CREW uses the Freedom of Information Act to request and receive government records that can shed light on how federal agencies and government individuals made key decisions and approached issues relevant to government accountability. By investigating and releasing these records publicly, CREW is able to foster better transparency and receive answers to pressing questions. In cases where the government fails to respond or provide documents in response to FOIA requests, CREW files lawsuits to obtain the records.

Feb 22, 2023

CREW requested all records related to the now-closed investigation conducted by the Department of Justice and the FBI of Rep. Matt Gaetz, including the DOJ’s decision not to bring criminal charges against Gaetz despite public reporting suggesting an abundance of evidence that he likely violated sex-trafficking laws, and the conviction of his close associate on similar charges. The public deserves to know whether the decision not to prosecute Gaetz was motivated, even in part, by anything other than the sufficiency of the evidence against him.

Read the requests to the Executive Office for United States AttorneysFBI, and Criminal Division of the DOJ.

Mar 29, 2023

CREW requested the full case file for United States v. Derrick Evans, including any video or other evidence documenting Evans’s actions or or around January 6, 2021. Despite recently having taken an oath to uphold the Constitution as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Evans encouraged his followers to travel to Washington, D.C. to “fight for Trump,” then live-streamed himself storming the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6th.

Evans later resigned from public office and pled guilty to a felony charge, but on January 6th, 2023, he announced his plans to run for Congress for West Virginia’s 1st district. The requested evidence would shed light on the actions of the convicted Jan. 6th rioter during the insurrection.

Read the request to the Department of Justice here.

Apr 18, 2023

CREW requested all records or communications relating to and preceding publication of the law review article in the Texas Review of Law & Politics that Judge Kacsmaryk, the Texas judge who blocked mifepristone, failed to disclose to the Senate. Mifepristone is a medication used for medically induced abortions.

This requests includes but is not limited to any such communications with Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, Justin E. Butterfield, Stephanie N. Taub, or any other person affiliated with First Liberty Institute.

Apr 25, 2023

CREW requested copies of any communications from January 1, 2023 through March 31, 2023 pertaining to the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) or David Becker, former board member of ERIC, between the Office of the Secretary of State and state election officials of Ohio, Louisiana, Alabama, West Virginia, Florida and Missouri.

CREW also requested copies of any communications from September 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021 pertaining to ERIC, Becker, or between the present and former Secretaries of State and these states’ election officials.

Read the requests to Ohio, Louisiana, Alabama, West Virginia, Florida and Missouri.

May 01, 2023

CREW requested copies of any communications from January 1, 2021 to the present between the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis and 39 Florida colleges and universities discussing Critical Race Theory; African American History, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI); and Gender Studies/Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s studies.

CREW also requested copies of any communications between Ron DeSantis’s office and City Journal Senior Fellow and Contributing Editor Christopher F. Rufo, University of Florida President Ben Sasse, the Board of Trustees at New College of Florida, the State University System Board of Governors, the State Board of Education, the College Board and representatives from non-governmental groups on issues regarding teaching Critical Race Theory in schools.

Read the request here.

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