The Department of Health and Human Services launched a $300 million advertising campaign called “Defeating Despair” to promote the Trump administration’s COVID-19 response, with the effort conceived by political appointee Michael Caputo and timed to air before the November …
Michael CaputoDonald TrumpDennis QuaidCeCe WinansAlex Azarhatch actethics violationsabuse of officecampaign financecovid-19+3 more
President Trump delivered his Republican National Convention acceptance speech from the White House South Lawn before 1,500 attendees in an unprecedented use of federal property for a partisan campaign event, culminating four days of systematic Hatch Act violations that transformed the White House …
Donald TrumpMelania TrumpMark MeadowsMike PompeoChad Wolf+1 morehatch actethics violationsrepublican national conventionwhite houseabuse of office+2 more
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a speech to the Republican National Convention from a hotel rooftop in Jerusalem during an official diplomatic trip to the Middle East, becoming the first sitting Secretary of State to address a party convention in modern history. The U.S. Office of Special …
Mike PompeoDonald TrumpOffice of Special Counsel (OSC)hatch actethics violationsmike pompeorepublican national conventionstate department+2 more
At a press conference at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club, President Donald Trump told reporters he was considering a pardon for Edward Snowden, stating “Many people think he should somehow be treated differently, and other people think he did very bad things, and I’m going to take a …
Donald TrumpEdward SnowdenMike PompeoGlenn Greenwaldedward-snowdenpresidential-pardontrump-administrationwhistleblowingcriminal-justice
On August 5, 2020, the State Department released a report revealing that the Trump administration failed to properly assess risks of civilian casualties when approving the May 2019 $8.1 billion emergency arms sale to Saudi Arabia, including major Raytheon weapons contracts. The report—prepared by …
Donald TrumpMike PompeoRaytheonSaudi ArabiaState Department Inspector General+1 moretrumpraytheonsaudi-arabiapompeoarms-sales+2 more
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, appointed despite lacking postal experience and having conflicts of interest with USPS competitors, removed 711 high-speed mail sorting machines capable of processing 21.4 million pieces per hour during the 2020 election mail voting surge. DeJoy also eliminated …
Louis DeJoyUSPSDonald TrumpFederal Courtselection-interferencevoter-suppressioninstitutional-capturemail-votingdemocracy-erosion
President Trump commuted Roger Stone’s 40-month prison sentence days before he was to report to prison for lying to Congress and witness tampering to protect Trump. Stone was convicted on seven felonies for obstructing the House Intelligence Committee’s Russia investigation, lying about …
Donald TrumpRoger StoneWilliam BarrRandy CredicoWikiLeaksobstruction-of-justicecommutationrussia-investigationwitness-tamperingcorruption
President Trump held a campaign-style rally at Mount Rushmore on July 3-4, 2020, with approximately 7,500 ticketed attendees packed close together and mostly maskless, despite the United States setting a pandemic record on that same day with 57,497 confirmed COVID-19 cases. South Dakota Governor …
Donald TrumpKristi NoemKimberly Guilfoylecovid-19public healthsuperspreader eventaccountability crisis
Louis DeJoy officially began serving as the 75th Postmaster General of the United States and USPS Chief Executive Officer, having been unanimously selected by the USPS Board of Governors on May 6, 2020. DeJoy was a major Republican Party megadonor who contributed over $1.2 million to Trump’s …
Louis DeJoyDonald TrumpUSPS Board of Governorselection interferenceuspspostal serviceconflicts of interestpolitical appointees
Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley accompanied President Trump to Lafayette Square for a controversial photo opportunity at St. John’s Church, following a forcible clearing of peaceful protesters using tear gas and rubber bullets. Dressed in military camouflage, Milley’s presence …
General Mark MilleyDonald TrumpJoint Chiefs of StaffFederal Law EnforcementPeaceful Protesters+2 moremilleylafayette-squareprotest-clearingmilitary-politicizationdomestic-politics+1 more
Facebook employees stage an unprecedented virtual walkout protesting Mark Zuckerberg’s refusal to take action against Trump’s post threatening violence against protesters, stating “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” The employee revolt exposes Facebook’s …
Mark ZuckerbergDonald TrumpFacebookFacebook EmployeesSheryl Sandbergfacebooktrumpincitementemployee-protestcontent-moderation+3 more
During a White House coronavirus briefing on April 23, 2020, President Trump publicly speculated about treating COVID-19 by injecting disinfectant into the human body or inserting ultraviolet light internally, asking “is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a …
Donald TrumpWilliam Bryancovid-19public healthdisinformationaccountability crisis
President Trump removed Glenn Fine from his position as acting inspector general for the Defense Department on April 7, 2020, just one week after Fine was selected to chair the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee tasked with overseeing the $2.2 trillion CARES Act stimulus spending. The …
Donald TrumpGlenn FineCarolyn MaloneyMitt RomneyStephen Lynchinspector generalwhistleblower retaliationobstruction of justiceaccountability crisiscovid-19+1 more
Principal Deputy Inspector General Christi Grimm of the Department of Health and Human Services released a report on April 6, 2020, documenting “severe shortages” of COVID-19 testing supplies and “widespread shortages” of personal protective equipment at hospitals nationwide. …
Christi GrimmDonald TrumpJason WeidaDepartment of Health and Human Servicesinspector generalwhistleblower retaliationobstruction of justiceaccountability crisiscovid-19+1 more
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly fires Captain Brett Crozier, commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt, for sending a letter requesting immediate evacuation of his crew as COVID-19 spreads among nearly 5,000 sailors. Crozier wrote “We are not at war. Sailors do not need to die” in his …
President Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency on March 13, 2020—approximately six weeks after Health Secretary Alex Azar had declared it a public health emergency—finally acknowledging the severity of a pandemic he had spent weeks downplaying and dismissing as a Democratic …
Donald TrumpAlex AzarMike Pencecovid-19public healthaccountability crisisfederal response
President Trump visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta on March 6, 2020, wearing his red “Keep America Great” campaign hat and delivering a chaotic, politically charged performance that included false claims about testing availability, attacks on …
Donald TrumpRobert RedfieldAlex AzarMike PenceJay Insleecovid-19public healthhatch actdisinformationaccountability crisis
At a campaign rally in North Charleston, South Carolina on February 28, 2020, President Trump dismissed Democratic criticism of his administration’s coronavirus response by declaring “this is their new hoax,” comparing it to impeachment and other perceived attacks against him. The …
Donald Trumpcovid-19public healthdisinformationaccountability crisis
On February 20, 2020, federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced Roger Stone, longtime Trump adviser and political operative, to 40 months in prison for lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice. The sentencing came at the conclusion of an unprecedented political controversy …
Roger StoneDonald TrumpWilliam BarrAaron ZelinskyJonathan Kravis+3 moredoj corruptionmueller investigationroger stonesentencingbarr obstruction+2 more
Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison hosted President Donald Trump at his Rancho Mirage, California estate on February 19, 2020, for a high-dollar campaign fundraiser that raised approximately $7 million for Trump’s reelection campaign. Attendees paid $100,000 for a golf outing and photo opportunity …
Larry EllisonDonald TrumpOracleRepublican Partypolitical-donationscorruptionconflicts-of-interestcronyismoracle
Attorney General Bill Barr personally intervened to reduce sentencing recommendations for Trump allies Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, causing four career prosecutors to withdraw from Stone’s case in protest and one to resign from DOJ entirely. After prosecutors recommended 7-9 years for …
Bill BarrRoger StoneMichael FlynnDonald TrumpDepartment of Justiceobstruction-of-justiceabuse-of-powerrule-of-lawcorruptionpoliticization
President Trump orchestrated a coordinated purge of impeachment witnesses on February 7, 2020, just two days after his Senate acquittal, firing both Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland in unmistakable retaliation for their truthful congressional testimony. Vindman, the …
Donald TrumpAlexander VindmanYevgeny VindmanGordon SondlandDavid Pressman+1 moreinspector generalwhistleblower retaliationobstruction of justiceaccountability crisisimpeachment+1 more
The Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump on both impeachment articles on February 5, 2020, despite overwhelming evidence that he abused his power by pressuring Ukraine to announce investigations into Joe Biden while withholding military aid. On Article I (Abuse of Power), the vote was …
The Senate voted 51-49 on January 31, 2020 to block witness testimony and document production in President Trump’s impeachment trial, making it the first Senate impeachment trial in American history conducted without witnesses or new evidence. Only two Republicans—Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan …
On January 30, 2020, Raytheon reported better-than-expected quarterly profits driven by surging international weapons demand, with company executives explicitly citing US-Iran tensions as a growth driver. The earnings announcement came just weeks after the January 3, 2020 US drone strike killing …
RaytheonGreg HayesSaudi ArabiaIranDonald Trumpraytheonwar-profiteeringiranpatriot-missilessaudi-arabia+1 more
Former U.S. Representative Chris Collins (R-NY) was sentenced to 26 months in federal prison, one year of supervised release, and a $200,000 fine by Judge Vernon S. Broderick for insider trading and making false statements to the FBI. Collins, who was the first member of Congress to endorse Donald …
Chris CollinsCameron CollinsDonald TrumpVernon S. Broderickcongressional corruptioninsider tradingrepublican partynew yorksecurities fraud+2 more
Speaker Nancy Pelosi transmitted the articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate on January 16, 2020, ending a 28-day delay strategy designed to pressure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to establish fair trial procedures. In a solemn ceremony in the Speaker’s office, …
President Trump signed the $738 billion National Defense Authorization Act on December 20, 2019, which established the United States Space Force as the sixth branch of the U.S. military. The new military service, first created since the Air Force in 1947, will initially comprise 16,000 active-duty …
Donald TrumpJay RaymondTodd Harrisonmilitarytrump-administrationspace-forcedefense-policynational-security
The House of Representatives voted on December 18, 2019 to impeach President Donald Trump on two articles: Abuse of Power (230-197-1) and Obstruction of Congress (229-198-1), making Trump only the third president in American history to be impeached. Article I charged that Trump “solicited the …
Donald TrumpNancy PelosiAdam SchiffHouse Democratsfirst impeachmentabuse of powerobstruction of congressconstitutional crisisukraine
Former National Security Council Russia expert Dr. Fiona Hill delivered searing testimony on November 21, 2019, exposing how Rudy Giuliani ran a shadow Ukraine policy for Trump’s “domestic political errand” that undermined U.S. national security and advanced Russian interests. …
Fiona HillRudy GiulianiJohn BoltonGordon SondlandDonald Trumpfirst impeachmentukraineshadow diplomacyrussiansc+1 more
EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland delivered blockbuster testimony on November 20, 2019, explicitly confirming the quid pro quo at the heart of Trump’s first impeachment and implicating the highest levels of the administration. In opening remarks that devastated Trump’s defense, Sondland …
Gordon SondlandMike PompeoMike PenceMick MulvaneyJohn Bolton+1 morefirst impeachmentukrainequid pro quostate departmentabuse of power
Mark Sandy, a career Office of Management and Budget (OMB) official serving as deputy associate director for national security programs, testified to House impeachment investigators on November 16, 2019, revealing that two of his OMB colleagues resigned in protest over concerns that Trump’s …
Mark SandyMichael DuffeyDonald TrumpOffice of Management and Budget (OMB)inspector generalwhistleblower retaliationobstruction of justiceaccountability crisisukraine+1 more
A federal jury convicted longtime Trump advisor Roger Stone on all seven counts: one count of obstruction of an official proceeding, five counts of making false statements to Congress, and one count of witness tampering. The conviction stemmed from Stone’s efforts to obstruct the House …
Roger StoneDonald TrumpJerome CorsiRandy CredicoWikiLeaks+1 moremueller investigationwikileaksobstruction of justicewitness tamperingcongressional lies+2 more
New York State Supreme Court Justice Saliann Scarpulla ordered President Donald Trump to pay $2 million in damages to eight legitimate charities for systematically misusing the Trump Foundation for personal, business, and political purposes. The judgment found that Trump had “breached his …
National Security Council Ukraine expert Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, an Iraq War veteran and Purple Heart recipient, testified to House impeachment investigators on October 29, 2019 that he listened to President Trump’s July 25 call with Ukrainian President Zelensky in real-time and …
Alexander VindmanDonald TrumpFiona Hillfirst impeachmentukrainenscmilitarywhistleblower+1 more
The Pentagon awards the $10 billion, 10-year Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) cloud contract to Microsoft, stunning observers who widely expected Amazon Web Services to win based on its established relationship with the intelligence community through the CIA’s C2S contract. Under …
PentagonMicrosoftAmazon Web ServicesDonald TrumpJeff Bezosmilitary-contractscloud-computingpolitical-interferencegovernment-contractscorruption+2 more
Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William “Bill” Taylor delivered devastating closed-door testimony to House impeachment investigators on October 22, 2019, providing a detailed timeline of how President Trump conditioned military aid and a White House meeting on Ukraine announcing …
Bill TaylorGordon SondlandRudy GiulianiDonald Trumpfirst impeachmentukrainequid pro quostate departmentcongressional testimony
Mark Zuckerberg delivers major policy speech at Georgetown University announcing that Facebook will not fact-check political advertisements, effectively licensing the Trump campaign and other political actors to spread unlimited disinformation through paid advertising on the platform. The policy …
Mark ZuckerbergFacebookDonald TrumpJoe BidenTrump Campaignfacebookpolitical-adsmisinformationfree-speech-abusetrump-campaign+3 more
The Trump administration blocked EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland from testifying before House impeachment investigators just hours before his scheduled deposition on October 8, 2019, inaugurating a pattern of complete non-cooperation with Congress that would form the basis for the obstruction of …
Donald TrumpGordon SondlandMike PompeoAdam Schifffirst impeachmentobstruction of congressukrainestate departmentgordon sondland
Mark Zuckerberg conducts secret, unreported meetings with Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, and Facebook board member Peter Thiel at the White House to negotiate content moderation policies and regulatory pressure. According to later reporting, Zuckerberg promises to avoid fact-checking political speech …
Mark ZuckerbergDonald TrumpJared KushnerPeter ThielFacebook+1 morefacebooktrump-administrationregulatory-capturepolitical-influencewhite-house+3 more
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a formal impeachment inquiry into President Trump on September 24, 2019, marking a historic turning point after revelations that Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden while withholding military aid. In a solemn address from the Speaker’s Balcony …
Nancy PelosiDonald TrumpAdam SchiffHouse Democratsfirst impeachmentcongressional oversightukraineabuse of powernancy pelosi
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross threatened to fire top officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) unless they backed President Donald Trump’s false claim that Hurricane Dorian threatened Alabama. Ross called acting NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs on September 6, …
Wilbur RossDonald TrumpNeil JacobsCraig McLeancabinet corruptionethics violationswilbur rosssharpiegatescientific integrity+2 more
An intelligence community whistleblower filed a formal complaint on August 12, 2019, detailing President Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky and the subsequent White House efforts to conceal the conversation. The complaint described how “multiple White House …
IC WhistleblowerMichael AtkinsonJoseph MaguireDonald Trumpfirst impeachmentwhistleblowerukraineintelligence communitycongressional oversight
President Trump announced via Twitter on July 28, 2019, that Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats would resign effective August 15, ending a tumultuous two-year tenure marked by fundamental conflicts over Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and ongoing threats to American …
Dan CoatsDonald TrumpJohn RatcliffeVladimir Putininspector generalwhistleblower retaliationobstruction of justiceaccountability crisisintelligence community+1 more
President Donald Trump pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate his domestic political rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden during a July 25, 2019 phone call, explicitly tying U.S. military assistance to political favors in what would become the central act of his first …
Donald TrumpVolodymyr ZelenskyRudy Giulianifirst impeachmentukrainequid pro quoforeign interferenceelection interference+1 more
On July 24, 2019, President Trump vetoed three congressional joint resolutions that would have blocked major components of his $8.1 billion emergency arms sale to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, including transfers of Raytheon Paveway precision-guided munitions. The vetoes overrode bipartisan Senate …
Donald TrumpRaytheonLockheed MartinBoeingSaudi Arabia+3 moretrumpraytheonsaudi-arabiaarms-salescongress+2 more
On July 23, 2019, the Senate voted 90-8 to confirm Mark Esper as Secretary of Defense, installing a former Raytheon weapons lobbyist as head of the Pentagon with authority over approximately $700 billion in annual defense spending including contracts worth tens of billions to his former employer. …
Mark EsperRaytheonDonald TrumpElizabeth WarrenLindsey Grahamrevolving-doorraytheondefense-contractorspentagonmark-esper+2 more
E. Jean Carroll, a longtime advice columnist and author, published an excerpt from her forthcoming book in New York Magazine alleging that Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in either late 1995 or early 1996. Carroll, who wrote the “Ask E. …
E. Jean CarrollDonald Trumpsexual assaulte. jean carrolldefamationtrump personal conduct
On June 20, 2019, the Senate voted 53-45 to pass resolutions blocking major components of the Trump administration’s $8.1 billion emergency arms sale to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, including specifically prohibiting the transfer of 64,000 Raytheon-manufactured Paveway precision-guided munitions. …
Bob MenendezLindsey GrahamChris MurphyRand PaulDonald Trump+2 moreraytheonsaudi-arabiacongressarms-salesyemen-war+1 more
On June 19, 2019, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule, replacing the Obama-era Clean Power Plan with regulations designed to extend the lifetimes of heavily polluting coal-fired power plants. The ACE Rule established no meaningful limits on carbon pollution …
Andrew WheelerEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Donald TrumpCoal IndustryScott Pruittclimate-denialeparegulatory-captureenvironmental-destructioncoal-industry+1 more