CREW Launches CorporateCrackdown.org - Outside Oversight, Where Business and Government Intersect

Since 2003, CREW has exposed unethical activities of public officials. Now, we have corporate America in our sights. On May 20th, CREW launched CorporateCrackdown.org - a new website dedicated to providing much-needed oversight on the intersection between business and government.

CorporateCrackdown.org is designed to hold accountable those who improperly influence government officials, overcharge taxpayers or in any way sacrifice the public good for private earnings. The site compiles up-to-date news, reports and blog posts on the latest cases of corporate malfeasance, which range from credit card company rip-offs to defense contractors' crooked dealings.

CREW's goal is to educate the public on those companies that use their power and influence to prioritize profit at the expense of Americans' interests.

Click here to visit CorporateCrackdown.org

CREW Files Opposition to Norm Coleman's Request to Use Recount Funds for Legal Expenses

On May 19th, CREW sent a letter to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), opposing former Sen. Norm Coleman's (R-MN) request to use campaign funds to pay for expenses he might incur as a potential witness in two ongoing lawsuits against one of his campaign donors.

The FEC prohibits the expenditure of campaign funds for personal use though the Commission infamously and frequently makes exceptions to this rule. CREW argued the FEC should deny Sen. Coleman's request because the senator is not a party to the litigation and he might not be called as a witness. Previously, the FEC has refused to provide opinions when faced with hypothetical questions. Additionally, some if not most of Sen. Coleman's remaining campaign funds were transferred from the Coleman Minnesota Recount Committee and the FEC has held recount funds may be used only for expenses and related to a recount. As a result, the FEC should prohibit Sen. Coleman from using recount funds to defray these other legal expenses.

Learn more

Read CREW's letter to the FEC

Read the St. Paul Pioneer Press article

Become a CREW Fan on Facebook

Stay up-to-date on all of CREW's actions and read the latest ethics-in-government news by becoming a CREW Fan on Facebook!

Click below to visit CREW's Facebook page to learn more.

Follow CREW on Twitter

Read the latest thoughts from Melanie Sloan and CREW's staff by following CREW on Twitter!

Click below to visit CREW's Twitter page or click here to read the latest tweets on CREW's homepage.

*CREW Releases You Don't Know Jack* - A Map to Rep. Murtha's Web of Corruption** On May 28th, CREW released You Don't Know Jack, an interactive graphical guide to Rep. John Murtha's (D-PA) infamous web of earmark corruption. For years Rep. Murtha, who has appeared on CREW's Most Corrupt Members of Congress list three times and counting, has used his position on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to reward lobbyists, defense contractors, and family members with money and power in exchange for campaign contributions and personal favors. CREW's new graphic allows visitors to explore each of these crooked connections, visualizing Rep. Murtha's network of deals and providing background. Rep. Murtha has been receiving national attention recently as a result of federal investigations into entities linked to him, the PMA Group and the Kuchera Corporation, reports of nepotism involving Rep. Murtha's nephew, and the recent revelation that the congressman has earmarked millions for an under-used, airport named after him in his western Pennsylvania district. Also this month, CREW filed a FOIA request with the Department of Justice to learn if the Justice Department suddenly began supporting the National Drug Intelligence Center's request for funding - after years of trying to shut it down - because it is one of Rep. Murtha's pet projects. In light of the criminal probe and the ever-increasing number of reports of Rep. Murtha's unethical conduct, CREW has called for Rep. Murtha to step down from his chairmanship of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Click here to visit You Don't Know Jack Read the USA Today article Read CREW's FOIA request to the DOJ Read The Hill article on the National Drug Intelligence Center CREW Releases Analysis of Credit Card Execs' 2008 Political Donations On May 4th, CREW released an analysis of credit card industry executives' 2008 election cycle donations - showcasing the extent to which their contributions may influence Washington policy. CREW's analysis comes after a late April meeting between these industry executives and President Obama. CREW's study found that during the 2008 election cycle, the credit card company executives in attendance at the White House meeting personally donated about $50,000 to federal candidates, their employees contributed $14.5 million, and their companies' political action committees contributed $8.6 million. Additionally, these companies spent $15.5 million on lobbying expenses in the first quarter for 2009 in their efforts to influence government officials. This analysis reinforced CREW's opposition to a White House ban on lobbyists -- but not other influential individuals -- seeking Recovery Act funds from engaging in oral communications with agency officials. While the meeting with credit card industry executives was not held to discuss Recovery Act funds, it showed how industry executives have significant influence over administration decisions. On May 29th, as the result of efforts by CREW, the American Civil Liberties Union and the American League of Lobbyists, the White House announced revisions to its policy. Now, after competitive grant applications have been filed, communications by anyone, lobbyists and non-lobbyists alike, may only be in writing. Learn more about CREW's credit card industry analysis Read the analysis Read The Politico article Learn more about the White House's revised lobbying restrictions Read The Washington Post article Court Finds White House Office of Administration is Not Subject to Freedom of Information Act On May 19th, in a blow to transparency advocates, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court decision finding the White House Office of Administration (OA) is not an agency, and therefore not subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. The ruling stems from a May 2007 lawsuit CREW brought against the OA for failing to respond to CREW's April 2007 FOIA request for documents related to millions of emails dating between October 2003 and March 2005 that had disappeared from White House servers. Since its creation under the Carter administration, the OA has functioned as an agency subject to the FOIA. In fact, the OA included FOIA regulations on its website. Only after CREW's request, which sought documents related to the disappearance of emails, which coincided with the early days of the Iraq war and the leak of Valerie Plame Wilson's cover identity, did the Bush administration make the unprecedented claim that the office was not an agency. Courts agreed and this ruling will prevent the public from learning why the emails vanished and why the Bush White House failed to implement a plan to recover them. Along with 36 other transparency-advocate groups, CREW has called on the Obama administration to treat the OA as an agency and once again make its records available under the Freedom of Information Act. Opening the OA to FOIA requests is essential to maintaining a transparent and accountable government. Learn more Read the Circuit Court's decision Read the letter CREW and 36 other groups sent to the White House Read The Washington Post article		CREW Launches CorporateCrackdown.org - Outside Oversight, Where Business and Government Intersect Since 2003, CREW has exposed unethical activities of public officials. Now, we have corporate America in our sights. On May 20th, CREW launched CorporateCrackdown.org - a new website dedicated to providing much-needed oversight on the intersection between business and government. CorporateCrackdown.org is designed to hold accountable those who improperly influence government officials, overcharge taxpayers or in any way sacrifice the public good for private earnings. The site compiles up-to-date news, reports and blog posts on the latest cases of corporate malfeasance, which range from credit card company rip-offs to defense contractors' crooked dealings. CREW's goal is to educate the public on those companies that use their power and influence to prioritize profit at the expense of Americans' interests. Click here to visit CorporateCrackdown.org CREW Files Opposition to Norm Coleman's Request to Use Recount Funds for Legal Expenses On May 19th, CREW sent a letter to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), opposing former Sen. Norm Coleman's (R-MN) request to use campaign funds to pay for expenses he might incur as a potential witness in two ongoing lawsuits against one of his campaign donors. The FEC prohibits the expenditure of campaign funds for personal use though the Commission infamously and frequently makes exceptions to this rule. CREW argued the FEC should deny Sen. Coleman's request because the senator is not a party to the litigation and he might not be called as a witness. Previously, the FEC has refused to provide opinions when faced with hypothetical questions. Additionally, some if not most of Sen. Coleman's remaining campaign funds were transferred from the Coleman Minnesota Recount Committee and the FEC has held recount funds may be used only for expenses and related to a recount. As a result, the FEC should prohibit Sen. Coleman from using recount funds to defray these other legal expenses. Learn more Read CREW's letter to the FEC Read the St. Paul Pioneer Press article Become a CREW Fan on Facebook Stay up-to-date on all of CREW's actions and read the latest ethics-in-government news by becoming a CREW Fan on Facebook! Click below to visit CREW's Facebook page to learn more. Follow CREW on Twitter Read the latest thoughts from Melanie Sloan and CREW's staff by following CREW on Twitter! Click below to visit CREW's Twitter page or click here to read the latest tweets on CREW's homepage.

(c) 2009 Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, all rights reserved.
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CREW Cuts	June 2009 / Issue #26