Twelve bipartisan senators write to DOJ Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume demanding an audit of the Department’s compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The letter is led by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), with additional …
Richard BlumenthalLisa MurkowskiJeff MerkleyChuck SchumerAmy Klobuchar+5 moreepstein-networkcongressional-oversightdoj-obstructionbipartisaninspector-general
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem faced one of the most contentious congressional hearings of the Trump administration’s second term on December 11, 2025, when Representative Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) publicly confronted her with a Purple Heart recipient she had ordered deported, …
Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, released a comprehensive staff report revealing that President Donald Trump and his family earned more than $800 million from cryptocurrency ventures in the first half of 2025 alone, with total crypto holdings valued at up to $11.6 …
Jamie RaskinDonald TrumpTrump OrganizationTrump FamilyPaul Atkins+21 morecryptocurrencycorruptionself-dealingforeign-influenceemoluments+13 more
On October 15, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Secretary Steve Feinberg issued an internal memo barring nearly all Defense Department personnel, including military commanders, from communicating with Congress or state lawmakers without prior approval from the Pentagon’s office …
Pete HegsethSteve FeinbergPentagoncongressional-oversightseparation-of-powerspentagonobstructionmilitary-accountability
On October 7, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a contentious oversight hearing marked by sharp Democratic criticism of the Justice Department’s targeting of President Trump’s political opponents. The hearing came one day before former …
Pam BondiSenate Judiciary CommitteeDepartment of JusticeDick DurbinRichard Blumenthal+1 moredojcongressional-oversightpolitical-prosecutioninstitutional-captureweaponization+1 more
Twelve Democratic members of Congress filed suit in federal court after being systematically denied access to ICE detention facilities nationwide. The lawsuit challenges DHS’s new policy requiring seven-day advance notice for visits and blocking all access to ICE field offices, which violates …
Rep. Joe Neguse (CO)Rep. Jason CrowRep. Adriano Espaillat (NY)Rep. Dan Goldman (NY)Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS)+9 morecongressional-oversightice-detentionrule-of-lawconstitutional-crisistransparency-failure
ICE denied multiple members of Congress access to immigration detention facilities across the country, including Rep. Jason Crow at Aurora, Colorado and six Maryland Democrats at Baltimore’s Fallon Federal Building. Despite a 2019 law guaranteeing congressional access for oversight, ICE …
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)Department of Homeland SecurityRep. Jason CrowSen. Chris Van HollenSen. Angela Alsobrooks+5 morecongressional-oversightice-detentiontransparency-failurerule-of-lawimmigration-enforcement
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a critical hearing investigating unprecedented threats to judicial independence in 2025, documenting rising levels of violence, intimidation, disinformation, and defiance of lawful court judgments. Testimony revealed a disturbing pattern of physical threats, …
The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a hearing with executives from the three largest PBMs—Adam Kautzner (Express Scripts), David Joyner (CVS Caremark), and Patrick Conway (OptumRx)—presenting findings from a comprehensive 32-month investigation. Chairman James Comer released a …
House Oversight CommitteeJames ComerAdam KautznerDavid JoynerPatrick Conway+3 morehealthcarepbmpharmacyantitrustcongressional-oversight+2 more
Senate Judiciary Committee issues subpoena to Harlan Crow after he refuses to provide information about gifts to Clarence Thomas, marking escalation in corruption investigation
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a historic hearing bringing together CEOs of major insulin manufacturers (Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi) and executives from the three largest PBMs (CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, OptumRx) to examine soaring insulin prices. …
Bernie SandersSenate HELP CommitteeLars Fruergaard JorgensenPaul HudsonHeather Cianfrocco+6 morehealthcarepbmpharmacyinsulindrug-pricing+2 more
The House Ways and Means Committee released six years of former President Donald Trump’s tax returns (2015-2020), ending a four-year legal battle and providing unprecedented public access to a sitting president’s financial records. The release followed the committee’s December 20, …
House Ways and Means CommitteeRichard NealDonald TrumpIRSTreasury Departmenttax fraudcongressional oversighttrump tax returnsirs audit failureforeign bank accounts
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified before the House Oversight and Reform Committee in a contentious marathon hearing where he repeatedly refused to restore mail sorting machines that had been removed or disconnected under his leadership, despite widespread mail delays and concerns about the …
Louis DeJoyCarolyn MaloneyRo KhannaHarley RoudaUSPSelection interferenceuspspostal servicecongressional oversightdejoy+1 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, …
U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee on Immigration and Citizenship, writes to Kevin Sneader, Global Managing Partner of McKinsey & Company, demanding detailed information about the firm’s work with ICE. The letter requests specific …
Pramila JayapalMcKinsey & CompanyKevin SneaderHouse Judiciary CommitteeImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)mckinseyconsulting-scandalcongressional-oversightimmigration-enforcementdetention-conditions+2 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
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
On May 24, 2019, the Trump administration invoked a rarely-used emergency provision of the Arms Export Control Act to bypass congressional review and ram through 22 separate arms sales worth $8.1 billion to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared an …
Donald TrumpMike PompeoRaytheonLockheed MartinBoeing+2 moreraytheonsaudi-arabiatrumparms-salesyemen-war+3 more
Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf testifies before the Senate Banking Committee in a hearing titled “An Examination of Wells Fargo’s Unauthorized Accounts and the Regulatory Response.” Senator Elizabeth Warren delivers a devastating confrontation, accusing Stumpf of “gutless …
John StumpfElizabeth WarrenU.S. Senate Banking Committeecorporate-fraudwells-fargocongressional-oversightelizabeth-warren
Erik Prince testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for nearly four hours, defending Blackwater’s operations in Iraq despite overwhelming evidence of excessive force and lack of accountability. The hearing came weeks after the September 16, 2007 Nisour Square …
Erik PrinceBlackwaterHouse Oversight CommitteeHenry Waxmanprivate-militaryiraq-waraccountability-crisiscongressional-oversightcorporate-impunity
Department of Justice Inspector General Glenn Fine releases comprehensive report documenting widespread FBI abuse of National Security Letters (NSLs) and surveillance authorities. The investigation found FBI systematically circumvented legal requirements, collected intelligence on Americans without …
Glenn FineFBIDepartment of JusticeCongressNational Security Division+1 morefbi-surveillance-abuseinspector-general-reportconstitutional-violationnational-security-letterscongressional-oversight
On March 9, 2006, Dubai Ports World (DPW) announced it would abandon its controversial plan to control US port operations, marking a pivotal moment in the Bush presidency’s foreign investment strategy. The decision came after the House Appropriations Committee voted 62-2 to block the $6.8 …
Dubai Ports WorldHouse Appropriations CommitteeCharles SchumerDennis HastertBill Frist+4 morecorporate-defeatcongressional-oversightforeign-investmentnational-securityport-security+1 more
Congress passes the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for 2004 (H.R. 2658), containing language that permanently terminates funding for the Total Information Awareness (TIA) program and orders the immediate closure of DARPA’s Information Awareness Office. The Senate had voted …
U.S. CongressSenateHouse of RepresentativesGeorge W. BushDARPA+4 moresurveillanceprivacylegislationtiamass-surveillance+4 more
Joint congressional hearings on the Iran-Contra affair begin, launching seven weeks of televised testimony that becomes the most-watched series of congressional hearings since the Senate Watergate Committee hearings in 1973. The House Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Transactions with …
Oliver NorthJohn PoindexterGeorge ShultzCaspar Weinbergeriran-contracongressional-oversightreagan-administrationaccountabilitymedia
The Tower Commission delivers its report on the Iran-Contra affair to President Reagan, producing findings widely criticized as a whitewash that shields Reagan from accountability while blaming subordinates for the illegal scheme. The commission, composed of former Senator John Tower, former …
Ronald ReaganJohn TowerEdmund MuskieBrent ScowcroftWilliam Caseyiran-contrareagan-administrationcongressional-oversightaccountabilitycover-up
Attorney General Edwin Meese announces that proceeds from secret arms sales to Iran were illegally diverted to fund Nicaraguan Contra rebels, publicly exposing the Iran-Contra scandal that had been revealed three weeks earlier by the Lebanese magazine Ash-Shiraa on November 3. The announcement comes …
Congress passes the most restrictive version of the Boland Amendment, explicitly prohibiting any U.S. government agency involved in intelligence activities from providing support for military or paramilitary operations in Nicaragua. The amendment, effective from October 3, 1984, to December 3, 1985, …
Edward BolandRonald Reaganiran-contracongressional-oversightnicaraguareagan-administrationconstitutional-law
On July 27, 1974, the House Judiciary Committee recommended that President Richard M. Nixon be impeached and removed from office, adopting Article I (Obstruction of Justice) by a vote of 27-11 at 7:07pm in Room 2141 of the Rayburn Office Building. The first article charged Nixon with engaging in a …
House Judiciary CommitteePeter RodinoRobert McCloryRichard Nixonwatergatecongressional-oversightobstruction-of-justiceabuse-of-powerimpeachment
On November 1, 1973, just twelve days after the Saturday Night Massacre, Solicitor General Robert Bork announced he had selected, and President Nixon approved, Leonidas “Leon” Jaworski to serve as the second special prosecutor during the Watergate scandal. Jaworski, a prominent Texas …
Leon JaworskiRobert BorkRichard NixonArchibald Coxwatergatecongressional-oversightinstitutional-corruptionrule-of-law
On July 13, 1973, Alexander Butterfield—who had served as deputy assistant to President Nixon from 1969 to 1973—was questioned in a background interview by Senate Watergate Committee staff members prior to his public testimony. Butterfield was brought before the committee because he was H.R. …
Alexander ButterfieldRichard NixonH.R. HaldemanDonald SandersFred Thompson+1 morewatergatesurveillancecongressional-oversightabuse-of-powerinstitutional-corruption
On June 25, 1973, recently fired White House Counsel John Dean began week-long testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, starting with a 245-page opening statement that took six hours to read. Dean testified that he had told President Nixon: “I began by …
John DeanRichard NixonH.R. HaldemanJohn EhrlichmanHoward Baker+1 morewatergatecongressional-oversightobstruction-of-justiceabuse-of-powerinstitutional-corruption
On May 17, 1973, the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities—commonly known as the Senate Watergate Committee—opened televised public hearings into the Watergate scandal. Chaired by Senator Sam Ervin of North Carolina, with Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee as vice chairman, the …
Sam ErvinHoward BakerSenate Watergate CommitteeRichard Nixonwatergatecongressional-oversightinstitutional-corruptionabuse-of-powertransparency
Congress holds 25 hearings throughout 1959 to investigate the revolving door between defense contractors and senior military officials, marking the first systematic examination of conflicts of interest in weapons procurement. General Omar Bradley, who served as the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs …
U.S. CongressGeneral Omar BradleyDepartment of DefenseDefense Contractorsrevolving-doormilitary-industrial-complexdefense-contractsconflict-of-interestcongressional-oversight
The Truman Committee reveals that Curtiss-Wright’s Lockland, Ohio plant supplied defective aircraft engines to the Army Air Force through falsified tests, forged inspection reports, and collusion with military inspectors. Despite holding more defense contracts than any company except General …
Curtiss-Wright CorporationTruman CommitteeHarry S. TrumanArmy Air Forcewar-profiteeringdefense-industrycorporate-impunitycongressional-oversightinspector-general-failure
Senator Harry S. Truman establishes the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program (Truman Committee) after witnessing widespread waste and profiteering in war production. Over the next four years, the committee will save an estimated $10-15 billion by uncovering fraud and …
Harry S. TrumanU.S. SenateDefense contractorswar-profiteeringcongressional-oversightdefense-industryinstitutional-accountability
The Senate Banking and Currency Committee issued its 400-page final report documenting the systematic corruption, fraud, and market manipulation that caused the 1929 Wall Street crash and subsequent Great Depression. The investigation, which began on March 4, 1932 with Senate Resolution 84 and …
Ferdinand PecoraU.S. Senate Committee on Banking and CurrencySenator Duncan Fletcherfinancial-regulationcorporate-accountabilitycongressional-oversightinstitutional-integrity
Charles E. Mitchell, chairman of National City Bank (predecessor to Citigroup), began testimony before the Senate Banking Committee’s Pecora investigation after receiving a subpoena on January 24, 1933. Under Ferdinand Pecora’s meticulous questioning, Mitchell confessed that his 1929 …
Charles E. MitchellNational City BankNational City CompanyFerdinand PecoraU.S. Senate Committee on Banking and Currencyfinancial-regulationcorporate-accountabilitytax-evasionbanking-fraudcongressional-oversight
Republican Senator Peter Norbeck appointed Ferdinand Pecora, a former New York deputy district attorney, as the fourth chief counsel to the Senate Banking and Currency Committee’s investigation into the Wall Street crash. Pecora, son of Italian immigrants who grew up in Hell’s Kitchen, …
Ferdinand PecoraSenator Peter NorbeckSenator Duncan FletcherU.S. Senate Committee on Banking and Currencyfinancial-regulationcorporate-accountabilitycongressional-oversightinstitutional-integrity
The U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 84, authorizing the Committee on Banking and Currency to investigate “practices with respect to the buying and selling and the borrowing and lending” of stocks and securities following the 1929 Wall Street crash. The investigation, chaired …
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking and CurrencySenator Peter NorbeckSenator Duncan Fletcherfinancial-regulationcorporate-accountabilitycongressional-oversightgreat-depression
The Senate Committee on Public Lands and Surveys began formal public hearings on the Teapot Dome oil leases, led by Montana Democratic Senator Thomas Walsh. Republican leadership had assigned this junior minority member to chair the inquiry, expecting it to be futile. Walsh, a former prosecutor, …
Thomas WalshAlbert Fallcongressional-oversightpolitical-corruptioninstitutional-accountability
Wyoming Democratic Senator John Kendrick introduced a resolution calling for investigation of the secret Teapot Dome oil lease deal after a Wyoming oil operator complained about Sinclair receiving the contract through a secret arrangement. Two days after the Wall Street Journal exposed the deal, …
John KendrickRobert La Follettecongressional-oversightinvestigative-journalismpolitical-corruption
The Senate Committee on the Philippines embarks on a highly publicized investigation into “Affairs in the Philippine Islands” after letters from ordinary American soldiers in the Philippines surface in hometown newspapers containing graphic accounts of torture and atrocities. At the …
Theodore RooseveltWilliam Howard TaftSenate Committee on the PhilippinesAnti-imperialist SenatorsU.S. Army soldiers+1 moreimperialismtorturewar-crimesaccountability-crisisphilippines+1 more