Several years ago, it appeared that a number of trials were on the horizon for Members of Congress.  But outside of those caught literally and figuratively with cold hard cash, only congressional staffers and lobbyists have been held accountable, and even many of them appear to have gotten off scot...

Usually the news that a Member of Congress is seeking $30 contributions would be received as good news – evidence that there is a role for average Americans in the multi-million dollar campaign game.  But the recent debacle involving Members skipping their own swearing in and fundraising in the...

The Office of Congressional Ethics is under fire and certainly there is no shortage of Members calling for closing the office altogether or at least stripping it of powers in an attempt to bring it to heel.  Either action would be a grave mistake if Congress is to have any hope of rehabilitating...

Given the multiple violations which Rep. Charles Rangel has publicly admitted to committing, a simple reprimand is an insufficient penalty. At the same time, expulsion is not on the table, and appropriately so. There was no evidence of egregious self-enrichment or specific corruption.

In South Dakota, legislators are attempting to gut the state’s entire ethics law, contrary to the expressed wish of the voters.

A combination of Supreme Court decisions and lax enforcement from the Federal Election Commission and the Internal Revenue Service has allowed groups like the Senate Leadership Fund – which is closely linked to McConnell - to use nonprofits like One Nation as a conduit for secret campaign cash.

In a closed-door meeting held on a national holiday, yesterday U.S. House Republicans voted for a proposal that will gut the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), an independent body created in 2008 as a response to ethics and lobbying scandals.

The scandal surrounding President Trump’s former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn  is indicative of why the Constitution bars U.S. officials from accepting anything of value from a foreign government: to prevent even the possibility of influence by foreign powers. 

New documents obtained by CLC under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) show how lawyers for the White House and the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) scrambled to respond to President Trump and a top aide who used their official positions to promote First Daughter Ivanka Trump’s fashion line.

At a Kentucky campaign rally on Monday, President Donald Trump appeared to take credit for “keeping former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick out of a job,” as CNN put it. That could spell trouble for President Trump. Although the president is exempt from many ethics laws and...

Seventy percent of Missouri voters in last November’s general election approved the Missouri Campaign Contribution Reform Initiative, a state constitutional amendment now being challenged in district court.

Walt Shaub delivered a speech at the National Press Club which was carried live on C-SPAN about government ethics, imploring reporters to focus on ethical norms and the erosion of ethics practices that have been commonplace over decades, regardless of the party of the administration in power.

Since public service is a public trust, the effectiveness of government employees depends on the perception that public policy is being formulated in the public interest. When senators demanded an investigation into Icahn’s company biofuels trades in May, concerns were raised about Icahn’s ability...

In order to hold any presidential administration accountable, we must gather all the facts.

Additionally, an analysis CLC shared with the Times shows that Pruitt’s use of federal PAC money as Oklahoma Attorney General offered a preview of what was to come during Pruitt’s tenure at EPA: a preference for a luxury lifestyle and a commitment to making sure his inner circle gets paid handsomely...

Americans are hungry for a democracy that is more transparent, accessible, and accountable, and there are indications that the next Congress will seriously consider legislation designed to improve our democracy.

This November voters will have the chance to vote to end extreme partisan gerrymandering, improve the way we fund elections to give every day voters a voice in the political process (not just wealthy donors), expand voting access and improve ethics in government.