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.

Reform Groups and Individuals with Governance Expertise Challenge Priebus’ “Highly Inappropriate” Attempt to Intimidate OGE Director

Reform Groups Urge Senators to Support Sen. Warren’s Bill to Require President-elect Trump to Divest his Business Enterprises

Bipartisan Group of Orgs and Individuals with Governance Expertise Calls on Trump to Divest Business Enterprises or Face Serious Conflicts of Interest and Emoluments Clause Problems

Democracy 21 Urges Support for Senator Warren’s Bill to Require Presidents and Vice Presidents to Divest Assets into a Blind Trust

Trump’s Continued Ownership of Business Enterprises Will Cause Serious Problems for His Presidency and the Country, Says Bipartisan Group of Leading Governance Experts

Democracy 21 Calls on Congress to Promptly Pass Legislation to Require Trump to Comply with Blind Trust Requirements of Ethics in Government Act