American Oversight

Our elections are under threat. Trump is trying to settle old scores and tip the scales in his favor in future elections. Here’s what he is trying to do — and how groups like us are fighting back.

americanoversight.orgChallenges to the 2026 Midterms in Arizona - American OversightPartisan forces — from local officials to the Trump administration — are threatening elections in the state.

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Across the country, election administration is being reshaped in ways that give election deniers more control. In Arizona, groups aligned with Trump’s agenda are pumping money into the state and the Trump admin itself is working with state and local officials. americanoversight.org/investigatio...

americanoversight.orgAdvocates, Watchdog Launch Investigation Into ICE’s Response to Hunger Strike at Folkston Detention Center - American OversightGroups Seeking Records Following Reports of Solitary Confinement, Deportations, and Concerns About Retaliation Against Strikers

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ICYMI: A hunger strike has been underway for weeks at the Folkston Detention Center in Georgia. The people detained there are mostly asylum seekers. We’re investigating ICE’s response and whether the strikers are safe. americanoversight.org/press-releas...

americanoversight.orgInvestigating Who’s Meddling with the Midterms - American OversightOur investigation into Tina Peters’ access to top election officials. Plus, investigating election threats in Arizona and North Carolina.

In this week’s newsletter: Our investigation into another election denier’s access to top federal election officials ahead of the midterms. Plus, our investigations into election threats in Arizona and North Carolina. americanoversight.org/newsletter/t...

americanoversight.orgChallenges to 2026 Midterm Election Administration in North Carolina - American OversightNorth Carolina’s changing election rules and pressure from partisan forces could make it harder for people to cast their ballots.

Partisan maneuvering in the North Carolina legislature put the State Board of Elections and all of the state’s 100 county election boards under Republican control. Now, officials are pushing to make it harder to vote. Here’s what we’ve uncovered so far. americanoversight.org/investigatio...

The Pentagon has reportedly installed conservative influencers as civilian DOD employees. We filed FOIA requests for records and communications related to their hiring, so we can understand their influence at the Pentagon. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

Tina Peters was convicted of felonies for her role in breaching her county’s voting systems. So why is she allegedly meeting with Trump and federal election administration officials ahead of the midterms? Read about our investigation in this week’s newsletter: americanoversight.org/newsletter/t...

Across the country, election administration is being reshaped in ways that give election deniers more control over how elections are run. For months, we’ve been investigating what’s happening behind the scenes in Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina. americanoversight.org/issue/electi...

In North Carolina, state officials reshaped how elections work to benefit specific political parties, which could make it harder for many eligible voters to participate in the 2026 election. Here’s how we’re fighting back. americanoversight.org/investigatio...

Want more election content? We made a guide to break down all of the recurring news stories and the key individuals and organizations that are influencing the upcoming midterms elections. Consider it your cheat sheet to stay informed and get caught up. americanoversight.org/analysis/a-g...

In Arizona, groups aligned with Trump’s agenda are pumping money into the state and the Trump admin itself is working with state and local officials. We’re investigating efforts to undermine confidence in Arizona’s elections system. americanoversight.org/investigatio...

In Georgia, state lawmakers have cited false theories of voter fraud to push for election certification delays, hand counts of ballots, and greater access to ballots and election records ahead of the 2026 midterms. We’re investigating. americanoversight.org/investigatio...

NEW: A hunger strike has been underway for weeks at the Folkston Detention Center. The people detained there are mostly asylum seekers. We’re investigating ICE’s response and whether the strikers are safe, along with @aaaj-atlanta.bsky.social and and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta.

"The public needs to know whether ICE has retaliated against those participating in the strike and what it is doing to end the deplorable conditions in Folkston," said our Executive Director Chioma Chukwu.

documentcloud.orgFOIA Request to ICE for Records Regarding Hunger Strike at Folkston ICE Processing Center

Read the full Freedom of Information Act requests here: www.documentcloud.org/documents/28...

Now, there are concerns strikers are facing retaliation, including the use of solitary confinement. One of the strike organizers has been deported.

We sent ICE a FOIA request for incident and medical reports as well as related communications. These records could provide critical information about how facility officials have responded to the protest, including if ICE has used forced feeding or other interventions.

On October 4, men detained at Folkston released a video calling public attention to their prolonged detention in ICE custody; lack of food, water, and medical care; and abuse. Two days later, people detained at Folkston began a hunger strike in protest. americanoversight.org/press-releas...

NEW: We obtained internal emails showing Rep. Andy Ogles’ (R-TN) lawyer emailed Ed Martin to ask DOJ to drop an investigation into Ogles’ campaign finances. DOJ did, with no public explanation. The inspector general needs to investigate why. americanoversight.org/press-releas...

Martin has championed investigations of Trump’s political enemies. These emails raise questions about whether he was also using his office to squash criminal investigations into the president’s allies.

We obtained the Army’s report on shock gloves — the same ones that were used in Nebraska schools. The report makes it clear that the gloves inflict severe pain, and there was no testing on whether they impact peoples’ health. www.cnn.com/2026/10/23/u...

ICE has also spent between roughly $10 and $20 million to purchase shock gloves, also potentially for use on kids. In one record we obtained, ICE clarified that officers will determine what the right force level is for “non-compliant aliens of any age.” americanoversight.org/analysis/sho...

The Trump admin has repeatedly tried to block visits like this so Congress can’t see the appalling conditions. But we keep fighting back — and winning. Three judges have ordered DHS to allow all members of Congress to conduct oversight of ICE facilities.

Oversight Dems@oversightdemocrats.bsky.social

When Oversight Democrats visited the ICE detention facility in Adelanto, what we saw was nothing short of horrific. Detainees are being held in atrocious conditions, despite the fact that the vast majority of them have no criminal record. We must deliver real accountability.

americanoversight.orgCourt Orders Trump Administration to Restore Congressional Oversight of ICE Detention Facilities – AgainRuling reaffirms the right of all members of Congress to conduct unannounced inspections amid alarming reports of abuse

Read more about our ongoing legal fight here: americanoversight.org/press-releas...

americanoversight.orgAmerican Oversight Sues DHS for Records on Corey Lewandowski’s Shadow Role - American OversightAs DHS wages war on American cities, secrecy around Lewandowski continues the Trump Administration’s assault on the public’s right to know.

We're suing DHS to demand answers about Corey Lewandowski’s prior role at the agency. We’re seeking records that could reveal if he abused his position. americanoversight.org/corey-lewand...

The Wall Street Journal@wsj.com

Exclusive: The Justice Dept. is examining allegations that Corey Lewandowski profited off his top position at the Department of Homeland Security.

on.wsj.comJustice Department Reviewing Allegations Against Corey LewandowskiThe inquiry is one of the first in Trump’s second term to target someone close to the president.

Partisan forces — from local officials to the Trump administration — are threatening free and fair elections in North Carolina. We’re using records requests and litigation to fight back. americanoversight.org/investigatio...

washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/10/22/judge-blocks-dhs-investigations-noncitizen-voting-citing-flawed-data/

DHS has been using its SAVE database to track down noncitizens it suspects of voting. A federal judge just stopped these investigations in 9 states, concluding that the database had a high likelihood of error. We’ve been investigating this database for months. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

We know the system is unreliable — there are reports of citizens losing their voter registration after being wrongly flagged by SAVE. But the admin has refused to disclose what information is being used, how reliable it is, or how it plans to keep that data secure.

We’ve filed more than a dozen FOIA requests, and multiple lawsuits to demand answers — especially as the administration ramps up its use of SAVE. Learn more about our ongoing investigation here: americanoversight.org/investigatio...

washingtonpost.comhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/10/22/judge-blocks-dhs-investigations-noncitizen-voting-citing-flawed-data/

The SAVE database was never meant to be used this way. It was originally used to check whether immigrants are entitled to government benefits. But the Trump admin has been adding data from other sources, including driver’s licenses, student aid records, and social security data.

Officials in North Carolina reshaped how elections work to benefit specific political parties, which could make it harder for many eligible voters to participate in the 2026 election. Here’s what you need to know — and how we’re fighting back. americanoversight.org/investigatio...

americanoversight.orgChallenges to the 2026 Midterms in Arizona - American OversightPartisan forces — from local officials to the Trump administration — are threatening elections in the state.

Election administration is being reshaped in ways that give election deniers more control over how elections are run. We’re investigating what’s happening behind the scenes in key states, including Arizona, and how national groups are getting involved. americanoversight.org/investigatio...

We launched an investigation into Tina Peters’ alleged access to federal election officials ahead of the midterms. Peters reportedly met with Trump and claims she presented a plan for the 2026 midterms to officials focused on election security. americanoversight.org/press-releas...

We sent expedited FOIA requests to DHS, CISA, DOJ’s Office of the Attorney General and Civil Rights Division, the EAC, and the Commerce Department seeking emails, text messages, and meeting records between senior officials.

“Americans deserve answers, and they deserve an administration that protects their votes from those who have tried to undermine them, not one that gives election deniers a seat at the table,” said our Executive Director Chioma Chukwu.

Peters was convicted on felony state charges stemming from a breach of her county’s voting systems. She was released from prison in June after Colorado’s governor commuted her sentence. coloradosun.com/2024/08/12/t...

The Pentagon has reportedly installed conservative influencers as civilian DOD employees. We want to understand what they’re doing at the Pentagon, so we filed FOIA requests for records and communications related to their hiring. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

americanoversight.orgWatchdog Launches Investigation Into Tina Peters’ Access to Trump Admin, Federal Election Officials Ahead of Midterms - American OversightAmerican Oversight Seeks Records on Contacts Between Convicted Former County Clerk, Her Associates, and Federal Officials Following Reported White House Meeting

NEW—Tina Peters was convicted of a felony for her attempt to interfere with voting in Colorado. Now, Peters reportedly met with Trump and says she presented a plan for the 2026 midterms. We’re investigating whether Peters is influencing election administration. americanoversight.org/press-releas...

19thnews.orgMismatched IDs aren’t stopping trans Kansans from votingThe 19th spoke with four trans women about their plans to vote in the midterms after a law invalidated thousands of drivers licenses based on gender identity.

A Kansas law forced trans residents to change their drivers’ licenses, switching their gender to sex assigned at birth. We've been investigating how this will affect Kansans’ voter registration. Records we obtained show officials don’t want to police voters’ genders. 19thnews.org/2026/10/tran...

americanoversight.orgChallenges to 2026 Midterm Election Administration in GeorgiaPartisan forces – from local officials to the Trump administration — are using false claims to try to threaten elections in the state.

We’re investigating efforts to undermine confidence in Georgia’s elections system and suppress certain votes ahead of the midterms. Our work has already uncovered efforts by election denial activists to push voter purge tools. americanoversight.org/investigatio...

americanoversight.orgYour midterms cheatsheetPlus, we’re investigating if DOJ and the FBI are coordinating with lawmakers in push to prosecute Jack Smith.

This week, we kicked off a series on the threats to elections in key states and published our explainer on our biggest concerns in Georgia. Plus, we fought in court to preserve the Presidential Records Act. Read more in this week’s newsletter. americanoversight.org/newsletter/y...

The CDC is planning to fund a study that would withhold Hepatitis B vaccines from half of its newborn participants. It’s led by anti-vaccine activists and experts say it's unethical. We sent FOIAs to HHS, CDC, and FDA for related comms and risk analyses. www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

americanoversight.orgA Guide to the People, Organizations, and Myths Threatening the 2026 Midterms - American OversightWhy are watchdogs and lawmakers raising alarms about the upcoming midterms? We made a guide to explain.

Confused about why watchdogs and lawmakers are so concerned about the upcoming midterm elections? We made a guide with the names to know, organizations to watch, and recurring stories in the news cycle.

americanoversight.orgWatchdog, Historians Head to Appeals Court to Defend Order Blocking Trump’s Evasion of Presidential Records Act - American OversightAmerican Oversight is returning to court, asking it to uphold the order that requires the White House to preserve records. The Trump administration is appealing the earlier order, asking the court to…

We’re back in court today. In May, we scored a major victory in our fight to stop millions of presidential records from being lost or permanently destroyed. The Trump admin appealed, and we’re urging the court to reject this latest attempt to evade the PRA. americanoversight.org/press-releas...

americanoversight.orgYour midterms cheatsheetPlus, we’re investigating if DOJ and the FBI are coordinating with lawmakers in push to prosecute Jack Smith.

In this week’s newsletter: Our guide to the people, orgs, and myths threatening the midterms. Plus our fight to preserve the PRA, and our investigation into whether DOJ is coordinating with Congress to prosecute Jack Smith to keep a key report hidden. americanoversight.org/newsletter/y...

TOMORROW: We’ll be back in court, defending our victory from earlier this year. The Trump admin wants the court to say the PRA, passed in the wake of Watergate, is unconstitutional. We’re fighting to ensure the White House preserves its records. americanoversight.org/press-releas...

Trump and allied lawmakers are escalating calls to prosecute Jack Smith, the former special counsel who led the investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents. We’re investigating if they’re coordinating with DOJ. americanoversight.org/press-releas...

Meanwhile, DOJ has been working to keep Smith’s findings about Trump’s handling of classified documents from the public, blocking the report’s release and firing the agents involved in the investigation.

Our executive director, Chioma Chukwu, explained that this is a pattern: “Trump’s allies start with an accusation, search for evidence, and keep demanding punishment even when their claims fall apart. Congress should be checking that abuse, not enabling it.”

Last month, lawmakers tried to use text messages obtained through DOJ to make their case. (Though their argument fell apart in a pretty spectacular way.) www.nytimes.com/2026/09/29/u...