No witnesses, no documents. For many senators, that’s the recipe for a quick acquittal. It’s an astonishing abdication of responsibility that will resonate in history. But more than that, it shows willful blindness, because senators will hear from witnesses and they will see documents — but it will be on the talk show circuit and on the pages of AmericanOversight.org.

During debate this afternoon, potential swing senators signaled that they would vote against including witnesses and additional documents in the impeachment trial — even as more evidence of the president’s Ukraine scheme continues to pile up.

Pompeo’s NPR Outburst: Last week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made headlines for cursing at NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly when she asked Ukraine-related questions during an interview. Kelly reported that after the interview was cut short, she was summoned to a private room where Pompeo demanded she point to Ukraine on a map and asked, “Do you think Americans care about Ukraine?” In a statement released the next day, Pompeo accused Kelly of lying to him “twice” during the encounter, and soon after the State Department denied press credentials to another NPR reporter covering Pompeo’s trip to Europe, which includes a stop in Kyiv. We asked the department for communications regarding the interview and emails containing key terms to learn more.

Public Charge Rule: The Supreme Court ruled on Monday to allow implementation of the Trump administration’s “public charge rule,” which lets the government deny green cards to applicants who use or are deemed likely to use public benefits such as housing vouchers or food stamps. Ken Cuccinelli, the acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has supported the policy since introducing it back in August and praised the decision. We’re seeking Cuccinelli’s communications with specific individuals and groups outside DHS to learn more about the development of this policy, which could further narrow the legal paths to immigration.

Veteran Discharge Appeals: In recent years, there has been a considerable outcry on behalf of veterans who received less-than-honorable discharges because they were not properly screened for post-traumatic stress disorder and other combat injuries, suffered from sexual assault while serving, or were discharged because of their sexuality. In April 2019, the Defense Department removed all posted appeals decisions from its website without explanation — even though the department is obligated to publish them. The Pentagon has since agreed to make these records publicly available, but we’re asking for directives to shed light on why they were removed in the first place.

Refugee Resettlement in Texas: Earlier this month, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that Texas would no longer accept the resettlement of new refugees following an executive order from Trump allowing state governments to end federal resettlement operations within their jurisdiction. A federal judge has since ruled against the executive order, but advocates remain concerned that the Trump administration may appeal. We’re asking the Texas governor's office for communications with the Department of Homeland Security and the White House about refugee resettlement. 

Private Contractors in Prisons: The National Institute of Corrections (NIC), part of the Justice Department’s Federal Bureau of Prisons, provides specialized assistance to corrections facilities across the country. We’re seeking communications between NIC officials and private government contractors, including private health-care company Wellpath, formerly called Correct Care Solutions, which over the past decade was sued at least 1,395 times and has been accused of egregious care practices.

Immigration Appeals: Under the Trump administration, the Board of Immigration Appeals, which often has final say over asylum claims, has increased in size with the addition of immigration hardliners. We’re asking the Justice Department for communications between board members and anti-immigration activists, as well as with White House Senior Adviser Stephen Miller, whose anti-immigration agenda has permeated agencies across the federal government.

Seema Verma’s $47,000 Claim: In December, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma filed a $47,000 reimbursement claim to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for lost luggage during a work-related trip. She sought reimbursement for clothes and jewelry, including an Ivanka Trump-brand pendant estimated to be worth $5,900, and the agency ultimately approved $2,852.50 of the claim. Verma isn’t the only Trump-appointed administrator who has made questionable expense requests, especially on office renovations. So we’re requesting Verma’s reimbursement records from HHS, as well as any office renovation expenditures and travel costs. 

Chad Wolf’s Leadership at DHS: Chad Wolf was sworn in as acting DHS secretary last November, following the departure of his predecessor Kevin McAleenan. Records we previously obtained from Wolf’s tenure as chief of staff to former Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen suggest that he played a role in the Trump administration’s family-separation policy. We filed requests for Wolf’s policy directives and approvals as DHS secretary, as well as his ethics documents and calendars and communications since October 2018.

Voting Machines in Texas: Election system company Hart InterCivic has contracts across Texas, despite a history of Hart InterCivic voting machine errors, including reports that machines were changing votes during the 2018 Senate race between Sen. Ted Cruz and former Rep. Beto O’Rourke. We asked for Harris County elections officials’ email communications with the company.

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Thank you again for your support and for helping us hold the administration accountable.