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Our Fight for Accountability Does Not Shut Down
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The federal government shut down this week, and instead of working toward a solution, the Trump administration is using federal resources to point fingers ([link removed]) and direct blame ([link removed]) at its perceived political opponents ([link removed]) . That’s why, even during a government closure, the fight for transparency remains crucial.
* We’re continuing the fight to hold the Trump administration accountable for its actions, which have had devastating impacts on our democracy.
* This year, American Oversight has filed 1,645 public records requests — with 72 different agencies in 42 states — to demand government transparency and accountability. We’ve also filed 23 lawsuits demanding the release of public records.


This week, we renewed our call for the release of volume two of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on Donald Trump’s mishandling of government records after his first term. And in Wisconsin, former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman is finally facing consequences for his efforts to undermine the 2020 election results — and his misconduct in our related litigation.



** (Still) Seeking Jack Smith’s Report on Trump’s Handling of Classified Documents
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Trump’s abuse of power during the government shutdown is not an isolated incident. It’s part of the president’s broader pattern of exploiting government authority for his personal and political gain — and hiding the truth from the American public.


More than nine months have passed since Special Counsel Jack Smith submitted his report on Trump’s mishandling of classified documents. But the public still has not seen volume two, due to an order from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ([link removed]) ​ that has kept it under wraps. Cannon threw out the charges ([link removed]) against Trump last year, claiming Smith was improperly appointed.


This week, we asked the court to vacate Cannon’s order ([link removed]) indefinitely barring the Justice Department from releasing Volume II.
* “Transparency isn’t optional in a democracy,” our Executive Director Chioma Chukwu said. “The public has a right to know what Special Counsel Smith found, and the Justice Department cannot continue to withhold a report that should have been released nearly a year ago under federal law. By keeping this order in place, Judge Cannon is undermining both accountability and the rule of law.”
* Our petition builds on earlier attempts to pry loose volume two of the report. In February, we sued the Justice Department ([link removed]) for failing to respond to our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the full report.
* The DOJ cited Cannon’s gag order to explain to the court why it hadn’t released the report.



** Demanding Transparency about Tom Homan’s FBI Investigation Closure
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Last year, the FBI allegedly caught now-Border Czar Tom Homan accepting $50,000 from an agent who posed as a consultant, in exchange for potential future government contracts, according to recent reporting by MSNBC ([link removed]) .
* The Trump administration closed the investigation ([link removed]) , and top officials ([link removed]) denied Homan’s acceptance of the bribe as recently as last week.
* We sent FOIA requests to the FBI and the Justice Department for video and audio recordings of the transaction.
* The public deserves to know the truth about whether the country’s top immigration official accepted cash in exchange for the promise of future government contracts — especially under an administration that is deeply committed to mass detention and deportation.



** On the Records
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** Michael Gableman Faces Consequences for Actions During Partisan Election Inquiry
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Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman should lose his law license ([link removed]) for three years because of ethics violations related to his discredited 2020 election review, a Court-appointed referee ruled this week.
* The ruling came months after the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) filed ([link removed]) a disciplinary complaint ([link removed]) against Gableman for his actions during the partisan and baseless inquiry he led into the results of the 2020 presidential election.
* The OLR’s complaint and the referee’s report both list 10 counts against Gableman, including for misconduct during American Oversight’s related litigation.
* Several counts cite Gableman’s failure to comply with state public records laws — violations that were revealed through our litigation ([link removed]) for records ([link removed]) from the inquiry, including Gableman’s unprofessional conduct while testifying in a related hearing.
* Other counts relate to Gableman’s conduct during a June 2022 hearing ([link removed]) in our litigation, where Gableman made false statements impugning the judge’s integrity and alleged bias, and made false, derogatory, and demeaning statements about American Oversight’s counsel.


Gableman surrendered his law license ([link removed]) in April to settle OLR’s complaint, agreeing to the office’s recommended three-year suspension term. A court-appointed referee had to approve the agreement before it could take effect.
* “Gableman abused his power, aiming to erode trust in our democracy,” our Executive Director Chioma Chukwu said. “We urge the Wisconsin Supreme Court to follow the special referee’s recommendation and impose the three year suspension Mr. Gableman richly deserves.”


** Other Stories We’re Following
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** American Oversight in the News
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* Groups press for release of special counsel Jack Smith’s report on Trump’s classified documents case (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Fight over hidden report on Trump documents case goes to appeals court (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Court-appointed referee recommends Michael Gableman lose law license for 3 years (Wisconsin Public Radio ([link removed]) )


** Trump Administration Accountability
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* Judge orders Trump administration to preserve $233M in FEMA grants it attempted to pull from blue states (Politico ([link removed]) )
* White House unveils ‘TrumpRx’ drug-buying site and a Pfizer pricing deal (Wall Street Journal ([link removed]) )
* Trump ‘determined’ the U.S. is now in a war with drug cartels, Congress is told (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Hegseth rails against 'woke,' lays out standards in speech to top generals, admirals (ABC News ([link removed]) )
* Kash Patel fires FBI agent trainee for displaying gay pride flag (MSNBC ([link removed]) )
* Larry Ellison is a ‘shadow president’ in Donald Trump’s America (Wired ([link removed]) )
* How Tom Homan wound up ensnared in an FBI contracts-for-cash sting (MSNBC ([link removed]) )


** Voting Rights
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* Voting rights, privacy advocates sue to stop Trump administration’s ‘national data banks’ (Louisiana Illuminator ([link removed]) )
* Bipartisan group of New Hampshire residents challenge Trump voter file request (New Hampshire Bulletin ([link removed]) )
* Judges to hear Texas redistricting challenge giving Republicans five seats (Guardian ([link removed]) )
* A GOP push to restrict voting by overseas U.S. citizens continues before 2026 midterms (NPR ([link removed]) )


** State and National News
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* Feds march into downtown Chicago; Top border agent says people are arrested based on ‘how they look’ (Chicago Sun-Times ([link removed]) )
* Argument erupts on the NC elections board over the new role handed a former GOP operative (NC Newsline ([link removed]) )

* The Supreme Court fight over whether gay and trans people can be “cured,” explained (Vox ([link removed]) )
* PEN America warns of rise in books 'systematically removed from school libraries' (NPR ([link removed]) )


** Immigration
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* Trump revives family separations amid drive to deport millions: ‘A tactic to punish’ (Guardian ([link removed]) )
* ICE to buy tool that tracks locations of hundreds of millions of phones every day (404 Media ([link removed]) )
* Trading on Tom Homan: Inside the push to cash in on the Trump administration’s deportation campaign (ProPublica ([link removed]) )
* Feds pay Florida $608M for Alligator Alcatraz day before government shutdown (Sarasota Herald-Tribune ([link removed]) )


** Abortion and Reproductive Rights
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* Fewer women cross state lines for abortion in 2025, suggesting more pill use, study suggests (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Federal lawsuit to limit access to abortion pill moved from Texas to Missouri (Missouri Independent ([link removed]) )
* Planned Parenthood of WI pauses services as Democratic lawmakers seek end to state restrictions (Wisconsin Examiner ([link removed]) )

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