Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) unveils its choices for the Top Ten Ethics Scandals of 2009. CREW's third annual Top Ten Ethics Scandals list does not attempt to rank these scandals in a particular order — they are all outrageous.

As world leaders gather in Copenhagen to discuss the challenges posed by climate change, CREW released Smoke Screen: How Bush Insiders Distorted – And Still Influence – America's Debate Over Climate Change. CREW's report reveals how the debate in Congress over climate change initiatives is being influenced by the people who made up President George W. Bush's climate team, and profiles many of these former Bush officials and the roles they are now playing on behalf of oil, gas, mining and other powerful energy interests.

CREW's fifth annual Most Corrupt Members of Congress report provides detailed analysis of the unethical and sometimes illegal activities of 15 congressmen and women who have most egregiously betrayed the public's trust. The report's accompanying website, www.CREWsMostCorrupt.org, offers short summaries of each member's transgressions as well as the full-length profiles and all accompanying exhibits.

In light of new legislative efforts and ever-growing controversies over the role of payday lenders in Americans' lives, CREW released a new report entitled Payday Lenders Pay Up, which examines the payday loan industry's efforts to gain influence on Capitol Hill. The first-of-its-kind study explores how the payday loan industry has stepped up its lobbying and public relations efforts as well as its campaign contributions to federal candidates in the face of greater congressional scrutiny of industry practices.

CREW's 2008 Top 10 Ethics Scandals documents the year's worst breaches of the public trust.

CREW's Revolving Door report is a first-ever comprehensive look into the activities of 24 members of President Bush’s cabinet.

Those Who Dared: 30 Officials Who Stood Up for Our County recognizes the brave individuals who have acted and spoken out against unethical and dishonorable conduct in the Bush administration.

The 2008 Most Embarrassing Re-Elected Members of Congress lists those elected officials who have misused their position through illegal, unethical or just plain outrageous conduct.

When it was first created under the Bush administration, Americans were inundated with stories of waste, fraud and abuse at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Mismanagement, grossly excessive spending, criminal conduct and shady no-bid contracts within DHS became regular features on the evening news and the front page of newspapers. CREW’s Homeland Security For Sale report documents some of the most serious problems that have faced the country's newest cabinet-level department.

Based on months of research and the results of an on-line survey, CREW has issued a report concluding that the federal government is inadequately managing its electronic records. Despite the ready availability of off-the-shelf products that would allow federal agencies to manage their records electronically, agencies continue to cling to outdated, inefficient and ineffective paper record keeping systems.

"Family Affair" details the misuse of power by the chairmen and ranking members of all House of Representative committees and subcommittees, as well as top leadership positions, to financially benefit their family members. The report names 96 members from 33 states: 41 Democrats and 55 Republicans.

"Crossing the Line: The Bush Administration's Efforts to Expand Its Powerful Reach" details the Bush administration’s repeated constitutional overreaching and abuse of executive power and prerogative.

"Family Affair – Senate" details the misuse of power by all members of the Senate to financially benefit their family members. The report names 87 senators from all 50 states: 42 Democrats, 43 Republicans and 2 Independents.

"The Best Laid Plans: The Story of How the Government Ignored its own Gulf Coast Hurricane Plan” details the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) plan to respond to a hurricane of Katrina’s magnitude and its subsequent failure to implement that plan.

"Criminals and Scoundrels" lists the 25 most corrupt officials in the Bush Administration.

"WITHOUT A TRACE: The Missing White House E-mails and the Violations of the Presidential Records Act" details the legal issues behind the story of the White House e-mail scandal.