Americans deserve a democracy that is ethical, accountable and open.

At CREW, we use aggressive legal actions, in-depth investigations and innovative policy and reform work to achieve that vision. We take on big fights against powerful opponents, from the president of the United States to billionaire dark money donors. Despite the long odds, we continue to win victories large and small, thanks to our innovative legal strategies and unrelenting determination.

On Donald Trump’s first full day in the Oval Office in 2017, CREW sued him for violating the Emoluments Clauses of the Constitution. He has already proven himself to be the most corrupt president in American history, and because he is once again refusing to  meaningfully divest from his businesses, he will once again be in violation of the Emoluments Clauses, posing serious and escalating corruption and national security threats.

“The Constitution is not optional, and CREW has not and will not hesitate to take action to enforce that principle and defend our democracy.”
The threat of Donald Trump’s emoluments is intensifying.
Read more: The threat of Donald Trump’s emoluments is intensifying.

In 2024, we took Trump to the Supreme Court in an attempt to bar him from the ballot under the 14th Amendment for his incitement of the January 6th insurrection. Though he was allowed to remain on the ballot, the Court did not dispute the finding in our case that he incited the insurrection. 

We sued in Colorado to challenge Trump's eligibility for the ballot.
Read more: We sued in Colorado to challenge Trump's eligibility for the ballot.

The Constitution is not optional, and CREW has not and will not hesitate to take action to enforce that principle and defend our democracy. 

But defending our democracy means more than taking on Donald Trump. It also means advocating for meaningful ethics reforms for Congress and the Supreme Court, standing up for the merit-based civil service, demanding transparency from the federal government, and tackling the corrosive impact of unchecked anonymous money in our elections. 

Beating back big money in politics is a long-term priority for CREW, and our complaints have led to record-breaking FEC fines for dark money groups in the post-Citizens United era. Our lawsuits have brought about stronger enforcement of campaign finance laws, leading directly to more disclosure of dark money donors.

The Federal Election Commission has proven itself incapable of effectively enforcing the law, leaving groups like CREW to fill the void and fight to ensure a more transparent and equitable campaign finance system.

Since CREW’s founding in 2003 as a nonpartisan non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, we have achieved major successes holding those who abuse the system to account, compelling the government to be more open and transparent and driving secret money and influence into the light. 

We are deeply committed to reforming ethics, transparency and campaign finance laws and to enshrining strong checks and balances and democratic protections into law, and we work alongside policymakers to turn that into reality. 

CREW believes the time for bold reform is now.
Read more: CREW believes the time for bold reform is now.

We invite you to join CREW in holding our government to a higher standard. We know that pushing back against corruption and dark money in our elections is not merely about fairness—it’s also about who has power and influence in our government. We’re committed to changing that balance of power, so that influence rests with the people, not those with the most money or access.

We hope you’ll join CREW in the fight for a government that is open, honest, accountable, and committed to improving the lives of the people it serves.