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
Federal Court Dismisses Pre-Enforcement Challenge to HELP Committee Subpoena, Underscoring Limited Options for Congressional Subpoena Targets
By Robert Kelner, Brian D. Smith, Perrin Cooke & Darcy Slayton on
Posted in Congressional Investigations
On September 16, 2025, Judge Trevor McFadden of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia dismissed Dr. Ralph de la Torre’s effort to bar criminal or civil enforcement of the Senate’s resolutions holding him in civil and criminal contempt of Congress. In bringing his pre-enforcement challenge, Dr. de…
Continue Reading Federal Court Dismisses Pre-Enforcement Challenge to HELP Committee Subpoena, Underscoring Limited Options for Congressional Subpoena TargetsDOJ Issues Memorandum for Federal Funding Recipients Addressing “Unlawful Discrimination” Practices
On July 29, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memorandum titled “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination.” The memorandum purports to offer “guidance” and “Best Practices” to recipients of federal funding, including “non-binding suggestions to help entities comply with federal antidiscrimination laws and avoid legal pitfalls.” …
Continue Reading DOJ Issues Memorandum for Federal Funding Recipients Addressing “Unlawful Discrimination” PracticesCongressional 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 CongressHouse Releases Sweeping Oversight Agenda for 119th Congress: Major Focus Areas for Private Sector Entities
By Perrin Cooke, William Sokolove & Stephanie Nnadi on
Posted in Congressional Investigations
As we previewed in a prior alert, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee recently published a complete collection of oversight plans adopted by each authorizing committee of the House of Representatives for the current Congress. Taken together, these plans outline an expansive and aggressive agenda for congressional investigations…
Continue Reading House Releases Sweeping Oversight Agenda for 119th Congress: Major Focus Areas for Private Sector EntitiesPreparing Now for Expected Congressional Oversight: Newly Released Oversight Plans Signal Investigations of Private Parties
By Perrin Cooke, William Sokolove & Stephanie Nnadi on
Posted in Congressional Investigations
Recently, three key investigative committees of the House of Representatives—the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Energy and Commerce Committee—each adopted their respective committee’s oversight plan for the new Congress, offering a window into the committees’ investigative priorities for the next two years. The newly…
Continue Reading Preparing Now for Expected Congressional Oversight: Newly Released Oversight Plans Signal Investigations of Private PartiesTax-Exempt Organizations: Understanding Executive and Congressional Enforcement Priorities
Tax-exempt organizations, including private foundations and other types of nonprofits associated with high-net worth individuals, have been subject to increasing investigative scrutiny in recent years. Last Congress, for example, the House Judiciary Committee and several other committees issued document requests to multiple nonprofit organizations, and in this Congress the trend…
Continue Reading Tax-Exempt Organizations: Understanding Executive and Congressional Enforcement PrioritiesAn Empty Chair and a Not-so-Empty Threat: Senate HELP Committee to Vote on Rare Civil and Criminal Subpoena Enforcement Actions Against Steward Health Care CEO
By Darcy Slayton on
Posted in Congressional Investigations
Update: On September 19, 2024, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) voted unanimously to adopt resolutions for civil and criminal enforcement of the Committee’s subpoena to Steward Health Care CEO Dr. Ralph de la Torre. On September 25, 2024, the full Senate voted unanimously to refer…
Continue Reading An Empty Chair and a Not-so-Empty Threat: Senate HELP Committee to Vote on Rare Civil and Criminal Subpoena Enforcement Actions Against Steward Health Care CEONewly Published “Oversight Plan” Outlines the House’s Investigative Priorities
Posted in Congressional Investigations
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 PrioritiesCongressional Investigations and the Rules of the 118th Congress
Posted in Congressional Investigations
At the start of a new Congress, the House and Senate, and their committees, adopt internal rules that govern their operations, including rules that affect congressional investigations. These rules are often revised from Congress to Congress. To assist our clients responding to congressional investigations, this alert summarizes the rules for…
Continue Reading Congressional Investigations and the Rules of the 118th Congress