{ "name": "Public Trust Tracker case data", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/data/", "generated": "2026-10-23", "license": "CC BY 4.0", "note": "Being listed is not a finding of wrongdoing. Event and amount \"src\" fields index the case's sources list.", "cases": [ { "id": "INV-001", "title": "Trump family crypto ventures", "topic": "Foreign money", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Trump family", "Changpeng Zhao" ], "bodies": [ "House Oversight (minority)" ], "summary": "House Oversight Democrats estimate the Trump family has made at least $2.25 billion in realized profits from World Liberty Financial, the USD1 stablecoin and the $TRUMP memecoin, with at least $436 million from foreign interests. The report links the October 2025 pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao to Binance's dealings with World Liberty Financial.", "caveat": "Figures are minority staff estimates built on press reports and company statements.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-03", "text": "Abu Dhabi AI fund MGX makes a $2 billion minority investment in Binance.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2025-04-30", "text": "Nasdaq-listed Freight Technologies (Fr8Tech) announces a facility of up to $20 million to buy $TRUMP tokens; CEO Javier Selgas calls the tokens an 'effective way to advocate for fair, balanced, and free trade between Mexico and the U.S.'", "src": 12 }, { "date": "2025-05-01", "text": "WLF co-founder Zach Witkoff says at a Dubai conference that WLF's USD1 stablecoin 'will be used' for MGX's $2 billion Binance investment.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2025-05-22", "text": "Trump hosts top $TRUMP holders at his golf club in Sterling, Virginia; Justin Sun attends as top holder (about $18.6 million of tokens per CNBC).", "src": 8 }, { "date": "2025-10-21", "text": "Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, whose company had a $4.3B DOJ settlement and had pursued a partnership with World Liberty Financial (per the Oversight Democrats report). The DOJ pardon list dates the grant 21 Oct; the White House confirmed it publicly on 23 Oct.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-11-02", "text": "Asked on CBS's 60 Minutes about pardoning Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, Trump says 'I don't know who he is' and that his 'sons are involved in crypto much more' than he is.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2026-01-20", "text": "House Oversight Democrats publish an interim staff report: at least $2.25B realized, up to $9.72B including paper wealth, at least $436M from foreign interests.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-03-12", "text": "A second $TRUMP holder event is announced for Mar-a-Lago, open to the top 297 holders, with a VIP reception for the top 29.", "src": 9 }, { "date": "2026-04-24", "text": "Sens. Warren, Blumenthal and Schiff write to $TRUMP backer Bill Zanker questioning whether the event offers access to the president to boost token purchases.", "src": 10 }, { "date": "2026-04-25", "text": "Trump speaks privately with the top 29 holders and addresses the Mar-a-Lago event for about 45 minutes; attendees told Decrypt the crowd was mostly foreign.", "src": 11 }, { "date": "2026-10-21", "text": "CREW (advocacy group) reports that the Secret Service answered its records request on screening guests at the 25 April 2026 Mar-a-Lago event with \"no responsive records\". CREW reads this as meaning guests were not vetted; that is its interpretation, and no agency comment was reported.", "src": 13 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "White House (Karoline Leavitt)", "text": "Said Trump 'exercised his constitutional authority by issuing a pardon for Mr. Zhao' and that 'the Biden Administration's war on crypto is over'. She did not engage with the conflict-of-interest question.", "src": 3 }, { "who": "White House (Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt)", "text": "Said before the May 2025 dinner it was 'absurd for anyone to insinuate that this president is profiting off of the presidency'; the White House said Trump attended in his personal capacity.", "src": 8 }, { "who": "Donald Trump", "text": "In a part of the 60 Minutes interview that was cut from broadcast, said of the appearance of corruption: 'I'm not concerned.'", "src": 5 }, { "who": "Donald Trump", "text": "Asked on the tarmac why he attended the April 2026 event, said he felt obligated as president to help all major industries succeed.", "src": 11 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "House Oversight Democrats, interim staff report (PDF), 20 Jan 2026", "url": "https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/imo/media/doc/12026cryptoreport.pdf" }, { "label": "Trump Family Digital Grift Wealth Tracker", "url": "https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/trump-family-corruption-tracker" }, { "label": "DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney, clemency grants 2025-present", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/pardon/clemency-grants-president-donald-j-trump-2025-present" }, { "label": "ABC News, 23 Oct 2025", "url": "https://ruralradio.com/ktic/abc_news/trump-pardons-billionaire-binance-founder-changpeng-zhao-abcidfe5dec3f/" }, { "label": "Semafor, 2 May 2025", "url": "https://www.semafor.com/article/05/02/2025/trump-linked-stablecoin-used-in-2b-abu-dhabi-binance-investment" }, { "label": "Axios, 3 Nov 2025", "url": "https://www.axios.com/2025/11/04/trump-crypto-corruption-60-minutes-transcript" }, { "label": "National Review, 3 Nov 2025", "url": "https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/trump-on-changpeng-zhao-who-he-pardoned-i-dont-know-who-he-is/amp/" }, { "label": "CNBC (via NBC 6 South Florida), 20 May 2025", "url": "https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/business/money-report/tron-founder-justin-sun-says-hes-the-top-trump-meme-coin-holder/3618787/" }, { "label": "CNN (via KEYT), 23 May 2025", "url": "https://keyt.com/?p=1286457" }, { "label": "Decrypt, 12 Mar 2026", "url": "https://decrypt.co/360954/president-trump-hosting-another-exclusive-event-meme-coin-holders" }, { "label": "Cointelegraph, 24 Apr 2026", "url": "https://cointelegraph.com/news/trump-to-address-memecoin-event-after-speculation-of-no-show" }, { "label": "Decrypt, 28 Apr 2026", "url": "https://decrypt.co/365830/inside-trump-meme-coin-bash-foreign-guests-iran-war-mar-a-lago" }, { "label": "The Block, 2 May 2025", "url": "https://www.theblock.co/post/352884/nasdaq-listed-fr8tech-to-create-20-million-trump-treasury-to-support-fair-us-mexico-trade" }, { "label": "CREW (advocacy group), 21 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/secret-service-claims-no-records-of-trump-memecoin-gala/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-21", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-001-trump-family-crypto-ventures/", "agencies": [ "White House" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 2250000000.0, "type": "gain", "label": "Trump family's realized crypto profits", "src": 0, "estimate": true, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-002", "title": "Qatari 747 accepted for Air Force One", "topic": "Emoluments", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Pam Bondi", "Government of Qatar" ], "bodies": [ "Federal court (FOIA)", "Congress (minority)" ], "summary": "The US accepted a Boeing 747-8 from Qatar's government for presidential use. Democratic lawmakers and watchdogs say it violates the Constitution's Foreign Emoluments Clause. A FOIA lawsuit seeks the Justice Department memo that reportedly found the gift legal. ABC reported a plan to transfer the jet to Trump's library foundation by 1 Jan 2029; in Aug 2026 the White House said no final decision had been made.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2025-05-11", "text": "ABC News, citing sources, reports the plane would be retired near the end of Trump's term and ownership transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation no later than 1 Jan 2029, with the Air Force paying transfer costs. Sources say Attorney General Bondi and White House lawyer David Warrington judged this legally permissible.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-05-15", "text": "Freedom of the Press Foundation files a FOIA request for the DOJ legal memo on the jet.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-05-21", "text": "The Air Force confirms the US has accepted the jet. The White House calls it a gift to the Defense Department.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-06-26", "text": "Air Force Secretary Troy Meink tells a Senate Appropriations subcommittee that leftover 2024 funds from the Sentinel ICBM program will help pay to refit the jet, at a cost he puts under $400M. Sen. Chris Murphy calls that estimate \"wildly rosy\"; some experts say it could exceed $1B.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2025-07-27", "text": "The New York Times reports the Pentagon moved $934M from the Sentinel program to a classified project; Air Force officials said at least some of it would go to renovating the Qatari jet.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2025", "text": "Freedom of the Press Foundation, represented by American Oversight, sues DOJ in federal court in Washington, DC. DOJ estimated more than 600 days to answer. The case is pending.", "src": 1, "sort": "2025-08" }, { "date": "2026-08-06", "text": "A White House official tells ABC News \"no final decision has been made yet\" on the jet's future after Trump's term. Eric Trump told NBC News it was \"not the plan at the moment\" for the jet to go to the library.", "src": 5 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "White House", "text": "The plane is a gift to the Department of Defense and will follow the legal protocols for government gifts.", "src": 0 }, { "who": "White House (Karoline Leavitt)", "text": "\"Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws.\"", "src": 2 }, { "who": "Qatar (media attache Ali Al-Ansari)", "text": "Said the transfer of the aircraft for \"temporary use\" as Air Force One was under consideration by Qatar's and the US defense ministries.", "src": 2 }, { "who": "Air Force Secretary Troy Meink", "text": "Said Sentinel is \"fully funded\" and would not be delayed by moving the money.", "src": 3 }, { "who": "Donald Trump", "text": "Said in May 2025 the plane would go \"directly\" to his library after he leaves office and that he would not use it.", "src": 5 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "NPR, 21 May 2025", "url": "https://www.npr.org/2025/05/21/nx-s1-5406420/trump-accepts-qatar-plane-air-force-one" }, { "label": "Guardian via AOL: DOJ sued over Qatar jet memo", "url": "https://www.aol.com/news/us-justice-department-sued-over-172020798.html" }, { "label": "ABC News, 11 May 2025", "url": "https://abcnews.com/Politics/trump-administration-poised-accept-palace-sky-gift-trump/story?id=121680511" }, { "label": "Defense News, 30 Jun 2025", "url": "https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2025/06/30/us-air-force-uses-leftover-icbm-funds-to-revamp-qatar-plane/" }, { "label": "Daily Beast (citing NYT), 27 Jul 2025", "url": "https://www.thedailybeast.com/hegseth-secretly-splurges-nuclear-cash-on-trumps-free-jet/" }, { "label": "ABC News, 6 Aug 2026", "url": "https://abcnews.com/US/final-decision-future-qatar-donated-air-force-after/story?id=135413499" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-08-06", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-002-qatari-747-accepted-for-air-force-one/", "agencies": [ "Defense Dept", "Justice Dept" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 400000000.0, "type": "public", "label": "Air Force refit of the Qatari jet (\"under $400M\")", "src": 3, "estimate": true, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-003", "title": "Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners and Middle East role", "topic": "Conflicts of interest", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Jared Kushner" ], "bodies": [ "House Oversight (minority)", "Federal court (CREW lawsuit)" ], "summary": "Kushner serves as a Middle East envoy while his firm Affinity Partners has raised billions from Gulf monarchies. It is also the largest shareholder in Israel's Phoenix Financial, with more than $456 million invested in nine companies that supply Israel's military, according to the committee minority.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2026-03", "text": "Ranking Member Robert Garcia demands answers from the White House over reports that Kushner solicited billions from Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds while co-leading negotiations.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-10-05", "text": "Garcia writes to Kushner asking for detailed information on his Middle East business dealings. No deadline stated.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-10-14", "text": "The watchdog group CREW sues the administration, arguing that Kushner's role as a top envoy violates the Appointments Clause and the Ethics Act's disclosure rules, and asks for his removal or at least public financial disclosure.", "src": 1 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Kushner's lawyer (Chad Mizelle)", "text": "Said the suit \"is without merit\" and that ethics lawyers confirmed his volunteer service complies with the rules.", "src": 1 }, { "who": "White House (Anna Kelly)", "text": "Called CREW an \"unserious, Trump-deranged organization.\"", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "House Oversight Democrats press release, 6 Oct 2026", "url": "https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-robert-garcia-demands-answers-from-jared-kushner-on-conflict-of-interest-in-arms-investments" }, { "label": "NBC News via NBC Bay Area, 14 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/crew-lawsuit-trump-administration-jared-kushner/4158186/" }, { "label": "AP via CTV News, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/trump-son-in-law-jared-kushner-sued-over-envoy-role/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-14", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-003-jared-kushners-affinity-partners-and-middle-east-role/", "agencies": [ "State Dept" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-004", "title": "$620M Pentagon loan to Vulcan Elements", "topic": "Family business", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Peter Navarro", "Donald Trump Jr.", "1789 Capital" ], "bodies": [ "Senate & House Democrats" ], "summary": "ProPublica reported that White House adviser Peter Navarro initiated a $620 million Pentagon loan to rare-earth startup Vulcan Elements. The loan was announced about three months after Donald Trump Jr.'s venture firm 1789 Capital took an undisclosed stake.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2025", "text": "The Pentagon announces the $620M loan, about three months after 1789 Capital invests in Vulcan.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-06-03", "text": "ProPublica publishes its report. Sens. Warren, Blumenthal and Hirono and Reps. Crow and Levin write to Chief of Staff Susie Wiles asking whether Navarro acted at someone else's direction. Sen. Patty Murray calls for an investigation.", "src": 0 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Peter Navarro", "text": "\"Fake news on steroids.\"", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Trump Jr.'s spokesperson", "text": "He does not discuss his investments with federal officials and did not speak to Navarro about Vulcan.", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Pentagon", "text": "\"No company receives preferential treatment.\"", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "ProPublica, 3 Jun 2026", "url": "https://www.propublica.org/article/donald-trump-jr-vulcan-lawmakers-letter" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-06-03", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-004-620m-pentagon-loan-to-vulcan-elements/", "agencies": [ "Defense Dept", "White House" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 620000000.0, "type": "public", "label": "Pentagon loan to Vulcan Elements", "src": 0, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-005", "title": "Russian oligarch and Trump Jr.'s wedding", "topic": "Foreign money", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Donald Trump Jr.", "Umar Kremlev" ], "bodies": [ "House Oversight (minority)" ], "summary": "Umar Kremlev, a Russian businessman with close ties to Vladimir Putin, reportedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Donald Trump Jr.'s May 2026 wedding in the Bahamas. Oversight Democrats asked Trump Jr. to preserve all records of the relationship.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2026-05-24", "text": "Trump Jr.'s wedding in the Bahamas.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-09-14", "text": "Ranking Member Garcia writes to Trump Jr. and to Chief of Staff Wiles, asking for records on Kremlev and on any White House communications about the wedding.", "src": 0 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Umar Kremlev (6 Oct 2026)", "text": "\"He did repay the money I spent on the present.\"", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "House Oversight Democrats press release, 15 Sep 2026", "url": "https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-robert-garcia-demands-answers-from-trump-jr-after-russian-oligarch-bankrolls-lavish-wedding" }, { "label": "AP via PBS NewsHour, 6 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/russian-oligarch-says-trump-jr-has-paid-him-back-for-wedding-celebration" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-09-14", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-005-russian-oligarch-and-trump-jr-s-wedding/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-006", "title": "Tom Homan and the $50,000 FBI sting", "topic": "Bribery", "stage": 5, "people": [ "Tom Homan", "Kash Patel", "Todd Blanche" ], "bodies": [ "DOJ / FBI", "House Judiciary (minority)" ], "summary": "Undercover FBI agents recorded Tom Homan accepting $50,000 in cash in September 2024, reportedly after he indicated he could help with government contracts once Trump took office. The investigation stalled after the inauguration and was closed by Trump appointees.", "caveat": "Homan was not a public official at the time of the meeting, which reportedly complicated a bribery charge.", "events": [ { "date": "2024-09-20", "text": "Hidden cameras record Homan accepting $50,000 from undercover FBI agents in Texas.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-09-20", "text": "News reports reveal DOJ closed the case. Patel and Blanche say reviewers \"found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing.\"", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-09-22", "text": "House Judiciary Democrats ask Bondi and Patel to release the recordings and all case files.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "White House", "text": "\"Tom Homan has not been involved with any contract award decisions.\" Calls the probe politically motivated.", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "MS NOW (MSNBC) report", "url": "https://www.ms.now/news/tom-homan-cash-contracts-trump-doj-investigation-rcna232568" }, { "label": "Boston Globe, 20 Sep 2025", "url": "https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/20/nation/trump-justice-dept-closed-investigation-into-tom-homan-accepting-bag-cash" }, { "label": "House Judiciary Democrats press release", "url": "https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/judiciary-democrats-demand-doj-fbi-release-recordings-of-tom-homan-receiving-50000-cash-bribe" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Outcome", "outcome": "Closed by DOJ", "last_development": "2025-09-22", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-006-tom-homan-and-the-50-000-fbi-sting/", "agencies": [ "Justice Dept", "White House" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 50000.0, "type": "gain", "label": "Cash Homan accepted from undercover agents", "src": 0, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-007", "title": "Howard Lutnick, Cantor Fitzgerald and tariff trades", "topic": "Conflicts of interest", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Howard Lutnick", "Cantor Fitzgerald" ], "bodies": [ "Senate Democrats", "House Judiciary (minority)", "OGE complaint (CLC)" ], "summary": "Lutnick's sons now run Cantor Fitzgerald. Lawmakers are questioning reported Cantor trades tied to tariff refunds, and Cantor's role raising money for USA Rare Earth, which got a $1.6 billion Commerce Department commitment.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2025-03-19", "text": "On Fox News, Lutnick urges viewers: \"If you want to learn something on this show tonight, buy Tesla.\"", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2025-03-21", "text": "Campaign Legal Center files a complaint with the Office of Government Ethics and Commerce ethics officials, citing the rule against officials using their office to endorse products or companies (5 CFR 2635.702).", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-03-27", "text": "Rep. Maxine Waters, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and 13 other Democrats ask OGE to recommend a Commerce ethics investigation of Lutnick, and ask about his divestment from Cantor Fitzgerald.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2025-08", "text": "Democratic senators warn Cantor Fitzgerald about tariff-related trades, citing its link to Lutnick.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-01", "text": "Commerce agrees to provide USA Rare Earth with $1.6B. The company picks Cantor to raise a $1B+ round. Sens. Warren, Van Hollen and Wyden write with \"serious concerns\".", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-03-05", "text": "After Wired reports Cantor explored tariff-refund trades, House Judiciary Democrats seek information from Lutnick and his sons.", "src": 0 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Cantor spokesperson", "text": "Denies executing trades tied to the tariffs' legality: \"completely false.\"", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Howard Lutnick", "text": "\"I have done nothing wrong.\"", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Commerce Department", "text": "Declined to comment; OGE had not publicly responded.", "src": 3 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "WJLA / Sinclair, 5 Mar 2026", "url": "https://wjla.com/news/nation-world/the-heat-is-on-commerce-secretary-lutnick-over-epstein-familys-tariff-refund-wagers" }, { "label": "The Hill: Democrats warn Cantor Fitzgerald about tariff-related trades", "url": "https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5452027-wyden-warren-cantor-tariffs/" }, { "label": "Campaign Legal Center, 21 Mar 2025", "url": "https://campaignlegal.org/press-releases/campaign-legal-center-files-complaint-against-us-commerce-secretary-howard-lutnick-0" }, { "label": "Fox 5 NY / LiveNOW, 21 Mar 2025", "url": "https://www.fox5ny.com/news/trump-official-buy-tesla-ethics-law" }, { "label": "Letter to OGE from Rep. Waters, Sen. Warren et al., 27 Mar 2025", "url": "https://juliabrownley.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Quill-Letter-L23622-Letter-to-OGE-on-Lutnick-Promoting-Tesla-Version-2-04-01-2025-@-09-28-AM-2.pdf" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-03-05", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-007-howard-lutnick-cantor-fitzgerald-and-tariff-trades/", "agencies": [ "Commerce Dept" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 1600000000.0, "type": "public", "label": "Commerce commitment to USA Rare Earth", "src": 0, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-008", "title": "Lawsuit settlements paid to a dissolved library fund", "topic": "Payments to the President", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "ABC", "Meta", "X", "Paramount" ], "bodies": [ "Senate & House Democrats" ], "summary": "Up to $63 million in settlements of Trump's lawsuits against ABC, Meta, X and Paramount may have gone to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Fund. That fund was later dissolved, and where the money went has not been disclosed.", "caveat": "The FCC approval followed the Paramount settlement by about three weeks; no official finding links the two. The reported ad side deal is denied by Paramount and unconfirmed by Skydance. CBS says the Colbert cancellation was financial; no official finding links it to the settlement or the merger review.", "events": [ { "date": "2024-12-13", "text": "ABC agrees to pay $15M to settle Trump's lawsuit, as a contribution to a presidential foundation and museum.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-01-29", "text": "Meta agrees to pay $25M to settle Trump's lawsuit over his account suspension: $22M to his presidential library, $3M for legal fees.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-07-02", "text": "Paramount agrees to pay $16M to settle Trump's lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview; Paramount says the money goes to his future presidential library, not to Trump personally. No apology was included.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-07-02", "text": "The New York Post reports a separate agreement calling for $15M-$20M in public service announcements promoting causes the President supports. On 4 Jul Trump says the deal includes \"$16 million plus $16 million, or maybe more\" in advertising.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2025-07-14", "text": "Stephen Colbert, on CBS, calls Paramount's $16M settlement a \"big fat bribe\" while the Skydance sale awaits administration approval.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2025-07-17", "text": "CBS announces The Late Show will end in May 2026, calling it \"purely a financial decision\" unrelated to content or \"other matters happening at Paramount\". Two senators publicly question the timing; the next day Trump posts that he \"absolutely love[s]\" that Colbert was \"fired\" and \"I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next.\"", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2025-07-24", "text": "The FCC approves Skydance's $8B acquisition of Paramount by a 2-1 vote, after Skydance commits to viewpoint diversity, no DEI programs and local news investment. Commissioner Anna Gomez dissents.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2025-09", "text": "Florida administratively dissolves the Library Fund for failing to file an annual report.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-09-29", "text": "YouTube settles a similar lawsuit for $24.5 million; $22 million goes toward the White House ballroom through the Trust for the National Mall rather than to the library fund (see INV-009).", "src": 8 }, { "date": "2025-12-29", "text": "The fund's incorporator files articles of dissolution.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-03-11", "text": "Sens. Warren and Blumenthal and Rep. Stansbury ask ABC, Meta, X and Paramount how much went to the fund. Deadline: 23 Mar 2026.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-04-20", "text": "Sens. Warren and Blumenthal and Rep. Stansbury release the companies' answers on their settlement payments and write to Trump asking where the money went.", "src": 6 }, { "date": "2026-07-16", "text": "The same lawmakers press the Trump Library Foundation over at least $6.5 million, and possibly $14.5 million, in settlement money they say is unaccounted for.", "src": 7 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Paramount", "text": "Said its settlement included no PSAs: \"Paramount knows nothing about the alleged side deal between Trump/Ellison, had absolutely nothing to do with it.\" Skydance declined to comment.", "src": 3 }, { "who": "Paramount / CBS", "text": "Rejected Trump's claim that the interview was edited to favor Harris.", "src": 2 }, { "who": "FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez (dissent)", "text": "\"After months of cowardly capitulation to this Administration, Paramount finally got what it wanted.\"", "src": 4 }, { "who": "FCC Chair Brendan Carr", "text": "Welcomed \"Skydance's commitment to make significant changes at the once storied CBS broadcast network.\"", "src": 4 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Sen. Warren press release, 11 Mar 2026", "url": "https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-blumenthal-stansbury-press-big-tech-ceos-on-trump-settlements-to-now-dissolved-library-fund" }, { "label": "ABC News (ABC7NY), 29 Jan 2025", "url": "https://abc7ny.com/post/meta-agrees-pay-25-million-settle-lawsuit-president-donald-trump/15847339/" }, { "label": "AP via WCAX, 2 Jul 2025", "url": "https://www.wcax.com/2025/07/02/paramount-pay-16-million-settlement-with-trump-over-60-minutes-interview/" }, { "label": "TheWrap, 7 Jul 2025", "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/trump-ellison-side-deal-paramount-psa/" }, { "label": "Axios, 24 Jul 2025", "url": "https://www.axios.com/2025/07/24/skydance-paramount-merger-trump-fcc-approved" }, { "label": "AP via KSAT, 17 Jul 2025", "url": "https://www.ksat.com/entertainment/2025/07/17/stephen-colbert-says-cbs-is-ending-his-late-show-in-may-2026/" }, { "label": "Sen. Elizabeth Warren press release, 20 Apr 2026", "url": "https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-blumenthal-stansbury-press-trump-on-missing-millions-donated-to-dissolved-trump-library-fund-new-big-tech-ceo-responses-raise-fresh-questions/" }, { "label": "Sen. Elizabeth Warren press release, 16 Jul 2026", "url": "https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-blumenthal-stansbury-press-trump-library-foundation-on-millions-of-dollars-in-missing-donations-mysterious-expenditures/" }, { "label": "AP via PBS NewsHour, 30 Sep 2025", "url": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/youtube-to-pay-24-5-million-to-settle-lawsuit-over-trumps-account-suspension-after-jan-6-attack" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-07-16", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-008-lawsuit-settlements-paid-to-a-dissolved-library-fund/", "agencies": [ "White House", "FCC" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 15000000.0, "type": "gain", "label": "ABC settlement", "src": 0, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true }, { "value": 25000000.0, "type": "gain", "label": "Meta settlement", "src": 1, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true }, { "value": 16000000.0, "type": "gain", "label": "Paramount settlement", "src": 2, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-009", "title": "White House ballroom donors", "topic": "Payments to the President", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Corporate donors", "Charles Ergen", "Marc Benioff", "Paul Singer", "Harold Hamm", "Joseph Popolo Jr.", "Kelly Loeffler" ], "bodies": [ "Press", "Sen. Warren", "Sen. Blumenthal (PSI)" ], "summary": "Companies including Google, Lockheed Martin, Palantir, Booz Allen Hamilton, R.J. Reynolds and NextEra Energy pledged money for a new White House ballroom. Donations are tax-deductible through a nonprofit, and donors may stay anonymous.", "caveat": "The June 2026 Washington Post finding is shown as summarized by the RepresentUs tracker; the original is paywalled. The ArcelorMittal tariff proclamation followed the steel donation by two days; the White House denies a link and no official finding connects them. Donor amounts come from a leaked internal spreadsheet published by the Washington Post; the Post says its reporting does not establish a connection between gifts and government actions, and donors who answered deny any link.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-08-26", "text": "FHFA approves Rocket's purchase of Mr. Cooper. Three weeks later a Rocket subsidiary commits $10 million to the ballroom and asks to stay anonymous (per the Post). Rocket says the approval and gift are unconnected; the FTC says Rocket got no special treatment.", "src": 9 }, { "date": "2025-09-19", "text": "CBS reports nearly $200M pledged through the Trust for the National Mall; several companies pledged $5M or more.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-09-29", "text": "YouTube agrees to pay $24.5 million to settle Trump's lawsuit over his account suspension; a court filing earmarks $22 million for Trump to contribute to the Trust for the National Mall for the ballroom. The settlement \"does not constitute an admission of liability.\"", "src": 15 }, { "date": "2025-10", "text": "Trump says ArcelorMittal donated steel valued at $37M. Two days later a White House proclamation lets Commerce cut tariffs by up to half for steel and aluminum producers with plants in Canada or Mexico that supply US vehicle makers and commit to new US capacity; ArcelorMittal makes automotive steel in Canada and plans to expand in Alabama.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2025-10", "text": "ServiceNow commits $5 million a month after a GSA discount deal that GSA called 'landmark' (per the Post). GSA and ServiceNow say donations had no bearing on the deal.", "src": 9 }, { "date": "2025-10", "text": "Days after demolition of the East Wing begins, Trump says the ballroom is \"being paid for a hundred percent by me and some friends of mine.\" The donor list the Post obtained in October 2026 does not show Trump as a donor; the list excludes in-kind gifts, and whether he contributed another way is not shown.", "src": 9 }, { "date": "2025-10-22", "text": "Trump says the ballroom will cost about $300M, up $100M from the original figure.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2025-10-23", "text": "The White House releases a list of ballroom donors (PBS counts 38 names; a CNN list shows 37) including Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Palantir, Coinbase and the Lutnick family. No amounts are given.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2025-10-24", "text": "Sen. Blumenthal, ranking member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, writes to the donors on the White House's public list, asking who solicited their gifts, how much they gave, whether amounts were suggested, and for any written terms; answers due 7 November.", "src": 16 }, { "date": "2025-11-03", "text": "Blumenthal writes to donors the White House left off its public list, including BlackRock's Larry Fink, asking for records of their gifts, who solicited them and why they chose anonymity; answers due 14 November.", "src": 17 }, { "date": "2025-12", "text": "Charles Ergen (EchoStar/Dish) commits $12.5 million anonymously, and another $12.5 million in February. In September 2025 the FCC had dropped its probe of EchoStar after Ergen met Trump and FCC chair Carr and agreed to sell spectrum to AT&T; the FCC and DOJ approved the sale in May 2026 (per the Post). Ergen declined to comment.", "src": 9 }, { "date": "2025-12-16", "text": "Trump says the ballroom may now cost as much as $400M.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2025-12-22", "text": "Blumenthal writes to ten people and companies reported to have attended the 15 October 2025 ballroom fundraising dinner, asking whether they gave or pledged, who invited and solicited them, and for their lobbying contacts; answers due 7 January 2026. No answers have been made public.", "src": 18 }, { "date": "2026-01-26", "text": "The Army awards Salesforce a contract worth up to $5.6 billion; the Pentagon said only one bid was received. Salesforce committed $1 million to the ballroom a month earlier and another $1 million three days after the award, and CEO Marc Benioff gave $1 million personally (per the Post). The Pentagon says political connections play no role.", "src": 9 }, { "date": "2026-03-10", "text": "CREW reports Commerce Secretary Lutnick and SBA Administrator Loeffler donated to the ballroom; amounts not public.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-04-08", "text": "The New York Times reports the donated steel was produced in Europe. A White House official says no company, including ArcelorMittal, has yet received the tariff exemption.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2026-04-10", "text": "Sen. Warren asks Commerce Secretary Lutnick and USTR Greer to reject the ArcelorMittal donation and say whether tariff relief or other favors were given or planned for ballroom donors.", "src": 6 }, { "date": "2026-06-04", "text": "Public Citizen reports that 14 of 27 identified corporate donors got new or increased federal contracts worth over $50B in the prior 6 months, and that 16 face federal enforcement actions or had them suspended.", "src": 7 }, { "date": "2026-06-16", "text": "Washington Post: records show a $600M estimate, with taxpayers funding about half.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-07-04", "text": "ABC News reports that Freedom 250, a separate White House-launched 250th-anniversary partnership, offers sponsorship tiers from $500,000 to over $10M, with top donors invited to a private reception hosted by Trump. Amounts given by sponsors are not disclosed.", "src": 8 }, { "date": "2026-08-31", "text": "The Supreme Court, 5-4, lets construction continue while a preservation group's lawsuit proceeds, saying the group likely lacks standing. Chief Justice Roberts and the three Democratic appointees dissent, calling the construction \"likely unlawful\" without congressional approval.", "src": 10 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "The Washington Post obtains the internal donor spreadsheet: 67 gifts over $10,000 totaling $333 million as of late September, at least $77 million from donors who asked to stay anonymous, and about half from companies or executives of firms with federal contracts in Trump's second term. Apple and Nvidia gave $25 million each. The Post says its reporting does not show the gifts led to any government action.", "src": 9 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "The Post's list also shows gifts from administration officials and their families: SBA Administrator Loeffler and her husband Jeff Sprecher ($5 million), Brandon Lutnick, son of the Commerce Secretary (stock worth over $2.5 million), and Ambassador to the Netherlands Joseph Popolo Jr. ($1 million, two months after confirmation). AT&T, listed as 'pledged' $5 million, says it was listed in error. Hard Rock, Tether America and Paolo Tiramani, named as donors by the White House, are missing from the list.", "src": 9 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "Public Citizen (advocacy group) reports that the Trust for the National Mall's new tax filing shows $169.7 million of the $320 million it received in 2025 came from ten donors the filing does not name; it attributes eight of them from other reporting and records.", "src": 14 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "Per the Post, gifts go to the Trust for the National Mall, then to the government and into a White House account the president directly controls. A 12-page agreement requires the Trust to keep donors anonymous unless the White House Executive Residence authorizes naming them in writing. The pledge form lists Meredith O'Rourke, top fundraiser for Trump's 2024 campaign, as main contact. Crypto firms and investors pledged over $18 million.", "src": 9 }, { "date": "2026-10-20", "text": "Public Citizen (advocacy group) sues the National Park Service under the Freedom of Information Act for records on how the Trust for the National Mall accepted and vetted ballroom donations, after the agency missed the deadline on a May 2026 request.", "src": 19 }, { "date": "2026-10-20", "text": "Blumenthal writes to 14 donors first revealed by the Post's list, including Marc Benioff, Charlie Ergen, Chuck Robbins, Bill McDermott, the Paul E. Singer Foundation, Arjun Sethi, Ambassador Joseph Popolo Jr., Jason Miller and Isabela Herrera. He asks who solicited the gifts, how the amounts were set, about any agreements, why they chose anonymity, and for their lobbying contacts; answers due 30 October.", "src": 21 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Donald Trump", "text": "Said he would disclose donor names and not seek foreign contributions.", "src": 0 }, { "who": "White House (Davis Ingle)", "text": "Trump is \"making the White House beautiful and giving it the glory it deserves at no cost to the taxpayer.\" An unnamed official called the link between the steel donation and the tariff change \"tenuous\" and said ArcelorMittal received nothing in return.", "src": 5 }, { "who": "ArcelorMittal", "text": "Declined to comment.", "src": 5 }, { "who": "Freedom 250 (Danielle Alvarez)", "text": "Called a House Natural Resources Democrats' report on its funding \"categorically false\" and \"a partisan smear\".", "src": 8 }, { "who": "White House", "text": "Spokesman Davis Ingle declined to discuss individual gifts and called the donors \"a wide array of great American companies and generous individuals.\"", "src": 9 }, { "who": "White House (Davis Ingle)", "text": "Said the administration will \"relentlessly pursue those responsible for this cowardly leak while continuing to protect all those who give.\"", "src": 9 }, { "who": "Nvidia", "text": "\"As an American company, our support for the United States is paramount, and independent of any business interests.\"", "src": 9 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "CBS News, 19 Sep 2025", "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-white-house-ballroom-donor-names/" }, { "label": "CREW, 10 Mar 2026", "url": "https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/20-white-house-cabinet-members-have-directed-at-least-30-million-to-benefit-trump/" }, { "label": "Washington Post, 16 Jun 2026 (paywalled)", "url": "https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2026/06/16/records-reveal-600m-estimate-trumps-ballroom-project-with-half-taxpayers/" }, { "label": "PBS News, 23 Oct 2025", "url": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/whos-paying-for-trumps-300-million-ballroom" }, { "label": "Bloomberg, 17 Dec 2025", "url": "https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bloomberg-government-news/trump-says-cost-of-new-ballroom-may-now-reach-400-million" }, { "label": "New York Times via Hawaii Tribune-Herald, 10 Apr 2026", "url": "https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2026/04/10/nation-world-news/white-house-secures-foreign-steel-for-ballroom-project/" }, { "label": "Sen. Warren press release, 10 Apr 2026", "url": "https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-calls-on-trump-administration-to-reject-foreign-steel-for-ballroom-project-warns-of-pay-to-play-concerns-related-to-tariff-relief" }, { "label": "Public Citizen, 4 Jun 2026", "url": "https://www.citizen.org/article/ballroom-billions/" }, { "label": "ABC News (ABC7NY), 4 Jul 2026", "url": "https://abc7ny.com/post/is-paying-americas-250th-celebrations-complicated/19446383/" }, { "label": "Washington Post via Spokesman-Review, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/oct/15/secret-documents-reveal-donors-behind-330-million-/" }, { "label": "SCOTUSblog, 31 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/08/supreme-court-allows-construction-on-white-house-ballroom-to-continue/" }, { "label": "HousingWire, FHFA clears Rocket's Mr. Cooper deal, Aug 2025", "url": "https://www.housingwire.com/articles/fhfa-clears-rockets-9-4b-acquisition-of-mr-cooper-with-safeguards/" }, { "label": "Satellite Today, FCC closes EchoStar investigation, 9 Sep 2025", "url": "https://www.satellitetoday.com/connectivity/2025/09/09/fcc-closes-investigation-of-echostar-after-spectrum-sales/" }, { "label": "Salesforce press release, Army contract, 26 Jan 2026", "url": "https://www.salesforce.com/news/press-releases/2026/01/26/us-army-department-of-war-missionforce-announcement/" }, { "label": "Public Citizen (advocacy group), 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.citizen.org/news/white-house-ballroom-megadonors-revealed/" }, { "label": "AP via PBS NewsHour, 30 Sep 2025", "url": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/youtube-to-pay-24-5-million-to-settle-lawsuit-over-trumps-account-suspension-after-jan-6-attack" }, { "label": "Sen. Blumenthal letters to ballroom donors (HSGAC), 24 Oct 2025", "url": "https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025-10-24-Letters-from-Blumenthal-to-Trump-Ballroom-Donors.pdf" }, { "label": "Sen. Blumenthal press release, 3 Nov 2025", "url": "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-demands-answers-from-secret-donors-to-trumps-white-house-ballroom-project-presses-donors-on-potential-deals-made-in-exchange-for-undisclosed-contributions" }, { "label": "Sen. Blumenthal letters to donor-dinner attendees (HSGAC), 22 Dec 2025", "url": "https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025-12-22-Letters-from-Ranking-Member-Blumenthal-to-Trump-Ballroom-Donors.pdf" }, { "label": "Public Citizen press release, 20 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.citizen.org/news/on-anniversary-of-east-wing-demolition-public-citizen-sues-for-information-on-the-management-of-private-donations-for-trumps-ballroom/" }, { "label": "Public Citizen v. National Park Service (case page)", "url": "https://www.citizen.org/litigation/public-citizen-v-national-park-service-ballroom-funding/" }, { "label": "Sen. Blumenthal press release, 21 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-presses-secret-white-house-ballroom-donors-after-new-details-emerge-about-330-million-fundraising-campaign-for-trumps-pet-project" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-20", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-009-white-house-ballroom-donors/", "agencies": [ "White House" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 200000000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Ballroom donations pledged (by Sep 2025)", "src": 0, "estimate": true, "inTotal": false, "note": "Superseded by the Oct 2026 donor list" }, { "value": 333000000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Ballroom gifts recorded (Washington Post donor list, late Sep 2026)", "src": 9, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true }, { "value": 77000000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Of which from donors who asked to stay anonymous", "src": 9, "estimate": false, "inTotal": false, "note": "Part of the $333M" } ] }, { "id": "INV-010", "title": "Ambassador Guilfoyle's $100,000 request to a donor", "topic": "Selling access", "stage": 3, "people": [ "Kimberly Guilfoyle", "Eric Deters" ], "bodies": [ "House Oversight (minority)", "State Dept inspector general (reported)", "House Foreign Affairs (minority)" ], "summary": "The Wall Street Journal reported that Kimberly Guilfoyle, now US Ambassador to Greece, asked donor Eric Deters for $100,000 days before her confirmation hearing, in exchange for access to senior officials. Deters declined and went public.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2025-07-03", "text": "Signal message from Guilfoyle: \"It won't show up anywhere if you wire money to American Express.\"", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-10-07", "text": "The Wall Street Journal publishes the messages. Deters calls it a quid pro quo on ABC.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-10-08", "text": "Ranking Member Garcia asks Guilfoyle for financial records and her communications with Deters and with administration officials.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-10-09", "text": "NBC News, citing two people familiar with the decision, reports that the State Department inspector general is investigating Guilfoyle and the US Embassy in Greece. The inspector general does not confirm or deny investigations.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-10-10", "text": "House Foreign Affairs ranking member Gregory Meeks asks the State Department inspector general to investigate and asks Guilfoyle to answer the committee's questions under oath.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2026-10-13", "text": "Guilfoyle resigns as ambassador to Greece; the White House says it asked her to resign.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-10-14", "text": "Ranking Member Garcia writes to Guilfoyle, now a private citizen, that the inquiry continues and his requests for her financial records and communications \"still stand\". No deadline stated.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "Eric Deters sues Guilfoyle and her lawyers for defamation in Kenton County, Kentucky, disputing their statements that the texts he gave reporters were fake and that he is a \"known blackmailer.\"", "src": 6 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Guilfoyle's attorney", "text": "Disputes the messages' authenticity and says she was owed money for earlier speaking engagements.", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Marco Rubio", "text": "Declined to comment on whether the allegations are true.", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Kimberly Guilfoyle", "text": "\"These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity.\" Her lawyers say the money sought was for unpaid services that predated her nomination.", "src": 3 }, { "who": "Guilfoyle's lawyer (David Schwartz)", "text": "Called the defamation suit \"clearly frivolous on its face.\"", "src": 6 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "The Hill via WTNH, 8 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.wtnh.com/news/national/who-is-eric-deters-the-maga-donor-kimberly-guilfoyle-sought-100000-from-for-amex-bill/amp/" }, { "label": "House Oversight Democrats press release, 8 Oct 2026", "url": "https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-robert-garcia-demands-answers-from-kimberly-guilfoyle-on-apparent-pay-to-play-scheme" }, { "label": "NBC News, 9 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/state-department-kimberly-guilfoyle-alleged-100k-demand/4165676/" }, { "label": "Fox 5 DC, 13 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.fox5dc.com/news/trump-asked-kimberly-guilfoyle-resign-white-house.amp" }, { "label": "House Oversight Democrats, 14 Oct 2026", "url": "https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-robert-garcia-advances-investigation-into-now-private-citizen-kimberly-guilfoyle-following-resignation" }, { "label": "House Foreign Affairs Democrats, 10 Oct 2026", "url": "https://democrats-foreignaffairs.house.gov/2026/10/meeks-calls-for-state-oig-investigation-hfac-testimony-from-amb-guilfoyle" }, { "label": "USA Today via AOL, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.aol.com/articles/trump-donor-sues-kimberly-guilfoyle-205128000.html" }, { "label": "WKYT, 16 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.wkyt.com/2026/10/16/kentucky-businessman-suing-former-greece-ambassador/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Official review", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-15", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-010-ambassador-guilfoyles-100-000-request-to-a-donor/", "agencies": [ "State Dept" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-011", "title": "FAA chief kept airline stock past ethics deadline", "topic": "Conflicts of interest", "stage": 3, "people": [ "Bryan Bedford", "Republic Airways" ], "bodies": [ "Office of Government Ethics", "Senate Commerce (minority)" ], "summary": "FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, former CEO of Republic Airways, pledged to sell his Republic stock within 90 days of confirmation. The Office of Government Ethics found he failed to comply on time. He sold $5–26 million of stock in February 2026.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2025-07-09", "text": "Senate confirms Bedford. His ethics agreement requires divesting within 90 days.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-10-07", "text": "Divestment deadline passes. OGE had rejected his request for a 60-day extension.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-12-08", "text": "OGE tells Sen. Cruz that Bedford \"has failed to timely comply with certain terms of the ethics agreement.\"", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-02", "text": "Bedford sells $5M to $26M in Republic stock, disclosed in April.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-04", "text": "Sen. Cantwell demands a full accounting.", "src": 0 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "FAA", "text": "Did not answer questions.", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "NOTUS / Washington Sun, 10 Apr 2026", "url": "https://www.washingtonsun.com/money/bryan-bedford-faa-republic-stock-sale-aviation?redirected=notus_org" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Official review", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-04", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-011-faa-chief-kept-airline-stock-past-ethics-deadline/", "agencies": [ "Transportation Dept (FAA)" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-012", "title": "Venezuelan oil revenue and the Betancourt deal", "topic": "Government deals", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Marco Rubio", "Todd Blanche", "Alejandro Betancourt", "Vitol", "John Addison" ], "bodies": [ "House Oversight (minority)", "House Foreign Affairs (minority)" ], "summary": "Oversight Democrats are asking how the administration manages more than $13 billion in Venezuelan oil revenue, and about a deal giving the US a stake in a Venezuelan oil company through a firm led by Alejandro Betancourt, an alleged money launderer under criminal investigation.", "caveat": "The Vitol donations and the oil sale are reported correlation; no official finding links them. The Washington Post says its donor-list reporting does not establish a connection between gifts and government actions.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-10", "text": "Paul Singer's foundation commits $5 million to the White House ballroom a month before his fund wins court approval to pursue a $5.9 billion purchase of Citgo, which needs federal approvals; Continental Resources and Harold Hamm commit just under $5 million (per the Washington Post). Singer declined to comment; Hamm did not respond.", "src": 6 }, { "date": "2026-01", "text": "Vitol senior trader John Addison, who gave about $6M to pro-Trump committees in 2024 including $5M to MAGA Inc., attends a White House meeting of oil executives. Per the FT, he told Trump Vitol would seek the best price.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-01-09", "text": "Letters to Chevron, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips and Continental Resources about the plan to take Venezuela's oil.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-01-14", "text": "Semafor: an administration official says proceeds of the first US-run Venezuelan oil sales are held in accounts controlled by the US government; a second senior official says the main account is in Qatar, a 'neutral location' where the money is safe from seizure.", "src": 8 }, { "date": "2026-01-16", "text": "The Financial Times reports Vitol bought about $250M of Venezuelan crude in the first US-run sale, with Addison involved; Trafigura bought about $250M as well.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-01-22", "text": "Sen. Schiff and 13 other Senate Democrats ask senior White House officials to disclose any financial ties to companies in Venezuelan oil sales, noting Vitol's more than $6M in donations to pro-Trump committees.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2026-01-29", "text": "Letters to oil traders Vitol and Trafigura about a $1B sale of Venezuelan oil.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-01-29", "text": "Oversight Democrats' letter to Vitol and Trafigura says Vitol's role is \"particularly concerning\" given Addison's $6M in donations.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2026-02", "text": "Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the first $500M of sales went into an account in Qatar 'controlled by the U.S. government the whole time' before going on to Venezuela, and that new money goes to a US Treasury account instead.", "src": 10 }, { "date": "2026-02-11", "text": "Sens. Schiff and Schumer introduce the Venezuela Oil Proceeds Transparency Act, which would have GAO audit the offshore accounts holding the oil money, and call for those accounts to be shut down.", "src": 9 }, { "date": "2026-02-23", "text": "Probe expands: letters to Treasury and Energy asking for a full accounting.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-08-04", "text": "Probe escalates as revenue passes $13B.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-09-17", "text": "Garcia, Meeks and Huffman ask Rubio and Blanche about pressure on a foreign government over Betancourt's case.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-10-02", "text": "House Foreign Affairs Democrats say the State Department has produced only one document on the Betancourt deal, which \"falls far short\", and list what is still outstanding.", "src": 7 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Vitol", "text": "Said Addison's political donations were made in a personal capacity.", "src": 3 }, { "who": "White House (Taylor Rogers)", "text": "Said Trump \"always does what is in the best interest of the American people\" and called it a \"historic energy agreement.\"", "src": 3 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "House Oversight Democrats, 4 Aug 2026", "url": "https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-robert-garcia-escalates-investigation-into-trump-administration-venezuelan-oil-management-as-revenue-exceeds-13b" }, { "label": "House Oversight Democrats, 23 Feb 2026", "url": "https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-robert-garcia-expands-investigation-into-venezuelan-oil-deal-demands-answers-from-trump-administration" }, { "label": "House Oversight Democrats, 18 Sep 2026", "url": "https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/09/18/2026/ranking-members-robert-garcia-gregory-meeks-and-jared-huffman-demand-answers-on-trump-administrations-oil-deal-with-alleged-money-launderer" }, { "label": "Latin Times (citing Financial Times), 16 Jan 2026", "url": "https://www.latintimes.com/first-venezuelan-oil-sale-under-trump-plan-went-major-campaign-donors-firm-593618" }, { "label": "Sen. Schiff press release, 22 Jan 2026", "url": "https://www.schiff.senate.gov/?p=11555" }, { "label": "House Oversight Democrats, 29 Jan 2026", "url": "https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-robert-garcia-demands-answers-from-big-oil-after-trump-administrations-half-billion-dollar-sale-of-venezuelan-oil" }, { "label": "Washington Post via Spokesman-Review, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/oct/15/secret-documents-reveal-donors-behind-330-million-/" }, { "label": "House Foreign Affairs Democrats, 2 Oct 2026", "url": "https://democrats-foreignaffairs.house.gov/2026/10/committee-democrats-issue-statement-on-state-department-s-partial-production-of-venezuela-oil-deal-documents" }, { "label": "Semafor, 14 Jan 2026", "url": "https://www.semafor.com/article/01/14/2026/us-gets-first-500-million-venezuelan-oil-deal-holding-some-proceeds-in-qatar" }, { "label": "Sen. Schiff press release, 11 Feb 2026", "url": "https://www.schiff.senate.gov/?p=11708" }, { "label": "CNBC via Hellenic Shipping News, Feb 2026", "url": "https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/?p=1123188" }, { "label": "Business Standard, 27 Feb 2026", "url": "https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/venezuela-oil-sale-proceeds-now-routed-us-treasury-chris-wright-126022701249_1.html" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-02", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-012-venezuelan-oil-revenue-and-the-betancourt-deal/", "agencies": [ "State Dept", "Justice Dept" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 6000000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Vitol trader Addison's donations to pro-Trump committees", "src": 3, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true }, { "value": 5000000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Paul Singer's foundation to the White House ballroom", "src": 6, "estimate": false, "inTotal": false, "note": "Part of the $333M ballroom total in INV-009" } ] }, { "id": "INV-013", "title": "Hegseth's use of Signal for strike plans", "topic": "Misuse of office", "stage": 3, "people": [ "Pete Hegseth" ], "bodies": [ "DoD Inspector General", "Armed Services & Intelligence committees", "Federal court (D.D.C.)" ], "summary": "The Defense Department Inspector General found that information Hegseth shared in a Signal group chat about a pending Yemen operation was classified and could have endangered troops, and that he broke military rules by using his personal phone for official business.", "caveat": "The report has not been released publicly; findings are as described by two people who read it.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-03-25", "text": "American Oversight sues Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, Bessent, Rubio and the National Archives, saying auto-deleting Signal messages about the Yemen strikes violated the Federal Records Act.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-06-20", "text": "Chief Judge Boasberg finds the group likely to succeed and orders agency heads to notify the Archivist of Signal messages at risk of loss.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-12-02", "text": "The DoD Inspector General files its report after an investigation of more than eight months. It goes to the armed services and intelligence committees.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-05-01", "text": "After the government files supplemental declarations, the parties agree to dismiss the case with prejudice.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Pete Hegseth", "text": "Maintains he shared no classified information in the chat.", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "NBC News, 3 Dec 2025", "url": "https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/pentagons-signalgate-review-finds-pete-hegseth-violated-military-regulations/4023472/" }, { "label": "Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse: American Oversight v. Hegseth", "url": "https://clearinghouse.net/case/46292/" }, { "label": "CourtListener: American Oversight v. Hegseth docket", "url": "https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69788832/american-oversight-v-hegseth/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Official review", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-05-01", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-013-hegseths-use-of-signal-for-strike-plans/", "agencies": [ "Defense Dept" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-014", "title": "$220M DHS ad campaign featuring Kristi Noem", "topic": "Contracts", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Kristi Noem", "Corey Lewandowski", "The Strategy Group", "Safe America Media" ], "bodies": [ "Senate Democrats", "House Oversight (minority)", "DHS Inspector General (requested)" ], "summary": "DHS skipped normal competitive bidding for a $220 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign starring Noem. Most of the money went to a company formed days before the deal. A firm tied to Noem and her aides, whose CEO is married to the DHS spokesperson, worked on it as an undisclosed subcontractor.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2025-11-24", "text": "After ProPublica's reporting, four Senate Homeland Security Democrats and Sen. Welch ask the DHS Inspector General to investigate. Reps. Thompson and Garcia demand communications.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-03-10", "text": "Sens. Welch and Blumenthal open an investigation with letters to the three ad firms. Safe America Media got a $143M non-competitive contract seven days after it was incorporated; People Who Think got $77M.", "src": 1 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "DHS", "text": "Says it contracts \"by the book\" and is not involved in choosing subcontractors.", "src": 0 }, { "who": "The Strategy Group", "text": "Says it \"never had a contract with DHS\"; it held a subcontract with Safe America.", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "ProPublica, 24 Nov 2025", "url": "https://propublica.org/article/kristi-noem-dhs-strategy-group-senate-probe" }, { "label": "NOTUS / Washington Sun, 11 Mar 2026", "url": "https://www.washingtonsun.com/democrats/senate-democrats-launch-investigation-ad-campaign-kristi-noem?redirected=notus_org" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-03-10", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-014-220m-dhs-ad-campaign-featuring-kristi-noem/", "agencies": [ "Homeland Security Dept" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 220000000.0, "type": "public", "label": "No-bid DHS ad contracts", "src": 1, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-015", "title": "Pardon after a $1M-a-head fundraiser", "topic": "Pardons", "stage": 1, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Paul Walczak", "Elizabeth Fago" ], "bodies": [ "Press" ], "summary": "Trump pardoned former nursing home executive Paul Walczak, who withheld over $10 million in employee taxes, less than three weeks after his mother, a major Trump fundraiser, attended a $1-million-per-person dinner at Mar-a-Lago.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2024-11-15", "text": "Walczak pleads guilty to two tax counts.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-04", "text": "His mother, Elizabeth Fago, attends a MAGA Inc. dinner at Mar-a-Lago priced at $1M per person, less than three weeks before the pardon.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-04-11", "text": "Walczak sentenced to 18 months in prison, two years of supervised release and $4,381,265.76 in restitution for employment-tax crimes. He withheld $7.4M from employees' pay and did not pay it to the IRS from 2016 to 2019.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-04-23", "text": "Trump grants Walczak a full pardon, which wipes out the prison term and restitution (DOJ clemency list).", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-05-27", "text": "The New York Times reports Trump signed a full pardon less than three weeks after the dinner, and 12 days after Walczak was sentenced to 18 months and about $4.4M in restitution.", "src": 0 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "White House official", "text": "Walczak was \"targeted by the Biden administration over his family's conservative politics.\"", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "New York Times via Boston Globe, 27 May 2025", "url": "https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/27/nation/trump-pardon-paul-walczak" }, { "label": "DOJ press release, 11 Apr 2025", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/owner-florida-health-care-companies-sentenced-employment-tax-crimes" }, { "label": "DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney, clemency grants 2025-present", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/pardon/clemency-grants-president-donald-j-trump-2025-present" }, { "label": "New York Times via GV Wire, 27 May 2025", "url": "https://gvwire.com/2025/05/27/trump-pardons-tax-cheat-after-mother-attends-1-million-dinner/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Reported", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2025-05-27", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-015-pardon-after-a-1m-a-head-fundraiser/", "agencies": [ "White House" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 4380000.0, "type": "erased", "label": "Restitution erased by Walczak's pardon", "src": 1, "estimate": false, "inTotal": false, "note": "Included in INV-043's total" } ] }, { "id": "INV-016", "title": "Envoy Witkoff, World Liberty and UAE chips", "topic": "Conflicts of interest", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Steve Witkoff", "World Liberty Financial" ], "bodies": [ "Senate Democrats", "Office of Government Ethics (asked)" ], "summary": "Witkoff co-founded World Liberty Financial with the Trump family. A UAE government-backed firm put $2 billion into its stablecoin while Witkoff, as envoy, reportedly pushed an AI chip export deal for the UAE. No ethics official has signed off on his disclosure forms, according to the senators. The Wall Street Journal reported that a firm backed by UAE security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bought 49% of World Liberty for $500M four days before the inauguration, with $187M going to Trump family entities.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2025-01-16", "text": "Four days before the inauguration, emissaries of Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan sign a deal with Eric Trump for Abu Dhabi entity Aryam Investment 1 to buy 49% of WLF for $500 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. Of a $250 million first payment, $187 million reportedly went to Trump family entities and at least $31 million to Witkoff family entities; the remaining $250 million was due by 2025-07-15. The deal was not publicly disclosed.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-05-01", "text": "WLF's USD1 stablecoin is disclosed as the payment method for Abu Dhabi fund MGX's $2 billion investment in Binance.", "src": 6 }, { "date": "2025-05-15", "text": "The White House announces a US-UAE partnership on a 5-gigawatt AI campus in Abu Dhabi to be built by G42, during Trump's visit to the UAE; reports describe the administration allowing UAE access to hundreds of thousands of advanced chips a year, about two weeks after the USD1 disclosure.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2025-09-24", "text": "Sens. Warren and Slotkin ask the Commerce and State inspectors general and the Office of Government Ethics to investigate, citing reports that Witkoff and David Sacks 'played key roles' in relaxing chip-export restrictions to the UAE while having undisclosed financial ties linked to USD1.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2025-11", "text": "The US approves sales to G42 of computing power equivalent to 35,000 Nvidia GB300 processors.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-11-18", "text": "Sens. Warren and Murphy ask the White House and the Office of Government Ethics whether Witkoff fully divested and why his forms are unsigned. Deadline: 1 Dec 2025.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-01-31", "text": "The Wall Street Journal reports the previously undisclosed Tahnoon-backed WLF stake; G42 executives reportedly helped manage Aryam and took WLF board seats.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "White House (earlier)", "text": "Said Witkoff was \"still in the process of divesting\"; World Liberty had said he was \"fully divesting\".", "src": 0 }, { "who": "World Liberty Financial", "text": "A spokesman said the investment was meant to keep the company growing and that Trump and Witkoff were not involved in the deal.", "src": 1 }, { "who": "White House", "text": "A spokesperson said Trump's assets are held in a trust managed by his children; spokespeople said the deal did not influence US policy.", "src": 1 }, { "who": "White House and World Liberty Financial", "text": "In September 2025, spokespeople denied any connection between the USD1/MGX deal and the UAE chips decision, according to the New York Times as reported by The Block.", "src": 5 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Sen. Warren press release, 18 Nov 2025", "url": "https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-murphy-investigate-ethics-conflicts-related-to-trumps-envoy-to-the-middle-east" }, { "label": "Bloomberg (via TribLIVE), 1 Feb 2026", "url": "https://triblive.com/news/world/abu-dhabi-royal-bought-stake-in-trumps-crypto-venture-wsj-reports" }, { "label": "The Block, 1 Feb 2026", "url": "https://www.theblock.co/post/387931/uae-sheikh-secretly-acquired-49-of-trumps-world-liberty-financial-days-before-inauguration-wsj" }, { "label": "CNBC (via NBC4 Washington), 15 May 2025", "url": "https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/business/money-report/white-house-announces-ai-data-campus-partnership-with-the-uae/3914689/" }, { "label": "Senate Banking Committee minority (Warren, Slotkin), 24 Sep 2025", "url": "https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/minority/warren-slotkin-call-for-investigation-into-extent-of-donald-trump-trump-family-and-senior-trump-administration-officials-cashing-in-on-foreign-crypto-deals" }, { "label": "The Block, 24 Sep 2025", "url": "https://www.theblock.co/post/372206/sens-warren-slotkin-call-for-ethics-probe-into-trump-linked-crypto-dealings" }, { "label": "Semafor, 2 May 2025", "url": "https://www.semafor.com/article/05/02/2025/trump-linked-stablecoin-used-in-2b-abu-dhabi-binance-investment" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-01-31", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-016-envoy-witkoff-world-liberty-and-uae-chips/", "agencies": [ "State Dept", "Commerce Dept" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 187000000.0, "type": "gain", "label": "To Trump family entities from the UAE-backed WLF stake", "src": 1, "estimate": false, "inTotal": false, "note": "Likely included in INV-001's estimate" } ] }, { "id": "INV-017", "title": "TV ad \"Paid for by the U.S. Government\" before the midterms", "topic": "Misuse of public funds", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Donald Trump" ], "bodies": [ "House Democrats (Oversight, Administration, Appropriations)", "Federal court (S.D.N.Y.)", "Federal court (D.D.C.)" ], "summary": "A new TV ad carries the line \"Paid for by the U.S. Government\" weeks before the midterms. Three ranking Democrats say it may be an illegal use of taxpayer money for political advertising.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2026-09-25", "text": "Reps. Garcia, Morelle and DeLauro ask the President to pull the ad and say which agency paid for it, under what legal authority, and who approved it.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-10-07", "text": "Campaign Legal Center (advocacy group) files a Hatch Act complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, alleging that producing and distributing the ads \"could be considered political activity in violation of the Hatch Act\" by senior White House and DHS officials. The complaint is an allegation; no response is published.", "src": 8 }, { "date": "2026-10-08", "text": "Common Cause (advocacy group) files an FEC complaint against Trump and MAGA Inc., alleging Trump directed soft money for the ads. The complaint is an allegation.", "src": 7 }, { "date": "2026-10-11", "text": "In Common Cause v. Department of Homeland Security (S.D.N.Y.), Judge Jennifer Rochon issues a 14-day temporary restraining order cancelling the taxpayer-funded ad placements.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-10-12", "text": "CNN reports, from AdImpact data, that two of the ads aired hundreds of times after the court's deadline. The Justice Department tells the court DHS learned of the order late, apologizes and says it is now in compliance. The $20 million came from Customs and Border Protection funds; the White House says Trump's political committee will not reimburse the cost.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2026-10-14", "text": "Rochon extends the block through 8 Nov, after the midterms, and sets a 4 Nov hearing. A similar suit by the DNC is pending in Washington, D.C.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "In the DNC's suit in Washington, Judge Loren AliKhan hears its request for a temporary restraining order against the ads and takes it under advisement. Government lawyers say the ads have stopped airing; the DNC says they remain on the White House website and government social media.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2026-10-19", "text": "In the DNC's suit, a court filing alleges that MAGA Inc. has begun airing \"Every Democrat Voted Against No Tax on Tips\", the same ad posted on the White House YouTube channel on 12 October, and that it was \"unlawfully developed by White House Office personnel\"; the DNC asks the court to bar the White House Office from developing or sharing this and similar ads. This is the DNC's allegation; no ruling yet.", "src": 9 }, { "date": "2026-10-20", "text": "In the DNC's suit, a second DNC status report alleges that MAGA Inc. has begun airing \"President Trump's Second Term: Stephen Miller\", the same video posted on the White House YouTube channel on 12 October, and asks that it be covered by any restraining order. No government response is in the filing, and Judge AliKhan has not ruled.", "src": 10 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Manhattan US Attorney's Office", "text": "Declined to comment. Trump has said he and his super PAC will pay for future ads.", "src": 3 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "House Oversight Democrats, 25 Sep 2026", "url": "https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-members-robert-garcia-joe-morelle-and-rosa-delauro-demand-trump-immediately-stop-using-taxpayer-dollars-for-political-advertising" }, { "label": "Campaign Legal Center, 14 Oct 2026", "url": "https://campaignlegal.org/update/campaign-legal-center-action-and-partners-successfully-halt-president-trumps-illegal" }, { "label": "Baltimore Banner, 12 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.thebanner.com/politics-power/judge-cancels-trump-lmd-ads-P6F4JAUTGNHPPA3NBSQMKVM5ZE/" }, { "label": "Bloomberg via Yahoo Finance, 14 Oct 2026", "url": "https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/judge-extends-ban-trump-taxpayer-185750253.html" }, { "label": "CNN via KRDO, 12 Oct 2026", "url": "https://krdo.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/10/12/trumps-multimillion-dollar-taxpayer-funded-ad-campaign-ends-sunday-officials-say/" }, { "label": "AP via WPXI, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.wpxi.com/news/politics/latest-ap-norc-poll/DB7VE4UEJ43JHITYEVE5O5BBFQ/" }, { "label": "Law&Crime, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/i-dont-have-facts-doj-attorney-demurs-in-2nd-case-over-trumps-decision-to-use-taxpayer-money-for-campaign-style-ads-as-judge-jokes-about-unitary-executive-theory" }, { "label": "Common Cause (advocacy group), 8 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.commoncause.org/resources/fec-complaint-on-trump-ads/" }, { "label": "Campaign Legal Center (advocacy group), 7 Oct 2026", "url": "https://campaignlegal.org/document/clc-files-hatch-act-complaint-us-office-special-counsel-regarding-possible-hatch-act" }, { "label": "DNC status report, DNC v. Trump (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-03506), 19 Oct 2026 (via Democracy Docket)", "url": "https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/2026-10-19-Status-Report.pdf" }, { "label": "DNC second status report, DNC v. Trump (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-03506), 20 Oct 2026 (via Democracy Docket)", "url": "https://www.democracydocket.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/2026-10-20-Status-Report.pdf" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-20", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-017-tv-ad-paid-for-by-the-u-s-government-before-the-midterms/", "agencies": [ "White House" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 20000000.0, "type": "public", "label": "Customs and Border Protection funds used for the ad campaign", "src": 4, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-018", "title": "Partisan agency posts during the shutdown", "topic": "Hatch Act", "stage": 5, "people": [ "Department of Housing and Urban Development", "Office of Special Counsel", "Department of Education" ], "bodies": [ "Office of Special Counsel", "House Oversight (minority)", "Federal court (D.D.C.)" ], "summary": "During the 2025 shutdown, agencies including HUD posted messages blaming the \"Radical Left\". More than 1,000 Hatch Act complaints followed. The Office of Special Counsel decided almost a year later that no further action was warranted.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2025-10-02", "text": "Ranking Member Garcia files a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-11-07", "text": "Judge Christopher Cooper rules the Education Department violated employees' First Amendment rights by replacing their out-of-office replies with a message blaming \"Democrat Senators\" for the shutdown: employees \"do not sign up to be a billboard for any given administration's partisan views.\" He orders the messages restored.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-09-25", "text": "OSC replies that further investigation or discipline is unwarranted.", "src": 0 } ], "responses": [], "sources": [ { "label": "House Oversight Democrats, 25 Sep 2026", "url": "https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-robert-garcia-statement-on-office-of-special-counsel-abandoning-enforcement-of-hatch-act" }, { "label": "NPR, 8 Nov 2025", "url": "https://www.npr.org/2025/11/08/nx-s1-5602859/education-department-out-of-office-emails-ruling" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Outcome", "outcome": "Closed by OSC", "last_development": "2026-09-25", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-018-partisan-agency-posts-during-the-shutdown/", "agencies": [ "HUD", "Education Dept", "Office of Special Counsel" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-019", "title": "Jan. 6 rally organizer's federal event contracts", "topic": "Contracts", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Event Strategies Inc.", "Justin Caporale" ], "bodies": [ "Senate Democrats" ], "summary": "Event Strategies, which organized the January 6, 2021 rally, has received at least $22.77 million in federal contracts since January 2025, often as the only bidder. Its former CEO now produces major events for the White House.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2026-06-17", "text": "Sens. Schiff, Blumenthal, Warren and Welch ask Chief of Staff Wiles for recusals, conflict waivers and all contracts with the firm, including Navy and Treasury awards made without full competition. Deadline: 26 Jun 2026.", "src": 0 } ], "responses": [], "sources": [ { "label": "Sen. Schiff press release, 18 Jun 2026", "url": "https://www.schiff.senate.gov/?p=12914" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-06-17", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-019-jan-6-rally-organizers-federal-event-contracts/", "agencies": [ "White House" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 22770000.0, "type": "public", "label": "Federal contracts to Event Strategies since Jan 2025", "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-020", "title": "Pardon for Nikola founder and donor Trevor Milton", "topic": "Pardons", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Trevor Milton" ], "bodies": [ "Senate & House Democrats" ], "summary": "Trump pardoned Trevor Milton, sentenced to four years for defrauding Nikola investors. FEC records show Milton gave $920,000 to the Trump 47 Committee and $750,000 to the MAHA Alliance PAC in the months before the 2024 election. The pardon wiped out restitution prosecutors had sought, and the SEC later dropped its civil case. Democratic lawmakers are now asking about a report that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushed for the pardon.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2024-09", "text": "Milton gives $750,000 to the MAHA Alliance PAC (FEC records, per NBC).", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2024-10", "text": "Milton gives $920,000 to the Trump 47 Committee (FEC records, per NBC). AP reports Milton and his wife gave more than $1.8M to a Trump re-election fund less than a month before the election.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-03-28", "text": "The White House confirms the pardon.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-09-11", "text": "The SEC files a joint stipulation with Milton to dismiss its 2021 civil fraud case with prejudice. Milton waives legal costs and releases claims against the agency.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-10-06", "text": "Sens. Blumenthal and Welch and Reps. Min and Scanlon write to HHS Secretary Kennedy. They cite a June Reuters report that he advocated for Milton's pardon and ask about his relationship with Milton. The letters were sent 'Tuesday' per a CBS article dated 9 Oct 2026.", "src": 5 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Donald Trump", "text": "Said Milton \"did nothing wrong\" and the pardon was \"highly recommended by many people.\"", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Kennedy camp", "text": "A source close to Kennedy told CBS he has privately said he will not advocate for any pardons. HHS did not immediately respond.", "src": 5 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Associated Press via KSAT, 28 Mar 2025", "url": "https://www.ksat.com/news/politics/2025/03/28/convicted-founder-of-electric-vehicle-startup-nikola-pardoned-by-trump/" }, { "label": "NBC/CNBC, 28 Mar 2025", "url": "https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/money-report/nikola-founder-trevor-milton-says-trump-pardoned-him-in-securities-fraud-case/6203695/" }, { "label": "AP via Arab News, 29 Mar 2025", "url": "https://www.arabnews.com/world/convicted-of-bilking-investors-nikola-founder-and-trump-donor-gets-a-presidential-pardon-2595223" }, { "label": "Bloomberg Tax, 11 Sep 2025", "url": "https://news.bloombergtax.com/esg/sec-dismisses-civil-action-against-nikola-ex-ceo-milton" }, { "label": "Reuters via Hydrogen Central, 11 Sep 2025", "url": "https://hydrogen-central.com/us-sec-to-dismiss-case-against-former-nikola-ceo/" }, { "label": "CBS News, 9 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-lee-zeldin-democrats-congress-trump-pardons/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-06", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-020-pardon-for-nikola-founder-and-donor-trevor-milton/", "agencies": [ "White House", "SEC" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 1670000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Milton's gifts to Trump 47 Committee and MAHA Alliance PAC", "src": 1, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-021", "title": "Trump sons and the US-backed Kazakh tungsten mine", "topic": "Family business", "stage": 1, "people": [ "Donald Trump Jr.", "Eric Trump", "Skyline Builders", "Cove Kaz Capital" ], "bodies": [ "Press" ], "summary": "Don Jr. and Eric Trump invested in a company that later agreed to merge with a Kazakh tungsten project backed by $1.6 billion in US government support, according to the Financial Times.", "caveat": "The timeline relies largely on unnamed sources cited by the Financial Times.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-08", "text": "The brothers buy into Skyline Builders through a special-purpose vehicle.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-09", "text": "Kazakhstan's president tells Trump he intends to award a major tungsten project to Cove Kaz Capital.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-10-31", "text": "Skyline pays $20M for a 20% stake in Kaz Resources.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-04-30", "text": "Skyline and the Cove entities agree to merge.", "src": 0 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Trump Jr.'s spokesperson", "text": "He is a passive investor and does not deal with the federal government for companies he invests in.", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "The New Republic, 1 May 2026 (citing the Financial Times)", "url": "https://newrepublic.com/post/209840/donald-jr-eric-trump-military-deal-mining-company" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Reported", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-04-30", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-021-trump-sons-and-the-us-backed-kazakh-tungsten-mine/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [ { "value": 1600000000.0, "type": "public", "label": "US government support for the Kazakh tungsten project", "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-022", "title": "Air Force drone deal with Trump-sons-backed Powerus", "topic": "Family business", "stage": 1, "people": [ "Donald Trump Jr.", "Eric Trump", "Powerus" ], "bodies": [ "Press" ], "summary": "The Air Force agreed to buy interceptor drones from Powerus, a company that went public in March 2026 with backing from Don Jr. and Eric Trump, who sit on its board.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2026-03-09", "text": "Powerus announces it will go public by merging with a Nasdaq-listed golf course operator, backed by the Trump brothers.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-05-01", "text": "Reports that the Air Force agreed to buy an undisclosed number of Powerus drones.", "src": 0 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Powerus co-founder Brett Velicovich", "text": "\"They're not going to pick a system because of who's on an investor list.\"", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "The New Republic, 1 May 2026", "url": "https://newrepublic.com/post/209840/donald-jr-eric-trump-military-deal-mining-company" }, { "label": "Bloomberg Law, 9 Mar 2026", "url": "https://news.bloombergtax.com/federal-contracting/trump-familys-defense-investments-grow-with-a-new-drone-deal" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Reported", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-05-01", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-022-air-force-drone-deal-with-trump-sons-backed-powerus/", "agencies": [ "Defense Dept" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-023", "title": "No-bid Lafayette Park contract for the ballroom builder", "topic": "Contracts", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Clark Construction", "National Park Service" ], "bodies": [ "Senate Democrats", "Interior Inspector General (requested)" ], "summary": "The National Park Service gave Clark Construction, the firm building the White House ballroom, a no-bid contract to repair Lafayette Park fountains. A 2022 estimate put the job at $3.3 million; the award grew to $17.4 million.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2026-01", "text": "NPS awards Clark an $11.7M contract under an \"urgency\" exemption; it is later increased to $17.4M. Sen. Blumenthal's letter says $11.9M was \"reportedly\" agreed.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-05-04", "text": "Sen. Blumenthal asks Clark whether it took above-market federal work in exchange for a lower ballroom fee. Deadline: 15 May 2026.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-05-07", "text": "Rep. Ritchie Torres asks the Interior Inspector General to investigate.", "src": 1 } ], "responses": [], "sources": [ { "label": "Sen. Blumenthal press release, 4 May 2026", "url": "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-questions-massive-no-bid-contract-awarded-to-trumps-ballroom-construction-firm" }, { "label": "Rep. Torres press release, 7 May 2026", "url": "https://ritchietorres.house.gov/posts/rep-ritchie-torres-calls-on-interior-inspector-general-to-investigate-no-bid-contract-awarded-to-contractor-building-trumps-ballroom" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-05-07", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-023-no-bid-lafayette-park-contract-for-the-ballroom-builder/", "agencies": [ "Interior Dept (Park Service)" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 17400000.0, "type": "public", "label": "No-bid Lafayette Park contract (awarded at $11.7M in January, later raised to $17.4M)", "src": 1, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-024", "title": "$10 billion fee for the TikTok deal", "topic": "Government deals", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Scott Bessent", "Oracle", "Silver Lake", "MGX", "Larry Ellison" ], "bodies": [ "Senate Intelligence (vice chair)", "Federal court (D.C. Circuit)" ], "summary": "Investors buying TikTok's US operations, including Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi's MGX, are reportedly paying the Treasury $10 billion, about 71% of the new company's announced value. $2.5 billion has been paid.", "caveat": "The WSJ report on Ellison's donation relies on unnamed sources; no official finding links it to the TikTok deal.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-01-22", "text": "TikTok says it closed a $14B deal creating a US joint venture; Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX each hold 15%, and ByteDance keeps nearly 20%.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-03-05", "text": "Two investors in Alphabet and Meta, represented by the new Public Integrity Project, ask the D.C. Circuit to declare the TikTok deal illegal, arguing ByteDance kept the recommendation algorithm and an \"operational relationship\" the 2024 law forbids, and that Trump's five extensions and Bondi's non-enforcement broke the law (Tan v. Trump, 26-1047). The government has asked the court to dismiss; the case is pending.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-03-17", "text": "Sen. Mark Warner asks Treasury Secretary Bessent for the legal authority, how the amount was set, any presidential involvement, and how the money will be used.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-06-24", "text": "The Wall Street Journal reports that Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison gave about $45M to a political nonprofit backing Trump in 2024. The gift was not previously reported and was not subject to disclosure rules.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "White House (Kush Desai)", "text": "Said Trump is committed to working with American business leaders and that industry leaders \"have a friend and ally in the White House.\"", "src": 2 }, { "who": "Oracle", "text": "Did not immediately respond to Fortune's request for comment.", "src": 2 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Sen. Warner press release, 17 Mar 2026", "url": "https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/3/warner-demands-answers-on-10-billion-tiktok-deal" }, { "label": "Politico via Yahoo Finance, 22 Jan 2026", "url": "https://finance.yahoo.com/news/deal-us-ownership-tiktok-closed-002520253.html" }, { "label": "Fortune (citing WSJ), 25 Jun 2026", "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/06/25/larry-ellison-donald-trump-45-million-donation-stargate-tiktok-paramount/" }, { "label": "OPB/NPR, 5 Mar 2026", "url": "https://www.opb.org/article/2026/03/05/public-integrity-project-sues-trump-bondi-over-tiktok-sale/" }, { "label": "Tech Times, 11 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.techtimes.com/articles/324028/20260811/omb-lifts-tiktok-ban-government-devices-bytedance-keeps-algorithm-lawsuit-looms.htm" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-06-24", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-024-10-billion-fee-for-the-tiktok-deal/", "agencies": [ "Treasury Dept" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 45000000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Ellison's gift to a pro-Trump nonprofit", "src": 2, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-025", "title": "Hegseth's broker and a defense fund before the Iran strikes", "topic": "Insider trading", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Pete Hegseth", "Morgan Stanley", "BlackRock" ], "bodies": [ "House Oversight (minority)", "Senate Armed Services (minority)" ], "summary": "The Financial Times reported that Hegseth's Morgan Stanley broker tried to invest in a BlackRock defense industry fund in the weeks before the US strikes on Iran. Hegseth calls the story false.", "caveat": "", "events": [ { "date": "2026-03-30", "text": "The Financial Times publishes the report.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-03-31", "text": "Reps. Garcia and Subramanyam ask Hegseth, Morgan Stanley and BlackRock to preserve all records.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-04-20", "text": "Sen. Warren asks SEC Chair Atkins to investigate any trading by Hegseth or others on inside information about military action. Answers were due 15 May.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-04-30", "text": "Sen. Warren questions Hegseth at a Senate Armed Services hearing.", "src": 1 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Pete Hegseth", "text": "Called the report \"made up out of whole cloth\" and said \"I'm not making investments.\"", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "House Oversight Democrats, 31 Mar 2026", "url": "https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-robert-garcia-and-rep-suhas-subramanyam-demand-answers-after-secretary-hegseth-attempted-to-make-multimillion-dollar-investment-in-defense-companies-before-iran-strikes" }, { "label": "Sen. Warren press release, 30 Apr 2026", "url": "https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/at-hearing-warren-questions-hegseth-on-insider-trading-during-iran-war-as-he-ducks-responsibility/" }, { "label": "Sen. Warren, letter to SEC, 20 Apr 2026 (PDF)", "url": "https://www.banking.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_to_sec_re_hegseth_investigation.pdf" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-04-30", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-025-hegseths-broker-and-a-defense-fund-before-the-iran-strikes/", "agencies": [ "Defense Dept" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-026", "title": "Medicare rule delayed after $5M super PAC donation", "topic": "Donors and policy", "stage": 1, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Extremity Care", "MAGA Inc.", "Oliver Burckhardt" ], "bodies": [ "Press" ], "summary": "The administration postponed a rule limiting Medicare spending on skin substitute products after Extremity Care, which makes them, gave $5 million to Trump's super PAC. Trump shared a company flyer the day after a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser its co-founder attended.", "caveat": "The timing is reported by the NYT and others; no official finding links the donation to the delay. CMS later withdrew the rules and set a new payment policy.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-02-24", "text": "Extremity Care gives $5M to MAGA Inc., per an FEC filing made public 31 Jul 2025. One analysis of FEC records says the gift was attributed to LLCs of owners Oliver Burckhardt and Scott Madden.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-03-01", "text": "Burckhardt attends a donor dinner at Mar-a-Lago and briefly speaks with Trump about his company, according to the NYT.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-03-02", "text": "The day after the dinner, Trump posts on Truth Social a flier attacking the Biden-era skin substitute rule.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2025-04-11", "text": "CMS delays the rule until at least 1 Jan 2026. It had been due in Feb 2025 and was first pushed to 13 Apr under a regulatory freeze.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-08-07", "text": "The New York Times reports the timeline; Public Citizen had published similar findings.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-11-01", "text": "The New York Times reports Extremity Care was an anonymous $2.5M donor to the White House ballroom.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2025-12-24", "text": "CMS withdraws the two skin substitute coverage rules a week before they were to take effect on 1 Jan 2026.", "src": 5 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "MAGA Inc. spokesperson", "text": "Denied the donation influenced the decision, saying the president \"always works for the best interest of the country.\"", "src": 3 }, { "who": "Extremity Care", "text": "Opposed the Biden rule as based on a \"misunderstanding\" of wound healing.", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Public Citizen, 8 Aug 2025", "url": "https://www.citizen.org/news/icymi-nyt-echoes-public-citizen-findings-that-trump-delayed-a-medicare-price-change-following-health-companys-5-million-donation/" }, { "label": "Popular Information, Aug 2025", "url": "https://popular.info/p/days-after-5-million-donation-to" }, { "label": "New York Times via AllSides, 7 Aug 2025", "url": "https://www.allsides.com/news/2025-08-22-0332/donald-trump-trump-delayed-medicare-change-after-health-company-donations" }, { "label": "Raw Story (citing NYT), 7 Aug 2025", "url": "https://www.rawstory.com/amp/trump-2673867349-2673867349" }, { "label": "Healthcare Uncovered (citing NYT, FEC)", "url": "https://healthcareuncovered.substack.com/p/skin-substitutes-how-a-10-billion" }, { "label": "CMS fact sheet, 24 Dec 2025", "url": "https://cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/upcoming-update-final-local-coverage-determinations-lcds-certain-skin-substitutes" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Reported", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2025-12-24", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-026-medicare-rule-delayed-after-5m-super-pac-donation/", "agencies": [ "HHS" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 5000000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Extremity Care to MAGA Inc.", "src": 1, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-027", "title": "Herrera pardon: daughter's $3.5M to MAGA Inc. and Habba's $50M contract", "topic": "Pardons", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Julio Herrera Velutini", "Isabela Herrera", "Alina Habba", "Wanda Vázquez Garced", "Mark Rossini", "Donald Trump" ], "bodies": [ "FEC complaint (CLC)" ], "summary": "Venezuelan-Italian banker Julio Herrera Velutini was indicted in August 2022 with former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced over an alleged scheme to fund her campaign in exchange for replacing a banking regulator; in 2025 the Justice Department let the defendants resolve the case with misdemeanor campaign-finance pleas, which the judge called 'a mere slap on the wrist.' His daughter Isabela Herrera gave $2.5 million to the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. on 31 Dec 2024 and $1 million in July 2025, and Trump pardoned Herrera Velutini in January 2026. The Campaign Legal Center has filed an FEC complaint alleging the contributions were his money given in her name, which would be an illegal foreign-national and straw-donor contribution. The New York Times reported in October 2026 that Isabela Herrera's new company hired Alina Habba, Trump's former personal lawyer and then a Justice Department official, as general counsel on a contract guaranteeing her more than $50 million over four years, starting two weeks before the pardon.", "caveat": "News outlets and CLC report the timing. The FEC complaint is an allegation and the FEC has made no finding. No official finding links the contributions to the plea deal or the pardon. The White House calls the case a political prosecution. The Washington Post says its donor-list reporting does not establish a connection between gifts and government actions. No official finding links Habba's contract to the pardon; Habba, the Justice Department and the White House deny any connection.", "events": [ { "date": "2022-08", "text": "Herrera Velutini, Vázquez Garced and ex-FBI agent Mark Rossini indicted on conspiracy, bribery and wire-fraud charges. Prosecutors alleged $300,000 in campaign support in exchange for replacing Puerto Rico's financial institutions commissioner.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2024-12-31", "text": "Isabela Herrera, his daughter, gives $2.5 million to MAGA Inc. NOTUS reported this made her the super PAC's second-largest donor that cycle. Her only earlier federal contribution was $20 in 2020.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-07-08", "text": "After the Justice Department agreed to drop the felony indictment in favor of misdemeanor campaign-finance pleas, Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll signs off, writing that the defendants now face 'a mere slap on the wrist' after following 'directives presumably issued by Main Justice.'", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-07-22", "text": "Isabela Herrera gives another $1 million to MAGA Inc. (date per FEC complaint; news reports say 'late July', after the most serious charges were dropped).", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2025-08-27", "text": "Herrera Velutini, Vázquez Garced and Rossini plead guilty to a Federal Election Campaign Act violation (contribution by a foreign national).", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-09-23", "text": "Isabela Herrera commits $2.5 million to the White House ballroom and pays $835,000 on 14 Oct 2025, months before Trump pardons her father in January (per the Washington Post's donor list).", "src": 10 }, { "date": "2025-10", "text": "Isabela Herrera registers Concord Partners in Florida in late October. Within days Alina Habba, Trump's former personal lawyer and then a Justice Department official, agrees to become its general counsel for $10 million a year for four years plus bonuses, more than $50 million guaranteed, according to the New York Times. The Times says the company has no public profile.", "src": 11 }, { "date": "2026-01-01", "text": "Habba formally starts work for Concord Partners, two weeks before the pardon (per the New York Times).", "src": 12 }, { "date": "2026-01-15", "text": "Trump grants Herrera Velutini a full pardon for the original conspiracy, bribery and honest-services wire fraud charges (DOJ clemency list). The pardon was reported on 16 Jan.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-01-20", "text": "DOJ list shows an amended pardon covering 'contribution by a foreign national', the offense he pleaded guilty to.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-01-27", "text": "The judge dismisses the case following the pardon, according to a press release from his lawyers.", "src": 6 }, { "date": "2026-02-17", "text": "Campaign Legal Center files an FEC complaint against Herrera Velutini and Isabela Herrera alleging the $3.5 million was his money given in her name (52 U.S.C. 30121 and 30122).", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2026-10-20", "text": "The New York Times reports that people familiar with Habba's contract believed she was brought in to help with Herrera Velutini's push for a pardon and were surprised by the size of the pay.", "src": 12 }, { "date": "2026-10-20", "text": "Isabela Herrera is among 14 ballroom donors Sen. Blumenthal writes to, asking who solicited the gift and about her lobbying contacts; answers due 30 October.", "src": 13 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "White House official (anonymous)", "text": "Called it 'an example of political prosecution' and said the investigation of Vázquez began 10 days after she endorsed Trump in 2020.", "src": 5 }, { "who": "Herrera Velutini's lawyers (Chris Kise, William Stellmach, Lily Ann Sánchez)", "text": "Said he is deeply grateful to Trump for the pardon and that the pardon voids the plea and requires dismissal. When the felony charges were dropped, his attorney said the 'evidence did not support those allegations.'", "src": 6 }, { "who": "Isabela Herrera", "text": "Did not respond to a New York Times request for comment, as quoted by Election Law Blog. No response to the CLC complaint was found.", "src": 7 }, { "who": "Alina Habba", "text": "Denies any role in the pardon; says her job was disclosed to and approved by the Justice Department and that she was a \"special government employee\" when she signed.", "src": 12 }, { "who": "Justice Department", "text": "Said Habba never discussed a pardon with anyone.", "src": 11 }, { "who": "White House official", "text": "Said Habba played no role, pointing to the pardon review run by the White House Counsel's Office and the Justice Department.", "src": 11 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Bloomberg Law, 9 Jul 2025", "url": "https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/dismayed-judge-signs-off-on-dojs-deal-for-puerto-rico-governor" }, { "label": "NOTUS (Washington Sun), 16 Jan 2026", "url": "https://www.washingtonsun.com/courts/wanda-vazquez-garced-puerto-rico-pardon?redirected=notus_org" }, { "label": "AP via SRN News, 27 Aug 2025", "url": "https://srnnews.com/former-puerto-rico-governor-wanda-vazquez-pleads-guilty-to-campaign-finance-violation/" }, { "label": "DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney, clemency grants 2025-present", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/pardon/clemency-grants-president-donald-j-trump-2025-present" }, { "label": "CLC FEC complaint, 17 Feb 2026", "url": "https://campaignlegal.org/sites/default/files/2026-02/Herrera%20Complaint%20%28Final%29.pdf" }, { "label": "NBC News (via Yahoo), Jan 2026", "url": "https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-pardons-former-puerto-rican-193901634.html" }, { "label": "Press release from Herrera Velutini's lawyers (PR Newswire, Spanish), 29 Jan 2026", "url": "https://www.prnewswire.com/mx/comunicados-de-prensa/la-justicia-desestima-y-pone-punto-final-al-caso-herrera-velutini-302673497.html" }, { "label": "Election Law Blog (quoting NYT), 17 Jan 2026", "url": "https://electionlawblog.org/2026/trump-pardons-father-of-major-super-pac-donor/" }, { "label": "Law&Crime, 18 Feb 2026", "url": "https://lawandcrime.com/wuryz" }, { "label": "AP via ABC7, 16 Jan 2026", "url": "https://abc7ny.com/post/trump-pardon-ex-puerto-rico-governor-vzquez-campaign-finance-case-official-says/18417246/" }, { "label": "Washington Post via Spokesman-Review, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/oct/15/secret-documents-reveal-donors-behind-330-million-/" }, { "label": "New York Times via Raw Story, 20 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.rawstory.com/trump-pardon-alina-habba/" }, { "label": "New York Times via Alternet, 20 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.alternet.org/alina-habba-donald-trump/" }, { "label": "Sen. Blumenthal press release, 21 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-presses-secret-white-house-ballroom-donors-after-new-details-emerge-about-330-million-fundraising-campaign-for-trumps-pet-project" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-20", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-027-herrera-pardon-daughters-3-5m-to-maga-inc-and-habbas-50m/", "agencies": [ "White House", "Justice Dept" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 3500000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Isabela Herrera to MAGA Inc.", "src": 4, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true }, { "value": 2500000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Isabela Herrera's ballroom commitment ($835,000 paid by Oct 2025)", "src": 10, "estimate": false, "inTotal": false, "note": "Part of the $333M ballroom total in INV-009" }, { "value": 50000000.0, "type": "other", "label": "Alina Habba's Concord Partners contract value (guaranteed over four years, per NYT); pay to a lawyer, not a gift", "src": 11, "estimate": true, "inTotal": false } ] }, { "id": "INV-028", "title": "Pardon of Oak View Group founder Tim Leiweke", "topic": "Pardons", "stage": 1, "people": [ "Timothy Leiweke", "Trey Gowdy", "Donald Trump" ], "bodies": [ "Press" ], "summary": "Tim Leiweke, co-founder and former CEO of Oak View Group, was indicted in July 2025 by Trump's own Justice Department. The single Sherman Act count alleged he rigged bidding for a public-university arena in Austin, Texas (the Moody Center at UT Austin). Trump pardoned him on 2 Dec 2025, before trial. The Wall Street Journal reported that his lawyer, former Rep. Trey Gowdy, raised the case with Trump during a round of golf about three weeks earlier. Oak View Group had given $250,000 toward Trump's 2025 inauguration.", "caveat": "News outlets report the timing and the golf conversation. No official finding links the inaugural donation or Gowdy's access to the pardon.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-04", "text": "Front Office Sports reports Oak View Group donated $250,000 toward Trump's inauguration.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-07-09", "text": "DOJ announces a grand jury indictment of Leiweke on one Sherman Act count. It alleges he agreed with a competitor's CEO not to bid on the UT Austin arena project in exchange for subcontracts. OVG agreed to a $15 million penalty. He pleaded not guilty.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-11-16", "text": "Gowdy, Leiweke's lawyer, reportedly raises the case with Trump while golfing (WSJ report, as relayed by The Independent).", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2025-12-02", "text": "Trump grants Leiweke a full pardon for 'conspiracy to restrain trade' (DOJ clemency list).", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-12-06", "text": "Wall Street Journal reports the golf-course conversation that preceded the pardon.", "src": 4 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Tim Leiweke", "text": "Expressed 'profound gratitude' to Trump, calling it 'a long and difficult journey' for his family.", "src": 3 }, { "who": "David Gerger (Leiweke's attorney)", "text": "Said the pardon 'is the right result.'", "src": 5 }, { "who": "Trey Gowdy", "text": "'I am extremely grateful that the president allowed me to raise that issue with him.'", "src": 4 }, { "who": "White House (Abigail Jackson)", "text": "'President Trump is the final decider on any pardon or commutation.'", "src": 4 }, { "who": "Oak View Group", "text": "A spokesperson said the company was 'happy for Tim.'", "src": 3 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Front Office Sports, 21 Apr 2025", "url": "https://frontofficesports.com/article/trump-inauguration-sports-donations/" }, { "label": "DOJ press release, 9 Jul 2025", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/live-entertainment-ceo-indicted-orchestrating-conspiracy-rig-bidding-process-public" }, { "label": "DOJ Office of the Pardon Attorney, clemency grants 2025-present", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/pardon/clemency-grants-president-donald-j-trump-2025-present" }, { "label": "CNN via KRDO, 3 Dec 2025", "url": "https://krdo.com/news/2025/12/03/trump-pardons-former-top-entertainment-executive-who-was-charged-by-his-own-justice-department/" }, { "label": "The Independent (citing WSJ), 6 Dec 2025", "url": "https://www.aol.com/news/trump-persuaded-pardoning-golf-partner-215359026.html" }, { "label": "NBC News, 3 Dec 2025", "url": "https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/politics/president-trump/trump-grants-pardon-sports-executive-tim-leiweke/3671181/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Reported", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2025-12-06", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-028-pardon-of-oak-view-group-founder-tim-leiweke/", "agencies": [ "White House", "Justice Dept" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 250000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Oak View Group to the inauguration", "src": 0, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-029", "title": "SEC settles Justin Sun case after Trump-crypto buys", "topic": "Payments to the President", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Justin Sun", "Donald Trump" ], "bodies": [ "SEC", "Senate Democrats" ], "summary": "In 2023 the SEC sued crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun and three of his companies, alleging unregistered sales of TRX and BTT, wash trading and undisclosed paid celebrity promotion. Sun became the largest buyer of World Liberty Financial (WLF) tokens ($75 million) and the top holder of the $TRUMP memecoin before Trump's May 2025 holder dinner. The SEC paused the case in February 2025 and in March 2026 moved to dismiss all claims against Sun, with a Sun company (Rainberry) paying a $10 million penalty without admitting or denying the allegations.", "caveat": "The timing between Sun's purchases of Trump-linked crypto and the SEC's decisions is reported by news outlets, advocacy groups and Democratic senators; no official finding links them. The proposed final judgment required court approval, which was not confirmed in the sources reviewed.", "events": [ { "date": "2023-03-22", "text": "SEC sues Justin Sun, Tron Foundation, BitTorrent Foundation and Rainberry in federal court in Manhattan, alleging unregistered offers of TRX and BTT, wash trading to inflate trading volume, and undisclosed payments to celebrities to promote the tokens.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2024-11", "text": "After the 2024 election, Sun announces a $30 million purchase of WLF tokens and joins WLF as an adviser; Mother Jones, citing Bloomberg, reports he later added $45 million for a total of $75 million.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-02-26", "text": "The SEC and Sun jointly ask the court to pause the case to 'explore a potential resolution'; the judge grants the stay.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-05-20", "text": "CNBC reports Sun holds about $18.6 million of the $TRUMP memecoin, making him the top holder invited to a dinner with the president, and that his stake in Trump-family crypto ventures exceeds $93 million.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2025-05-22", "text": "Sun attends the $TRUMP holders' dinner at Trump's golf club in Sterling, Virginia, listed as the top holder.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2026-03-05", "text": "SEC announces a proposed final judgment: Rainberry to pay a $10 million civil penalty and be enjoined, while all claims against Sun, Tron Foundation and BitTorrent Foundation are dismissed with prejudice. Rainberry neither admits nor denies the allegations; the judgment needs court approval.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2026-03-11", "text": "Former SEC official Amanda Fischer criticizes the settlement, saying 'The agency is desperate to save face and create the appearance that they're enforcing the law'; Sen. Elizabeth Warren calls it a 'free pass'.", "src": 7 }, { "date": "2026-03-30", "text": "Sen. Richard Blumenthal, ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, asks SEC Chairman Paul Atkins for records on enforcement decisions involving Sun and Changpeng Zhao, and on contacts with Trump or Witkoff family members about WLF or $TRUMP. He notes Enforcement Director Margaret Ryan left on 2026-03-16, about 11 days after the Sun dismissal.", "src": 8 }, { "date": "2026-04-21", "text": "Sun sues World Liberty Financial, alleging it froze his WLFI tokens through an undisclosed blacklisting function and pressured him to mint USD1 on Tron. These are allegations in his complaint.", "src": 9 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Justin Sun", "text": "Said on X that he was 'pleased to confirm that the SEC has moved to dismiss all claims against me' and that the resolution 'brings closure'.", "src": 6 }, { "who": "White House (spokeswoman Taylor Rogers)", "text": "'The President is and always has been motivated solely by what is best for the American people.'", "src": 6 }, { "who": "SEC", "text": "Declined to comment beyond its letter to the judge.", "src": 6 }, { "who": "White House (Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt)", "text": "Before the May 2025 dinner, said it was 'absurd for anyone to insinuate that this president is profiting off of the presidency'; the White House said Trump attended in his personal capacity.", "src": 4 }, { "who": "World Liberty Financial", "text": "A spokesperson declined to comment on Sun's April 2026 lawsuit.", "src": 9 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "SEC Litigation Release 25803, 7 Aug 2023", "url": "https://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/lr-25803" }, { "label": "The Block, 26 Feb 2025", "url": "https://www.theblock.co/post/343635/sec-and-justin-sun-look-to-explore-a-potential-resolution" }, { "label": "Mother Jones, 28 Feb 2025", "url": "https://www.motherjones.com/?p=1118937" }, { "label": "CNBC (via NBC 6 South Florida), 20 May 2025", "url": "https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/business/money-report/tron-founder-justin-sun-says-hes-the-top-trump-meme-coin-holder/3618787/" }, { "label": "CNN (via KEYT), 23 May 2025", "url": "https://keyt.com/?p=1286457" }, { "label": "SEC Litigation Release 26496, 5 Mar 2026", "url": "https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26496" }, { "label": "Reuters (via Insurance Journal), 6 Mar 2026", "url": "https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2026/03/06/860761.htm" }, { "label": "Decrypt, 11 Mar 2026", "url": "https://decrypt.co/360721/justin-sun-settlement-sec-crypto-agenda-analysis" }, { "label": "Sen. Blumenthal press release, 30 Mar 2026", "url": "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-demands-answers-from-sec-chairman-over-preferential-treatment-of-trump-crypto-backers" }, { "label": "CoinDesk, 22 Apr 2026", "url": "https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2026/04/21/tron-s-justin-sun-sues-trump-linked-world-liberty-financial-over-frozen-assets" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-04-21", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-029-sec-settles-justin-sun-case-after-trump-crypto-buys/", "agencies": [ "SEC" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 75000000.0, "type": "gain", "label": "Sun's purchases of World Liberty tokens", "src": 2, "estimate": false, "inTotal": false, "note": "Likely included in INV-001's estimate" } ] }, { "id": "INV-030", "title": "SEC and CFTC back off Gemini; founders give $10M", "topic": "Donors and policy", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Cameron Winklevoss", "Tyler Winklevoss", "Michael Selig" ], "bodies": [ "SEC", "CFTC", "Senate Democrats", "Federal court (S.D.N.Y.)" ], "summary": "The SEC closed an investigation into Gemini, the crypto exchange run by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, in February 2025 and dismissed its Gemini Earn lawsuit in January 2026. On 2026-05-27 the CFTC joined Gemini in asking a court to vacate the prospective parts of a January 2025 consent order (which included a $5 million penalty), saying the 2022 complaint should not have been filed. On 2026-06-19 the twins gave about $10 million in bitcoin to MAGA Inc., the pro-Trump super PAC, according to FEC records reported by several outlets.", "caveat": "The donation came about three weeks after the CFTC's motion, not before it as the CLC report states. Timing is a reported correlation; no official finding links the donations to the agencies' decisions. FEC records were not directly accessible for this check; the figures come from news reports of the filing. The Washington Post says its donor-list reporting does not establish a connection between gifts and government actions.", "events": [ { "date": "2022-06", "text": "CFTC sues Gemini, alleging it made false or misleading statements to the agency in 2017 about the risk of manipulation of a bitcoin futures contract.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2023-01-12", "text": "SEC sues Genesis Global Capital and Gemini over the Gemini Earn program.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-01", "text": "Gemini agrees to a consent order with the CFTC and pays a $5 million penalty, weeks before Trump takes office. Around the same time the twins give over $1 million to MAGA Inc.; earlier $1 million bitcoin donations each to Trump's 2024 campaign were refunded for exceeding legal limits.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2025-02-26", "text": "Cameron Winklevoss says the SEC has closed its investigation into Gemini without enforcement action.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-06", "text": "Gemini files a complaint with the CFTC Inspector General alleging an 'abusive investigation and lawfare'.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2025-09", "text": "Former CFTC nominee Brian Quintenz alleges Tyler Winklevoss lobbied Trump against his nomination after he declined to take sides on the Gemini case; Trump withdraws the nomination in favour of Michael Selig, now CFTC chairman.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2026-01-23", "text": "SEC and Gemini file a joint stipulation dismissing the Gemini Earn case with prejudice; the SEC cites the full in-kind return of Earn investors' assets and other settlements.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-05-27", "text": "CFTC joins Gemini in a motion to vacate the prospective provisions of the 2025 consent order, saying the complaint 'should not have been filed', relied on a whistleblower 'known to be lacking in credibility', and that staff 'improperly influenced' its authority to gain settlement leverage. The $5 million penalty will not be returned.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-06-19", "text": "Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss each give about $5 million in bitcoin (about $10.02 million total) to MAGA Inc., according to FEC records reported by news outlets.", "src": 6 }, { "date": "2026-07-20", "text": "MAGA Inc.'s monthly FEC report disclosing the donations becomes public.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2026-07-23", "text": "Cointelegraph reports no court ruling on the motion to vacate has been posted; Sen. Elizabeth Warren had criticized the motion in a June letter to Selig.", "src": 7 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "The Post's donor list shows Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss gave bitcoin worth $5,050,018 to the White House ballroom. They did not respond to the Post.", "src": 8 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "Judge Alvin Hellerstein (S.D.N.Y.) rejects the CFTC and Gemini's joint request to undo the January 2025 consent order, writing that \"neither of these arguments provide sufficient grounds for relief.\" The $5 million penalty, already paid, and the injunction stay in place.", "src": 9 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "CFTC", "text": "Said enforcing the order's prospective provisions serves neither its mission nor the public interest, and that its findings 'call into question the CFTC's enforcement process in this instance.'", "src": 2 }, { "who": "CFTC Chairman Michael Selig", "text": "Said the prior administration 'politically targeted' the Winklevoss twins.", "src": 7 }, { "who": "Cameron Winklevoss", "text": "On the SEC closing its probe in February 2025, said it 'does little to make up for the damage this agency has done to us, our industry, and America.'", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Winklevoss twins / Gemini", "text": "Did not respond to The Lever's request for comment on the donations; Gemini's counsel did not immediately reply to Cointelegraph.", "src": 5 }, { "who": "White House", "text": "Pushed back on a May 2026 New York Times investigation into CFTC decisions involving Gemini and others, saying there were no conflicts of interest.", "src": 3 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "The Block, 26 Feb 2025", "url": "https://theblock.co/news/regulation/2025-02-26-sec-closes-investigation-into-crypto-exchange-gemini-cameron-winklevoss-says-343643" }, { "label": "SEC Litigation Release 26465, 23 Jan 2026", "url": "https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26465" }, { "label": "CFTC Release 9236-26, 27 May 2026", "url": "https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9236-26" }, { "label": "The Block, 28 May 2026", "url": "https://www.theblock.co/post/402827/cftc-joins-relief-motion-gemini" }, { "label": "CNN (via Local 3 News), May 2026", "url": "https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/us-regulator-tries-to-withdraw-penalty-against-trump-donors-crypto-company/article_bf3ea12b-2b73-55b9-af35-51f5ecbfb195.html" }, { "label": "The Lever, 20 Jul 2026", "url": "https://www.levernews.com/the-winklevoss-twins-gave-trump-10-million-after-regulatory-win/" }, { "label": "CryptoSlate, 21 Jul 2026", "url": "https://cryptoslate.com/winklevoss-twins-gave-trumps-super-pac-10-million-23-days-after-cftc-joined-gemini-relief-bid/" }, { "label": "Cointelegraph, 23 Jul 2026", "url": "https://cointelegraph.com/news/gemini-winklevoss-bitcoin-donald-trump-pac-cftc-deal" }, { "label": "Washington Post via Spokesman-Review, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/oct/15/secret-documents-reveal-donors-behind-330-million-/" }, { "label": "Bloomberg News via Bloomberg Tax, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report-international/judge-rejects-gemini-cftc-bid-to-undo-5-million-settlement" }, { "label": "CoinDesk, 16 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2026/10/16/u-s-judge-rejects-gemini-s-appeal-to-void-usd5-million-settlement-despite-cftc-backing" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-15", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-030-sec-and-cftc-back-off-gemini-founders-give-10m/", "agencies": [ "SEC", "CFTC" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 10020000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Winklevoss twins to MAGA Inc. (bitcoin)", "src": 6, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true }, { "value": 5050000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Winklevoss twins to the White House ballroom (bitcoin)", "src": 8, "estimate": false, "inTotal": false, "note": "Part of the $333M ballroom total in INV-009" } ] }, { "id": "INV-031", "title": "Flavored vapes allowed after $5M Reynolds gift", "topic": "Donors and policy", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Marty Makary", "Robert F. Kennedy Jr.", "Mehmet Oz", "Jeff Raborn" ], "bodies": [ "Press", "Senate Democrats" ], "summary": "RAI Services Company, a Reynolds American subsidiary, gave MAGA Inc. $5 million on 30 April 2026, bringing its total to $8 million, FEC filings show. Two days later a Reynolds executive and company lobbyists had lunch with Trump at his Florida golf club, and during the lunch Trump phoned top health officials about e-cigarette regulation, according to The New York Times. On 8 May the FDA issued enforcement guidance that allows some flavored vapes with pending applications to be sold, and FDA Commissioner Makary resigned on 12 May. Sen. Ron Wyden opened an inquiry in August 2026.", "caveat": "The timing comes from news reports and FEC records. The New York Times said there was no definitive evidence linking the guidance to the lunch or the donation, and the White House says the policy rests on science. The FDA had already issued draft guidance easing some flavored-product applications on 11 March 2026, before the April donation.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-08", "text": "CBS News reported that CDC's 'Tips From Former Smokers' ad campaign would stop at the end of September 2025 because its contract was not renewed. HHS had announced in March 2025 that CDC chronic-disease programs, including the Office on Smoking and Health, would be eliminated or reorganized.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2025-12-29", "text": "RAI Services Company gave MAGA Inc. $1,000,000, bringing its 2025 total to $3,000,000 (FEC year-end report).", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-03-11", "text": "FDA issued draft guidance that 21 state attorneys general later said would ease approval for some flavored e-cigarettes, such as menthol, mint, coffee and tea.", "src": 7 }, { "date": "2026-04-30", "text": "RAI Services Company gave MAGA Inc. $5,000,000 (FEC May monthly report). This was about half of the super PAC's $9.6 million in April receipts.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-05-02", "text": "Reynolds executive Jeff Raborn and two Ballard Partners lobbyists, along with two Altria executives, reportedly had lunch with Trump at his golf club in Jupiter, Florida. Trump reportedly called Makary, then Kennedy and Oz, to complain about FDA e-cigarette regulation.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-05-08", "text": "FDA issued enforcement-priorities guidance: it would not prioritize enforcement against certain non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes that have a pending, accepted application, unless they have features that appeal to minors. The guidance was issued outside notice-and-comment rulemaking.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-05-12", "text": "Makary resigned. NPR quoted a federal health official who said the decision 'came down to the fruit-flavored vape issue.' Trump said Makary 'was having some difficulty.'", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2026-05-20", "text": "The New York Times reported the donation, lunch and policy sequence.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-06-04", "text": "Sens. Durbin, Warren, Markey, Merkley, Blumenthal and Reed write to Reynolds American CEO David Waterfield asking about flavored-vape applications, contacts with FDA, HHS and the White House, and donations to MAGA Inc. Answers were due 2 Jul.", "src": 10 }, { "date": "2026-07-06", "text": "The New York Times reported that CDC's Office on Smoking and Health had been shut for more than a year after layoffs, and that the Tips campaign went off the air around September 2025.", "src": 6 }, { "date": "2026-08-03", "text": "Senate Finance Committee ranking member Ron Wyden wrote to HHS Secretary Kennedy and to Reynolds American seeking documents on the 2 May lunch, the 8 May directive and the $5 million donation, with responses due 31 August 2026.", "src": 8 }, { "date": "2026-08-03", "text": "Wyden's letter to Reynolds American CEO David Waterfield asked what Raborn requested of Trump at the 2 May lunch, and for records on the decision to give $5 million to MAGA Inc.", "src": 9 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "White House (spokesperson Kush Desai)", "text": "\"The only guiding factor behind the Trump administration's health policymaking is gold standard science.\" He said the vape and pouch policy is rooted in evidence that the products can help adults quit smoking.", "src": 2 }, { "who": "MAGA Inc. (spokesperson Alex Pfeiffer)", "text": "The PAC \"is pleased to accept legal contributions from those who agree with President Trump's America First agenda.\"", "src": 2 }, { "who": "Reynolds American", "text": "Did not respond to the New York Times' request for comment.", "src": 2 }, { "who": "HHS (spokesperson Emily Hilliard)", "text": "On the tobacco program cuts: CDC \"remains committed to tobacco prevention and control.\"", "src": 6 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "FEC, MAGA Inc. Year-End 2025 report, Schedule A", "url": "https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00892471/1943509/sa/ALL" }, { "label": "FEC, MAGA Inc. May 2026 Monthly report, Schedule A", "url": "https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00892471/1978142/sa/ALL" }, { "label": "New York Times (via West Hawaii Today), 20 May 2026", "url": "https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2026/05/22/nation-world-news/5m-donation-from-big-tobacco-preceded-fda-vape-decision/" }, { "label": "NACS, 11 May 2026", "url": "https://www.convenience.org/stay-current/news/2026/may/11/fda-issues-guidance-on-enforcement-of-unauthorized-nicotine-products" }, { "label": "NPR (via WUNC), 12 May 2026", "url": "https://www.wunc.org/2026-05-12/fda-commissioner-resigns-after-tumultuous-tenure" }, { "label": "CBS News, 26 Aug 2025", "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/tips-from-former-smoker-ads-ending" }, { "label": "New York Times (via Philadelphia Inquirer), 6 Jul 2026", "url": "https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/trump-cdc-antismoking-ads-campaigns-cancel-funds-staff-cut-20260706.html" }, { "label": "California Attorney General, 12 May 2026", "url": "https://www.oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-urges-fda-reverse-guidance-easing-sales-flavored-e" }, { "label": "Sen. Wyden letter to Secretary Kennedy, 3 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/20260803lettertosecretarykennedy.pdf" }, { "label": "Sen. Wyden letter to Reynolds American, 3 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/20260803lettertoreynoldsamerican.pdf" }, { "label": "Sen. Durbin et al., letter to Reynolds American, 4 Jun 2026 (PDF)", "url": "https://www.durbin.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/senate_letter_reynolds_vaping_activity.pdf" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-08-03", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-031-flavored-vapes-allowed-after-5m-reynolds-gift/", "agencies": [ "HHS" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 8000000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Reynolds (RAI) to MAGA Inc., total", "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-032", "title": "Staffing rule repealed after nursing-home donations", "topic": "Donors and policy", "stage": 1, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Bill Weisberg", "Clifton J. Porter II" ], "bodies": [ "Press" ], "summary": "Starting in August 2025, nursing-home companies and executives gave about $4.8 million to MAGA Inc., including $750,000 from PruittHealth and $750,000 reported for Ensign Group, according to The New York Times and other outlets. Later that month the largest donors met Trump at his golf club near Washington and urged him to repeal the 2024 minimum-staffing rule. The administration then stopped defending the rule in court, and CMS repealed its staffing minimums in an interim final rule published 3 December 2025.", "caveat": "The timing comes from news reports. No official finding links the donations to the repeal. Before the August meeting, two federal courts (Texas in April 2025 and Iowa in June 2025) had vacated the rule's core requirements, and the 2025 budget law (H.R. 1) barred enforcing it until 2034. CMS cited both when it rescinded the rule, and an industry figure argued the rule was 'already dead.'", "events": [ { "date": "2025-04-07", "text": "A federal district court in Texas vacated the minimum staffing mandate.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-06-18", "text": "The US District Court for the Northern District of Iowa vacated the rule's 24/7 registered-nurse requirement and its minimum staffing hours.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-08", "text": "PruittHealth gave MAGA Inc. $750,000. Smaller gifts included $100,000 each from Reliance Health Care, Northshore Health and Teddy Price of Central Management. About 40 nursing-home-linked entities gave nearly $4.8 million from August to mid-September.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2025-08", "text": "Top donors and industry lobbyists, including AHCA/NCAL chief Clifton J. Porter II, had lunch with Trump at his golf club outside Washington. Saber Healthcare CEO Bill Weisberg told the NYT that the group 'urged the president to formally repeal the harmful minimum staffing mandate.'", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2025-08-08", "text": "Ensign Group gave MAGA Inc. $750,000, according to Hunterbrook citing an FEC filing. Hunterbrook disclosed that its affiliate is short Ensign stock. Skilled Nursing News, summarizing the NYT, said subsidiaries of Ensign were among the top donors.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2025-09", "text": "Less than a month after the lunch, administration lawyers stopped defending the staffing rule against industry lawsuits.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-12-03", "text": "CMS published an interim final rule repealing the 2024 rule's numerical staffing minimums and its 24/7 RN requirement, effective 2 February 2026. CMS cited the H.R. 1 moratorium, the court rulings and burdens on rural and Tribal facilities.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-12-03", "text": "The Center for Medicare Advocacy noted that the repeal left in place the 2024 rule's enhanced facility-assessment requirement.", "src": 6 }, { "date": "2026-01-27", "text": "The New York Times published 'After Donations, Trump Administration Revoked Rule Requiring More Nursing Home Staff.'", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "White House spokesperson", "text": "Dismissed the corruption claims and called the repeal a \"commonsense, anti-red tape policy decision.\"", "src": 3 }, { "who": "HHS", "text": "Said the 2024 staffing rule \"disproportionately burdened facilities,\" especially those serving rural and Tribal communities.", "src": 1 }, { "who": "AHCA/NCAL (spokesperson Rachel Reeves)", "text": "Said the group \"appreciated the opportunity to speak with the president directly,\" stressed that it is nonpartisan, and denied that the lunch focused on the staffing rule. Skilled Nursing News noted that other attendees described it differently.", "src": 4 }, { "who": "Mark Parkinson, former AHCA/NCAL chief", "text": "Said the mandate was \"already dead\" before the August meeting because of court rulings and the congressional moratorium.", "src": 4 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "AHA News, 20 Jun 2025", "url": "https://www.aha.org/news/headline/2025-06-20-iowa-district-court-vacates-cms-minimum-nurse-staffing-requirements" }, { "label": "Duane Morris, Dec 2025", "url": "https://www.amazon.duanemorris.com/alerts/federal_agencies_rescind_previous_administrations_nursing_home_staffing_rule_1225.html" }, { "label": "Election Law Blog excerpt of New York Times, 27 Jan 2026", "url": "https://electionlawblog.org/2026/after-donations-trump-administration-revoked-rule-requiring-more-nursing-home-staff/" }, { "label": "The New Republic, 27 Jan 2026", "url": "https://newrepublic.com/post/205755/donald-trump-nursing-home-executives-donation-staffing-rule" }, { "label": "Skilled Nursing News, Jan 2026", "url": "https://skillednursingnews.com/?p=43408" }, { "label": "Hunterbrook, 8 Jun 2026", "url": "https://hntrbrk.com/ensign/" }, { "label": "Center for Medicare Advocacy", "url": "https://medicareadvocacy.org/cms-rescinds-nursing-home-nurse-staffing-rule" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Reported", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-01-27", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-032-staffing-rule-repealed-after-nursing-home-donations/", "agencies": [ "HHS" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 4800000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Nursing-home industry to MAGA Inc.", "src": 3, "estimate": true, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-033", "title": "David Sacks, AI policy and his investments", "topic": "Conflicts of interest", "stage": 1, "people": [ "David Sacks", "Jacqueline Sacks", "Donald Trump" ], "bodies": [ "Press" ], "summary": "David Sacks served as White House AI and crypto czar as a special government employee. Ethics waivers let him keep stakes that The New York Times counted at hundreds of AI-related investments, which he says regulators cleared. In May 2026 Trump canceled the signing of an AI executive order that would have created a voluntary pre-release model review of up to 90 days, after reported calls from Sacks and other tech leaders. On 2 June 2026 he signed a narrower order with a 30-day window. FEC records show David and Jacqueline Sacks each gave $1 million to their Purple Good Government PAC on 29 May 2026.", "caveat": "The role of Sacks's calls in the May delay comes from press reports citing unnamed officials. The reported $1 million from Purple Good Government PAC to MAGA Inc. on 2 June 2026 could not be confirmed in the FEC pages read for this check. Sacks denies any conflict and says the Office of Government Ethics approved his waivers.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-11-30", "text": "The New York Times reported that Sacks helped shape AI policy while holding 708 tech investments, 449 of them AI-related, and that his filings do not disclose the value of remaining stakes.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-12-13", "text": "NPR reported that Sacks and Craft Ventures still hold more than 400 AI-linked investments under ethics waivers. Ethics scholar Kathleen Clark called them 'sham ethics waivers.'", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-03-26", "text": "Sacks said he was no longer AI and crypto czar after his 130-day special-government-employee stint ended. He became co-chair of PCAST with Michael Kratsios.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-05-21", "text": "Trump canceled a planned signing of an AI order that would have let frontier labs voluntarily submit models up to 90 days before release. Politico, citing a senior official, reported that Sacks called Trump directly after raising concerns that the voluntary system could become mandatory. Musk and Zuckerberg also reportedly called.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-05-29", "text": "David Sacks and Jacqueline Sacks each gave $1,000,000 to Purple Good Government PAC (FEC July Quarterly report). The PAC reported about $1.0 million in other disbursements for April–June 2026; the recipient could not be read from the FEC pages accessed.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2026-06-02", "text": "Trump signed a scaled-back order giving the government up to 30 days of voluntary pre-release access to covered frontier models. The Daily Signal reported that the change followed calls from Sacks and other tech leaders.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2026-06-02", "text": "AP reported that the order was signed without a ceremony after Trump said in May he did not want to 'get in the way' of the US lead in AI. The White House said it was 'NOT conducting oversight of all new models.'", "src": 6 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "David Sacks / his attorneys", "text": "His lawyers called the NYT story a \"hit piece\" and a \"willful misunderstanding\" of his special-government-employee status. Sacks wrote: \"Every time we would prove an accusation false, NYT pivoted to the next allegation.\"", "src": 0 }, { "who": "David Sacks", "text": "On his podcast he said he divested hundreds of millions of dollars and that the Office of Government Ethics approved his waivers and found no conflicts in his venture firm's investments.", "src": 1 }, { "who": "White House (spokeswoman Liz Huston)", "text": "Said Sacks addressed potential conflicts before starting and called his insights \"an invaluable asset.\"", "src": 0 }, { "who": "New York Times", "text": "Said it stands by its reporting.", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "TheWrap, 30 Nov 2025", "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/david-sacks-nyt-conflict-of-interest-hit-piece-white-house-ai-crypto-czar-trump/" }, { "label": "NPR (via GPB), 13 Dec 2025", "url": "https://www.gpb.org/news/2025/12/13/trump-tech-adviser-david-sacks-under-fire-over-vast-ai-investments" }, { "label": "TechCrunch, 26 Mar 2026", "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/26/david-sacks-is-done-as-ai-czar-heres-what-hes-doing-instead/" }, { "label": "The Decoder (citing Politico, Washington Post, Axios), May 2026", "url": "https://the-decoder.com/trump-pulls-ai-safety-order-after-last-minute-calls-from-musk-zuckerberg-and-sacks/" }, { "label": "FEC, Purple Good Government PAC July Quarterly 2026, Schedule A", "url": "https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00795534/1997238/sa/ALL" }, { "label": "Daily Signal, 2 Jun 2026", "url": "https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/06/02/trump-executive-order-ai/" }, { "label": "AP (via WCAX), 2 Jun 2026", "url": "https://www.wcax.com/2026/06/02/trump-signs-an-executive-order-vet-top-ai-models-national-security-risks/" }, { "label": "FEC, Purple Good Government PAC July Quarterly 2026 summary", "url": "https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00795534/1997238/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Reported", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-06-02", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-033-david-sacks-ai-policy-and-his-investments/", "agencies": [ "White House" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-034", "title": "Donor Sokolov named to chair State Dept fund", "topic": "Donors and policy", "stage": 1, "people": [ "Konstantin Sokolov" ], "bodies": [ "Press" ], "summary": "Konstantin Sokolov, a Russian-born American investor, gave MAGA Inc. $11 million in 2025 (ICIJ), or $12 million in total (The New Republic), and was listed as a White House ballroom donor. In July 2026 the State Department named him chairman of a roughly $201 million enterprise fund ('TRIPP+', tied to the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity) that will invest in transport, energy and critical minerals in the South Caucasus and Central Asia. He holds business interests in the region, including Armenian telecom stakes and the Teghut copper mine, which a firm he manages bought from sanctioned Russian bank VTB under a Treasury license.", "caveat": "The link between donations and the appointment or the license is reported by journalists and advocacy groups, not found by any official body. Sokolov denies any connection. Reported totals differ ($11 million in 2025 per ICIJ; $12 million per The New Republic). Reported dates for the OFAC license also differ: Dynamic Frontier said 1 June 2026, while TPM, as relayed by The New Republic, said October 2025.", "events": [ { "date": "2025", "text": "ICIJ reported that Sokolov gave MAGA Inc. $11 million during 2025, plus other gifts to Republican campaigns and groups.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025", "text": "The New Republic, citing Talking Points Memo, reported Sokolov's total to MAGA Inc. as $12 million and said a firm he manages received an OFAC license in October 2025, within 10 days.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2025", "text": "Sokolov appeared on the White House-provided list of donors to Trump's ballroom project.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-06-01", "text": "Dynamic Frontier Holdings, a Texas firm managed by Sokolov, said it received Treasury (OFAC) authorization on this date to buy the Teghut copper mine's shares and debt from VTB Bank, which is under US sanctions. The New Republic, citing TPM, reported that the license was granted in October 2025.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-07-14", "text": "The Guardian reported Sokolov's appointment as chair of the TRIPP+ enterprise fund.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-07-15", "text": "The State Department confirmed the appointment. The about $201 million fund can make equity investments, loans and grants in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, focused on transport, energy and critical minerals.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-09-21", "text": "ICIJ reported on the OFAC license and on Sokolov's overlapping public and private roles in Armenia. Armenian lawmaker Mesrop Manukyan said they raise 'legitimate questions.'", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "A Reuters investigation reports that Sokolov has chaired the fund, now called the Trans-Caspian Enterprise Fund, since January, holds major Armenian assets and used a Russian passport for travel as late as 2016. Six ethics experts told Reuters his business interests create a conflict of interest; Reuters found no indication of wrongdoing.", "src": 5 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Sokolov's spokesperson", "text": "Said there is \"no evidential basis\" linking his donations to the license approval and that suggesting otherwise \"would be incorrect and wholly misplaced.\"", "src": 0 }, { "who": "State Department spokesperson", "text": "Said the fund will meet statutory requirements, including annual reporting and independent audits, and follow grant provisions covering conflicts of interest.", "src": 3 }, { "who": "Treasury Department", "text": "Did not answer ICIJ's questions about the license.", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Sokolov's representatives", "text": "Said he has no relationships with Russian government officials and \"does not hold a Russian citizenship\"; his firm says the fund is barred from investing in his businesses.", "src": 5 }, { "who": "State Department", "text": "Said the fund will follow audit and \"conflict of interest requirements\"; the White House referred questions to State.", "src": 5 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "ICIJ, 21 Sep 2026", "url": "https://icij.org/news/2026/09/trump-administration-gave-firm-with-ties-to-ballroom-donor-the-green-light-to-do-business-with-a-sanctioned-russian-bank/" }, { "label": "Business Insider (via Yahoo), ballroom donor list", "url": "https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/see-list-donors-funding-trumps-150506523.html" }, { "label": "Mirror-Spectator, 20 Jul 2026", "url": "https://mirrorspectator.com/2026/07/21/trump-route-fund-chair-sokolov-buys-second-largest-armenian-mine/" }, { "label": "Armenpress, 15 Jul 2026", "url": "https://armenpress.am/en/article/1255614" }, { "label": "The New Republic", "url": "https://newrepublic.com/post/216573/white-house-ballroom-donor-trump-corruption" }, { "label": "Reuters via Freedom 96.9, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.freedom969.com/us-news/trump-donor-leading-caucasus-fund-has-major-armenia-holdings-russia-business-history" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Reported", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-15", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-034-donor-sokolov-named-to-chair-state-dept-fund/", "agencies": [ "State Dept" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 11000000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "Sokolov to MAGA Inc. in 2025 (ICIJ)", "src": 0, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true }, { "value": 201000000.0, "type": "public", "label": "State Dept fund he was named to chair", "src": 3, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-035", "title": "Mass firing of 17 inspectors general", "topic": "Misuse of office", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Pete Hegseth", "Inspectors general" ], "bodies": [ "Federal court (D.D.C.)" ], "summary": "On 24 Jan 2025 Trump fired at least 17 inspectors general, the independent watchdogs who investigate fraud, waste and abuse inside federal agencies, by two-sentence emails citing \"changing priorities\". The law requires 30 days' notice to Congress and a case-specific reason. Eight of them sued. A federal judge found the firings likely violated the Inspector General Act but refused to reinstate them, and the case is still pending.", "caveat": "The court has not issued a final ruling on the merits. The judge also questioned whether Congress can limit the president's power to remove inspectors general at all.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-01-24", "text": "Trump fires at least 17 inspectors general by email, citing \"changing priorities\", without the 30-day notice to Congress the law requires.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-01-28", "text": "Sens. Grassley (R) and Durbin (D) write to Trump asking for the legally required reasons for the inspector general dismissals.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-02-12", "text": "Eight of the fired inspectors general (Defense, State, VA, HHS, Agriculture, Education, Labor, SBA) sue in federal court in Washington (Storch v. Hegseth).", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-03-27", "text": "Judge Ana Reyes hears argument on reinstatement.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-09-24", "text": "Reyes finds the firings likely violated the Inspector General Act but denies reinstatement, saying the plaintiffs could be compensated later if they win. \"They deserved better from their government. They still do.\" The case is paused pending the Supreme Court's Trump v. Slaughter decision.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-07-20", "text": "The court sets a schedule for summary judgment motions; the case remains pending in district court.", "src": 0 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Justice Department", "text": "Argued the law allows the president to remove inspectors general \"at any time and with no preconditions\", without showing cause or waiting 30 days.", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse: Storch v. Hegseth docket summary", "url": "https://clearinghouse.net/case/46107/" }, { "label": "AP via ClickOnDetroit, 24 Sep 2025", "url": "https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/politics/2025/09/24/federal-judge-refuses-to-reinstate-eight-former-inspectors-general-fired-by-trump-administration/" }, { "label": "Senate Judiciary Committee, 28 Jan 2025", "url": "https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/rep/releases/grassley-durbin-seek-presidential-explanation-for-ig-dismissals" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-07-20", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-035-mass-firing-of-17-inspectors-general/", "agencies": [ "White House" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-036", "title": "Trump's $10B suit against his own IRS and the $1.776B fund", "topic": "Misuse of public funds", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Todd Blanche", "Eric Trump", "Donald Trump Jr.", "Trump Organization" ], "bodies": [ "Federal court (S.D. Fla.)", "Federal court (E.D. Va.)", "Federal court (D.D.C.)", "11th Circuit" ], "summary": "Trump, two sons and the Trump Organization sued the IRS and Treasury, agencies he directs, for $10 billion over the 2019-2020 leak of his tax returns. The Justice Department settled: no money to the Trumps, but a $1.776 billion taxpayer-funded \"Anti-Weaponization Fund\" for people claiming they were targeted by the government, plus a bar on pursuing tax claims against the Trumps and their companies. A federal judge in Virginia blocked the fund; the administration then said it was dropped. The Miami judge found the lawsuit collusive, voided the settlement's use as a court resolution and sanctioned Trump's lawyers. Trump has appealed.", "caveat": "The judge's collusion finding is under appeal; an appeals panel declined to pause it on 29 Sep 2026 but said its ruling is preliminary. The tax-claims bar for the Trumps is reported to remain in force; its current status should be rechecked before publishing.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-01-29", "text": "Trump, Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and the Trump Organization sue the IRS and Treasury in Miami federal court for $10 billion over the leak of their tax returns by a former IRS contractor (Trump v. IRS, 1:26-cv-20609).", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-05", "text": "Judge Leonie Brinkema (E.D. Va.) temporarily blocks the fund in a suit by a former Jan. 6 prosecutor, the city of New Haven, Common Cause and others. Other challenges follow, including a separate suit in Washington by CREW.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-05-18", "text": "Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announces a settlement: a formal apology and \"no monetary payment or damages\" to the Trumps, and a $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund run by five people the attorney general appoints, open until 15 Dec 2028. Trump also drops about $230M in administrative claims against DOJ. The deal includes an agreement that the government will not pursue tax claims against Trump, his family and companies.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-06", "text": "Blanche tells a House appropriations subcommittee DOJ is \"not moving forward with the fund, period\"; the next day Trump says \"I don't know\" whether it is dead.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-06-12", "text": "Brinkema grants a preliminary injunction blocking the fund indefinitely and orders sworn declarations from Blanche and Treasury Secretary Bessent that it will not proceed. Judge Richard Leon (D.D.C.) denies CREW's separate request, warning DOJ: \"Don't play possum with this court.\"", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-07-13", "text": "Judge Kathleen Williams (S.D. Fla.) rules the suit was an \"attempt to use the Court to provide some legitimacy to an agreement to confer immunity to people and entities affiliated with the President and to earmark billions of dollars from American taxpayers\". She bars the parties from calling the deal a settlement of the case and refers Trump lawyer Alejandro Brito and the DOJ officials who signed off to bar authorities.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-07-31", "text": "The Trumps file notice of appeal. Trump says the fund is dead but \"I wish it weren't.\" Sens. Cornyn and Tillis tie Blanche's attorney general confirmation to permanently shutting the fund and narrowing the audit protection.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2026-08-02", "text": "Acting Attorney General Blanche issues a formal order rescinding the $1.776 billion fund, which \"is rescinded and shall have no force or effect,\" after Sens. Cornyn and Tillis made it a condition of supporting his nomination. The settlement's audit protections for the Trumps remain for past tax returns.", "src": 6 }, { "date": "2026-09-29", "text": "An 11th Circuit panel (Jordan, Rosenbaum, Newsom) refuses to pause the sanctions, saying the appellants \"have not made a strong showing that the district court committed clear error in its collusion and bad faith findings.\"", "src": 5 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Todd Blanche", "text": "\"The machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American... we are setting up a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.\"", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Trump legal team", "text": "Said Trump entered the settlement \"squarely for the benefit of the American people\" and that the IRS \"wrongly allowed a rogue, politically-motivated employee\" to leak his records.", "src": 4 }, { "who": "Justice Department", "text": "Called the retired judges' bid to reopen the case \"frivolous\" and said the government had authority to settle.", "src": 1 }, { "who": "Todd Blanche (per NPR)", "text": "Said no members were appointed to run the fund, no money was transferred and no claims were paid.", "src": 6 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "CBS News, 18 May 2026", "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-settles-10-billion-lawsuit-against-irs/" }, { "label": "CBS News, 12 Jun 2026", "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anti-weaponization-fund-justice-department-judge/" }, { "label": "NBC News, 12 Jun 2026", "url": "https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/judge-indefinitely-blocks-trumps-anti-weaponization-fund-rcna349814" }, { "label": "Al Jazeera, 13 Jul 2026", "url": "https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/13/us-judge-voids-trumps-irs-settlement-alleges-self-dealing" }, { "label": "NBC News, 31 Jul 2026", "url": "https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/appeals-ruling-found-10-billion-irs-suit-aimed-manipulate-legal-rcna590307" }, { "label": "Politico via Yahoo News, 29 Sep 2026", "url": "https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/appeals-court-rejects-trump-bid-235918426.html" }, { "label": "NPR via Connecticut Public, 3 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.ctpublic.org/2026-08-03/acting-ag-blanche-rescinds-1-8b-anti-weaponization-fund-in-push-for-confirmation" }, { "label": "Deseret News, 3 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.deseret.com/politics/2026/08/03/blanche-formally-dismantles-anti-weaponization-fund-during-ag-nomination/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-09-29", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-036-trumps-10b-suit-against-his-own-irs-and-the-1-776b-fund/", "agencies": [ "Justice Dept", "Treasury Dept" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 1776000000.0, "type": "public", "label": "Taxpayer-funded \"Anti-Weaponization Fund\" (blocked)", "src": 0, "estimate": false, "inTotal": false, "note": "Blocked by a court and dropped, so not counted" } ] }, { "id": "INV-037", "title": "OMB cuts off the inspectors general council", "topic": "Misuse of office", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Russ Vought", "Office of Management and Budget" ], "bodies": [ "Federal court (D. Md.)", "Sens. Grassley & Collins" ], "summary": "The budget office withheld Congress-approved funding from the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), which trains federal watchdogs, investigates complaints against them and runs Oversight.gov. Oversight.gov and at least 15 watchdog websites with whistleblower hotlines went dark for about seven weeks. After Republican senators objected, OMB released short-term money. Watchdog groups sued to force full funding; the case is pending.", "caveat": "OMB says the decision was about inspectors general it calls \"corrupt, partisan\"; no court has ruled on whether withholding the funds was lawful.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-09-26", "text": "OMB tells CIGIE it will not apportion its congressionally approved fiscal 2026 funding.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-09-29", "text": "Sens. Grassley and Collins write to OMB Director Vought objecting.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-10-01", "text": "Oversight.gov, which holds more than 34,000 watchdog reports, and at least 15 inspector general websites with whistleblower hotlines go offline: \"Due to a lack of apportionment of funds, this website is currently unavailable.\"", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-11-18", "text": "OMB releases about $4.3M to run CIGIE through 30 Jan 2026 and announces a \"programmatic review\" of the council. Oversight.gov comes back online.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-12-17", "text": "PEER, the Government Accountability Project and the Project On Government Oversight sue OMB and Vought in federal court in Maryland (8:25-cv-04164).", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-02-25", "text": "OMB and Vought move to dismiss; the motion is pending before Judge Paula Xinis.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "OMB (spokesman Armen Tooloee)", "text": "\"Inspectors general are meant to be impartial watchdogs... Unfortunately, they have become corrupt, partisan, and in some cases, have lied to the public. The American people will no longer be funding this corruption.\"", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Government Executive, 18 Nov 2025", "url": "https://www.govexec.com/oversight/2025/11/trump-administration-resumes-funding-inspectors-general-hub-after-previously-blocking-it/409615/" }, { "label": "Nextgov/FCW, 1 Oct 2025", "url": "https://www.nextgov.com/digital-government/2025/10/government-watchdog-websites-go-dark-omb-withholds-funds-ig-committee/408524/" }, { "label": "CourtListener: PEER v. OMB docket (D. Md.)", "url": "https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72049938/public-employees-for-environmental-responsibility-v-office-of-management/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-02-25", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-037-omb-cuts-off-the-inspectors-general-council/", "agencies": [ "OMB" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-038", "title": "Firing of the whistleblower watchdog, Special Counsel Dellinger", "topic": "Misuse of office", "stage": 5, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Hampton Dellinger", "Office of Special Counsel" ], "bodies": [ "Federal court (D.D.C.)", "D.C. Circuit", "Supreme Court" ], "summary": "Trump fired Hampton Dellinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel, the independent agency that protects federal whistleblowers and enforces the Hatch Act, by a one-sentence email without a reason. The law allows removal only for \"inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.\" A judge ruled the firing illegal, but an appeals court let it take effect and Dellinger dropped his case.", "caveat": "The underlying question, whether Congress can protect such officials from removal, was never decided on appeal in this case.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-02-07", "text": "The White House fires Dellinger by email, without giving a reason.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-02-12", "text": "Judge Amy Berman Jackson temporarily reinstates him; on 21 Feb the Supreme Court declines to step in for now.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-03-01", "text": "Jackson rules the firing illegal, saying allowing it would give Trump \"a constitutional license to bully officials in the executive branch into doing his will.\" DOJ appeals the same day.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-03-05", "text": "The D.C. Circuit stays the ruling, letting the firing take effect. That morning Dellinger had won reinstatement of about 6,000 probationary employees he found were unlawfully fired.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-03-06", "text": "Dellinger drops his lawsuit, saying his odds before the Supreme Court were long.", "src": 1 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Justice Department", "text": "Argued the order keeping Dellinger in place encroached on the President's authority over officials serving in his administration.", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Reuters via Yahoo News, 2 Mar 2025", "url": "https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-judge-declares-trumps-firing-020113201.html" }, { "label": "NPR, 7 Mar 2025", "url": "https://www.npr.org/2025/03/07/nx-s1-5320251/hampton-dellinger-former-federal-watchdog-drops-lawsuit" }, { "label": "Wikipedia: Bessent v. Dellinger (dates)", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessent_v._Dellinger" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Outcome", "outcome": "Firing took effect; lawsuit dropped", "last_development": "2025-03-06", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-038-firing-of-the-whistleblower-watchdog-special-counsel/", "agencies": [ "White House", "Office of Special Counsel" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-039", "title": "Pulte's mortgage-fraud referrals and the sidelined watchdogs", "topic": "Misuse of office", "stage": 3, "people": [ "Bill Pulte", "Ed Martin", "Federal Housing Finance Agency" ], "bodies": [ "GAO", "FHFA Inspector General", "Federal grand jury (Maryland)", "Senate & House Democrats" ], "summary": "FHFA Director Bill Pulte publicly sent criminal mortgage-fraud referrals against Trump critics (Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff, Fed Governor Lisa Cook, Rep. Eric Swalwell) to the Justice Department. He went around his agency's inspector general and would not say how he got the mortgage files. Fannie Mae ethics staff who looked into whether FHFA officials had ordered employees to pull those files were removed, and the acting inspector general was ousted. A Maryland grand jury examined whether Pulte and DOJ official Ed Martin let unauthorized people work the cases and shared grand jury material. GAO is reviewing whether FHFA misused federal authority and resources. In Sep 2026 FHFA moved to cut its inspector general's budget so deeply that the office says nearly all staff would go.", "caveat": "The grand jury reporting relies on unnamed sources. Attorney General Bondi said in Dec 2025 that \"there is no investigation into Bill Pulte\", and no charges or findings have been made public. The GAO report is expected in late 2026 or early 2027.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-10", "text": "About a dozen Fannie Mae ethics and internal-investigations staff, including chief ethics officer Suzanne Libby, are fired while looking into complaints that senior FHFA officials ordered employees to access James's and others' mortgage files (as reported by the Wall Street Journal).", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-11-03", "text": "Reuters reports that FHFA's acting inspector general, Joe Allen, is being removed. Pulte had gone around the inspector general's office when pursuing the referrals.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-11-20", "text": "CNN, ABC News and MS NOW report that a Maryland grand jury and the FHFA inspector general are examining whether Pulte and Ed Martin used people outside government on the Schiff and James cases and shared grand jury material with unauthorized people. A key Schiff witness is questioned about her contacts with them.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-12-04", "text": "GAO confirms it has accepted Senate Democrats' request to review whether FHFA and its employees \"misused federal authority and resources\" in the referrals.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2025-12-11", "text": "Attorney General Bondi posts: \"There is no investigation into Bill Pulte.\"", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-09-30", "text": "FHFA announces cuts to its inspector general's budget. The inspector general warns Congress this would force it to wind down operations and cut nearly its entire staff, and Democrats on four committees call on Pulte to resign. GAO says its review is ongoing.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2026-10-01", "text": "Senate Banking Democrats write to Pulte demanding he reverse the cuts to FHFA's inspector general office; FHFA issues a statement defending them.", "src": 6 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "FHFA spokesperson", "text": "\"This is more Fake News from people who are trying to impede the criminal justice system.\"", "src": 1 }, { "who": "Justice Department", "text": "\"Anonymous sources seeking to spin or influence ongoing processes do a disservice to the public and to the rule of law.\"", "src": 3 }, { "who": "White House (Steven Cheung)", "text": "Called Pulte one of Trump's \"most loyal and important advisors\" and the reporting \"a pathetic attempt to distract\".", "src": 4 }, { "who": "FHFA", "text": "Said its OIG is an \"extraordinary budgetary outlier\", with staff equal to 18% of FHFA's workforce.", "src": 5 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Reuters via Yahoo News, 3 Nov 2025", "url": "https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/exclusive-watchdog-being-ousted-us-191422202.html" }, { "label": "The Guardian via Yahoo News, 12 Nov 2025", "url": "https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/us-ethics-officials-removed-inquiring-225207110.html" }, { "label": "CNN, 20 Nov 2025 (updated 11 Dec)", "url": "https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/20/politics/justice-department-adam-schiff-ed-martin-bill-pulte-christine-bish" }, { "label": "ABC News, 20 Nov 2025", "url": "https://abcnews.com/US/doj-fbi-probing-top-trump-administration-officials-investigations/story?id=127602305" }, { "label": "Straight Arrow News (citing NBC), 4 Dec 2025", "url": "https://san.com/cc/gao-to-investigate-fhfa-director-bill-pultes-referrals-to-doj/" }, { "label": "Scotsman Guide, 1 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.scotsmanguide.com/news/pulte-moves-to-gut-fhfa-internal-watchdog-agency/" }, { "label": "Mother Jones, 2 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/bill-pulte-fhfa-fraud-federal-mortage-inspectors-office-budget-cut/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Official review", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-01", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-039-pultes-mortgage-fraud-referrals-and-the-sidelined-watchdogs/", "agencies": [ "FHFA", "Justice Dept" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-040", "title": "Justice Department drops the Eric Adams corruption case", "topic": "Misuse of office", "stage": 5, "people": [ "Emil Bove", "Danielle Sassoon", "Eric Adams", "Department of Justice" ], "bodies": [ "U.S. District Court (S.D.N.Y.)", "DOJ Inspector General (requested)", "Senate Judiciary Democrats" ], "summary": "Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered prosecutors to drop bribery and illegal foreign campaign donation charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The order cited Adams's help with federal immigration enforcement, not the strength of the case. Acting U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon refused and resigned, and other career prosecutors in New York and Washington resigned rather than file the motion. Judge Dale Ho dismissed the case with prejudice, writing that \"everything here smacks of a bargain\". Bove was later confirmed as a federal appeals judge.", "caveat": "The judge took no position on whether Adams was guilty. Bove denied any quid pro quo, and Adams has maintained his innocence. No finding of wrongdoing by any DOJ official has been made public.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-02-12", "text": "Acting U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon writes to Attorney General Bondi that she cannot file the dismissal and resigns.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-02-14", "text": "The Washington Post reports that seven lawyers refused or resigned before the department found someone to sign the dismissal motion.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-04-02", "text": "Judge Dale Ho dismisses the case with prejudice so it can never be refiled, writing: \"Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions.\"", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-07-28", "text": "Sens. Schiff and Booker ask the DOJ inspector general whether it is investigating Bove, citing the Adams dismissal and whistleblower complaints.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-07-29", "text": "The Senate confirms Bove to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 50-49.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Emil Bove", "text": "Said at his confirmation hearing that there was no quid pro quo.", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "NBC News, 2 Apr 2025", "url": "https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/eric-adams-indictment-dismissed-prejudice-judge-ho-drop-charges-trump/3806388/" }, { "label": "Sens. Schiff & Booker letter to DOJ Inspector General, 28 Jul 2025", "url": "https://www.schiff.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Schiff-Booker-Letter-DOJ-IG-re-Bove.pdf" }, { "label": "Scripps News, 29 Jul 2025", "url": "https://www.scrippsnews.com/politics/the-president/senate-votes-to-confirm-trump-ally-and-current-doj-lawyer-emil-bove-to-3rd-u-s-circuit-court-of-appeals" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Outcome", "outcome": "Case dismissed by court", "last_development": "2025-07-29", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-040-justice-department-drops-the-eric-adams-corruption-case/", "agencies": [ "Justice Dept" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-041", "title": "Elon Musk's DOGE role and the agencies probing his companies", "topic": "Conflicts of interest", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Elon Musk", "Department of Government Efficiency", "Tesla", "SpaceX", "Neuralink" ], "bodies": [ "Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (minority)", "Sen. Elizabeth Warren", "GAO", "U.S. Supreme Court" ], "summary": "Elon Musk led DOGE as a special government employee while keeping control of Tesla, SpaceX, xAI/X, Neuralink and the Boring Company. Senate investigations subcommittee minority staff counted at least 65 actual or potential actions by 11 federal agencies against Musk and his companies as of Jan 20, 2025, with at least $2.37 billion in potential liability. A June 2025 report from Sen. Warren's office lists agency actions during his tenure, including a dropped DOJ hiring case against SpaceX, an NLRB move to settle allegations against SpaceX, and a closed OSHA investigation into Tesla.", "caveat": "Both reports come from Democratic minority offices. Neither shows that Musk personally intervened in any specific case, and no official finding has been made.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-04-27", "text": "Senate investigations subcommittee minority staff (Sen. Blumenthal) publish a 43-page memo: at least 65 actions by 11 agencies and $2.37 billion in potential liability for Musk's companies.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-06", "text": "Sen. Warren's office publishes \"Elon Musk's 130 Days\", listing dropped or dormant cases and new or explored contracts for Musk's companies, including Starlink.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-08-05", "text": "GAO reports it could not check ethics compliance for most DOGE staff: of 206 DOGE personnel in the Executive Office of the President (27 of them special government employees), it got records for 64. The White House did not provide training records or financial disclosures, and 10 agencies did not respond in time.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-10-13", "text": "The Supreme Court agrees to hear the administration's appeal in CREW's lawsuit seeking DOGE records, which turns on whether DOGE is an agency covered by the Freedom of Information Act.", "src": 3 } ], "responses": [], "sources": [ { "label": "Senate PSI minority staff memorandum, 27 Apr 2025", "url": "https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025-04-27-Minority-Staff-Memorandum-Elon-Musk-Conflicts.pdf" }, { "label": "Office of Sen. Warren report, Jun 2025", "url": "https://www.warren.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/130_days_of_elon_musk_report.pdf" }, { "label": "GAO-26-108403, 5 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108403" }, { "label": "MS NOW, 13 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/supreme-court-trump-doge-discovery-lawsuit" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-13", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-041-elon-musks-doge-role-and-the-agencies-probing-his-companies/", "agencies": [ "White House (DOGE)" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 2370000000.0, "type": "liability", "label": "Potential penalties facing Musk's companies", "src": 0, "estimate": true, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-042", "title": "Justice Department's anti-corruption units cut back", "topic": "Misuse of office", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Pam Bondi", "Todd Blanche", "Department of Justice", "Public Integrity Section" ], "bodies": [ "Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse", "Sen. Mazie Hirono and five colleagues" ], "summary": "The Public Integrity Section, created after Watergate to prosecute corrupt officials of both parties, went from 36 full-time lawyers to two, and the rule that local prosecutors must consult it on certain campaign finance and election cases was suspended. Attorney General Bondi disbanded Task Force KleptoCapture (Russian oligarch assets) and the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force. An executive order paused enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which bans bribing foreign officials, and new guidelines now need senior approval for new cases. Deputy Attorney General Blanche disbanded the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team.", "caveat": "These are policy and staffing decisions that the administration has the authority to make. Earlier counts of the section's size differ (about 30 to 40 lawyers). Cases opened before 2025 were allowed to proceed.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-02-05", "text": "Attorney General Bondi's memos disband Task Force KleptoCapture and the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-02-10", "text": "Executive Order 14209 pauses FCPA enforcement pending new guidance.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-03", "text": "AP reports prosecutors were told the Public Integrity Section would shrink to as few as five lawyers. Sen. Whitehouse writes to DOJ demanding answers (20 Mar).", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-04", "text": "Deputy Attorney General Blanche's memo disbands the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team: \"The Department of Justice is not a digital assets regulator.\"", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2025-06-09", "text": "Blanche issues new FCPA guidelines requiring senior Criminal Division approval to open cases.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-09", "text": "NOTUS reports the section is down from 36 lawyers to two and the consultation requirement is suspended in the Justice Manual.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2026-05-09", "text": "NPR reports the section has dropped from about 40 prosecutors to two; its former acting chief says its cases \"aren't being done\".", "src": 5 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Justice Department (Mar 2025)", "text": "Said leadership was \"taking a broad look\" at resources and no final decisions had been made.", "src": 2 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "AP via News4Jax, 6 Feb 2025", "url": "https://www.news4jax.com/news/politics/2025/02/06/trumps-justice-department-ends-biden-era-task-force-aimed-at-seizing-assets-of-russian-oligarchs/" }, { "label": "Norton Rose Fulbright, Jun 2025", "url": "https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en/knowledge/publications/28f9c666/new-doj-fcpa-guidance-focused-on-vindicating-us-interests-abroad" }, { "label": "AP via Yahoo News, Mar 2025", "url": "https://www.yahoo.com/news/justice-department-expected-slash-public-014203657.html" }, { "label": "AP via Tribune Chronicle, Apr 2025", "url": "https://www.tribtoday.com/news/business/2025/04/justice-department-will-disband-crypto-related-enforcement-team/" }, { "label": "NOTUS, 22 Sep 2025", "url": "https://www.notus.org/courts/doj-public-integrity" }, { "label": "NPR, 9 May 2026", "url": "https://www.npr.org/2026/05/09/nx-s1-5729113/legal-experts-say-some-of-trumps-actions-weakened-efforts-to-combat-public-corruption" }, { "label": "Sen. Whitehouse, 20 Mar 2025", "url": "https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-demands-answers-from-justice-department-on-dismantling-of-public-integrity-section/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-05-09", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-042-justice-departments-anti-corruption-units-cut-back/", "agencies": [ "Justice Dept" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-043", "title": "Paid pardon brokers and erased restitution", "topic": "Pardons", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Glen Casada", "Michele Fiore", "Joseph Schwartz", "Ed Martin" ], "bodies": [ "House Judiciary Democrats" ], "summary": "Lobbyists disclosed more than $2.1 million in 2025 fees from people seeking clemency, and CBS News reports brokers charge up to $3 million for access. Nursing-home executive Joseph Schwartz, sentenced for a $38 million tax fraud, paid lobbyists about $1.1 million and was pardoned in Nov 2025. Pardons have included officials convicted of corruption, such as former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada (17 counts) and Las Vegas councilwoman Michele Fiore (memorial-fund fraud). House Judiciary Democrats estimate the clemency grants have erased nearly $1.7 billion in restitution and fines.", "caveat": "The $1.7 billion figure is a Democratic staff estimate of amounts owed, not money collected. Disclosed lobbying is legal, many advisers are not required to disclose, and no pardon has been shown to have been bought.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-04-24", "text": "Trump pardons Michele Fiore before her sentencing for fraud involving a police memorial fund.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-06-17", "text": "House Judiciary Democrats estimate pardons erased about $1.3 billion in restitution and fines.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-11-06", "text": "Trump pardons Glen Casada and aide Cade Cothren, convicted of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2025-11-14", "text": "Trump pardons Joseph Schwartz; a lobbyist had registered for him the day before.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-01-23", "text": "NOTUS: lobbyists disclosed more than $2.1 million in 2025 from clemency seekers.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-08", "text": "House Judiciary Democrats' \"Pardons, Inc.\" staff report raises the restitution estimate to nearly $1.7 billion.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2026-09-13", "text": "CBS 60 Minutes reports pardon brokers charge up to $3 million.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2026-10-13", "text": "A Reuters review counts at least 85 public officials charged with or convicted of corruption-related crimes who received clemency across Trump's two terms: 36 elected Republicans, 19 Republican appointees, 4 known Democrats and 17 whose party could not be determined. Reuters estimates the grants spared them 130 years in prison and more than $15 million in penalties.", "src": 6 }, { "date": "2026-10-16", "text": "Sen. Cory Booker introduces the Presidential Pardon Integrity Act, which would require paid clemency advocates to register and report contacts with officials, require recipients to disclose benefits given to the President, his family or businesses, and let victims sue for restitution after a pardon. It is a proposed bill.", "src": 7 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "White House (Harrison Fields)", "text": "Said the president is \"righting the wrongs of political prosecutions\".", "src": 1 }, { "who": "White House official", "text": "Said the Biden DOJ \"significantly over-prosecuted\" Casada and Cothren.", "src": 2 }, { "who": "White House", "text": "A spokesperson said Trump was granting clemency to Americans prosecuted by a \"weaponized\" Justice Department.", "src": 6 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Fox LA, 24 Apr 2025", "url": "https://www.foxla.com/news/trump-fiore-pardon" }, { "label": "CBS News, 17 Jun 2025", "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trumps-pardons-cost-victims-and-taxpayers-1-3-billion-house-judiciary-committee-democrats-review/" }, { "label": "NBC News, 7 Nov 2025", "url": "https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-pardons-former-tennessee-house-speaker-aide-convicted-federal-co-rcna242544" }, { "label": "NOTUS / The Washington Sun, 23 Jan 2026", "url": "https://www.washingtonsun.com/money/pardon-lobbyists-president-donald-trump" }, { "label": "House Judiciary Democrats, \"Pardons, Inc.\", Aug 2026", "url": "https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2026-08-hjc-dems-staff-report-pardons-inc.pdf" }, { "label": "CBS News 60 Minutes, 13 Sep 2026", "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-pardon-lobbyists-60-minutes/" }, { "label": "IBTimes UK, 13 Oct 2026 (citing Reuters)", "url": "https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trump-clemency-corruption-officials-reuters-investigation-1825380" }, { "label": "Sen. Cory Booker press release, 16 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-introduces-bill-to-combat-trumps-pardons-for-sale-scheme" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-16", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-043-paid-pardon-brokers-and-erased-restitution/", "agencies": [ "White House", "Justice Dept" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 1700000000.0, "type": "erased", "label": "Restitution and fines erased by clemency", "src": 4, "estimate": true, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-044", "title": "GEO Group: ICE contracts, donations and a former executive at the top", "topic": "Contracts", "stage": 2, "people": [ "David Venturella", "GEO Group", "Immigration and Customs Enforcement", "MAGA Inc." ], "bodies": [ "Sen. Elizabeth Warren" ], "summary": "GEO Group runs about a third of immigration detention and gets about half its revenue from ICE; its 2025 profit rose to more than $250 million. A GEO subsidiary has given $4.4 million to the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. Former GEO executive David Venturella became acting ICE director in June 2026. In July 2026 ICE approved two five-year GEO contracts worth $85 million and $80 million a year. A GEO subsidiary gave MAGA Inc. more than $1.4 million that month, including a donation on July 16, three days after the first approval, according to the New York Times.", "caveat": "No evidence has been published tying any contract to a donation. The donation amounts come from media reviews of MAGA Inc.'s FEC reports; we have not checked the filings directly.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-05", "text": "Sen. Warren writes to Venturella asking whether he will recuse himself from matters that could benefit GEO.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-06", "text": "Venturella commits to divest his GEO Group stock and to recuse himself from matters involving the company, according to ethics commitments released by Sen. Warren.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-06-03", "text": "NPR: Venturella, who worked at GEO for about a decade from 2012, begins as acting ICE director.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-07-13", "text": "ICE approves a five-year, $85 million-a-year GEO contract in Colorado; a separate $80 million-a-year North Carolina contract follows two weeks later.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-07-16", "text": "A GEO subsidiary donates to MAGA Inc. three days after the Colorado approval; its total since Jan 2025 is more than $4.4 million (New York Times, via MS NOW).", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-08-03", "text": "Sen. Warren releases the commitments and presses Venturella on further potential conflicts tied to his career in the private prison industry.", "src": 3 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "DHS", "text": "\"The Acting ICE Director abides by all ethics requirements.\"", "src": 0 }, { "who": "White House", "text": "\"Any allegation that political donations play a role in agencies awarding government contracts are false.\"", "src": 1 }, { "who": "DHS", "text": "Said the contracts were part of a competitive process it \"runs ... by the book\".", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "NPR, 3 Jun 2026", "url": "https://www.npr.org/2026/06/03/nx-s1-5836625/geo-group-private-prisons-ice-close-ties" }, { "label": "MS NOW (citing the New York Times), 24 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-geo-group-private-prisons-super-pac-donation" }, { "label": "Scripps News / WTKR, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.wtkr.com/investigations/ice-inc/major-ice-contractors-shower-republican-candidates-with-campaign-cash" }, { "label": "Sen. Elizabeth Warren press release", "url": "https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-releases-new-ethics-commitments-from-top-immigration-official-presses-on-further-potential-conflicts-tied-to-career-in-private-prison-contractor-industry/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-08-03", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-044-geo-group-ice-contracts-donations-and-a-former-executive-at/", "agencies": [ "Homeland Security Dept (ICE)" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 165000000.0, "type": "public", "label": "New GEO detention contracts, per year", "src": 1, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true }, { "value": 4400000.0, "type": "donation", "label": "GEO subsidiary to MAGA Inc. since Jan 2025", "src": 1, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-045", "title": "Trump Organization foreign deals in Qatar and Vietnam", "topic": "Emoluments", "stage": 1, "people": [ "Eric Trump", "Trump Organization", "Qatari Diar", "Dar Global" ], "bodies": [], "summary": "In April 2025 the Trump Organization announced a golf resort near Doha with Saudi developer Dar Global and Qatari Diar, which is owned by the Qatari government. The company's second-term ethics pledge said no deals would include foreign governments. In May 2025 Vietnam approved a $1.5 billion Trump golf project while it was negotiating to avoid a 46% U.S. tariff. The New York Times reported the project skipped usual environmental reviews and cut short public comment, and Vietnam's prime minister said Eric Trump's visit \"motivated us to expedite this project\".", "caveat": "The Trump Organization says its Qatar contract is only with the Saudi firm. No congressional inquiry or official review specific to these deals was found.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-04-30", "text": "Trump Organization announces the Qatar golf resort. Eric Trump's statement names both Qatari Diar and Dar Global.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-05", "text": "Vietnam approves the $1.5 billion Hung Yen golf project during tariff talks.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-05-25", "text": "New York Times (as summarized by Yahoo News) reports the project bypassed standard environmental reviews.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Trump Organization", "text": "Said its Qatar deal was with the Saudi firm, not the Qatari one.", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "AP via KSAT, 30 Apr 2025", "url": "https://www.ksat.com/news/politics/2025/04/30/trump-company-strikes-qatari-golf-resort-deal-in-a-sign-its-not-holding-back-from-foreign-business/" }, { "label": "Fortune, 16 May 2025", "url": "https://fortune.com/2025/05/16/trump-organization-vietnam-golf-resort" }, { "label": "Yahoo News (on NYT reporting), 25 May 2025", "url": "https://www.yahoo.com/news/vietnam-bypassing-own-laws-fast-175733614.html" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Reported", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2025-05-25", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-045-trump-organization-foreign-deals-in-qatar-and-vietnam/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-046", "title": "Trading around the April 2025 tariff pause", "topic": "Insider trading", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Securities and Exchange Commission" ], "bodies": [ "Sens. Warren, Schumer, Schiff and others", "Rep. Maxine Waters" ], "summary": "At 9:37 a.m. on April 9, 2025, Trump posted \"THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT.\" About four hours later he announced a 90-day tariff pause, and stocks had their best day since 2008. Democratic senators asked the SEC to examine whether the president, cabinet members, donors or other insiders traded on advance knowledge. Rep. Waters separately asked the SEC and GAO to look at a spike in call options before the announcement.", "caveat": "Financial experts quoted at the time saw no immediate proof of insider trading, and no SEC investigation or response has been made public. No specific official has been accused of trading.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-04-09", "text": "Trump posts \"THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!\" at 9:37 a.m. and announces the tariff pause at 1:18 p.m.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-04-11", "text": "Sens. Warren, Schumer, Wyden, Schiff, Kelly and Gallego ask SEC Chair Paul Atkins to investigate; Rep. Waters writes to the SEC and GAO.", "src": 1 } ], "responses": [], "sources": [ { "label": "Sen. Schiff press release, 11 Apr 2025", "url": "https://www.schiff.senate.gov/news/press-releases/news-sen-schiff-joins-sens-warren-schumer-to-call-on-sec-to-launch-investigation-into-possible-trump-tariff-market-manipulation-insider-trading/" }, { "label": "Boston Globe, 11 Apr 2025", "url": "https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/11/nation/elizabeth-warren-sec-trump-tariff-pause-trading/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2025-04-11", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-046-trading-around-the-april-2025-tariff-pause/", "agencies": [ "White House", "SEC" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-047", "title": "CFTC referral on oil trades before Trump's Iran post", "topic": "Insider trading", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Michael Selig", "Mel Gunewardena", "CFTC" ], "bodies": [ "Sens. Warren & Whitehouse", "Public Citizen (request)" ], "summary": "Futures trades were placed about 15 minutes before Trump's 23 Mar 2026 post postponing strikes on Iranian power plants. Bloomberg reports that Mel Gunewardena, an adviser to CFTC Chairman Michael Selig, told a market oversight supervisor to retract a referral of those trades to the enforcement division. An unnamed CFTC official told Bloomberg that enforcement is still examining the trading.", "caveat": "The retraction is reported by Bloomberg from unnamed sources; the CFTC does not confirm or deny investigations. No finding of insider trading has been made.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-04-09", "text": "Sens. Warren and Whitehouse ask the CFTC to examine the trades.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-10-13", "text": "Bloomberg reports that Gunewardena told a supervisor on the market oversight team to retract the enforcement referral.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-10-13", "text": "Sen. Warren asks CFTC Chair Selig and enforcement chief Gunewardena to tell Congress the status of the investigations into the oil trades.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-10-14", "text": "Public Citizen asks Selig to convene the CFTC's Energy and Environmental Markets Advisory Committee on the matter.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "CFTC", "text": "Spokesperson: the CFTC \"does not confirm or deny any investigation.\" Gunewardena did not respond to Bloomberg.", "src": 1 }, { "who": "White House", "text": "Spokesman Kush Desai earlier called insider-profiteering claims \"baseless and irresponsible.\"", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "The New Republic, 13 Oct 2026 (citing Bloomberg)", "url": "https://newrepublic.com/post/216574/trump-official-tries-kill-report-perfectly-timed-oil-trades-cftc" }, { "label": "Daily Caller, 13 Oct 2026", "url": "https://dailycaller.com/2026/10/13/cftc-oil-trades-insider-trading-referral-mel-gunewardena-michael-selig-iran-bloomberg/" }, { "label": "Public Citizen, 14 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.citizen.org/news/reports-of-cftc-dismissal-of-investigation-into-billions-of-dollars-in-suspicious-oil-trades-requires-immediate-meeting-of-key-energy-advisory-committee/" }, { "label": "Senate Banking Committee minority, 13 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/minority/warren-statement-on-new-reporting-about-cftc-examination-of-suspicious-oil-trades-related-to-trump-truth-social-post" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-14", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-047-cftc-referral-on-oil-trades-before-trumps-iran-post/", "agencies": [ "CFTC" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-048", "title": "Hatch Act complaint against Labor inspector general D'Esposito", "topic": "Hatch Act", "stage": 3, "people": [ "Anthony D'Esposito" ], "bodies": [ "Office of Special Counsel" ], "summary": "CREW complained that Labor Department Inspector General Anthony D'Esposito used his office's official X account to post content praising the administration's policies. After the inspectors general council's Integrity Committee declined further action, the Office of Special Counsel told CREW it has accepted the matter for review. Sen. Blumenthal had separately asked OSC in February to examine whether D'Esposito's apparent congressional campaign violated the Hatch Act.", "caveat": "OSC accepting a complaint for review is not a finding of a violation. The date of OSC's letter is reported only as a Wednesday, likely 14 Oct.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-02-10", "text": "Sen. Blumenthal asks OSC to investigate whether D'Esposito's apparent campaign for Congress violates the Hatch Act.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-10-14", "sort": "2026-10-14", "text": "OSC tells CREW it has \"accepted the matter for review\" (letter dated a Wednesday, likely 14 Oct).", "src": 0 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Anthony D'Esposito", "text": "\"They won't intimidate me\"; called the complaint \"bogus nonsense\" and CREW \"political hacks.\"", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Raw Story, 16 Oct 2026 (citing Newsday)", "url": "https://www.rawstory.com/anthony-desposito-2678093220/" }, { "label": "The Washington Sun, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.washingtonsun.com/administration/labor-watchdog-ethics-audit-anthony-desposito" }, { "label": "Sen. Blumenthal, 10 Feb 2026", "url": "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-calls-for-investigation-into-anthony-desposito-for-potential-hatch-act" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Official review", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-14", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-048-hatch-act-complaint-against-labor-inspector-general/", "agencies": [ "Labor Dept", "Office of Special Counsel" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-049", "title": "Ex-crypto adviser Bo Hines, his firm and Tether's payments", "topic": "Conflicts of interest", "stage": 1, "people": [ "Bo Hines", "Nxum", "Tether", "Paolo Ardoino" ], "bodies": [], "summary": "Bo Hines led the White House crypto council from January to August 2025 while the GENIUS Act, the new stablecoin law, was negotiated. The Wall Street Journal reports that he kept a one-third stake in Nxum, a consulting firm he co-founded, and that Tether, the largest stablecoin issuer, paid Nxum about $6.3 million under a branding and public-affairs contract, with the first payment made while Hines was still in government. The Journal also reports Signal messages in which Hines updated his Nxum partners on the bill while they were in touch with Tether's CEO, and that he argued for a longer compliance window that helped foreign issuers like Tether. Hines joined Tether in August 2025 and now runs its U.S. business.", "caveat": "The Wall Street Journal article is paywalled; the details here come from trade-press summaries of it. Nxum says Hines recused himself, held only a passive stake and received no Tether-related money while in government. No official inquiry or finding has been made public.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-07-18", "text": "Trump signs the GENIUS Act, which sets federal rules for stablecoin issuers.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-08-19", "text": "Tether hires Hines, days after he leaves the White House, as strategy adviser; he later becomes CEO of its U.S. business.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-10-14", "text": "The Wall Street Journal reports that Tether paid Nxum about $6.3 million, starting while Hines held a one-third stake and worked at the White House.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-10-22", "text": "Sen. Blumenthal, ranking member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, asks Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino for contracts, payments and communications with Nxum and Bo Hines, citing WSJ reporting of over $6 million paid, including $415,000 a month agreed in May 2025; answers due 3 November.", "src": 3 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Nxum", "text": "Told the Journal Hines recused himself from company affairs, kept only a passive stake and received no Tether-derived payments while in government.", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Cointelegraph, 15 Oct 2026 (citing the Wall Street Journal)", "url": "https://cointelegraph.com/news/bo-hines-donald-trump-crypto-advisor-nxum-tether-conflict" }, { "label": "Bitcoin.com News, 15 Oct 2026 (citing the Wall Street Journal)", "url": "https://news.bitcoin.com/crypto-news/tether-paid-a-firm-owned-by-a-former-white-house-crypto-official-wsj/" }, { "label": "The Block, 19 Aug 2025", "url": "https://www.theblock.co/news/markets/2025-08-19-bo-hines-joins-tether-367394" }, { "label": "Sen. Blumenthal letter to Tether, 22 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026-10-22-Letter-from-Sen-Blumenthal-to-Tether.pdf" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Reported", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-22", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-049-ex-crypto-adviser-bo-hines-his-firm-and-tethers-payments/", "agencies": [ "White House" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 6300000.0, "type": "gain", "label": "Tether payments to Nxum, a firm in which Hines held a one-third stake (WSJ, as summarized)", "src": 1, "estimate": false, "inTotal": true } ] }, { "id": "INV-050", "title": "Dodik sanctions lifted and a Trump-ally firm's Bosnia pipeline deal", "topic": "Government deals", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Milorad Dodik", "Joseph Flynn", "Jesse Binnall", "Michael Flynn", "Susie Wiles", "Continental Strategy", "Marco Rubio", "Scott Bessent", "Chris LaCivita", "James Blair" ], "bodies": [ "House Foreign Affairs (minority)", "Rep. Dina Titus and other House members" ], "summary": "In October 2025 the Treasury removed U.S. sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, his two adult children and dozens of associates. A month later AAFS Infrastructure and Energy, a new company set up by Joseph Flynn (Michael Flynn's brother) and Trump-affiliated lawyer Jesse Binnall, was formed, and with U.S. embassy support it was written into Bosnian law as the investor for a pipeline concession the House Foreign Affairs minority values at over $1 billion. Democrats say the two decisions rewarded Trump allies. Separately, Trump-connected lobbying firms are paid by the Republika Srpska government; one of them, Continental Strategy, employs the daughter of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who met a senior Srpska official at the White House in September.", "caveat": "The 'pay for play' link is the House Foreign Affairs minority's conclusion, not an official finding. The administration says the sanctions were lifted to prevent instability in the Balkans. The White House and Continental Strategy say Katie Wiles did not lobby the U.S. government on Srpska and played no role in her mother's meeting; no evidence has been published that Susie Wiles acted for the firm.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-10", "text": "Michael Flynn reports in a FARA filing that he was paid $100,000 for one month of lobbying for the Republika Srpska government (per the House Foreign Affairs minority report).", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-10-29", "text": "Treasury's OFAC removes Dodik, his children Igor and Gorica, and dozens of affiliates from the sanctions list, after removing four affiliates on 17 Oct.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-11-12", "text": "Reps. Keating and Meeks write to Rubio and Bessent opposing the delisting and asking what changed in Dodik's behavior.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-11-24", "text": "Joseph Flynn and Jesse Binnall register AAFS in Wyoming, four days after U.S. embassy officials discussed an American company taking over the Southern Interconnection pipeline.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-02-16", "text": "Continental Strategy registers under FARA to represent the Republika Srpska government ($35,000 a month, per DOJ filings cited by the NYT).", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-04", "text": "AAFS is named in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina legislation as the pipeline's investor. Keating writes privately to Rubio about the award; State replies.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-08", "text": "Katie Wiles, a Continental Strategy partner, visits Republika Srpska with a U.S. energy executive exploring a pipeline deal; a photo shows her with interior minister Željko Budimir.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-09-15", "text": "House Foreign Affairs Europe subcommittee Democrats publish 'Pay for Play in the Balkans', calling for subpoenas, reimposed sanctions and a pause in U.S. support for AAFS.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-09-21", "text": "Susie Wiles meets Željka Cvijanović, a Dodik ally on Bosnia's presidency, at the White House; a White House official says Continental partner Alex Garcia set it up.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-10-07", "text": "After a New York Times report that Trump advisers Chris LaCivita and James Blair advised Republika Srpska's government on its elections, Trump says he will ask them about their other clients.", "src": 7 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "The NYT reports the executive on Katie Wiles' trip was John V. Calce, whose America First Refining is partly owned by Donald Trump Jr., and that Continental arranged the visit at the Srpska government's request.", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2026-10-16", "text": "Members of Congress, in a letter shared by Rep. Dina Titus, ask the President whether the White House, State Department or US embassy knew of or guided paid election work in Republika Srpska by Trump advisers James Blair and Chris LaCivita, and whether Susie Wiles' daughter helped arrange Wiles' September meeting with Cvijanović. Answers are due 23 October.", "src": 6 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "White House", "text": "An administration official said the sanctions were lifted to prevent instability in the Balkans; a White House official said Susie Wiles does not discuss work matters with her daughters.", "src": 3 }, { "who": "Continental Strategy", "text": "Said Katie Wiles has not spoken with any U.S. government official about Srpska, that Alex Garcia alone handles U.S. government contacts and reports them under FARA, and that the firm meets every ethical and legal requirement.", "src": 3 }, { "who": "Donald Trump (Truth Social, 7 Oct 2026)", "text": "Said LaCivita and Blair \"do not work for me, other than as outside consultants\" and \"if there's a conflict, I will terminate them, immediately!\"", "src": 7 }, { "who": "Caroline Wren, registered lobbyist for Republika Srpska", "text": "Said the two were on the ground about 36 hours and that the entity's interest is closer ties with the Trump administration, not Russia; LaCivita and Blair did not comment directly.", "src": 7 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "House Foreign Affairs Committee minority, 'Pay for Play in the Balkans', 15 Sep 2026", "url": "https://keating.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/keating-evo.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/keating-bosnia-report.pdf" }, { "label": "Treasury OFAC, Balkans-related designation removals, 29 Oct 2025", "url": "https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions/20251029" }, { "label": "DOJ FARA eFile, Continental Strategy LLC (reg. 7545), foreign principals", "url": "https://efile.fara.gov/api/v1/ForeignPrincipals/json/Active/7545" }, { "label": "CBS News, 8 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-trump-susie-wiles-milorad-dodik-bosnia-serbia/" }, { "label": "New York Times, 15 Oct 2026 (paywalled; via Raw Story)", "url": "https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/15/us/politics/trump-russia-srpska-elections-wiles.html" }, { "label": "Raw Story, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.rawstory.com/susie-wiles-srpska-2678093161" }, { "label": "N1 Sarajevo, 18 Oct 2026", "url": "https://n1info.ba/english/news/us-lawmakers-ask-trump-did-america-help-tilt-bosnias-election-in-a-pro-russia-direction" }, { "label": "Axios, 7 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.axios.com/2026/10/07/trump-midterm-advisers-foreign-consulting-lacivita-blair" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-16", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-050-dodik-sanctions-lifted-and-a-trump-ally-firms-bosnia/", "agencies": [ "Treasury Dept (OFAC)", "State Dept", "White House" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 1000000000.0, "type": "other", "label": "Bosnian pipeline concession awarded to the new firm (\"over $1 billion\", House Foreign Affairs minority estimate of its value, not money paid)", "src": 0, "estimate": true, "inTotal": false }, { "value": 100000.0, "type": "other", "label": "Michael Flynn's fee for one month of lobbying for Republika Srpska (FARA, per the minority report)", "src": 0, "estimate": false, "inTotal": false }, { "value": 35000.0, "type": "other", "label": "Continental Strategy's monthly fee from Republika Srpska (per DOJ filings cited by the NYT)", "src": 4, "estimate": false, "inTotal": false } ] }, { "id": "INV-051", "title": "Kirkland & Ellis's $125M deal and Epshteyn's reported role", "topic": "Government deals", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Boris Epshteyn", "Kirkland & Ellis", "Jon A. Ballis", "Donald Trump" ], "bodies": [ "House Judiciary (minority)", "Sen. Richard Blumenthal", "Sen. Adam Schiff" ], "summary": "In April 2025 the law firm Kirkland & Ellis reached an agreement with President Trump that lawmakers describe as $125 million in free legal services for causes he chooses. House Judiciary Democrats and Sens. Blumenthal and Schiff allege the deal was negotiated mainly with Boris Epshteyn, Trump's adviser and personal lawyer, and question the firm's unpaid legal work for federal agencies such as the Commerce Department, which they say may raise anti-bribery and Antideficiency Act issues. They have written six letters; the firm has produced no documents.", "caveat": "These are lawmakers' allegations; no official finding has been made and no written agreement has been made public. Epshteyn is described by the lawmakers as Trump's personal lawyer; his official status at the time is not stated. Kirkland says the agreement does not \"run afoul\" of the issues raised.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-04-11", "text": "Kirkland & Ellis reaches an agreement with President Trump, described by lawmakers as $125 million in pro bono legal services for causes he chooses.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-04-18", "text": "Sen. Blumenthal and Rep. Raskin ask Kirkland who facilitated the agreement, what its terms are and what work the White House or agencies have requested.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-03-02", "text": "Raskin, Schiff and Blumenthal ask for records of the agreement and of the firm's negotiations with Epshteyn, saying the arrangement may raise anti-bribery, Antideficiency Act and conflict-of-interest issues.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-05-28", "text": "Kirkland declines to produce records, citing attorney-client, executive, settlement and deliberative-process privileges (as quoted in the lawmakers' later letter).", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "In a sixth letter, Raskin, Blumenthal and Schiff reject Kirkland's privilege claims, say it \"has failed to produce a single responsive document,\" and demand records and a privilege log by 29 October.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Kirkland & Ellis (Oct 2025)", "text": "Said it is \"comfortable that the agreement does not run afoul of the issues that you raise in your letter.\"", "src": 1 }, { "who": "Kirkland & Ellis (W. Neil Eggleston, May 2026)", "text": "Said disclosure would \"reveal client confidences, privileged communications, and attorney work product\" and that the President must have a chance to assert executive privilege.", "src": 2 }, { "who": "Boris Epshteyn", "text": "Declined to comment to Bloomberg Law.", "src": 3 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Blumenthal and Raskin letter to Kirkland & Ellis, 18 Apr 2025", "url": "https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2025-4-18-blumenthal-raskin-letter-to-ke.pdf" }, { "label": "House Judiciary Democrats press release, 2 Mar 2026", "url": "https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-raskin-sens-schiff-and-blumenthal-probe-involvement-of-notorious-trump-fixer-s-role-in-brokering-deals-between-kirkland-ellis-and-trump-administration" }, { "label": "Raskin, Blumenthal and Schiff letter to Kirkland & Ellis, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2026-10-15-raskin-blumenthal-schiff-to-ballis-kirkland-ellis.pdf" }, { "label": "Bloomberg Law, 2 Mar 2026", "url": "https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/kirkland-pressed-by-democrats-on-epshteyns-role-in-trump-deal" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-15", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-051-kirkland-and-elliss-125m-deal-and-epshteyns-reported-role/", "agencies": [ "White House", "Commerce Dept" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 125000000.0, "type": "other", "label": "Free legal services pledged for causes the President chooses (lawmakers' description; no written agreement public)", "src": 0, "estimate": false, "inTotal": false } ] }, { "id": "INV-052", "title": "Navarro's book promotion from the White House (allegation)", "topic": "Misuse of office", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Peter Navarro" ], "bodies": [ "CREW (complaint to OGE and White House Counsel)" ], "summary": "The watchdog group CREW alleges that White House senior counselor Peter Navarro used his official position to promote his book \"Why Fauci MUST Rot in Prison\", released 20 Oct 2026. CREW says he was interviewed about the book in his White House office while introduced by his official title, urged viewers to buy it on Amazon, and posted a clip on an X account it considers official. It asked the Office of Government Ethics and White House Counsel to investigate a possible breach of the federal rule against using public office for private gain (5 CFR 2635.702) and to take any necessary disciplinary action.", "caveat": "Allegation only: this case rests on a complaint by an advocacy group (CREW) and one news report. No ethics office has announced a review or made a finding, no major outlet has covered the complaint, and Navarro and the White House have not responded publicly. Mediaite describes the 7 Oct appearance as \"from outside the White House\", while CREW says a label placed him at the White House.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-10-01", "text": "On Bill O'Reilly's show, Navarro is interviewed in the White House, introduced by his official title, and holds up the book (per CREW).", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-10-07", "text": "On Real America's Voice, an ad for the book runs during Navarro's segment and he tells viewers \"Get it on Amazon today, please!\"", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-10-08", "text": "CREW (advocacy group) asks OGE Acting Director Keith Sonderling and White House Counsel Will Scharf to investigate Navarro's book promotion under 5 CFR 2635.702 and 31 USC 1301(a) and to \"take any necessary disciplinary action\"; it publishes the complaint on 9 October. This is an allegation.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-10-10", "text": "A Navarro op-ed in the Daily Caller ends with a bio giving his White House title and links to the book's Amazon page.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-10-20", "text": "The book is released by War Room Books.", "src": 4 } ], "responses": [], "sources": [ { "label": "CREW (advocacy group) complaint page, 9 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.citizensforethics.org/legal-action/legal-complaints/white-house-official-peter-navarros-book-promotion-likely-violates-ethics-law/" }, { "label": "CREW letter to OGE and White House Counsel (PDF), dated 8 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.citizensforethics.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Complaint-re_-Peter-Navarro-misuse-of-position-while-promoting-his-book.pdf" }, { "label": "Mediaite, 7 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/peter-navarro-uses-white-house-tv-hit-to-hawk-his-new-book-on-fauci-get-it-on-amazon-today-please/" }, { "label": "Daily Caller (Navarro op-ed), 10 Oct 2026", "url": "https://dailycaller.com/2026/10/10/ten-ugly-faces-anthony-fauci-peter-navarro-covid-china-wuhan-lab/" }, { "label": "Bookshop.org listing (publisher, release date)", "url": "https://bookshop.org/p/books/why-fauci-must-rot-in-prison-peter-navarro/df5b12cc6d45590b" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-20", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-052-navarros-book-promotion-from-the-white-house-allegation/", "agencies": [ "White House" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "INV-053", "title": "Lukoil foreign-asset sale and Trump-linked buyers", "topic": "Government deals", "stage": 1, "people": [ "Jared Kushner", "Steve Witkoff", "Todd Boehly", "Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed", "Al-Khayyat brothers" ], "bodies": [ "Press" ], "summary": "US sanctions are forcing Russia's Lukoil to sell its international business, valued at $20-22 billion. The New York Times reports that the sale has become part of US-Russia talks on ending the war in Ukraine, with envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff involved, and that the proposed buyers have ties to the Trump and Witkoff families: Trump donor Todd Boehly, investment funds backed by UAE security chief Sheikh Tahnoon, and the Qatari Al-Khayyat brothers, Kushner's partners on an Albania resort project. The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) is also seeking a stake. Related cases: INV-003 (Kushner's Affinity Partners) and INV-016 (Witkoff, World Liberty and UAE chips).", "caveat": "Reported only. The deal is not final and needs US and Russian approval. No official body has opened an inquiry and there is no finding of wrongdoing. The Times says it is unclear whether Kushner or Witkoff would benefit, and Witkoff's spokeswoman says he has no financial stake.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-10-22", "text": "Treasury sanctions Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia's two largest oil companies. Lukoil then has to sell its foreign business, and any sale needs a US license.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-09-05", "text": "Putin raises the sale of Lukoil's foreign assets with Kushner and Witkoff at a Kremlin meeting, according to The New York Times. One source said Putin wanted the deal done to show that Russians and Americans can do business together.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-09-18", "text": "OFAC issues General License 131J: buyers may negotiate with Lukoil and sign contracts, but only on condition of a separate OFAC approval; the sale itself is not authorized. The license expires 22 Oct 2026.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-10-03", "text": "The New York Times reports the proposed buyers: Todd Boehly (who gave $2M to Trump's political projects), funds backed by Sheikh Tahnoon, and the Al-Khayyat brothers. The DFC is seeking a stake, and Kushner and Witkoff are helping negotiate terms to ensure 'a substantial upfront payment and profits interest for the United States'.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-10-09", "text": "Context, separate from the Lukoil sale: after a call with Putin, Trump announces Russian diesel deliveries, and Treasury issues General License 135 allowing sales and imports of Russian-origin diesel until 7 Apr 2027. On 13 Oct a bipartisan group of 12 senators asks him to rescind it.", "src": 6 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "OFAC extends two separate licenses to 24 Apr 2027: one for Lukoil's retail service stations outside Russia (General License 128D) and one for its Bulgarian refinery and businesses (General License 130B).", "src": 4 }, { "date": "2026-10-21", "text": "OFAC issues General License 131K, replacing 131J: parties may keep negotiating and signing contingent contracts for the sale of Lukoil International GmbH until 21 Nov 2026. The sale itself still needs separate OFAC authorization.", "src": 9 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Witkoff spokeswoman", "text": "Said Witkoff has \"no conflict of interest and no financial stake in this matter.\"", "src": 3 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "US Treasury press release, 22 Oct 2025", "url": "https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USTREAS/bulletins/3f8422d" }, { "label": "Newser (summarising The New York Times), 3 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.newser.com/story/397551/oil-deal-for-trump-allies-is-part-of-peace-discussions.html" }, { "label": "OFAC FAQ update, 18 Sep 2026", "url": "https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/updated/2026-09-18" }, { "label": "WION (citing The New York Times), 3 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.wionews.com/world/us-russia-talks-lukoil-assets-todd-boehly-trump-investors-1791021292256" }, { "label": "OFAC General License 128D, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/937236/download" }, { "label": "OFAC General License 130B, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/937241/download" }, { "label": "AP via PBS NewsHour, 9 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/trump-strikes-deal-with-putin-for-russian-diesel-in-sharp-reversal-of-u-s-policy-ahead-of-midterms" }, { "label": "OFAC General License 135, 9 Oct 2026", "url": "https://ofac.treasury.gov/media/937216/download" }, { "label": "Sen. Blumenthal press release (12 senators), 13 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/bipartisan-senators-call-on-trump-to-rescind-russian-diesel-deal-and-implement-sanctions-authorized-by-congress-last-month-on-enablers-of-putins-war-against-ukraine" }, { "label": "OFAC recent actions, 21 Oct 2026", "url": "https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions/20261021" }, { "label": "OFAC FAQs updated 21 Oct 2026 (FAQ 1224, 1225)", "url": "https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/updated/2026-10-21" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Reported", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-21", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-053-lukoil-foreign-asset-sale-and-trump-linked-buyers/", "agencies": [ "Treasury Dept (OFAC)", "State Dept" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 20000000000.0, "type": "other", "label": "Lukoil's international assets, valued at $20-22 billion: the size of the proposed sale, not money paid to anyone in this case", "src": 3, "estimate": true, "inTotal": false } ] }, { "id": "INV-054", "title": "Reported White House help for the Tate brothers (allegation)", "topic": "Misuse of office", "stage": 2, "people": [ "Paul Ingrassia", "Richard Grenell", "Andrew Tate", "Tristan Tate" ], "bodies": [ "House Judiciary (minority)", "Senate Homeland Security (minority)" ], "summary": "Lawmakers are asking whether administration officials helped Andrew and Tristan Tate, brothers who face rape and sex-trafficking charges in the UK. ProPublica reported that Paul Ingrassia, a White House official who had been the brothers' lawyer, told senior DHS officials to return electronic devices seized when the brothers entered the US in February 2025, saying the request came from the White House. Lawmakers also cite reports that envoy Richard Grenell raised the brothers' case with Romanian officials. House Judiciary Democrats now ask the Justice and State Departments about the UK's extradition request.", "caveat": "Allegation only. The account of Ingrassia's request comes from ProPublica's sources; Ingrassia denies intervening and no official body has made a finding. Grenell's reported role comes from press reports cited by lawmakers. The brothers' charges are accusations, not convictions.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-02", "text": "Customs and Border Protection examines the brothers' baggage and detains all their electronic devices when they enter the US (DHS statement to ProPublica).", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-04", "text": "Rep. Raskin first asks the administration about the case, citing reports that Grenell raised it with Romanian officials; per House Judiciary Democrats, the administration has not substantively answered.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-11-18", "text": "ProPublica reports that Ingrassia, then the White House liaison to DHS, told senior DHS officials in writing to return the brothers' seized devices and stressed that the request came from the White House; DHS officials feared it could interfere with a federal investigation. The devices were not returned.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-11-20", "text": "Sens. Blumenthal and Peters ask White House Chief of Staff Wiles and Counsel Warrington whether Ingrassia acted on his own or at White House direction, request DHS records, and ask DHS Inspector General Cuffari to investigate.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-07-18", "text": "U.S. Marshals arrest the brothers in Miami on the UK's extradition request (59 charges). Their lawyer calls the arrests a \"political hit\"; the brothers deny wrongdoing.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-09-09", "text": "Magistrate Judge Lauren Louis in Miami denies bail to both brothers, finding they did not show special circumstances; prosecutors argued they are a flight risk.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2026-10", "text": "Judge Louis refuses to hear the brothers' extradition cases together; their lawyer says the hearings are set for 19 November (Andrew) and 20 November (Tristan).", "src": 6 }, { "date": "2026-10-20", "text": "Reps. Raskin and Ansari ask Attorney General Blanche and Secretary of State Rubio for any Justice Department leadership communications on the UK's request to extradite the brothers (59 UK charges), an account of US efforts to lift their Romanian travel restrictions, and whether the administration will comply with the extradition request.", "src": 1 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Paul Ingrassia", "text": "Said \"There was no intervention. Nothing happened.\" His lawyer said Ingrassia \"never ordered that the Tate Brothers' devices be returned to them.\"", "src": 0 }, { "who": "White House and DHS", "text": "Declined to answer ProPublica's questions about the request; DHS said CBP \"performed a 100% baggage examination and detained all electronic media devices.\"", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Secretary of State Marco Rubio (22 Jul 2026)", "text": "\"There's no role for us to play at this moment or maybe ever in that regard.\"", "src": 4 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "ProPublica, 18 Nov 2025", "url": "https://www.propublica.org/article/andrew-tate-investigation-dhs-paul-ingrassia" }, { "label": "House Judiciary Democrats, 20 Oct 2026", "url": "https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rm-raskin-rep-ansari-demand-answers-on-trump-administration-s-efforts-to-help-tate-brothers-evade-rape-and-sex-trafficking-charges-as-they-face-extradition-to-uk" }, { "label": "Sen. Blumenthal press release, 21 Nov 2025", "url": "https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-and-peters-launch-inquiry-into-trump-staffer-paul-ingrassias-interference-in-federal-investigation-of-andrew_tristian-tate" }, { "label": "AP via Michigan Public, 18 Jul 2026", "url": "https://www.michiganpublic.org/2026-07-18/the-tate-brothers-are-arrested-in-miami-u-s-marshals-service-tells-ap" }, { "label": "PA via Express & Star, 22 Jul 2026", "url": "https://www.expressandstar.com/uk-news/no-white-house-role-in-tate-case-at-this-moment-or-maybe-ever-says-rubio-8816684" }, { "label": "NPR via Michigan Public, 9 Sep 2026", "url": "https://www.michiganpublic.org/2026-09-09/andrew-tate-is-denied-bail-and-will-remain-in-jail-during-his-extradition-fight" }, { "label": "AAP via The Canberra Times, 10 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9365971/tate-brothers-to-face-separate-extradition-hearings/" } ], "section": "Money & ethics", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-20", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-054-reported-white-house-help-for-the-tate-brothers-allegation/", "agencies": [ "White House", "Justice Dept", "State Dept", "Homeland Security Dept" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "ELX-001", "title": "Executive order restricting mail voting through the Postal Service", "topic": "Voting rules", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "U.S. Postal Service", "Department of Homeland Security" ], "bodies": [ "Federal courts", "Democratic state attorneys general (23 states and DC)" ], "summary": "In March 2026 President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to build state lists of adult citizens, the Postal Service to obtain lists of eligible mail voters from states and deliver mail ballots only to people on them, and election officials to put set barcodes on ballot envelopes. The Postal Service then issued a final rule. Twenty-three mainly Democratic-led states and DC sued, and 12 Republican-led states backed the administration. On 14 September the Supreme Court left in place an injunction that blocks the Postal Service rule for the 3 November election.", "caveat": "Blocked for 2026 mainly on timing. Courts have not issued a final ruling on whether the order is lawful, which matters for 2028.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-03", "text": "Trump signs the executive order on mail voting.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-06", "text": "Judge Indira Talwani rules the President overstepped his authority and blocks key parts of the order in the 23 states and DC that sued.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-08-11", "text": "Talwani issues a separate nationwide ruling blocking the Postal Service from following the order.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-08-24", "text": "Supreme Court, 6 to 3, pauses the June ruling on procedural grounds, without deciding whether the order is legal.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-08-28", "text": "After the Postal Service publishes its final rule, Talwani blocks implementation again.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-09-14", "text": "Supreme Court leaves in place the injunction against the Postal Service rule for the midterms; Justice Kavanaugh writes that officials lack time to implement it.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Donald Trump", "text": "Says the order is meant to stop illegal voting by noncitizens.", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Justice Samuel Alito (dissent, joined by Thomas)", "text": "Argued the Postal Service has broad authority to regulate the mail and blamed the states for the time pressure.", "src": 2 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "NPR, 24 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.npr.org/2026/08/24/nx-s1-5909592/trump-mail-voting-order-supreme-court" }, { "label": "AP via PBS, 28 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/judge-again-blocks-trump-mail-ballot-executive-order-in-ruling-thats-likely-to-be-swiftly-appealed" }, { "label": "Council on Foreign Relations, 2 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.cfr.org/articles/the-u-s-supreme-court-rules-on-mail-ballots-congressional-maps-and-the-save-database" } ], "section": "Elections", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-09-14", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-001-executive-order-restricting-mail-voting-through-the-postal/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "ELX-002", "title": "Proof-of-citizenship requirement for the federal voter registration form", "topic": "Voting rules", "stage": 5, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "U.S. Election Assistance Commission" ], "bodies": [ "Federal courts", "Democratic Party and civil rights groups", "Democratic state attorneys general" ], "summary": "A March 2025 executive order directed that documentary proof of citizenship be required on the federal voter registration form. On 31 October 2025 U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled that the President lacks the authority to make that change, because the Constitution assigns election rules to the states and Congress. The Election Assistance Commission is permanently barred from adding the requirement. A separate judge had blocked the same order in a suit by Democratic state attorneys general.", "caveat": "Other parts of the order were still being litigated at the time of the ruling; appeal status not yet checked.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-03-25", "text": "Trump signs the executive order on elections, including the proof-of-citizenship directive.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-04", "text": "Kollar-Kotelly grants a preliminary injunction.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-06", "text": "Another federal judge blocks the order in a case brought by Democratic state attorneys general.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-10-31", "text": "Kollar-Kotelly grants partial summary judgment: the requirement cannot take effect and the Election Assistance Commission may not add it.", "src": 0 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Administration and supporters", "text": "Argue proof of citizenship is needed to restore public confidence that only citizens vote.", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "AP via PBS, 31 Oct 2025", "url": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/politics/judge-rules-trump-cant-require-u-s-citizenship-proof-on-federal-voting-form" } ], "section": "Elections", "stage_name": "Outcome", "outcome": "Blocked by court", "last_development": "2025-10-31", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-002-proof-of-citizenship-requirement-for-the-federal-voter/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "ELX-003", "title": "Justice Department demands full state voter rolls", "topic": "Voter rolls", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Harmeet Dhillon", "Pam Bondi", "Justice Department Civil Rights Division" ], "bodies": [ "Federal courts", "Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals", "Secretaries of state of both parties" ], "summary": "Since May 2025 the Justice Department has asked nearly every state for its full voter list, including driver's licence and partial Social Security numbers, and said it would run the data against the Department of Homeland Security's SAVE citizenship database. It has sued 30 states and DC for refusing; courts have dismissed 26 of those cases, and the Sixth Circuit affirmed the Michigan dismissal. At least 16 states handed over complete files. On 9 October 2026 a federal judge ruled that the policy of collecting the lists to check against SAVE violates voter privacy and intrudes on states' authority over elections.", "caveat": "Lawsuit counts come from the Brennan Center, an advocacy group, and were checked on 16 Oct 2026. Oklahoma settled with the department.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-05", "text": "Justice Department begins demanding statewide voter registration lists.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-09-25", "text": "Department sues California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania for not producing their lists.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-04-21", "text": "Common Cause and four members sue to stop a national voter database and the use of SAVE on the data.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-10-09", "text": "Federal judge grants partial summary judgment in Common Cause v. DOJ, vacating the data-collection policy.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-10-16", "text": "The Justice Department files a notice of appeal to the D.C. Circuit and asks Judge Sooknanan to pause her 9 October ruling while it appeals, arguing \"there is no such policy\" and that the ruling has \"hamstrung\" its enforcement of election laws.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-10-16", "text": "Judge Sooknanan orders the Justice Department to respond by 19 October to Common Cause's request for a status conference on whether DOJ's letters to California and its suit against the state violate her order; DOJ says the order does not cover other methods.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2026-10-19", "text": "The Justice Department tells Judge Sooknanan that its California voter-roll lawsuit is not covered by her 9 October order because it rests on \"independent analysis under its own authority based on a voter roll that it received through a lawful purchase\", and says no status conference is needed.", "src": 6 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Attorney General Pam Bondi", "text": "\"Clean voter rolls are the foundation of free and fair elections.\"", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Brennan Center, DOJ voter-information tracker (advocacy group; checked 16 Oct 2026)", "url": "https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/tracker-justice-department-requests-voter-information" }, { "label": "Justice Department press release, 25 Sep 2025", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-six-states-failure-provide-voter-registration-rolls" }, { "label": "ACLU press release on Common Cause v. DOJ, 9 Oct 2026 (plaintiffs' counsel)", "url": "https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/federal-court-sides-voters-ruling-doj-data-demands-violate-voter-privacy-states-election-authority" }, { "label": "Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse, docket of Common Cause v. DOJ (D.D.C. 1:26-cv-01352)", "url": "https://clearinghouse.net/case/48121/" }, { "label": "Democracy Docket, 17 Oct 2026 (outlet founded by Marc Elias)", "url": "https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/doj-asks-court-to-let-it-continue-its-voter-roll-purging-program-despite-block/" }, { "label": "States Newsroom via Raw Story, 17 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.rawstory.com/judge-puts-trump-doj-on-the-clock-over-last-minute-california-voter-ambush/" }, { "label": "Democracy Docket (outlet founded by Marc Elias), 20 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/doj-claims-california-lawsuit-not-barred-by-court-order/" } ], "section": "Elections", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-19", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-003-justice-department-demands-full-state-voter-rolls/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "ELX-004", "title": "SAVE citizenship database turned into a voter-checking tool", "topic": "Voter rolls", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Department of Homeland Security", "USCIS", "Heather Honey" ], "bodies": [ "Supreme Court", "League of Women Voters (lawsuit)", "State election officials" ], "summary": "The Department of Homeland Security expanded SAVE, a database built to check immigrants' eligibility for benefits, into a tool states can use to check voters' citizenship, adding Social Security data. ProPublica and the Texas Tribune found it misidentified citizens as noncitizens, mostly people who were naturalized; DHS had to correct data for at least five states. Election officials in more than half the states use it voluntarily. In late September 2026 the Supreme Court allowed states to keep using it while a lawsuit continues.", "caveat": "Federal law limits systematic voter-roll removals in the 90 days before a federal election.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-02-13", "text": "ProPublica and the Texas Tribune report hundreds of wrongly flagged citizens in Missouri and confusion in Texas.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-02-25", "text": "DHS official Heather Honey tells election officials SAVE helped find over 300,000 dead people and 25,000 noncitizens on rolls.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-09", "text": "Supreme Court allows states to use SAVE to search for ineligible voters; three justices dissent.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-09", "text": "Nevada tells DHS that all 185 registrants DHS had \"confirmed\" as noncitizens are citizens; DHS disputes this.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "The League of Women Voters, EPIC and LULAC sue DHS in federal court in Washington, alleging it has collected voter files from at least 47 states and plans to combine them with commercial data in violation of federal privacy law. DHS did not immediately comment.", "src": 4 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "USCIS official", "text": "Acknowledged the system cannot always find current citizenship information for people born abroad, and said it is up to states how to use the results.", "src": 0 }, { "who": "DHS", "text": "Disputes Nevada's finding that the 185 flagged registrants are citizens.", "src": 3 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "ProPublica and Texas Tribune, 13 Feb 2026", "url": "https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/13/save-voter-citizenship-tool-mistakes-confusion/" }, { "label": "Votebeat, 26 Feb 2026", "url": "https://www.votebeat.org/2026/02/26/ice-agents-polling-places-2026-midterm-elections-heather-honey-election-official-meeting/" }, { "label": "Council on Foreign Relations, 2 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.cfr.org/articles/the-u-s-supreme-court-rules-on-mail-ballots-congressional-maps-and-the-save-database" }, { "label": "CNN, 14 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/14/politics/justice-department-threats-california-election-officials" }, { "label": "AP via WTOC, 17 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.wtoc.com/2026/10/17/lawsuit-alleges-dhs-effort-collect-detailed-state-voter-data-violates-federal-law/" }, { "label": "League of Women Voters press release (plaintiff), 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/voting-rights-and-privacy-organizations-sue-trump-vance-administration-over" } ], "section": "Elections", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-15", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-004-save-citizenship-database-turned-into-a-voter-checking-tool/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "ELX-005", "title": "Federal pressure on California over alleged noncitizen voters", "topic": "Pressure on election officials", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Trent McCotter", "Todd Blanche", "Markwayne Mullin", "Bill Essayli", "Shirley Weber", "Dean Logan" ], "bodies": [ "Federal court (C.D. California)" ], "summary": "On 13 October 2026, with mail ballots already sent on 5 October, acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter gave Los Angeles County and California's Secretary of State 48 hours to review a list of alleged noncitizens and to set aside their returned ballots. The list came on a thumb drive with its password on a sticky note; the county refused to open it on data-security grounds. On 15 October the Justice Department sued California, saying DHS had identified more than 20,000 likely noncitizens registered to vote. California calls the suit legally baseless.", "caveat": "DHS calls its figure a preliminary analysis. In Nevada, a DHS figure of 15,900 noncitizen registrants fell to 185 after manual review, and Nevada says all 185 are citizens.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-10-13", "text": "Justice Department letters give California officials 48 hours to review the list and segregate ballots.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-10-14", "text": "Los Angeles County registrar says it will not open the thumb drive because it is not a secure medium.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "Justice Department files suit against California over its voter list.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-10-15", "text": "CHIRLA and a California voter file an emergency application in a federal court in Washington asking it to bar DHS and the Attorney General from using the alleged-noncitizen list and from directing that California ballots be set aside; no ruling yet.", "src": 7 }, { "date": "2026-10-16", "text": "Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter writes to Los Angeles County, copying Secretary of State Weber, warning that officials who knowingly count ballots from people federal agencies identify as noncitizens risk federal prosecution.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-10-16", "text": "Voting groups move to join the case on California's side: SIREN and Mi Familia en Accion file on 15 October, LULAC and the NAACP Los Angeles branch on 16 October.", "src": 5 }, { "date": "2026-10-19", "text": "The Justice Department asks the federal court in Los Angeles for an order, in time for the 3 November election, requiring California to set aside mail ballots from people it calls likely noncitizens and verify their citizenship before counting them.", "src": 8 }, { "date": "2026-10-19", "text": "The Justice Department charges 28 lawful permanent residents across California's four federal districts, mostly with false statements on naturalization forms and fraudulent voter registration, and says all are on the list of more than 20,000 names it gave the state. These are charges; defendants are presumed innocent. Gov. Newsom says the acting U.S. attorney admitted not all of those arrested may have voted.", "src": 9 }, { "date": "2026-10-20", "text": "California and Los Angeles County oppose the Justice Department's request to hold ballots. California says DOJ \"cites no authority to support this unprecedented use of the Court's equitable power\"; the county says \"a ballot hold is no modest precaution when the Executive cannot say how or when it will end\" and that 25.8% of the list's Los Angeles records it sampled show a US place of birth. DOJ describes its list as a floor of potential noncitizen voters. No judge or hearing yet.", "src": 10 }, { "date": "2026-10-21", "text": "The Justice Department's ballot suit is reassigned from Judge John Holcomb to Judge David O. Carter as related to earlier voter-roll litigation; Carter dismissed the department's suit for California's voter rolls in January.", "src": 12 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Secretary of State Shirley Weber", "text": "Says the department's efforts \"serve only to cause chaos and fuel public distrust in our elections\" and that state law already requires removing ineligible registrants.", "src": 2 }, { "who": "Justice Department", "text": "Says it is not asking for a purge or to cancel votes, only for ballots from people on its list to be set aside.", "src": 2 }, { "who": "California Secretary of State Shirley Weber", "text": "Said the federal efforts \"serve only to cause chaos and fuel public distrust in our elections.\"", "src": 4 }, { "who": "California Attorney General Rob Bonta", "text": "Says the administration \"has provided us with no facts of any ineligible voters, just a conclusory statement with no evidence to back it\" and expects the state to win.", "src": 8 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "CNN, 14 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/14/politics/justice-department-threats-california-election-officials" }, { "label": "Justice Department press release, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-state-california-over-voter-list" }, { "label": "ABC News, 15 Oct 2026", "url": "https://abcnews.com/Politics/doj-sues-california-alleged-citizens-voter-rolls/story?id=137288095" }, { "label": "AP via ClickOrlando, 16 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.clickorlando.com/news/politics/2026/10/16/california-officials-who-process-ballots-from-suspected-noncitizens-risk-prosecution-us-warns/" }, { "label": "ABC News, 16 Oct 2026", "url": "https://abcnews.com/Politics/trump-administration-threatens-prosecute-local-california-election-workers/story?id=137339732" }, { "label": "City News Service via Patch, 16 Oct 2026", "url": "https://patch.com/california/los-angeles/naacp-latino-group-join-fight-over-20k-la-county-ballots" }, { "label": "KESQ, 16 Oct 2026", "url": "https://kesq.com/news/california/2026/10/16/pro-voter-coalition-moves-to-intervene-in-doj-suit-against-state-and-laco/" }, { "label": "Plaintiffs' emergency application, CHIRLA v. DHS (D.D.C.), 15 Oct 2026, posted by plaintiffs' counsel", "url": "https://vrp.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/2026-10-15-Doc-21-Plaintiffs-Emergency-Application-for-TRO-and-Preliminary-Injunction.pdf" }, { "label": "AP via Sentinel Colorado, 19 Oct 2026", "url": "https://sentinelcolorado.com/voter-guide/justice-department-charges-more-than-2-dozen-in-california-sweep-targeting-alleged-noncitizen-voters/" }, { "label": "Justice Department press release 26-1222, 19 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-charges-28-foreign-nationals-california-election-crimes" }, { "label": "Democracy Docket (outlet founded by Marc Elias), 20 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/california-warns-doj-turning-voting-law-on-its-head-to-strong-arm-election-workers-into-compliance/" }, { "label": "Democracy Docket (outlet founded by Marc Elias), 20 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/la-county-checked-a-sample-of-voters-on-dojs-noncitizen-list-1-in-4-were-born-in-the-u-s/" }, { "label": "Democracy Docket (outlet founded by Marc Elias), 21 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/judge-who-rejected-dojs-voter-roll-demand-takes-over-california-ballot-case-from-trump-appointee/" } ], "section": "Elections", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-21", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-005-federal-pressure-on-california-over-alleged-noncitizen/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "ELX-006", "title": "Justice Department warns election officials of prosecution", "topic": "Pressure on election officials", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Harmeet Dhillon", "Justice Department Civil Rights Division" ], "bodies": [ "Federal court (D.D.C.)", "Democratic Party committees (lawsuit)" ], "summary": "In summer 2026 the Civil Rights Division sent letters to election officials in all 50 states and DC warning that they could face criminal charges for knowingly keeping noncitizens on voter rolls or helping them vote, and giving them five days to explain how they would deter illegal voting. State officials of both parties dismissed the threat.", "caveat": "No prosecution of an election official had been reported as of 16 Oct 2026.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-07", "text": "Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon's letters reach election officials nationwide.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-10-20", "text": "Democratic Party committees, congressional Democratic leaders Schumer and Jeffries, the Nevada Democratic Party and a voter sue President Trump, the Justice Department and DHS in federal court in Washington. They argue that threats to prosecute election officials and demands to deny ballots to voters on federal lists of alleged noncitizens violate Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act. No judge or hearing has been reported yet.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "State election officials (both parties)", "text": "Dismissed the threat, according to CNN.", "src": 1 }, { "who": "Justice Department (21 Oct 2026)", "text": "\"The Justice Department enforces federal election law, and election integrity is a top priority.\"", "src": 2 }, { "who": "White House (21 Oct 2026)", "text": "Said \"the Trump Administration is taking decisive lawful action to protect our elections.\"", "src": 2 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "KTVU / Fox (citing AP and Reuters), Jul 2026", "url": "https://www.ktvu.com/news/doj-warns-states-noncitizen-voting" }, { "label": "CNN, 14 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/14/politics/justice-department-threats-california-election-officials" }, { "label": "Axios, 21 Oct 2026", "url": "https://axios.com/2026/10/21/trump-election-interference-lawsuit-democrats" }, { "label": "Democracy Docket (outlet founded by Marc Elias, whose firm represents the plaintiffs), 20 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/democrats-sue-to-block-trump-admin-from-threatening-the-midterms/" } ], "section": "Elections", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-20", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-006-justice-department-warns-election-officials-of-prosecution/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "ELX-007", "title": "FBI reopens the 2020 election in Georgia and Arizona", "topic": "2020 election reinvestigation", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Kurt Olsen", "FBI", "Fulton County", "Warren Petersen" ], "bodies": [ "Federal court (search warrant)", "Federal grand jury", "Senate Democrats" ], "summary": "On 28 January 2026 the FBI searched Fulton County's election hub near Atlanta and seized more than 650 boxes of 2020 ballots and other materials. The affidavit says the investigation began with a referral from Kurt Olsen, the White House's Director of Election Security and Integrity, who had worked on Trump's 2020 challenges. An NPR review found the affidavit relied on claims state investigators had already examined and omitted their findings. Fulton's 2020 ballots were counted three times. In March, Arizona's Senate president said he gave the FBI records from the Senate's 2020 audit of Maricopa County under a grand jury subpoena.", "caveat": "No charges have been reported. The affidavit says the probe examines whether any irregularities were intentional crimes.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-01-28", "text": "FBI executes a search warrant at Fulton County's election hub and takes more than 650 boxes.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-02-10", "text": "Affidavit unsealed; NPR finds it omits key findings from earlier state inquiries.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-03-09", "text": "Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen says he complied with a federal grand jury subpoena for 2020 audit records.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-05-06", "text": "Judge J.P. Boulee rules the Justice Department may keep the 2020 Fulton County ballots and records seized by the FBI, rejecting the county's request for their return.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-10-16", "text": "Sens. Warner, Durbin, Padilla and Peters write to Attorney General Blanche and FBI Director Patel seeking information on the January FBI search of Fulton County's election office and FBI and DOJ election probes in Michigan and Arizona, with answers due 29 October.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-10-16", "text": "Sens. Padilla, Durbin and Whitehouse ask Attorney General Blanche to reaffirm DOJ's election non-interference policy and to commit that DOJ will not seize ballots or voting equipment before the midterms are certified; answers due 29 October.", "src": 4 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen", "text": "\"The FBI has the records.\"", "src": 1 }, { "who": "Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes", "text": "Said multiple audits, investigations and lawsuits found no fraud that could have changed the 2020 outcome.", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "NPR, 10 Feb 2026", "url": "https://www.npr.org/nx-s1-5710649" }, { "label": "AZFamily / AP, 9 Mar 2026", "url": "https://www.azfamily.com/2026/03/09/reports-fbi-subpoenas-records-related-2020-maricopa-county-election" }, { "label": "Sen. Mark Warner press release, 16 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ahead-of-the-midterm-elections-warner-durbin-padilla-peters-request-information-from-doj-fbi-regarding-the-trump-administrations-attempted-attacks-on-our-elections/" }, { "label": "AP via PBS NewsHour, 6 May 2026", "url": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/justice-department-can-keep-2020-ballots-seized-from-fulton-county-in-georgia-judge-rules" }, { "label": "Sen. Alex Padilla press release, 16 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/padilla-durbin-whitehouse-demand-doj-commit-to-not-seize-ballots-voting-equipment-during-midterm-elections/" } ], "section": "Elections", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-16", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-007-fbi-reopens-the-2020-election-in-georgia-and-arizona/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "ELX-008", "title": "Cuts to federal election-security and foreign-influence work", "topic": "Election security", "stage": 2, "people": [ "CISA", "Markwayne Mullin", "Kristi Noem", "Pam Bondi" ], "bodies": [ "Senate Intelligence Committee (minority)" ], "summary": "In February 2025 CISA put its election security advisers on leave and Attorney General Bondi disbanded the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force. CISA later closed its election security office, and its staff fell from about 3,300 in January 2025 to 2,389. The fiscal 2027 budget proposal would remove CISA's remaining election security staff and programs. In May 2026 Senator Mark Warner asked DHS how it would support the midterms. In September CISA published a 2026 election security plan that names its regional directors as election advisers.", "caveat": "Budget cuts need approval from Congress. The plan does not say how many staff or how much funding will support it.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-02", "text": "CISA election security advisers are placed on leave; Bondi orders the Foreign Influence Task Force disbanded.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-05-06", "text": "Senator Warner writes to DHS Secretary Mullin asking how CISA will support the midterms.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-09-24", "text": "CISA releases its 2026 Election Infrastructure Security Plan.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Then-DHS Secretary Kristi Noem", "text": "Said CISA closed the election office to get \"back on mission\".", "src": 1 }, { "who": "DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin", "text": "\"Election security is national security\"; the plan \"will be implemented in full\".", "src": 2 }, { "who": "Attorney General Pam Bondi (order)", "text": "The task force was disbanded to \"free resources\" and \"end risks of further weaponization\".", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "NPR, 11 Feb 2025", "url": "https://www.kunc.org/npr-news/2025-02-11/efforts-to-fight-foreign-influence-and-protect-elections-in-question-under-trump" }, { "label": "MeriTalk, 7 May 2026", "url": "https://www.meritalk.com/articles/warner-warns-of-cisa-election-security-cuts-ahead-of-midterms/" }, { "label": "Nextgov/FCW, 24 Sep 2026", "url": "https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/09/cisa-pledges-election-security-support-after-cuts-weakened-ties-states/416194/" } ], "section": "Elections", "stage_name": "Inquiry", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-09-24", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-008-cuts-to-federal-election-security-and-foreign-influence-work/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "ELX-009", "title": "Pardons for 2020 alternate electors and Trump allies", "topic": "Pardons", "stage": 5, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Ed Martin", "Rudy Giuliani", "John Eastman", "Mark Meadows", "Sidney Powell", "Boris Epshteyn" ], "bodies": [], "summary": "A proclamation signed around 7 November 2025 and announced by Pardon Attorney Ed Martin pardoned 77 people allegedly involved in the effort to set up alternate slates of electors after the 2020 election, including Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Mark Meadows, Sidney Powell and Boris Epshteyn. It covers all of Trump's co-defendants charged in Georgia. The pardon states it does not apply to the President.", "caveat": "A presidential pardon covers only federal offences, so it does not affect state charges such as those in Georgia. Four of those pardoned had pleaded guilty in the Georgia case.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-11-07", "text": "Trump appears to sign the pardon proclamation.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-11-10", "text": "Pardon Attorney Ed Martin publishes the proclamation.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-12-11", "text": "Trump announces a pardon for former Mesa County, Colorado, clerk Tina Peters; Colorado officials say it has no effect on her state conviction.", "src": 1 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Pardon proclamation", "text": "\"This proclamation ends a grave national injustice perpetrated upon the American people following the 2020 Presidential Election.\"", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Colorado Gov. Jared Polis", "text": "\"No President has jurisdiction over state law nor the power to pardon a person for state convictions.\"", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "ABC News, 10 Nov 2025", "url": "https://abc7.com/post/trump-pardons-rudy-giuliani-other-key-figures-allegedly-involved-efforts-overturn-2020-election/18137177/" }, { "label": "CBS News, 11 Dec 2025", "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-pardons-tina-peters-but-charged-in-state-court/" } ], "section": "Elections", "stage_name": "Outcome", "outcome": "Pardons issued", "last_development": "2025-12-11", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-009-pardons-for-2020-alternate-electors-and-trump-allies/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "ELX-010", "title": "Justice Department election monitors in the 2026 elections", "topic": "Election monitoring", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Harmeet Dhillon", "Justice Department Civil Rights Division" ], "bodies": [ "Senate Democrats", "NAACP (lawsuit)", "Federal court (D.D.C.)" ], "summary": "On 7 July 2026 the Civil Rights Division said it would send monitors to 15 jurisdictions in Arizona, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Virginia for the primaries; in Virginia these were Democratic-leaning Fairfax and Prince William counties. The department later said it plans about 1,000 monitors nationwide for the midterms. Democratic senators asked for the selection criteria, saying monitors were going disproportionately to states with Democratic leaders. Monitoring has been standard practice under both parties. In October 2026 the NAACP and three voters sued to block the plan.", "caveat": "Monitors observe; they have no authority to direct election workers. The November jurisdiction list had not been published as of 16 Oct 2026.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-07-07", "text": "Assistant Attorney General Dhillon announces monitors for 15 primary-season jurisdictions.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-07-13", "text": "Fairfax County confirms it received a DOJ letter about monitors for the August primaries.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-08-03", "text": "Democratic senators write to the department about selection criteria and monitors' legal limits.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-10-16", "text": "The NAACP and three voters from Arizona, Texas and Florida sue the Justice Department in federal court in Washington over its plan to send poll monitors to the midterms, saying it \"stands in stark contrast to the limited and carefully proscribed efforts\" of the past. No DOJ response is reported yet.", "src": 3 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "DOJ spokesperson Kiersten Pels", "text": "Monitoring is a longstanding practice; the department sent monitors to 9 primary jurisdictions in 2022 and 27 in 2024.", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Harmeet Dhillon", "text": "Called the monitoring \"routine\" and \"nonpartisan\".", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "FFXnow, 13 Jul 2026", "url": "https://www.ffxnow.com/2026/07/13/justice-department-will-send-election-monitors-to-fairfax-for-august-primaries/" }, { "label": "Letter from Democratic senators to DOJ, 3 Aug 2026", "url": "https://www.warner.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/2026.08.03-Letter-to-DOJ-re-Election-Monitors.pdf" }, { "label": "Washington Examiner, Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/?p=4690825" }, { "label": "Bloomberg Law, 18 Oct 2026", "url": "https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/doj-aims-to-intimidate-voters-with-poll-monitors-naacp-argues" } ], "section": "Elections", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-16", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-010-justice-department-election-monitors-in-the-2026-elections/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "ELX-011", "title": "Mid-decade redistricting of House maps by both parties", "topic": "Redistricting", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Greg Abbott", "Ron DeSantis", "Mike Kehoe", "Bill Lee", "California Legislature" ], "bodies": [ "Supreme Court", "State and federal courts", "Voters (California, Missouri)" ], "summary": "After President Trump urged Texas Republicans in 2025 to redraw House districts before the midterms, several states followed. Republican-led redraws in Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida and Tennessee could add seats for the GOP; Democrats answered with California's voter-approved map, and a court-imposed map in Utah could help Democrats. Missouri must use its 2022 map in 2026 after the Supreme Court sided with the Missouri Supreme Court. Virginia's Supreme Court struck down Democrats' plan. In April 2026 the Supreme Court narrowed the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais, which led Louisiana and Alabama to seek new maps.", "caveat": "Maps are drawn by states, and partisan redistricting is generally legal. This entry is listed because the President pushed for it and the Justice Department went to court over California's map. Seat estimates are the parties' own and assume past voting patterns hold.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-08", "text": "Texas Governor Greg Abbott signs a new House map that could add five Republican seats.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-11", "text": "California voters approve new districts drawn by the Democratic-led Legislature.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-12", "text": "Supreme Court clears the Texas map for 2026.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-02", "text": "Supreme Court allows California's map, rejecting an appeal by Republicans and the Justice Department.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-04-29", "text": "Supreme Court strikes down a majority-Black Louisiana district (Louisiana v. Callais).", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-05-04", "text": "Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs a new map.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-09", "text": "Supreme Court rules Missouri must use its 2022 map in 2026; voters decide on the 2025 map in November.", "src": 1 } ], "responses": [], "sources": [ { "label": "AP via PBS, state-by-state redistricting guide, May 2026", "url": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/a-state-by-state-guide-to-the-redistricting-fight" }, { "label": "Council on Foreign Relations, 2 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.cfr.org/articles/the-u-s-supreme-court-rules-on-mail-ballots-congressional-maps-and-the-save-database" } ], "section": "Elections", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-09", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-011-mid-decade-redistricting-of-house-maps-by-both-parties/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "ELX-012", "title": "DHS \"Unlawful Voter Initiative\" checks on suspected noncitizen voters", "topic": "Voter rolls", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Department of Homeland Security", "USCIS", "Markwayne Mullin" ], "bodies": [ "Federal court (N.D. California)", "Senate Democrats" ], "summary": "DHS's \"Unlawful Voter Initiative\" has immigration staff check lists of people against state voter records and sends agents into nine states to investigate suspected noncitizen voting. An anonymous whistleblower says staff had to pose as voters to use state lookup tools and could wrongly flag citizens. Nurses' unions, a voting group and two California local governments sued, and on 21 October a federal judge barred election-related field operations and interviews with people agents know or should suspect are citizens until polls close on 3 November.", "caveat": "The whistleblower is anonymous, and the account was released by Democratic senators. The court order allows lawful voter-fraud investigations to continue.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-08", "text": "USCIS staff are told to set aside other work and run DHS-provided lists of people through state voter-lookup tools, about 40 people a day, according to a whistleblower.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-09-14", "text": "Sens. Schumer and Padilla release the anonymous whistleblower's account, which says staff had to pose as individual voters to use some state lookup tools, likely breaking state laws, and that citizens could be wrongly flagged in federal records.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-09-18", "text": "The California Nurses Association, National Nurses United, the Voto Latino Foundation, San Francisco and Santa Clara County sue DHS under the Voting Rights Act, the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution (N.D. Cal. 3:26-cv-10680).", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-10-21", "text": "Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin bars election-related field operations and interviews with people agents know or should suspect are citizens in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin until polls close on 3 November. The order is on hold until 5 p.m. on 23 October and allows lawful voter-fraud investigations to continue.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "DHS (Sep 2026)", "text": "Says the effort is \"laser focused on prosecuting and removing aliens who vote and preventing the dilution of the votes of U.S. citizens\" and that the work is \"conducted diligently and professionally.\"", "src": 0 }, { "who": "Justice Department (court hearing)", "text": "Argued that data sharing and agent deployments are investigative tactics, that plaintiffs showed no specific citizen was questioned, and that any intimidation is \"a minor aspect of lawfully investigative actions.\"", "src": 2 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "AP via Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 14 Sep 2026", "url": "https://www.ajc.com/news/2026/09/dhs-voter-probe-may-break-state-laws-and-wrongly-implicate-us-citizens-whistleblower-alleges/" }, { "label": "NILC case page (plaintiffs' counsel)", "url": "https://www.nilc.org/litigation/california-nurses-association-et-al-v-mullin-et-al/" }, { "label": "Courthouse News Service, 21 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.courthousenews.com/articles/judge-curtails-dhs-crackdown-on-unlawful-voters-during-midterm-elections" } ], "section": "Elections", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-21", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-012-dhs-unlawful-voter-initiative-checks-on-suspected-noncitizen/", "agencies": [], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "MED-001", "title": "White House bars the AP from the press pool over \"Gulf of America\"", "topic": "Press access", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Donald Trump", "Taylor Budowich", "Karoline Leavitt", "Susie Wiles" ], "bodies": [ "Federal courts" ], "summary": "In February 2025 the White House barred Associated Press reporters from press pool events such as the Oval Office and Air Force One because the AP kept using \"Gulf of Mexico\" alongside the new official name. The White House later confirmed in court that President Trump made the decision himself. Judge Trevor McFadden (a Trump appointee) ruled in April 2025 that the exclusion was likely viewpoint discrimination and retaliation. A D.C. Circuit panel paused most of that order in June 2025, so the exclusion continues while the appeal is decided.", "caveat": "The appeal has not been decided on the merits. The June 2025 stay is an interim ruling (2-1, Judges Rao and Katsas in the majority, Judge Pillard dissenting).", "events": [ { "date": "2025-02-11", "text": "White House indefinitely bars AP reporters from pool events; AP photographers keep access.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-04-08", "text": "Judge McFadden grants a preliminary injunction for the AP.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-06-06", "text": "D.C. Circuit panel stays the injunction except for the East Room while the appeal proceeds.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2025-07", "text": "Full D.C. Circuit declines to reconsider the stay; a day earlier the White House removed the Wall Street Journal from a trip pool over its Epstein-letter reporting.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "White House (Taylor Budowich)", "text": "Called the AP's continued use of \"Gulf of Mexico\" misinformation and gave its pool place to other outlets.", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Wikipedia case summary (background, checked against court order)", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Associated_Press_v._Budowich" }, { "label": "D.C. Circuit stay order, No. 25-5109, 6 Jun 2025", "url": "https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/orders/docs/2025/06/25-5109LDSN3.pdf" }, { "label": "Knight First Amendment Institute (advocacy group, amicus), Jul 2025", "url": "https://knightcolumbia.org/content/court-decision-to-uphold-ap-ban-from-white-house-press-pool-undermines-press-freedom-knight-institute-says" } ], "section": "Press & media", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2025-07", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/med-001-white-house-bars-the-ap-from-the-press-pool-over-gulf-of/", "agencies": [ "White House" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "MED-002", "title": "White House revokes CNN, MS NOW and Politico press passes", "topic": "Press access", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Donald Trump" ], "bodies": [ "Federal courts" ], "summary": "On 18 September 2026 President Trump announced on social media, without prior notice, that CNN, MS NOW and Politico were banned from the White House, calling their reporting \"fake news\". The hard passes of 78 reporters were revoked. The outlets sued three days later. Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump nominee, restored access on 24 September and on 13 October issued a preliminary injunction, finding the outlets likely to win on free speech and due process grounds and that the national security reasons were given after the fact. The Justice Department appealed the next day.", "caveat": "Preliminary ruling only; the appeal is pending. The judge also wrote that his decision does not mean the President's concerns about accuracy in reporting are unfounded.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-09-18", "text": "Trump posts that the three outlets are banned; hard passes are revoked.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-09-21", "text": "CNN, MS NOW and Politico sue in federal court in Washington.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-09-24", "text": "Judge Kelly temporarily restores access; MS NOW and CNN staff are still turned away from the Xi Jinping arrival ceremony that evening.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-10-13", "text": "Kelly issues a preliminary injunction keeping the passes in place while the case runs.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-10-14", "text": "Justice Department files notice of appeal to the D.C. Circuit.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Justice Department", "text": "Argues White House access is a privilege, not a right, and that the bans protect national security and stem misinformation.", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "AP via PBS NewsHour, 14 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/judge-extends-order-blocking-trump-from-banning-cnn-ms-now-and-politico-reporters-from-white-house" }, { "label": "MS NOW (a plaintiff), 24 Sep 2026", "url": "https://www.ms.now/news/ms-now-cnn-politico-journalists-white-house-access-ruling" }, { "label": "TheWrap, 14 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/public-policy-legal/trump-appeals-cnn-ms-now-politico-white-house-ban/" } ], "section": "Press & media", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-14", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/med-002-white-house-revokes-cnn-ms-now-and-politico-press-passes/", "agencies": [ "White House" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "MED-003", "title": "Executive order cutting off federal funding for NPR and PBS", "topic": "Public media funding", "stage": 5, "people": [ "Donald Trump" ], "bodies": [ "Federal courts", "Congress" ], "summary": "A May 2025 executive order told agencies to stop funding NPR and PBS, citing bias. Separately, Congress voted in July 2025 to claw back about $1.1 billion already set aside for public media, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced it would close. On 31 March 2026 Judge Randolph Moss ruled the order unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination and permanently barred agencies from enforcing it.", "caveat": "The ruling does not restore the money Congress rescinded; that was a lawful vote of Congress. The White House had said it expected to win in the end, but the administration did not appeal.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-05", "text": "Trump signs the executive order; NPR and three Colorado public radio stations sue.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-07", "text": "Republican-led Congress rescinds about $1.1 billion for public media.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-08", "text": "Corporation for Public Broadcasting says it will close.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-03-31", "text": "Judge Moss rules the order unconstitutional and enjoins it.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-07", "text": "The parties agree to dismiss the remaining claims; the administration does not appeal Judge Moss's March judgment.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "White House (Abigail Jackson)", "text": "Called it \"a ridiculous ruling by an activist judge\" and said NPR and PBS have no right to taxpayer funds.", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "NPR, 31 Mar 2026 (NPR reporting on itself, under its own protocol)", "url": "https://www.npr.org/2026/03/31/nx-s1-5768399/npr-pbs-trump-federal-funding" }, { "label": "CNN, 31 Mar 2026", "url": "https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/31/media/federal-judge-trump-order-npr-pbs-funding" }, { "label": "Inside Radio, 22 Sep 2026", "url": "https://www.insideradio.com/free/trump-s-npr-pbs-funding-fight-quietly-comes-to-an-end/article_9ffe9339-459e-4870-9ea9-eef6df63f3af.html" } ], "section": "Press & media", "stage_name": "Outcome", "outcome": "Blocked by court", "last_development": "2026-07", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/med-003-executive-order-cutting-off-federal-funding-for-npr-and-pbs/", "agencies": [ "White House" ], "amounts": [ { "value": 1100000000.0, "type": "other", "label": "Public media funding rescinded by Congress (Jul 2025), a funding cut, not a payment", "src": 0, "estimate": true, "inTotal": false } ] }, { "id": "MED-004", "title": "Dismantling of Voice of America under Kari Lake", "topic": "Public media funding", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Kari Lake", "Victor Morales" ], "bodies": [ "Federal courts" ], "summary": "From March 2025 the U.S. Agency for Global Media, run in practice by Kari Lake, put most Voice of America staff on leave and moved to shrink the broadcaster to its legal minimum. On 7 March 2026 Judge Royce Lamberth (a Reagan appointee) ruled that Lake was never lawfully in charge and declared her actions void, including layoffs of more than 1,000 staff, and ordered employees back. On 31 March 2026 the D.C. Circuit paused the return of staff while the government appeals; most of the ruling stands.", "caveat": "Appeal pending (D.C. Circuit Nos. 26-5086/5087, consolidated). The district court case is still active.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-03", "text": "Acting CEO Victor Morales delegates nearly all CEO powers to Lake; mass leave and layoffs follow.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-03-07", "text": "Judge Lamberth rules Lake's tenure unlawful and voids her actions.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-03-31", "text": "D.C. Circuit consolidates the appeals and grants a stay pending appeal.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-09-18", "text": "Lamberth issues a further memorandum opinion in the case.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Kari Lake", "text": "Called Lamberth an \"activist judge\" and said the agency would appeal.", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "NPR, 8 Mar 2026", "url": "https://www.npr.org/2026/03/08/nx-s1-5741594/u-s-judge-kari-lake-broke-law-voice-of-america" }, { "label": "D.C. Circuit docket 26-5087 (CourtListener)", "url": "https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72521013/patsy-widakuswara-v-kari-lake/" }, { "label": "D.D.C. docket 1:25-cv-01015 (CourtListener)", "url": "https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69846584/widakuswara-v-lake/" } ], "section": "Press & media", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-09-18", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/med-004-dismantling-of-voice-of-america-under-kari-lake/", "agencies": [ "U.S. Agency for Global Media" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "MED-005", "title": "Pentagon press credential rules and escort requirement", "topic": "Press access", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Pete Hegseth" ], "bodies": [ "Federal courts" ], "summary": "In autumn 2025 the Pentagon required reporters to accept new rules giving officials open-ended power to pull credentials for ordinary newsgathering. Nearly the whole Pentagon press corps refused and handed in their badges. The New York Times sued in December 2025, and on 20 March 2026 Judge Paul Friedman ruled the policy unconstitutional. The Pentagon then required reporters to be escorted; in July 2026 a divided D.C. Circuit panel let the escort rule stay in force during the appeal.", "caveat": "Mixed record: the Times won in district court, the government won the interim appeal ruling (2-1, Judges Henderson and Millett; Judge Garcia dissented). Merits appeal expedited, not decided.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-10", "text": "Most Pentagon reporters turn in credentials rather than sign the policy.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-12", "text": "New York Times sues.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-03-20", "text": "Judge Friedman rules the policy violates the First and Fifth Amendments.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-04-09", "text": "Friedman finds the revised policy, including closing the press workspace, breaches his order.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-07-16", "text": "D.C. Circuit, 2-1, keeps the escort requirement in place pending appeal.", "src": 1 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "D.C. Circuit majority", "text": "Said the escort rule applies evenly to all reporters, so the Times is unlikely to show it was singled out.", "src": 1 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (amicus for the Times), 23 Mar 2026", "url": "https://www.rcfp.org/pentagon-nyt-press-access-ruling/" }, { "label": "CBS News, 16 Jul 2026", "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/appeals-court-new-york-times-julian-barnes-pentagon-escort-policy/" } ], "section": "Press & media", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-07-16", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/med-005-pentagon-press-credential-rules-and-escort-requirement/", "agencies": [ "Defense Dept" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "MED-006", "title": "FCC chair's \"news distortion\" pressure on broadcasters", "topic": "Broadcast regulation", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Brendan Carr" ], "bodies": [ "Congress (House Oversight minority, Senate Democrats)", "Federal courts" ], "summary": "FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has repeatedly invoked the rarely used news distortion policy against broadcasters: an investigation of CBS over a 60 Minutes edit, a warning to ABC stations over Jimmy Kimmel (\"We can do this the easy way or the hard way\"), after which ABC suspended Kimmel for about a week, and a March 2026 post telling broadcasters to \"correct course\" before license renewals over Iran war coverage. Former FCC chairs of both parties petitioned to repeal the policy; the FCC's Media Bureau dismissed the petition in June 2026 while the petitioners sought a court order.", "caveat": "Carr says he never threatened to revoke licenses, and Nexstar says its decision to drop Kimmel was unrelated to its pending FCC deals. No license has been revoked. The CBS/Paramount settlement and merger approval are tracked separately under INV-008.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-09", "text": "Carr warns ABC stations over Kimmel; ABC suspends the show, then reinstates it after about a week. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz likens Carr to \"a mafioso\".", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2025-11-13", "text": "Former FCC chairs and commissioners (Fowler, Patrick, Sikes, Wheeler and others) petition the FCC to repeal the policy; Carr replies on X: \"How about no.\"", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-03", "text": "Carr posts that broadcasters running \"hoaxes and news distortions\" should correct course before license renewals.", "src": 2 }, { "date": "2026-04-28", "text": "Petitioners ask the D.C. Circuit to order the FCC to rule (No. 26-1099).", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-06-22", "text": "FCC Media Bureau dismisses the petition without prejudice and asks the court to deny mandamus.", "src": 3 }, { "date": "2026-09-10", "text": "A D.C. Circuit panel denies the petition to force the FCC to rule on repealing the news-distortion policy, finding petitioners had other ways to seek relief; the FCC faces no deadline.", "src": 4 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Brendan Carr", "text": "Denied that he threatened to revoke ABC's station licenses.", "src": 0 }, { "who": "FCC (court filing)", "text": "Says petitioners can appeal the dismissal to the full Commission, so a court order is not needed.", "src": 3 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "AP via Bangor Daily News, 23 Sep 2025", "url": "https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/09/23/nation/jimmy-kimmel-is-set-to-return-to-his-late-night-show-after-abc-lifts-suspension/" }, { "label": "Protect Democracy (advocacy group, petitioners' counsel), 28 Apr 2026", "url": "https://protectdemocracy.org/work/fcc-officials-writ-of-mandamus/" }, { "label": "Deadline, May 2026", "url": "https://deadline.com/2026/05/fcc-news-distortion-policy-brendan-carr-1236917380/" }, { "label": "FCC opposition to mandamus, D.C. Cir. No. 26-1099, 22 Jun 2026", "url": "https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-422650A1.pdf" }, { "label": "Radio Ink, 10 Sep 2026", "url": "https://radioink.com/2026/09/10/dc-circuit-wont-force-fcc-action-on-news-distortion-policy/" } ], "section": "Press & media", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-09-10", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/med-006-fcc-chairs-news-distortion-pressure-on-broadcasters/", "agencies": [ "FCC" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "MED-007", "title": "FBI search of a Washington Post reporter's home in a leak probe", "topic": "Leak investigations", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Pam Bondi", "FBI" ], "bodies": [ "Federal courts" ], "summary": "In April 2025 Attorney General Pam Bondi rescinded Biden-era limits on subpoenas, court orders and search warrants against journalists in leak investigations. On 14 January 2026 FBI agents searched the Virginia home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, who was not a target, and seized her devices in a case against a government contractor. In February 2026 Magistrate Judge William Porter refused to let the Justice Department search the devices itself, ordered a court-run review, and faulted the department for not telling the court about the federal law that restricts newsroom searches.", "caveat": "The contractor, Aurelio Perez-Lugones, has pleaded not guilty. The Bondi memo still requires leadership approval, advance notice and narrow scope for actions against journalists.", "events": [ { "date": "2025-04-25", "text": "Bondi memo rescinds the Biden-era journalist protections.", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-01-14", "text": "FBI searches Natanson's home and seizes devices.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-02-24", "text": "Judge Porter orders a court-run review and return of material outside the warrant.", "src": 1 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Pam Bondi", "text": "Said leaks are \"illegal and wrong, and it must stop\" and that the department would still defend press independence.", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "NPR, 25 Apr 2025", "url": "https://www.npr.org/2025/04/25/nx-s1-5377624/pam-bondi-reporters-subpoena-leaks" }, { "label": "Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, 25 Feb 2026", "url": "https://www.rcfp.org/natanson-post-search-ruling/" } ], "section": "Press & media", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-02-24", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/med-007-fbi-search-of-a-washington-post-reporters-home-in-a-leak/", "agencies": [ "Justice Dept", "FBI" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "MED-008", "title": "FCC orders an early license review of ABC's stations", "topic": "Broadcast regulation", "stage": 4, "people": [ "Brendan Carr", "Disney", "ABC" ], "bodies": [ "Federal court (D.D.C.)" ], "summary": "In April 2026 the FCC's Media Bureau ordered Disney's ABC to file early license renewals for its eight owned TV stations, citing possible violations of the Communications Act and FCC rules, including on discrimination. Disney and the ABC stations sued the FCC in Washington, saying the review is retaliation for protected speech. The FCC calls it a routine regulatory inquiry and has asked the court to dismiss the case.", "caveat": "ABC News is reporting on its own parent company. Retaliation is Disney's claim in court; the court has not ruled. No license has been revoked or denied.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-04-28", "text": "The FCC Media Bureau orders ABC to file early license renewals for its eight owned stations within 30 days, saying \"additional actions are appropriate at this time.\"", "src": 0 }, { "date": "2026-08", "text": "Disney and the ABC stations sue the FCC in federal court in Washington, claiming retaliation for protected speech; the case goes to Judge Loren AliKhan.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-10-06", "text": "Judge AliKhan hears arguments on ABC's request to pause the review; the FCC calls it a \"routine regulatory inquiry\" and moves to dismiss. No ruling yet.", "src": 1 }, { "date": "2026-10-12", "text": "At the judge's direction, Disney and ABC file a supplemental brief arguing the FCC chose early renewal to apply \"maximal coercive pressure\" while avoiding court review.", "src": 2 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "FCC (Adam Jackman)", "text": "Called it a \"meritless case in the wrong court at the wrong time.\"", "src": 2 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "ABC News, 28 Apr 2026 (reporting on its parent company)", "url": "https://abcnews.com/US/fcc-orders-early-review-abcs-broadcast-licenses/story?id=132466823" }, { "label": "JURIST, 7 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.jurist.org/news/2026/10/federal-judge-hears-arguments-on-abcs-challenge-to-fcc-license-review/" }, { "label": "Fox News, 12 Oct 2026", "url": "https://www.foxnews.com/media/abc-accuses-fcc-trying-inflict-maximal-coercive-pressure-probe-against-network" } ], "section": "Press & media", "stage_name": "Legal action", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-12", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/med-008-fcc-orders-an-early-license-review-of-abcs-stations/", "agencies": [ "FCC" ], "amounts": [] }, { "id": "MED-009", "title": "Justice Department antitrust probe of TV networks over the press-pool suspension", "topic": "Press access", "stage": 1, "people": [ "Justice Department Antitrust Division", "ABC", "CBS", "CNN", "Fox", "NBC" ], "bodies": [], "summary": "After the White House revoked press passes for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, the major TV networks suspended White House pool coverage in solidarity. In October 2026 the Justice Department's Antitrust Division confirmed it is investigating whether ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC broke antitrust law by jointly suspending that coverage.", "caveat": "CBS, the source, is one of the networks under investigation. DOJ says it is only investigating whether the law was broken; no charges or findings have been made. The legal process used has not been reported.", "events": [ { "date": "2026-10-10", "text": "The Justice Department's Antitrust Division confirms it is investigating whether ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC violated antitrust law by jointly suspending White House pool coverage.", "src": 0 } ], "responses": [ { "who": "Justice Department (Emily Covington)", "text": "\"Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act.\" The division is \"simply investigating to determine whether these news organizations have violated the antitrust laws.\"", "src": 0 } ], "sources": [ { "label": "CBS News, 10 Oct 2026 (CBS is one of the networks investigated)", "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doj-investigating-tv-networks-suspension-press-pool-trump-media-ban/" } ], "section": "Press & media", "stage_name": "Reported", "outcome": null, "last_development": "2026-10-10", "url": "https://publictrusttracker.org/case/med-009-justice-department-antitrust-probe-of-tv-networks-over-the/", "agencies": [ "Justice Dept (Antitrust Division)" ], "amounts": [] } ] }