Congressional Oversight
435 Articles
(Not So) Fast and Furious Settlement in Congressional Subpoena Case
Efforts to settle lengthy litigation over congressional subpoena power and executive privilege hit a snag this week. Judge Amy Berman Jackson declined to vacate her executive privilege…
Options for Congress to Respond to Saudi Transgressions: Here’s What Works according to Former Senior U.S. Officials
Former senior officials weigh in on options for Congress to respond to Khashoggi crisis, Yemen War, and US-Saudi policy more generally.
What Would National Security Oversight Look Like in a Democratic House?
If Democrats assume control of the House of Representatives after the midterms, there's likely to be a torrent of oversight activity. Andy Wright, a former staff director and counsel…
Annotation of Sec. Pompeo’s Certification of Yemen War: Civilian Casualties and Saudi-Led Coalition
Former special counsel to Pentagon critiques Pompeo's memo which claimed Saudis have taken sufficient steps to reduce civilian casualties.
What Due Diligence Backs U.S. Denial of Advance Knowledge of the Khashoggi Plot?
State Department spokesperson Robert Palladino's categorical denial that the US government knew of threat to Khashoggi may be a mistake that lasts a long time.
Contempt Prosecutions Require Comity Between Branches of Government, Now Add Trump
The campaign season for the midterm elections is in full swing, with the Republican majorities in the House and, to a lesser extent, Senate in some peril. Should we have a divided…
Trump’s Ability to Classify Mueller Report Is Greater Threat Than Executive Privilege
The prospect of the President invoking Executive Privilege to keep the Special Counsel's report secret has received plenty of attention. Less well-known is this: there are no restrictions…
Civilian Control of the Military During an Age of Trump and “Administrative Coups”
Since President Donald Trump’s election, concerns about the health of civilian control of the military and civil-military relations have garnered considerable media attention.…
A Rush to Confirm Judge Kavanaugh at the Expense of Senate Interests
The Senate is now considering President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court. Whoever replaces Justice Kennedy,…
Zero Tolerance for Border Families but Welcome to Myanmar Military Perpetrators
Amidst the multitude of ongoing Trump administration scandals, the United States government has failed to develop a comprehensive approach to bring an end to or accountability…
Trump Could Learn from Gore on How to Handle an Election Interference Scandal
Replace Russia with China, the 2016 election with 1996, and Trump with Gore, and there are disturbing parallels. The stark difference is in how the White House handled the case.
Just Security Podcast: ACLU’s David Cole on Defending our Democratic Traditions
Roughly a year ago, I sat down with ACLU Legal Director and Just Security editorial board member David Cole to pick his brain about what our various independent government branches…