A citizen’s right to know what their government is doing is essential in a democracy. After all, whatever the government does is done on behalf of its citizens and in their name. Sunshine Week reinforces this basic underlying principle by celebrating the Freedom of Information Act, which for 53 years has provided a mechanism for journalists, organizations, and ordinary citizens to request government records from any agency.

At CRP we uphold this principle by fighting for transparency and digging deep into government data about money in politics: campaign finance donations and expenditures; super PACs, dark money and gray money groups; lobbying both foreign and domestic; and personal financial disclosures of Cabinet officials, members of Congress and other government officials. We do this because real accountability requires access to evidence-based information so that Americans can be informed about the electoral process and effectively monitor for potential conflicts of interest.

We face a mounting challenge — to shine a light on millions of undisclosed dollars and expose undue foreign influence the likes of which has rarely — if ever — been seen in America. This is what we’re up against:

1. Using Facebook data we uncovered questionable advertising on the platform, including more than $5.9 million in spending by appendages of a "dark money" group called Acronym. We’ve also reported that 2020 presidential candidates have spent around $300 million on digital ads so far this cycle;
2. Pop-up" super PACs are gaming disclosure rules and abusing campaign finance law loopholes to keep donors secret until after Election Day, leaving primary voters in the dark about who is trying to influence their vote;
3. The escalation of Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA)-related activity and enforcement has been unprecedented. More than 20 individuals and entities were charged with criminal violations related to FARA in 2018 — exceeding the total number charged in the previous 50 years — and 2019 marked the Justice Department’s first successful civil enforcement action in a FARA case since 1991.