CREW Projects


You Don't Know Jack is an interactive graphic illustrating the intricate web of special interests Rep. Jack Murtha (D-PA) has spun around him. For many years, Rep. Murtha has been treating our tax dollars like his own personal piggy bank, doling out funds to donors, friends, and family members who ingratiate themselves, currying his favor. In exchange, Rep. Murtha greedily demands and receives tribute in the form of generous campaign donations, employment for relatives, and charitable contributions. Visit You Don't Know Jack to learn how these individuals and businesses are connected to the congressman and how much that connection costs them — and us.

Federal contractors, corporations, and trade groups all conduct business with the government with relatively little non-governmental oversight. CorporateCrackdown.org's mission is to change that. This new CREW website will hold accountable those who unduly influence government officials, overcharge taxpayers, or sacrifice the public good for private benefit by exposing their activities and taking action where appropriate. The latest news, reports, and blogs on corporate malfeasance will be posted on CorporateCrackdown.org to educate the public on those companies that use their power and influence to prioritize profit at the expense of Americans' interests.


Armed with $700 billion in taxpayer money, the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) has been charged with keeping banks and other big businesses afloat during the economic downturn. CREW’s TARPtales.org serves as a central repository for the latest news, reports, and congressional hearings related to TARP.

CREW’s BermanExposed.org is dedicated to exposing lobbyist Richard Berman’s activities, his myriad front groups and projects, his employees’ work, and his firm’s tactics in acting in the interest of the tobacco, alcohol, chain restaurant, and tanning industries.


CREW issued its first "Beyond DeLay" congressional corruption report in 2005, listing the 13 most corrupt members of Congress. CREW issued an updated and expanded report in September 2006, titled "Beyond DeLay: The 20 most corrupt members of Congress (and five to watch)." The November 2006 elections saw nine "Beyond DeLay" members retire or be voted out of office, as exit polls showed corruption was voters' top issue. CREW's 2008 report presents evidence against 24 members of Congress.

CREW created FixtheFEC.org to prompt Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to allow for a vote on federal election commissioners that would get the FEC back to policing federal elections business. Currently, the FEC is unable to perform its function, to administer and enforce campaign finance laws.


"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.

Since its creation five years ago, Americans have been 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 have become regular features on the evening news and the front page of newspapers. As a result, CREW has prepared a report documenting some of the most serious problems facing the country's newest cabinet-level department.


Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) released its first-ever analysis of 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 new report, Family Affair, names 96 members from 33 states: 44 Democrats and 53 Republicans.

CREW, in conjunction with several partners, has developed the GovernmentDocs.org website to advance the mission of greater government transparency. This website can be used as a tool to expose those who betray the public trust by empowering the public to both search and review the tens of thousands of government documents that CREW, and its partners, acquire through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.


After preparing reports on congressional corruption for the past two years, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington ("CREW") realized that as an organization focused on government ethics, we also need to evaluate conduct in the executive branch. This report represents CREW's first effort to apply the methodology from our examination of congressional corruption to executive branch corruption.