https://publictrusttracker.org/2026-10-22T00:00:00ZPublic Trust Trackerhttps://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-049-ex-crypto-adviser-bo-hines-his-firm-and-tethers-payments/#0d4a35b0b82026-10-22T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-001-trump-family-crypto-ventures/#5be10bf6782026-10-21T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-053-lukoil-foreign-asset-sale-and-trump-linked-buyers/#d1e71fbd182026-10-21T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-005-federal-pressure-on-california-over-alleged-noncitizen/#f0b786bb1b2026-10-21T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-012-dhs-unlawful-voter-initiative-checks-on-suspected-noncitizen/#3daf70cb532026-10-21T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-009-white-house-ballroom-donors/#149864a42c2026-10-20T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-009-white-house-ballroom-donors/#8ee3afced42026-10-20T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-017-tv-ad-paid-for-by-the-u-s-government-before-the-midterms/#4f04fec26e2026-10-20T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-027-herrera-pardon-daughters-3-5m-to-maga-inc-and-habbas-50m/#c073d9a6442026-10-20T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-027-herrera-pardon-daughters-3-5m-to-maga-inc-and-habbas-50m/#e8ff5173792026-10-20T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-052-navarros-book-promotion-from-the-white-house-allegation/#1fb72d2b142026-10-20T00:00:00Z

The book is released by War Room Books.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-054-reported-white-house-help-for-the-tate-brothers-allegation/#d185ea914e2026-10-20T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-005-federal-pressure-on-california-over-alleged-noncitizen/#b1078974042026-10-20T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-006-justice-department-warns-election-officials-of-prosecution/#827142c0392026-10-20T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-017-tv-ad-paid-for-by-the-u-s-government-before-the-midterms/#d6baf174382026-10-19T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-003-justice-department-demands-full-state-voter-rolls/#2aa58b0f392026-10-19T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-005-federal-pressure-on-california-over-alleged-noncitizen/#17a038c5dd2026-10-19T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-005-federal-pressure-on-california-over-alleged-noncitizen/#53c1da107b2026-10-19T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-043-paid-pardon-brokers-and-erased-restitution/#1ea755b8142026-10-16T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-050-dodik-sanctions-lifted-and-a-trump-ally-firms-bosnia/#fccc815f5f2026-10-16T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-003-justice-department-demands-full-state-voter-rolls/#7def68e7432026-10-16T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-003-justice-department-demands-full-state-voter-rolls/#fc6c5db2c42026-10-16T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-005-federal-pressure-on-california-over-alleged-noncitizen/#1fd06ee3a12026-10-16T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-005-federal-pressure-on-california-over-alleged-noncitizen/#35f39f73202026-10-16T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-007-fbi-reopens-the-2020-election-in-georgia-and-arizona/#24bf400fbf2026-10-16T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-007-fbi-reopens-the-2020-election-in-georgia-and-arizona/#c71cedbf292026-10-16T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-010-justice-department-election-monitors-in-the-2026-elections/#394e8e0f1a2026-10-16T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-009-white-house-ballroom-donors/#999dfa7c982026-10-15T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-009-white-house-ballroom-donors/#6429def5862026-10-15T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-009-white-house-ballroom-donors/#27322dff062026-10-15T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-009-white-house-ballroom-donors/#b7f110044c2026-10-15T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-010-ambassador-guilfoyles-100-000-request-to-a-donor/#c8b6fc2ca92026-10-15T00:00:00Z

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."

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-017-tv-ad-paid-for-by-the-u-s-government-before-the-midterms/#76c7197c1d2026-10-15T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-030-sec-and-cftc-back-off-gemini-founders-give-10m/#1a3dfe91db2026-10-15T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-030-sec-and-cftc-back-off-gemini-founders-give-10m/#43352f68922026-10-15T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-034-donor-sokolov-named-to-chair-state-dept-fund/#607741b5b42026-10-15T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-050-dodik-sanctions-lifted-and-a-trump-ally-firms-bosnia/#f8ef6358832026-10-15T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-051-kirkland-and-elliss-125m-deal-and-epshteyns-reported-role/#59eb3243762026-10-15T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-053-lukoil-foreign-asset-sale-and-trump-linked-buyers/#554ffb18652026-10-15T00:00:00Z

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).

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-004-save-citizenship-database-turned-into-a-voter-checking-tool/#318cd3812c2026-10-15T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-005-federal-pressure-on-california-over-alleged-noncitizen/#7aa795cd212026-10-15T00:00:00Z

Justice Department files suit against California over its voter list.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-005-federal-pressure-on-california-over-alleged-noncitizen/#f5ac5545e82026-10-15T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-003-jared-kushners-affinity-partners-and-middle-east-role/#d82d3ce2c52026-10-14T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-010-ambassador-guilfoyles-100-000-request-to-a-donor/#0663d0f5302026-10-14T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-017-tv-ad-paid-for-by-the-u-s-government-before-the-midterms/#e1ecf649102026-10-14T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-047-cftc-referral-on-oil-trades-before-trumps-iran-post/#f329745f982026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Public Citizen asks Selig to convene the CFTC's Energy and Environmental Markets Advisory Committee on the matter.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-048-hatch-act-complaint-against-labor-inspector-general/#84b2da81a12026-10-14T00:00:00Z

OSC tells CREW it has "accepted the matter for review" (letter dated a Wednesday, likely 14 Oct).

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-049-ex-crypto-adviser-bo-hines-his-firm-and-tethers-payments/#1e28f5cd872026-10-14T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-005-federal-pressure-on-california-over-alleged-noncitizen/#3ce6a4a4272026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Los Angeles County registrar says it will not open the thumb drive because it is not a secure medium.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/med-002-white-house-revokes-cnn-ms-now-and-politico-press-passes/#4a4030d4372026-10-14T00:00:00Z

Justice Department files notice of appeal to the D.C. Circuit.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-010-ambassador-guilfoyles-100-000-request-to-a-donor/#5a9c854af52026-10-13T00:00:00Z

Guilfoyle resigns as ambassador to Greece; the White House says it asked her to resign.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-041-elon-musks-doge-role-and-the-agencies-probing-his-companies/#1e2ccbb8392026-10-13T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-043-paid-pardon-brokers-and-erased-restitution/#fd77c7ad712026-10-13T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-047-cftc-referral-on-oil-trades-before-trumps-iran-post/#94ee7f74992026-10-13T00:00:00Z

Bloomberg reports that Gunewardena told a supervisor on the market oversight team to retract the enforcement referral.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-047-cftc-referral-on-oil-trades-before-trumps-iran-post/#ed82ed9c8e2026-10-13T00:00:00Z

Sen. Warren asks CFTC Chair Selig and enforcement chief Gunewardena to tell Congress the status of the investigations into the oil trades.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/elx-005-federal-pressure-on-california-over-alleged-noncitizen/#0fa0958c452026-10-13T00:00:00Z

Justice Department letters give California officials 48 hours to review the list and segregate ballots.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/med-002-white-house-revokes-cnn-ms-now-and-politico-press-passes/#00d2d9bd0d2026-10-13T00:00:00Z

Kelly issues a preliminary injunction keeping the passes in place while the case runs.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-017-tv-ad-paid-for-by-the-u-s-government-before-the-midterms/#79333d1e2c2026-10-12T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/med-008-fcc-orders-an-early-license-review-of-abcs-stations/#eb44a8dd112026-10-12T00:00:00Z

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.

https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-017-tv-ad-paid-for-by-the-u-s-government-before-the-midterms/#99d57dd4862026-10-11T00:00:00Z

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.