On December 8, 2017, Campaign for Accountability submitted a Missouri Sunshine Request regarding the usage of secret messaging apps by Missouri Governor Eric Greitens and his senior staff. The Kansas City Star reported Gov. Greitens and his senior staff use the phone-based app Confide, which deletes messages after they have been read and prevents recipients from saving them.
CfA’s year-long investigation into the solar industry reveals Vivint and SolarCity are the Industry’s Leading Bad Actors
On December 6, 2017, a diverse coalition of more than 30 organizations called upon Congress to pass a clean budget with no poison pill riders, particularly one that would stop the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from requiring publicly traded corporations to disclose their political spending. These riders would roll back public protections, put workers at risk, restrict women’s rights, endanger the environment and undermine our democracy. The organizations opposing this poison pill represent a broad range of interests including labor unions, good government organizations, environmental groups, faith organizations, investors, and state and local groups.
On November 29, 2017, CfA called on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to investigate whether Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney violated the Anti-deficiency Act by directing OMB staff to perform work for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
On November 16, 2017, Campaign for Accountability asked Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz to investigate whether Rupert Murdoch, in conjunction with White House officials, has been attempting to interfere with the Department of Justice’s review of the AT&T/Time Warner merger.
On November 9, 2017, Campaign for Accountability asked Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey to open an investigation into the Attleboro Women’s Health Center (AWHC), which masquerades as an abortion clinic, but is actually part of a pro-life organization that actively tries to deceive women seeking abortion-related services. CfA’s complaint alleges that AWHC is engaging in deceptive business practices in violation of Massachusetts law.
On October 31, 2017, CfA joined a coalition in urging policymakers to finalize and implement the proactive disclosure policy of “Release to One, Release to All” under the Freedom of Information Act.
On October 30, 2017, Campaign for Accountability released a report revealing Google continues to place ads on websites that promote false information despite promises to alter its practices. CfA analyzed a sample of 1,255 news publishers and found that Google continues to place ads on hyper-partisan and misleading websites, resulting in millions of dollars in revenue for the company.
On October 26, 2017, Campaign for Accountability, a government watchdog group focused on public accountability, called on the Virginia State Bar to investigate whether Office of Refugee Resettlement Director Edward Scott Lloyd violated the Virginia State Bar Rules of Professional Conduct. Mr. Lloyd deliberately violated the U.S. Constitution and other federal and state laws to prevent unaccompanied pregnant immigrant minors from obtaining abortions.
On October 24, 2017, a bipartisan coalition of 42 civil liberties, civil rights, and transparency organizations coordinated by Demand Progress Action released a letter calling on Congress to support the USA RIGHTS Act, a strong bipartisan surveillance reform bill introduced today by Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and nine other Senators.