Ethics & Accountability


We are challenging ethics abuses and transparency issues and demanding accountability from Congress and the Executive Branch, because that’s what the American people deserve.

Tag Archive for: Ethics & Accountability

Democracy 21 Challenges Sen. Graham on Abandoning his Pledge to the American People to Protect Mueller Investigation from Interference

Democracy 21 Challenges Sen. Graham on Abandoning his Pledge to the American People to Protect Mueller Investigation from Interference In a letter sent to Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) today, Democracy 21 expressed deep concern about the Senator’s apparent abandonment of his earlier pledge to the American people “to make sure that Mr. Mueller can continue […]

Don’t forget Donald Trump Jr. and his Trump Tower meeting. He broke the law, too. – USA Today op-ed by Fred Wertheimer

Enclosed is an opinion piece entitled “Don’t forget Donald Trump Jr. and his Trump Tower meeting. He broke the law, too,” which was published here in USA Today on August 29, 2018. Read the full piece below or here. Don’t forget Donald Trump Jr. and his Trump Tower meeting. He broke the law, too. Fred […]

Democracy 21 Files Complaint with Office of Congressional Ethics Against Rep. Duncan Hunter

In a complaint filed today with the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer called on the OCE to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the conduct of Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA). “Rep. Hunter and his wife were apparently ripping off their campaign donors by living off of their campaign contributions in gross […]

Speaker Paul Ryan and the Contempt of Congress threat to Deputy AG Rosenstein – CNN opinion by Fred Wertheimer

Enclosed for your information is an opinion piece by Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer entitled “Paul Ryan will soon face a ‘sense of decency’ moment,” which was published by CNN on August 24, 2018. Read the full piece below or here. Paul Ryan will soon face a “sense of decency” moment Fred Wertheimer | August […]

Paul Ryan’s Impending Choices

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | August 23, 2018 “Does Ryan enable or prevent the effort by House Freedom Caucus leaders, Reps. Mark Meadows and Jim Jordan, to hold Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in contempt of Congress?” As the walls are closing in on President Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan has a fateful decision to […]

President Trump’s August: The Manic, Panicked President

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | August 16, 2018 “President Trump likes to talk about his base, but the reality is that the President’s base is a distinct minority of Americans.” President Trump has been acting in recent days as a manic, panicked president. Trump revokes John Brennan’s security clearance in an unprecedented action to punish […]

D21 files Justice Department complaint requesting investigation of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross

In a complaint filed today with the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Democracy 21 called on Public Integrity to investigate whether Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross “has committed criminal violations of 18 U.S.C. § 208 and/or 18 U.S.C. § 1001.” “According to published reports, Wilbur Ross had a long history of highly […]

Major Reform Opportunities Follow Major Scandals in Washington

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | August 10, 2018 “Since he became President, Trump has presided over the most corrupt and unethical administration in modern memory.” Yesterday, Representative Chris Collins (R-NY) was indicted for violating insider trading rules. A very powerful case was spelled out against him in the indictment. This week also saw a detailed […]

Watchdogs File Supplemental Information with Office of Congressional Ethics Re Complaint Filed Against Rep. Jim Jordan

Today, Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer and former White House chief ethics lawyer Norman Eisen (2009-2011) sent a letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) that provided supplemental information to a July 9, 2018 complaint they filed requesting that OCE conduct a preliminary inquiry into the conduct of Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH). The July […]

Federal Law Prohibits the “Solicitation” from a Foreign Source that Occurred with Regard to the June 9, 2016 Trump Tower Meeting

Federal law prohibits a person from soliciting contributions, including in-kind contributions, from foreign nationals in connection with a federal election. The prohibition on soliciting a contribution is violated regardless of whether the person receives the contribution being solicited. President Trump has admitted, in writing, that the June 9, 2016 meeting in Trump Tower between senior […]