Holding Government Accountable

Watchdogging public officials and holding them accountable for abuses of public office and misusing their office for personal financial gain is a critical check to ensure that they serve the American people and not their personal interests.

We challenge ethics abuses and abuses of office in the executive branch and Congress. We file complaints, request investigations, develop and advocate legislation and make public cases to hold public officials accountable for improper actions.

  • We filed five complaints at the Justice Department against Attorney General Barr for his repeated biased actions to support President Trump. The complaints also challenged Barr’s repeated violations of Justice Department norms, standards and rules designed to carry out the Department’s mission of providing impartial justice for all Americans.
  • We filed a complaint against Rep. Devin Nunes, then chairman of the House Intelligence Committee for violating House ethics rules.
  • We advocated legislation to strengthen the ethics laws for the executive branch and Congress and to strengthen the enforcement of ethics and campaign finance laws.

The Art of the Lie – Democracy 21 & Common Cause Release New Report Documenting President Trump’s Historic First Year Failure on Integrity and Accountability Issues

Trump’s bogus Clinton allegations assault the rule of law — CNN Opinion piece by Norman Eisen and Fred Wertheimer

Democracy 21 files FEC rulemaking comments on foreign spending to influence federal elections and online ad disclosure

Re-release: Quotes from GOP Senators & Representatives In Opposition To Trump Firing Special Counsel & In Support Of Mueller

Groups call on Facebook and Google to support Honest Ads Act and take all steps necessary to prevent future foreign election intervention on their platforms

Democracy 21 endorses Honest Ads Act introduced today by Sens. Klobuchar, Warner, McCain to expose and limit foreign intervention in US Elections

Bipartisan Experts Release Benchmarks for Judging Ongoing Congressional Investigations into Russian Interference in U.S. Elections

Democracy 21 joins with other Groups in letter to President’s Inaugural Committee seeking answers on Committee’s surplus funds

Wertheimer Statement: VP Pence’s Chief of Staff Proposes Big Donors Engage in Equivalent of “Political Blackmail”