The Institute for Free Speech is pleased to welcome Mike Columbo as a pro bono Senior Fellow.

Mike is Of Counsel in the Political Law Section of the California law firm of Nielsen Merksamer. In his practice, he supports and defends businesses, nonprofit organizations, trade associations, political committees, and individuals engaged in the political process. Mike defends regulatory enforcement actions and counsels groups on compliance with federal and state campaign finance, ethics, and lobbying rules. He has served as counsel to FEC Commissioner Lee E. Goodman, as a staff attorney at the Federal Election Commission, a white collar defense attorney, a prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and as a judicial law clerk.

Mike’s extensive experience has allowed him to see up close how complicated campaign finance regulations chill political speech.

“Americans who want to speak about today’s political issues and the work of our public servants are often shocked to learn of the vast web of federal, state, and local regulations that stand in their way – and the potential punishment they face for noncompliance,” said Mike. “Properly honored, the First Amendment should protect any citizen who advocates for or against legislation, regulations, or policies, or who applauds or criticizes the performance and positions of our public officials. Unfortunately, federal, state, and local laws make it virtually impossible to effectively participate in the political process without the assistance of an attorney. I am honored to join the Institute for Free Speech and look forward to contributing to its efforts to defend our First Amendment rights.”

As a Senior Fellow, Mike will assist IFS in analyzing legislation and regulatory proposals that affect political speech rights. He will also write op-eds and reports on the Institute’s behalf.