Jason A. Abel

Mr. Abel is the former Chief Counsel of the US Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, where he served under then-Chairman Charles E. Schumer (D-NY). Prior to becoming Chief Counsel, Mr. Abel was counsel to Senator Schumer. 

As counsel to Sen. Schumer, Mr. Abel was a part of the team that investigated the firing of U.S. attorneys by the Department of Justice (DOJ), and, as Chief Counsel of the Rules Committee, was the lead Senate aide for campaign finance issues including the DISCLOSE Act, the Democratic response to the Supreme Court’s opinion in Citizens United v. FEC.  Mr. Abel also led the bipartisan Senate leadership group in 2011 to streamline and reform the Senate confirmation process, and led the development and passage of the bipartisan Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act.

Currently, Mr. Abel is a Partner at the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson LLP where he leads the Campaign Finance and Political Law Practice, and has been recognized by Chambers USA and Washingtonian as a top lawyer in the campaign finance and political law arena. He advises clients on the complex intersection of law and political activity on the federal, state, and local level, including the restrictions and responsibilities under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, Foreign Agents Registration Act, Federal Election Campaign Act, Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, Office of Government Ethics regulations, and House and Senate Ethics rules. Mr. Abel also counsels on anti-corruption and pay-to-play laws. 

Additionally, Mr. Abel focuses on federal public policy issues, which include strategy with respect to Congressional procedure and representation in Congressional investigations.

Mr. Abel is a contributing author for a chapter on state and local campaign finance law in “Political Activity, Lobbying Laws and Gift Rules Guide.” He has authored numerous pieces on campaign finance and pay-to-play law and is frequently quoted on political law issues. Mr. Abel has led state-wide voter protection efforts and is currently co-chair of the Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Committee of the American Bar Association Section on Civil Rights and Social Justice.

Distinctions:

• Chambers USA, Government: Political Law Nationwide (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
• "Best Lawyers: Campaign and Election Law," Washingtonian (2017, 2018)
• "Top Lobbyists," The Hill (2016, 2017, 2018)
• Legal 500 US, Government: Government relations (2018)
• "DC Rising Star," The National Law Journal (2015)
• Washington's 2015 Trending "40 Lawyers Under 40," Legal Bisnow (2015)
• "The Hill People," National Journal (2011)