Among a wave of noteworthy results in this fall’s off-year elections, Zohran Mamdani’s selection as the next Mayor of New York City was perhaps the most closely watched and widely discussed. Though much of that commentary has focused on the new Mayor himself, the New York City Council appears poised
Continue Reading New York City Council Poised to Reinvigorate Investigative Authorities and Issue Subpoenas to the Private Sector
Handling Investigations of Members of Congress and Congressional Staff: A How-To Guide for Chiefs of Staff
It may begin with an unusual media inquiry or a sudden spike in interest on social media. Just as often, it starts with a non-public request for documents or other evidence. Your boss or your staff have been accused of wrongdoing, and it falls to you to lead the response.
Continue Reading Handling Investigations of Members of Congress and Congressional Staff: A How-To Guide for Chiefs of StaffCongressional Ethics Investigations: An Overview of Processes, Challenges, and Implications for Private Actors
Following a string of high-profile investigations targeting Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, congressional ethics investigations are more visible than ever. Indeed, as we recently explored, the House Ethics Committee in particular may be moving toward a more active and transparent enforcement posture, with its
Continue Reading Congressional Ethics Investigations: An Overview of Processes, Challenges, and Implications for Private ActorsCongressional Investigations and the Rules of the 119th Congress
At the start of each Congress, the House and Senate, along with the various committees in each chamber, adopt internal rules that govern their operations. Though many such rules remain unchanged from one Congress to another, the continued emphasis on congressional investigations across Capitol Hill lends new significance to even
Continue Reading Congressional Investigations and the Rules of the 119th CongressNewly Published “Oversight Plan” Outlines the House’s Investigative Priorities
Late last week, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability published the House of Representative’s “Authorization and Oversight Plans.” The massive 241-page report is required by the House rules, and the Oversight Committee’s report collects the individual oversight plans that each standing committee of the House is required to create at
Continue Reading Newly Published “Oversight Plan” Outlines the House’s Investigative PrioritiesPreparing for Investigations by the New House Select Committee on China
The House of Representatives formally established the new “Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party,” with a bipartisan vote of 365-65. The Select Committee, to be chaired by Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), a former military intelligence officer who also serves on the
Continue Reading Preparing for Investigations by the New House Select Committee on ChinaCongressional Investigations in the 118th Congress
Congressional investigations thrive in divided government. With a constrained ability to advance policy through legislation, Members are more likely to turn to investigations as a means of making headlines and affecting private sector practices.
The Democratic Senate majority and the Republican House majority give the respective majorities the ability to
Continue Reading Congressional Investigations in the 118th CongressRecent Developments Shed Further Light on Congressional Subpoena Authority
Throughout recent months, we have closely monitored important developments in the courts and on Capitol Hill related to Congress’s power to issue and enforce subpoenas for documents or witness testimony. As members of the 117th Congress continue to develop legislative and oversight priorities, a number of recent events signal continued uncertainty in congressional subpoena authority and interest in Congress in clarifying and strengthening that authority. As discussed below, these recent developments hold significant implications for Congress’s ability to compel cooperation with their investigations.
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Financial Institutions and Congressional Investigations – 2020 into 2021
Financial institutions are consistently targets of congressional oversight interest. In the last Congress, House and Senate committees held hearings with, demanded documents from, requested interviews with, and hosted briefings from a number of bank and non-bank financial institutions regarding a variety of issues. In a recent client alert, we
Continue Reading Financial Institutions and Congressional Investigations – 2020 into 2021
Congressional Investigations with a Democratic House and Senate
In recent months, we have highlighted key developments on Capitol Hill and discussed the implications of the change in Administration on the pace and focus of congressional investigations. With a Democratic majority now in both the House and the Senate, investigations targeting the private sector are primed to take center
Continue Reading Congressional Investigations with a Democratic House and Senate