700, VoteVets and Rick Hegdahl in his official capacity as treasurer, Win the Era PAC (formerly Pete for America) and Ed Jordanich in his official capacity as treasurer, and Michael Halle, April 29, 2022
- MUR 7789, Courier Newsroom, et al., April 22, 2022
- MUR 7591R, MA4Trump and Dianna Ploss, April 22, 2022
- MUR 7299, Wexton for Congress and Joan Kowalski in her official capacity as treasurer, Wexton for State Senate, and Jennifer Wexton, April 14, 2022
- MURs 7686, 7714, and 7716, John James for Senate, Inc. and Timothy Coughlin in his official capacity as treasurer, John James, Better Future Michigan and Victoria Sachs, April 13, 2022
- MUR 7147, Make Am. Number 1, et al., April 11, 2022
- MUR 7646, 1820 PAC, et al., MURs 7666 & 7675, Peters for Michigan, et al., MURs 7681 & 7715, VoteVets, et al., MUR 7717, Theresa Greenfield for Iowa, et al., and MUR 7781, Fight for the American Dream PAC, April 7, 2022
- MUR 7657 IRL PAC (terminated) and Ed Torgas, in his official capacity as treasurer, South Florida First PAC (f/k/a Ros-Lehtinen for Congress, terminated), and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, March 22, 2022
- MURs 7575, 7580, 7592, and 7626, Brand New Congress, et al., March 22, 2022
- MUR 7465, Freedom Vote, Inc., March 9, 2022
- MUR 7465, Freedom Vote, Inc., March 7, 2022
- MUR 7425, Donald J. Trump Found., et al., February 22, 2022
- MUR 7890, Service Tire Truck Centers, Inc. and Senate Leadership Fund and Caleb Crosby in his official capacity as treasurer, February 15, 2022
- MUR 7139, Maryland USA and Joel Ritter in his official capacity as treasurer, Mark Epstein, Amie Hoeber, and Amie Hoeber for Congress and Chris Marston in his official capacity as treasurer, February 14, 2022
- MUR 7640, Christine O'Donnell, Friends of Christine O'Donnell and Christopher M. Marston in his official capacity as treasurer, January 13, 2022
- MURs 7859 and 7860, Citizens for a Working America, Joel Riter, Norman Cummings, Jobs and Progress Fund, Inc., Vaughn Church, Thomas Norris, and Mark Miller, December 17, 2021
- MURs 7859 and 7860, Citizens for a Working America, et al. and Jobs and Progress Fund, et al., December 17, 2021
- MUR 7605, Chad E. Price, Judson Hill for Congress and Chris D. Clayton in his official capacity as treasurer, December 7, 2021
- MUR 7766, Florida Country, et al., December 3, 2021
- MUR 7632, Susan B. Anthony List Inc. Candidate Fund, et al., December 3, 2021
- MUR 7522, Citizens for Waters, et al., December 3, 2021
- MUR 7747, Rev. Ruben Diaz for Congress, et al., December 3, 2021
- MUR 7635, Joaquin Castro, December 3, 2021
- MUR 7567, Howard Schultz, December 3, 2021
- MURs 7679 and 7695, Jeff Coleman for Congress, Inc., et al., December 3, 2021
- MUR 7754, Pacific Atlantic Coalition, Pacific Environmental Coalition, SMP and Rebecca Lambe in her official capacity as treasurer, Unite the Country and Michael Morris in his official capacity as treasurer, VoteVets PAC and Rick Hegdahl in his official capacity as treasurer, Tom Van Loben Sels, Melissa Carrig, Matt Cohler, and James P. Joseph, December 1, 2021
- MURs 7207, 7268, 7274, and 7623, Russian Federation, et al., November 22, 2021
- MUR 7652, Nicole Rodden for Congress, Inc. and Paul Kilgore in his official capacity as treasurer, Nicole Rodden, and Robert Rodden, November 18, 2021
- MUR 7927, Kennedy for Massachusetts and Keith D. Lowey in his official capacity as treasurer, November 15, 2021
- MURs 7530 and 7627, NRCC and Keith A. Davis in his official capacity as treasurer, Balderson for Congress and Matthew J. Yuskewich, in his official capacity as treasurer, Troy Balderson, Rodney for Congress and Thomas Datwyler, in his official capacity as treasurer, Rodney Davis, Friends of Hagedorn and Thomas Datwyler, in his official capacity as treasurer, James Hagedorn, Caludia Tenney for Congress and Cabell Hobbs, in his official capacity as treasurer, and Claudia Tenny, November 8, 2021
- MUR 7528, Yukon Kusko Political Action Committee, and Margaret Pohjola, in her official capacity as treasurer, Calista Corporation, Yulista Holding, LLC; Jennine Jordan, Andrew Guy, and Josh Herren, November 1, 2021
- MUR 7502, Utah Love PAC f/k/a Mia Love , et al., October 29, 2021
- MUR 7648 and 7651, Troy Nehls, October 28, 2021
- MUR 7330, Mia Love, et al., October 27, 2021
- MUR 7180, GEO Corrections Holdings, Inc., et al., October 13. 2021
- MUR 7863, Astrid Silva, et al., October 12, 2021
- MUR 7753, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, Inc., Everytown for Gun Safety Victory Fund and Tara Paone in her official capacity as treasurer, U.S. Rep. Lucy McBeth, and Friends of Lucy McBeth Inc.and Kendra-Sue Derby in her official capacity as treasurer, October 8, 2021
- MUR 7513, Community Issues Project, October 7, 2021
- MURs 7165 and 7196, Great America PAC and Dan Backer in his official capacity as treasurer, Eric Beach, and Jesse Benton, October 5, 2021
- MUR 7512, Pembina Pipeline Corporation, et al., September 28, 2021
- MUR 7220, Make America Great Again PAC f/k/a Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer; Donald J. Trump; Trump Make America Great Again Committee and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer, September 21, 2021
- MUR 7683, Our Revolution and Bernard Sanders, September 21, 2021
- MUR 7383, Hughes for Congress and Dave Hughes in his official capacity as treasurer, September 21, 2021
- MUR 7807, Snap, Inc., September 14, 2021
- MUR 7742, Twitter, Inc., September 14, 2021
- MURs, 7812, 7825, and 7869, Facebook, Inc., September 14, 2021
- MURs 7443, 7447, and 7550, Twitter, Inc., September 14, 2021
- MURs 7821, 7827, and 7868, Twitter, Inc., et al., September 13, 2021
- MUR 7507, Aftab Pureval, Aftab for Ohio and Evan Nolan in his official capacity as treasurer, Friends of Aftab Pureval, and Drenko Pureval, August 27, 2021
- MUR 7125, Debbie Wasserman Schultz for Congress and Lawrence Wasserman in his official capacity as treasurer, et al., August 26, 2021
- MUR 7354, Friends of Chris McDaniel and Richard Conrad in his official capacity as treasurer, Chris McDaniel, Remember Mississippi and Tommy Barnett in his official capacity as treasurer, August 3, 2021
- MURs 7370 and 7496, New Republican PAC, et al., July 21, 2021
- MUR 7413, Jonathan Jenkins, Jonathan Jenkins for Senate and Chris Ehlinger in his official capacity as treasurer, and Indie Party, Co., July 14, 2021
- MUR 7501, Bill Nelson for U.S. Senate and Peggy Gagnon in her official capacity as treasurer, and Democratic Executive Committee of Florida and Fran Garcia in her official capacity as treasurer, June 28, 2021
- MURs 7324, 7332, 7364, and 7366, Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer, Donald J. Trump, American Media, Inc., David J. Pecker, Dylan Howard, Michael D. Cohen, and Timothy Jost, June 28, 2021
- MURs 7340 and 7609, Great America Committee, et al., June 25, 2021
- MUR 7271, Democratic National Committee and Virginia McGregor in her official capacity as treasurer, Alexandra Chalupa, and Chalupa & Associates, LLC, June 10, 2021
- MUR 7271, Democratic National Committee and Virginia McGregor in her official capacity as treasurer, Alexandra Chalupa, and Chalupa & Associates, LLC, June 10, 2021
- MURs 7640 (Fair People for Fair Government) and 7536/7551 (Coalition for a Safe Secure America), May 28, 2021
- MURs 7640 (Fair People for Fair Government) and 7536/7551 (Coalition for a Safe Secure America), May 26, 2021
- MUR 7696, Texans for Senator John Cornyn, et al., May 18, 2021
- MURs 7265 and 7266, Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer, Donald Trump, Jr., Paul Manafort, Jared Kushner, and Rob Goldstone, May 10, 2021
- MUR 7347, End Citizens United and Deanna Nesburg in her official capacity as treasurer, April 30, 2021
- MURs 6917, 6929 (Governor Scott Walker, Scott Walker, Inc. and Kate Teasdale in her official capacity as treasurer, and Our American Revival and C. Ryan Burchfield in his official capacity as treasurer) and 6955, 6983 (John R. Kasich, Kasich for America, Inc. and J. Matthew Yuskewich in his official capacity as treasurer, and New Day for America and J. Matthew Yusekwich in his official capacity as treasurer, April 29, 2021
- MURs 6917, 6929 (Governor Scott Walker, Scott Walker, Inc. and Kate Teasdale in her official capacity as treasurer, and Our American Revival and C. Ryan Burchfield in his official capacity as treasurer) and 6955, 6983 (John R. Kasich, Kasich for America, Inc. and J. Matthew Yuskewich in his official capacity as treasurer, and New Day for America and J. Matthew Yusekwich in his official capacity as treasurer, April 29, 2021
- MUR 7395, Heller for Senate and Chrissie Hastie in her official capacity as treasurer, Sen. Dean Heller, and Heller Enterprises, LLC, April 27, 2021
- MUR 7313, 7319, and 7370, Michael Cohen, et al., April 26, 2021
- MUR 7284, AB PAC f/k/a American Bridge 21st Century and Rodell Mollineau in his official capacity as treasurer and Correct the Record and Elizabeth Cohen in her official capacity as treasurer, April 16, 2021
- MUR 7479, H. Russell Taub, Keeping America in Republican Control PAC and H. Russell Taub, in his official capacity as treasurer, April 6, 2021
- MUR 7140, Americans for Sensible Solutions PAC and David Garrett, April 2, 2021
- MUR 7243, Citgo Petroleum Corporation, et al., March 31, 2021
- MUR 7181, Independent Women's Voice, March 18, 2021
Media interviews and appearances
Print Media
- Campaign finance wars are over and the winner turned defeat into victory, Fox News, September 25, 2024
- The FEC Has No Business Regulating AI, Wall Street Journal, August 13, 2024
- FEC Chairman Sean Cooksey on the future of the FEC, cryptocurrency, and Joe Biden’s campaign cash, Washington Reporter, July 8, 2024
- A Democrat, Siding With the G.O.P., Is Removing Limits on Political Cash at ‘Breathtaking’ Speed, The New York Times, June 10, 2024
- The AI election is here. Regulators can’t decide whose problem it is., Washington Post, June 6, 2024
- Threats against politicians are prevalent. The FEC wants to let campaigns pay for security., Politico, March 27, 2024
- Protecting Free Expression and Serving the Public, University of Chicago Law School Alumni Magazine, October 17, 2022
Television, Radio, and Podcasts
- Ruthless Podcast, October 1, 2024
- Glenn Beck Program, August 7, 2024
- Varney & Co, Fox News, July 24, 2024
- Business of Politics Podcast, July 24, 2024
- The Ingraham Angle, Fox News, July 22, 2024
- Morning Edition, National Public Radio, July 22, 2024
- Curiosity Desk, WGBH News, February 14, 2024
- Early Returns with Jan Baran Podcast, December 27, 2023