CREW
@citizensforethics.org
CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) uses high-impact legal actions to target government officials who sacrifice the common good to special interests. citizensforethics.org
Pinned
CREW
@citizensforethics.org
· Oct 15
America has no kings. That’s kind of the whole point.
Under 5 CFR 2635.702, government officials cannot use their authority to coerce their employees to act for another's personal benefit.
If the military is pressuring service members to pay to watch the Melania Trump documentary, that would violate the law.
If the military is pressuring service members to pay to watch the Melania Trump documentary, that would violate the law.
Religious freedom group says US military members were 'pressured' by commanders to see 'Melania'
An active-duty enlisted member of the US military said their unit was "pressured" into seeing Amazon's "Melania" documentary about the first lady.
www.businessinsider.com
February 10, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Under 5 CFR 2635.702, government officials cannot use their authority to coerce their employees to act for another's personal benefit.
If the military is pressuring service members to pay to watch the Melania Trump documentary, that would violate the law.
If the military is pressuring service members to pay to watch the Melania Trump documentary, that would violate the law.
A story broke last week that everyone should be following: a foreign government official (an Emerati royal) bought a major ownership stake in an incoming US president’s company just days before he took office.
That's truly unprecedented.
That's truly unprecedented.
‘Spy Sheikh’ Bought Secret Stake in Trump Company
$500 million investment for 49% of World Liberty came months before U.A.E. won access to tightly guarded American AI chips.
www.wsj.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:41 PM
A story broke last week that everyone should be following: a foreign government official (an Emerati royal) bought a major ownership stake in an incoming US president’s company just days before he took office.
That's truly unprecedented.
That's truly unprecedented.
NEW: When the DHS resists transparency and accountability, the damage does not stop with the communities they target—democracy itself is at risk.
And if oversight fails here, it will fail elsewhere.
And if oversight fails here, it will fail elsewhere.
When DHS operates without oversight, democracy itself is at risk. - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
ICE and CBP are increasingly operating outside of established legal constraints without meaningful oversight.
www.citizensforethics.org
February 6, 2026 at 5:48 PM
NEW: When the DHS resists transparency and accountability, the damage does not stop with the communities they target—democracy itself is at risk.
And if oversight fails here, it will fail elsewhere.
And if oversight fails here, it will fail elsewhere.
At least 23 reported contributors to the White House ballroom, including Lockheed Martin, Palantir and T-Mobile, should have disclosed those donations as part of their regular lobbying disclosure filings.
White House ballroom donations should be disclosed on lobbying disclosure reports - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
At least 23 reported contributors to the White House ballroom should have disclosed those donations as part of their regular lobbying disclosure filings.
www.citizensforethics.org
February 6, 2026 at 2:29 PM
At least 23 reported contributors to the White House ballroom, including Lockheed Martin, Palantir and T-Mobile, should have disclosed those donations as part of their regular lobbying disclosure filings.
18 U.S. Code § 592 makes it a crime punishable by 5 years in prison to deploy federal troops to polling places
Steve Bannon calls for Trump to deploy ICE and military troops to polling sites
The Trump ally was one of few GOP voices to support the president’s push to nationalize voting.
www.politico.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:37 PM
18 U.S. Code § 592 makes it a crime punishable by 5 years in prison to deploy federal troops to polling places
At a Mar-a-Lago charity event, billionaire investor Herbert Wertheim paid $2 million for a private visit to the White House with President Trump.
The presidency continues to be up for sale to the highest bidder. And that’s not great for America.
The presidency continues to be up for sale to the highest bidder. And that’s not great for America.
Meet the Palm Beach billionaire who paid $2 million for a private White House visit with Trump | Fortune
Presidents have been rewarding top supporters with special perks for decades, but watchdogs are cautious about Trump.
fortune.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:42 PM
At a Mar-a-Lago charity event, billionaire investor Herbert Wertheim paid $2 million for a private visit to the White House with President Trump.
The presidency continues to be up for sale to the highest bidder. And that’s not great for America.
The presidency continues to be up for sale to the highest bidder. And that’s not great for America.
The Trump administration's disruption of federal data collection is compromising government transparency.
Researchers estimate that over 3,000 data sets are no longer publicly available.
Researchers estimate that over 3,000 data sets are no longer publicly available.
Federal Data Is Disappearing
The Trump administration has disrupted data collection on everything from homeland security, maternal mortality, hunger, drug use, education, disaster preparation and the economy.
www.notus.org
February 4, 2026 at 9:59 PM
The Trump administration's disruption of federal data collection is compromising government transparency.
Researchers estimate that over 3,000 data sets are no longer publicly available.
Researchers estimate that over 3,000 data sets are no longer publicly available.
NEW: At least 23 reported contributors to the White House ballroom should have disclosed those donations as part of their lobbying disclosure filings, according to CREW analysis. Only one did.
White House ballroom donations should be disclosed on lobbying disclosure reports - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
At least 23 reported contributors to the White House ballroom should have disclosed those donations as part of their regular lobbying disclosure filings.
www.citizensforethics.org
February 4, 2026 at 7:38 PM
NEW: At least 23 reported contributors to the White House ballroom should have disclosed those donations as part of their lobbying disclosure filings, according to CREW analysis. Only one did.
Some members of Congress have chosen to advance the Stop Insider Trading Act, which creates loopholes for lawmakers to continue to enrich themselves.
If Congress is serious about banning lawmakers from trading individual stocks, they must pass the Restore Trust in Congress Act.
If Congress is serious about banning lawmakers from trading individual stocks, they must pass the Restore Trust in Congress Act.
February 4, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Some members of Congress have chosen to advance the Stop Insider Trading Act, which creates loopholes for lawmakers to continue to enrich themselves.
If Congress is serious about banning lawmakers from trading individual stocks, they must pass the Restore Trust in Congress Act.
If Congress is serious about banning lawmakers from trading individual stocks, they must pass the Restore Trust in Congress Act.
NEW: Over 55% of presidentially appointed inspectors general positions are vacant in the offices charged with preventing waste, fraud and abuse. Trump has gutted and undermined independent oversight at the very time it is needed most.
By leaving over 55% of presidentially appointed IG posts vacant, Trump is opening the door for waste, fraud and abuse - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
At the end of 2025, over half of the 38 presidentially appointed federal inspector general positions remained vacant.
www.citizensforethics.org
February 4, 2026 at 3:39 PM
NEW: Over 55% of presidentially appointed inspectors general positions are vacant in the offices charged with preventing waste, fraud and abuse. Trump has gutted and undermined independent oversight at the very time it is needed most.
Reposted by CREW
GOOD NEWS: California and Oregon federal district courts dismissed the DOJ’s lawsuit against those states for their refusal to turn over state voter data—calling the Trump administration’s efforts “unprecedented and illegal.” 🧵
February 2, 2026 at 9:37 PM
GOOD NEWS: California and Oregon federal district courts dismissed the DOJ’s lawsuit against those states for their refusal to turn over state voter data—calling the Trump administration’s efforts “unprecedented and illegal.” 🧵
NEW: The DHS and State Offices of Inspector General should investigate the Coast Guard Exchange System’s sale of Trump wine and cider, and the decision to hold the 2026 G20 Summit at Trump National Doral—potential violations of the Constitution’s Emoluments Clauses.
CREW requests IG investigations into possible emoluments violations at DHS and State Department - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
The OIG for the DHS and State Department should investigate Trump’s potential violations of the Emoluments Clauses, which prohibit a president from receiving profit from government entities outside of...
www.citizensforethics.org
February 3, 2026 at 10:54 PM
NEW: The DHS and State Offices of Inspector General should investigate the Coast Guard Exchange System’s sale of Trump wine and cider, and the decision to hold the 2026 G20 Summit at Trump National Doral—potential violations of the Constitution’s Emoluments Clauses.
Tomorrow, the House Oversight Committee will begin a markup of the Incentivize Savings Act.
Because this bill would undermine Congress’s power of the purse at a time when that authority is already under attack, we urge the Committee to reject it.
Because this bill would undermine Congress’s power of the purse at a time when that authority is already under attack, we urge the Committee to reject it.
https://protectdemocracy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Sign-on-Letter-to-HOGR-on-HR-5438-Incentivize-Savings-Act-FINAL.pdf
t.co
February 3, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Tomorrow, the House Oversight Committee will begin a markup of the Incentivize Savings Act.
Because this bill would undermine Congress’s power of the purse at a time when that authority is already under attack, we urge the Committee to reject it.
Because this bill would undermine Congress’s power of the purse at a time when that authority is already under attack, we urge the Committee to reject it.
The Constitution gives states authority to run elections for a reason: Decentralizing the process helps to prevent authoritarianism.
Trump's attempts to seize federal control of elections are alarming and illegal and cannot be allowed to succeed.
Trump's attempts to seize federal control of elections are alarming and illegal and cannot be allowed to succeed.
Trump, in an Escalation, Calls for Republicans to ‘Nationalize’ Elections
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:57 PM
The Constitution gives states authority to run elections for a reason: Decentralizing the process helps to prevent authoritarianism.
Trump's attempts to seize federal control of elections are alarming and illegal and cannot be allowed to succeed.
Trump's attempts to seize federal control of elections are alarming and illegal and cannot be allowed to succeed.
That’s why we’re fighting to protect Americans’ data from abuse and illegal voter roll purges, through amicus briefs in these cases, and a separate lawsuit against the Trump admin’s expansion of the SAVE database.
DHS’s Data Grab Is Getting Citizens Kicked Off Voter Rolls, New Complaint Says
As states check voter registration against a mashup of federal data, a new complaint says US citizens are getting kicked off state voter rolls as a result.
www.wired.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:37 PM
That’s why we’re fighting to protect Americans’ data from abuse and illegal voter roll purges, through amicus briefs in these cases, and a separate lawsuit against the Trump admin’s expansion of the SAVE database.
That’s a warning that everyone who cares about our democracy should heed.
February 2, 2026 at 9:37 PM
That’s a warning that everyone who cares about our democracy should heed.
“The taking of democracy does not occur in one fell swoop; it is chipped away piece-by-piece until there is nothing left. The case before the Court is one of these cuts that imperils all Americans.”
February 2, 2026 at 9:37 PM
“The taking of democracy does not occur in one fell swoop; it is chipped away piece-by-piece until there is nothing left. The case before the Court is one of these cuts that imperils all Americans.”
“Now it seems the Executive Branch of the United States government wants to abridge the right of many Americans to cast their ballots.”
February 2, 2026 at 9:37 PM
“Now it seems the Executive Branch of the United States government wants to abridge the right of many Americans to cast their ballots.”
As the judge in California put it: “The foundation upon which American democracy has been built is the right to vote. Brave Americans have given their lives for more than two hundred years to protect this right.”
February 2, 2026 at 9:37 PM
As the judge in California put it: “The foundation upon which American democracy has been built is the right to vote. Brave Americans have given their lives for more than two hundred years to protect this right.”
State voter files contain highly sensitive information—like SSNs and driver’s license numbers—that states must protect.
The DOJ did not publish any notice explaining how it would use the voter data it’s seeking, raising serious privacy concerns for voters.
The DOJ did not publish any notice explaining how it would use the voter data it’s seeking, raising serious privacy concerns for voters.
February 2, 2026 at 9:37 PM
State voter files contain highly sensitive information—like SSNs and driver’s license numbers—that states must protect.
The DOJ did not publish any notice explaining how it would use the voter data it’s seeking, raising serious privacy concerns for voters.
The DOJ did not publish any notice explaining how it would use the voter data it’s seeking, raising serious privacy concerns for voters.
The Privacy Act also limits states’ ability to share sensitive data with federal agencies—specifically to prevent the creation of national databases or centralized federal systems that consolidate Americans’ personal information.
February 2, 2026 at 9:37 PM
The Privacy Act also limits states’ ability to share sensitive data with federal agencies—specifically to prevent the creation of national databases or centralized federal systems that consolidate Americans’ personal information.
Why? Because the states—not the federal government—are responsible for administering elections.
The National Voter Registration Act and Help America Vote Act both confirm states’ authority over managing voter rolls and elections generally.
The National Voter Registration Act and Help America Vote Act both confirm states’ authority over managing voter rolls and elections generally.
February 2, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Why? Because the states—not the federal government—are responsible for administering elections.
The National Voter Registration Act and Help America Vote Act both confirm states’ authority over managing voter rolls and elections generally.
The National Voter Registration Act and Help America Vote Act both confirm states’ authority over managing voter rolls and elections generally.
Since May 2025, the DOJ has sent demands to all 50 states for statewide voter registration data. If fulfilled, these demands could upend our constitutional framework, as we wrote in amicus briefs:
CREW files amicus briefs in support of states’ refusal to turn over voter rolls to DOJ - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
The courts should dismiss the government’s lawsuits against California and Oregon seeking to force them to turn over their states’ voter rolls
www.citizensforethics.org
February 2, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Since May 2025, the DOJ has sent demands to all 50 states for statewide voter registration data. If fulfilled, these demands could upend our constitutional framework, as we wrote in amicus briefs:
GOOD NEWS: California and Oregon federal district courts dismissed the DOJ’s lawsuit against those states for their refusal to turn over state voter data—calling the Trump administration’s efforts “unprecedented and illegal.” 🧵
February 2, 2026 at 9:37 PM
GOOD NEWS: California and Oregon federal district courts dismissed the DOJ’s lawsuit against those states for their refusal to turn over state voter data—calling the Trump administration’s efforts “unprecedented and illegal.” 🧵
NEW: We sued DOJ for failing to produce records about President Trump's pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar, who was indicted in 2024 for abusing his position to enrich himself and benefit foreign interests.
CREW sues for records on President Trump’s pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Rep. Cuellar’s alleged corrupt dealings and any unethical considerations that may have influenced Trump's pardon should be made public.
www.citizensforethics.org
February 2, 2026 at 5:25 PM
NEW: We sued DOJ for failing to produce records about President Trump's pardon of Rep. Henry Cuellar, who was indicted in 2024 for abusing his position to enrich himself and benefit foreign interests.