Newsletter:
Investigating Trump FBI Nominee Kash Patel
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One of the clearest indications that loyalty matters more to President-elect Trump than qualifications or respect for the rule of law is Trump’s list of intended nominees and appointees for top administration positions — including Kash Patel, his nominee for FBI director.

Last week, we sued ([link removed]) the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for records involving Patel, who has made a name for himself as a staunch loyalist.
* At issue in the case are requests we sent as far back as August 2020. We’re seeking emails between Patel — who served as a senior adviser during the first Trump administration, later moving to the Pentagon — and former and current members of Congress, as well as communications about politicized subjects, such as Trump’s baseless claims that the Obama administration had tapped his phones ([link removed]) or the investigation into the 2019 Ukraine aid freeze.
* Patel has promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and the “deep state,” and has published an “enemies” list ([link removed]) of critics and high-ranking officials. His confirmation would put him in charge of the federal law enforcement agency that he could direct to target his perceived enemies.
* “Prompt release is essential for transparency, accountability, and public trust,” said Ben Sparks, American Oversight senior counsel. “Any additional delay will deprive the public of critical information about Patel’s conduct at ODNI before the Senate considers his nomination to lead the FBI.”

This week marked the four-year anniversary of Jan. 6, 2021, a dark day in U.S. history. At the time, Patel was serving as chief of staff to then acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, having been appointed by Trump as part of his post-election purges ([link removed]) of officials deemed disloyal.
* The Jan. 6 insurrection was the culmination of Trump’s larger scheme to illegally cling to power, and it casts a heavy shadow over the preparations for the incoming administration.
* Trump has pledged to issue “major pardons” for Jan. 6 defendants, and several of his nominees are those who supported his lies about the 2020 election — including Patel ([link removed]) , who in 2023 said on Steve Bannon’s talk show that they were “going to come after the people in the media” who “helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections.”
* “We’re going to come after you,” he added. “Whether it’s criminally or civilly, we’ll figure it out.”

In our investigation of the government’s response to Jan. 6, we obtained Department of Justice call logs, Secret Service timelines, and other records ([link removed]) , and created a comprehensive timeline ([link removed]) of that day using news reports and public records.
* Through litigation, we also learned that the Department of Defense and the Army had wiped the phones ([link removed]) of certain former senior Trump administration officials — including Patel — after the first Trump administration ended, and any text messages from Jan. 6 were not preserved.



Tracking Government Spending at Trump-Owned Properties

As Trump prepares to return to the White House, the issue of his business conflicts is looming once again. We investigated the ways he profited off the presidency during his first term, and continue to receive documents that add to the tally.

Records we recently obtained ([link removed]) show that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) employees stayed at Trump National Doral Miami during eight separate trips between 2017 and 2019. Their lodging expenses totaled $3,252.20.
* We’ve uncovered numerous examples of taxpayer money going to Trump’s private businesses during his time in office. Documents we obtained in 2023 revealed that the Pentagon spent nearly $1 million at Trump properties ([link removed]) from July 2017 to November 2019, including more than $270,000 at Trump National Doral Miami.
* In 2021, we obtained records ([link removed]) from the Pentagon detailing a number of trips taken by cabinet and White House officials on military airplanes during the first year of the Trump administration, including several visits to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

Last year, the House Oversight Committee released a report ([link removed]) that showed Trump’s businesses received at least $7.8 million ([link removed]) from officials and the governments of 20 countries during his first presidency.
* The committee found that China paid $5.5 million to Trump’s businesses, Saudi Arabia spent $615,422, and Qatar spent $465,744 at Trump properties.
* The report covered only two years of Trump’s time in the White House — meaning the $7.8 million is likely an undercount of the total Trump actually received from foreign governments.
* American Oversight’s investigations revealed the administration-wide indifference on how to ethically handle the spending of taxpayer money at Trump properties or other businesses in which his family has financial interest.

On the Records

Trump Accountability
* Judge sentences Donald Trump in hush money case but declines to impose any punishment (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Justice Dept. says it won’t yet release Trump classified document report (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Judge upholds Trump’s conviction but signals no jail time (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Trump's 100 executive orders (Axios ([link removed]) )
* Fears grow for voting rights as Trump plots to reshape US Justice Department (Guardian ([link removed]) )
* DOGE is dispatching agents across US government (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Trump promises to replace national archivist after the agency’s role in documents case against him (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* A ‘business-friendly’ lawyer’s rise from lobbyist to attorney general pick (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Alito confirms phone call with Trump — but says they didn’t discuss Supreme Court cases (Politico ([link removed]) )
* Saudi-backed LIV Golf will return to Trump’s Doral resort in 2025 (New York Times ([link removed]) )



Election Denial & Threats to Democracy
* After a year of voter fraud concerns Ohio’s election audit lands north of 99%, again (Ohio Capital Journal ([link removed]) )
* A North Carolina Supreme Court candidate’s bid to overturn his loss is based on theory election deniers deemed extreme (ProPublica ([link removed]) )
* Federal judge punts disputed judicial race back to North Carolina's conservative state Supreme Court (WUNC ([link removed]) )
* Judicial candidates made numerous prohibited donations (Assembly NC ([link removed]) )
* Waynesboro election officials appeal court order to certify 2024 results (WMRA ([link removed]) )
* Giuliani is held in contempt of court in defamation case (New York Times ([link removed]) )



Voting Rights
* New GOP-led elections committee in Arizona House signals voting debate isn’t over (Votebeat ([link removed]) )
* Louisiana argues parts of Voting Rights Act are unconstitutional in redistricting case (Louisiana Illuminator ([link removed]) )



State and National News
* Key Oath Keepers leader revealed as former Las Vegas police detective (Guardian ([link removed]) )
* Georgia governor seeks to spend hundreds of millions more on prisons (Associated Press ([link removed]) )

* Judge scraps Biden’s Title IX rules, reversing expansion of protections for LGBTQ+ students (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Trans rights to be marquee fight for House Republicans (Politico ([link removed]) )
* Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signs dozens of bills, including LGBTQ+ ‘forced outing’ bill (Ohio Capital Journal ([link removed]) )
* Meta changes hate speech rules, dropping LGBTQ protections (The Hill ([link removed]) )
* DeSantis appoints conservative think tank members to a university board (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Librarians gain protections in some states as book bans soar (Stateline ([link removed]) )



Abortion and Reproductive Rights
* Abortion pills prescribed by pharmacists are newest effort in abortion fight (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Proposal would outlaw use of abortion pills and tighten rape exception (Indiana Capital Chronicle ([link removed]) )
* With lawsuits and legislation, Texas Republicans take aim at abortion pills (Texas Tribune ([link removed]) )
* New Mexico is a go-to state for women seeking abortions. A new court ruling helps it stay that way (Associated Press ([link removed]) )



Government Transparency and Public Records Law
* Are lobbyist emails to lawmakers public records? A Pa. court will decide. (Spotlight PA ([link removed]) )
* Ohio Supreme Court hears arguments in watchdog group’s records dispute with state attorney general (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Seattle Times sues Seattle police, alleging public records violations (Seattle Times ([link removed]) )
* Ryan Walters' proposed rule changes concerns open records advocates (Oklahoman ([link removed]) )



Immigration
* ‘Anything we can do to help’: This Texas county is poised to play a key role in deportations (Stateline ([link removed]) )
* Texas gave $1 million in expert contracts to defend border buoys in court (Texas Observer ([link removed]) )
* Trump transition considering D.C.-area showcase immigration raid in first days of administration (NBC ([link removed]) )

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