Featured Stories
USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year Reviews Concerning Silicon Metal From Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. International Trade Commission issued the following news release on Aug. 21, 2026:
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USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Silicon Metal from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revocation of the countervailing duty order on imports of silicon metal from Kazakhstan and the antidumping duty orders on silicon metal from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, and Malaysia would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 (TNSrep) -- The U.S. International Trade Commission issued the following news release on Aug. 21, 2026:
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USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Silicon Metal from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revocation of the countervailing duty order on imports of silicon metal from Kazakhstan and the antidumping duty orders on silicon metal from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, and Malaysia would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of material injurywithin a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the USITC's affirmative determinations, the existing orders on imports of this product from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia will remain in place.
Chairman Brett W. Doyle and Commissioners Jason E. Kearns, Peter-Anthony Pappas, Bart Thanhauser, and David Foley Jr. voted in the affirmative.
Today's action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.
The USITC's public report, Silicon Metal from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia (Inv. Nos. 701-TA- 652 and 731-TA-1524-1526 (Review), USITC Publication 5785, August 2026), will contain the views of the USITC and information developed during the reviews.
The report will be available on the USITC website (https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library) by September 28, 2026.
BACKGROUND
The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.
The USITC's institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the USITC concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally, within 95 days from institution, the USITC will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the USITC's notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the USITC conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.
The USITC generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the USITC's prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the reviews, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.
The five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Silicon Metal from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia were instituted on March 2, 2026.
On June 5, 2026, the USITC determined to conduct expedited five-year reviews. Commissioners David S. Johanson, Jason E. Kearns, and Amy A. Karpel concluded that the domestic interested party group responses were adequate and the respondent interested party group responses were inadequate, and voted for expedited reviews. Chairman Brett W. Doyle and Commissioners Peter-Anthony Pappas, Bart Thanhauser, and David Foley Jr. did not participate in the adequacy votes.
A record of the USITC's vote to conduct expedited reviews is available on the investigations page for Silicon Metal from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iceland, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia; Inv. No. 701-TA-652 and 731-TA-1524-1526 (Review).
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Original text here: https://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2026/er0821_69113.htm
SEC Settles Litigation With Individual Charged in Alleged Microcap Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release:
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jonathan Farber et al., No. 24-cv-00273 (S.D.N.Y. filed Jan. 12, 2024)
On August 20, 2026, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a final consent judgment as to defendant Brian Keasberry in a previously-filed action alleging a fraudulent microcap scheme.
The Commission's complaint, filed on January 12, 2024, alleged that Keasberry and two co-defendants carried out a fraudulent scheme to profit from their
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release:
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jonathan Farber et al., No. 24-cv-00273 (S.D.N.Y. filed Jan. 12, 2024)
On August 20, 2026, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a final consent judgment as to defendant Brian Keasberry in a previously-filed action alleging a fraudulent microcap scheme.
The Commission's complaint, filed on January 12, 2024, alleged that Keasberry and two co-defendants carried out a fraudulent scheme to profit from theiraccumulation, manipulation, and sale of the stock of a small publicly traded company to retail investors. The SEC alleged that, from September 2017 to at least October 2021, Keasberry helped his two co-defendants to gain control of the company and a large amount of the company's stock available in public markets. According to the complaint, Keasberry operated companies, which were used to make payments for an online promotional campaign that touted the stock's great potential but concealed the fact that the defendants had paid for this promotional campaign, controlled the company, and were actively selling the majority of the freely tradable stock.
Keasberry consented to the entry of a final judgment enjoining him from violating Sections 5(a), 5(c), and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, ordering him to pay disgorgement of $37,500, prejudgment interest of $12,864, a civil penalty of $37,500, and imposing a penny stock bar and an officer-and-director bar against him.
The SEC's ongoing litigation is being handled by Marc Jones and Alfred Day in the SEC's Boston Regional Office.
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Resources
* Final Judgment - Brian Keasberry (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/litreleases/2026/judg26615.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26615
SEC Files Subpoena Enforcement Action Against Texas Oil Company, Five Affiliated Entities, and Six Related Individuals, in Connection With Investigation Into Possible Fraudulent Securities Offering
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release:
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. 1859 Operating, LLC; Centerfire Consulting, LLC; DMMD Marketing, Inc.; DM Sales Consulting, Inc.; The Slade Group, Inc.; Slade Marketing, Inc.; Adam Fieldsted; Dillon Murrow; Alison Slade; Dallin Slade; Duane Slade; and Mason Slade, Misc. Action No. 4:26-MC-00012 (N.D. Tex. filed Aug. 20, 2026)
On August 20, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a subpoena enforcement action in United States District Court for the Northern District of
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release:
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. 1859 Operating, LLC; Centerfire Consulting, LLC; DMMD Marketing, Inc.; DM Sales Consulting, Inc.; The Slade Group, Inc.; Slade Marketing, Inc.; Adam Fieldsted; Dillon Murrow; Alison Slade; Dallin Slade; Duane Slade; and Mason Slade, Misc. Action No. 4:26-MC-00012 (N.D. Tex. filed Aug. 20, 2026)
On August 20, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a subpoena enforcement action in United States District Court for the Northern District ofTexas, seeking an order to compel 1859 Operating, LLC; Centerfire Consulting, LLC; DMMD Marketing, Inc.; DM Sales Consulting, Inc.; The Slade Group, Inc.; Slade Marketing, Inc.; and individuals Adam Fieldsted, Dillon Murrow, Alison Slade, Dallin Slade, Duane Slade, and Mason Slade (together, "the respondents") to comply with outstanding SEC investigative subpoenas.
According to the SEC's application and supporting papers, the SEC issued the subpoenas beginning in April 2024, requiring the respondents to produce documents and provide sworn testimony in the investigation. According to the SEC's filing, the subpoenas were issued to determine whether any persons or entities may have violated the antifraud or other provisions of the federal securities laws in connection with a potential offering fraud involving 1859's offers and sales of fractional undivided working interests in oil leases, through which respondents have raised approximately $42.7 million.
As described in the SEC's application, despite extended deadlines, repeated communications, and multiple agreements to prioritize production, the respondents almost entirely failed to comply with subpoenas by the compliance deadlines. The application alleges that the respondents have produced approximately 8,344 documents out of a universe of what their counsel has stated includes potentially hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of responsive documents. The application further alleges that several respondents have failed to appear for testimony on dates previously agreed to or scheduled pursuant to SEC subpoenas and that on multiple occasions over the last 10 months, respondents' counsel has unilaterally canceled testimony shortly before the testimony was scheduled to occur.
The SEC's application requests that the Court enter an order compelling the respondents to comply with the subpoenas.
The SEC is continuing its fact finding investigation and, to date, has not concluded that any individual or entity has violated the federal securities laws.
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Resources
* Memorandum of Law in Support of Application of the Securities and Exchange Commission for an Order Compelling Compliance With Administrative Subpoenas (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/litreleases/2026/lr26616-brief-iso-app-order-compelling-compliance-respondents.pdf)
* Application of the Securities and Exchange Commission for Order Compelling Compliance With Administrative Subpoenas (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/litreleases/2026/lr26616-mt-compel-compliance-respondents.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26616
SEC Charges Former Investment Bankers With Insider Trading
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release:
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. Gavin Wolfe et al., No. 1:26-civ-7132 (S.D.N.Y. filed Aug. 21, 2026)
On August 21, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed fraud charges against Gavin Wolfe and Jason Satsky, two former Wall Street investment bankers, for allegedly engaging in insider trading in South Jersey Industries, Inc. in advance of its February 24, 2022 announcement that it had agreed to be acquired by a private investment fund.
As alleged in the SEC's complaint,
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release:
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. Gavin Wolfe et al., No. 1:26-civ-7132 (S.D.N.Y. filed Aug. 21, 2026)
On August 21, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed fraud charges against Gavin Wolfe and Jason Satsky, two former Wall Street investment bankers, for allegedly engaging in insider trading in South Jersey Industries, Inc. in advance of its February 24, 2022 announcement that it had agreed to be acquired by a private investment fund.
As alleged in the SEC's complaint,Satsky was the Co-Head of an energy and utility group at a New York investment bank that advised South Jersey on the potential acquisition and served as the lead banker on the transaction. According to the complaint, Satsky tipped his long-time business colleague and close friend, Wolfe, material nonpublic information regarding the potential acquisition. As alleged, Wolfe bought over 2.2 million shares of South Jersey stock on the basis of the information he received from Satsky and made approximately $18.5 million when the stock price rose by approximately 40% after the acquisition was announced. Wolfe allegedly also tipped others who traded, generating approximately $515,000 in trading profits.
The SEC's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, charges Wolfe and Satsky with violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The complaint seeks permanent injunctions, civil monetary penalties and officer-and-director bars against Wolfe and Satsky, disgorgement and prejudgment interest against Wolfe, and a conduct-based injunction against Satsky. The complaint names the entities through which Wolfe allegedly traded--Evergreen Capital, L.P., Evergreen Financial LLC, Empire Property Management LLC, GAW Holdings, LLC, SA 1055 LLC, SA 1057 LLC, SA 1082 LLC, and SA 1083 LLC--as relief defendants, and seeks disgorgement and prejudgment interest against them.
The investigation of this matter was conducted by Cynthia A. Matthews and George N. Stepaniuk of the SEC's New York Regional Office and was supervised by Sheldon L. Pollock. The litigation will be led by Travis Hill, Hayden Brockett and Christopher Kelly and supervised by Daniel Loss and Christopher Colorado.
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Resources
* SEC Complaint (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/complaints/2026/comp26617.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26617
SEC Charges Former Director of Financial Planning With Insider Trading in Advance of Employer's Earnings Releases
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release:
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jesse R. Mitchell, No. 26-civ-07111 (S.D.N.Y. filed Aug. 20, 2026)
On August 20, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Jesse R. Mitchell, formerly the Senior Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at digital advertising company The Trade Desk, Inc. ("TTD"), with insider trading based on material nonpublic information he obtained through advance receipt of TTD's earnings releases.
According to the SEC's complaint, as a member of
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the following litigation release:
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Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jesse R. Mitchell, No. 26-civ-07111 (S.D.N.Y. filed Aug. 20, 2026)
On August 20, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Jesse R. Mitchell, formerly the Senior Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at digital advertising company The Trade Desk, Inc. ("TTD"), with insider trading based on material nonpublic information he obtained through advance receipt of TTD's earnings releases.
According to the SEC's complaint, as a member ofTTD's financial planning team Mitchell received TTD's quarterly earnings results in advance of their public release. The complaint alleges that, in one instance, Mitchell used that knowledge to purchase 3,850 shares of TTD common stock in advance of the company's positive second quarter 2024 earnings release, then profited nearly $20,000 by selling those shares in the day following the release. As alleged, Mitchell later purchased out-of-the-money put options in advance of TTD's fourth quarter 2024 earnings release, which included the company's first ever revenue guidance miss. According to the complaint, TTD's share price dropped by over 30% the day after it announced the revenue guidance miss, and Mitchell sold his options that day for a profit of over $318,000. As alleged in the complaint, Mitchell's illegal trading activity was done not only while he was in possession of material nonpublic information but was in violation of trading blackout periods imposed by TTD on its employees and, in the second instance, in violation of TTD's explicit and permanent ban on employees trading in TTD options.
The SEC's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, charges Mitchell with violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The complaint seeks permanent injunctions, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest, civil penalties, and an officer-and-director bar.
In a parallel action, on August 20, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced an indictment charging Mitchell with securities fraud.
The SEC's investigation was conducted by Samuel M. Kalar, under the supervision of Celeste A. Chase and Thomas P. Smith, Jr., of the New York Regional Office. The litigation will be led by Paul G. Gizzi and Mr. Kalar, under the supervision of Jack Kaufman. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, the FBI, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
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Resources
* SEC Complaint (https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/litreleases/2026/comp26614.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26614
FEC Issues Digest for Week of Aug. 17-21, 2026
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following weekly digest:
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Commission meetings and hearings
No open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.
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Litigation
DCCC v. FEC (Case No. 24-2935) On August 14, the Commission filed a Reply in Support of Supplemental Brief, the NRSC filed a Response to DCCC's Supplemental Memorandum, and DCCC filed a Response to Defendant FEC's and Intervenor-Defendant NRSC's Supplemental Memoranda in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
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Employment opportunities
The Commission is accepting
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Federal Election Commission issued the following weekly digest:
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Commission meetings and hearings
No open meetings or executive sessions were scheduled this week.
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Litigation
DCCC v. FEC (Case No. 24-2935) On August 14, the Commission filed a Reply in Support of Supplemental Brief, the NRSC filed a Response to DCCC's Supplemental Memorandum, and DCCC filed a Response to Defendant FEC's and Intervenor-Defendant NRSC's Supplemental Memoranda in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
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Employment opportunities
The Commission is acceptingapplications for the position of IT Project Manager (ENTARCH) through September 1, 2026.
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Reports Due in 2026
The Commission has posted the 2026 Congressional Pre-Election Reporting Dates. Reporting schedules for all filers in 2026 are also available.
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Election Dates
The Commission has posted a list of 2026 Congressional Primary Dates.
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Upcoming educational opportunities
September 16, 2026: The Commission is scheduled to host a webinar on Independent Expenditures and Pre-Election Communications.
September 30, 2026: The Commission is scheduled to host FECFile and reporting webinars for candidate committees.
October 7, 2026: The Commission is scheduled to host FECFile and reporting webinars for PACs and party committees.
For more information on upcoming training opportunities, see the Commission's Trainings page.
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Upcoming reporting due dates
September 20: September Monthly Reports are due. For more information, see the 2026 Monthly Reporting schedule.
The Commission has posted filing information regarding the Georgia 13th District Special Runoff Election, scheduled for August 25, 2026.
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Additional research materials
Contribution Limits: In addition to the current limits, the Commission has posted an archive of contribution limits that were in effect going back to the 1975-1976 election cycles.
Federal election results are available. The data was compiled from the official vote totals published by state election offices.
FEC Notify: Want to be notified by email when campaign finance reports are received by the agency? Sign up here.
The Combined Federal State Disclosure and Election Directory is available. This publication identifies the federal and state agencies responsible for the disclosure of campaign finances, lobbying, personal finances, public financing, candidates on the ballot, election results, spending on state initiatives, and other financial filings.
The Presidential Election Campaign Fund Tax Checkoff Chart provides information on balance of the Fund, monthly deposits into the Fund reported by the Department of the Treasury, payments from the Fund as certified by the FEC, and participation rates of taxpayers as reported by the Internal Revenue Service. For more information on the Presidential Public Funding Program, see the Public Funding of Presidential Elections page.
The FEC Record is available as a continuously updated online news source.
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Original text here: https://www.fec.gov/updates/week-of-august-17-21-2026/
FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Issues Public Notice Seeking Nominations for Eight Board Member Positions on Universal Service Administrative Board of Directors
WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (CC Docket Nos. 96-45, 97-21):
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Pursuant to section 54.703(c) of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission's) rules, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks nominations for the Board member positions on the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) listed below./1 Each position has a three-year term expiring on December 31, 2029, except where indicated otherwise.
* Representative for incumbent local exchange carriers (other
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 -- The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau issued the following public notice (CC Docket Nos. 96-45, 97-21):
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Pursuant to section 54.703(c) of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission's) rules, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks nominations for the Board member positions on the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) listed below./1 Each position has a three-year term expiring on December 31, 2029, except where indicated otherwise.
* Representative for incumbent local exchange carriers (otherthan the Bell Operating Companies) with annual operating revenues of $40 million or less (position currently held by Kara Semmler, General Counsel and Executive Director, South Dakota Telecommunications Association)
* Representative for interexchange carriers with annual operating revenues of $3 billion or less (position currently held by Brian Dalhover, Vice President of SLED Engineering & Policy, Zayo Group, LLC)
* Representative for competitive local exchange carriers (position currently held by Sheba Chacko, Chief Regulatory Counsel, BT in the Americas)
* Representative for schools that are eligible to receive discounts pursuant to section 54.501 of the Commission's rules (position currently held by Joan Wade, Executive Director, Association of Educational Service Agencies)
* Representative for rural health care providers that are eligible to receive supported services pursuant to section 54.601 of the Commission's rules (position currently held by Katharine Hsu Wibberly, Director, University of Virginia Health System's Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center)
* Representative for low-income consumers (position currently held by Angela Siefer, Executive Director, National Digital Inclusion Alliance)
* Representative for Tribal communities (position currently held by Mona Thompson, enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe)
* Representative for interexchange carriers with annual operating revenues of more than $3 billion (position currently vacant)/2
We are persuaded that having Board members with substantive areas of expertise relevant to running a large and complex organization with such skills as accounting, finance, auditing, procurement, data management and information technology will improve the management, administration and oversight of USAC. If members of the relevant industry or non-industry group fail to reach consensus on a candidate to serve on the Board or fail to submit a nomination for the particular Board member seat, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission will select an individual from that industry or non-industry group to serve on the Board as outlined in section 54.703(c)(1)./3
Pursuant to section 54.703(c)(2) of the Commission's rules, each nomination must be captioned "In the Matter of: Nomination for Universal Service Administrator's Board of Directors, CC Docket Nos. 97-21 and 96-45."/4 Nominations may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), or by filing paper copies.
* Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings.
* Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. Because more than one docket appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must submit two additional copies for the additional docket.
* Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
* Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701
* U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554.
People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov, or call the Consumer & Government Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530.
In addition to the electronic or paper filing, copies of each nomination should be submitted to Charles Tyler, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, via email Charles.Tyler@fcc.gov. Each submission should specify the position of the Board of Directors for which such nomination is submitted and should be accompanied by the nominee's professional and biographical information, such as a resume or professional biography. All nominations must be filed by October 20, 2026.
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Footnotes:
1/ 47 CFR Sec. 54.703(c).
2/ The term for the position representing interexchange carriers with annual operating revenues of more than $3 billion is for one year, expiring on December 31, 2027.
3/ 47 CFR Sec. 54.703(c)(1).
4/ 47 CFR Sec. 54.703(c)(2).
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Original text here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-877A1.pdf
