Congressional Oversight
441 Articles

With Supreme Court Mired in Dark Money, Time for Large Dose of Transparency
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse writes that there is a dual problem with the Supreme Court: not only the web of special-interest, secret donor influence surrounding it; but an extraordinary…

Understanding the Two Mazars Subpoena Cases Before the Supreme Court [UPDATED to reflect 11/25 stay of mandate]
Two cases currently before the Supreme Court involve whether the Constitution prohibits subpoenas issued to Donald Trump’s accounting firm, Mazars USA, LLP, requiring Mazars…

Trump and GOP Call to ID Whistleblower Exposes Glaring Gaps in Protections
There are punishments for disclosing a whistleblower's identity in such a case. But the entire system is a patchwork of laws that needs to be rethought.

Executive Privilege is No Bar to Testimony Before Impeachment Investigators
Impeachment is different from regular congressional oversight. Witnesses summoned to appear before the House Intelligence Committee should not view executive privilege as standing…

Why Officials Keep Testifying Despite White House Counsel’s Letter on Impeachment Inquiry
"These are presumably not the results White House Counsel Cipollone expected when he sent his letter, but in retrospect they seem fairly predictable."

GOP “Storming” of Secure Facility for Impeachment Proceedings: An Explainer
How does a "SCIF" work, and can members of Congress be penalized for their en masse protest of testimony in the House impeachment investigation?

Career U.S. Officials Testifying to Congress: A Guide from Co-Equal
For over 100 years, federal statutes have protected the right of federal employees to communicate with Congress. Career employees across agencies and positions have routinely provided…

Whistleblowing in Washington: Lessons Learned and Unlearned
A compelling first-hand account illustrates the institutional headwinds facing whistleblowers. To create the space they need to help increase accountability in government will…

The Need for a Bipartisan Stand Against the White House Counsel Letter
Former general counsel to Sen. Marco Rubio and senior Republican counsel on Senate Judiciary Committee writes about impeachment inquiry.

White House Letter Distorts Both Law and History on Impeachment
Leading historian on impeachment heavily criticizes White House Counsel's representation of cases and historical practice.

Two Major Distortions in the White House’s Scorched Earth Letter to Congress
White House Counsel Cipollone's letter to Congress is a profoundly troubling document with a political purpose: stonewalling Congress while trying to muddy the waters with pretextual…

A Formal Vote to Authorize Impeachment Won’t Fix White House Obstruction — And Could Create More Roadblocks
A full vote by the House to support the ongoing impeachment inquiry could end up creating more roadblocks for Congress.