Ethics & Accountability Archives | American Democracy Minute

DOJ Civil Filing Suggests a DOGE Employee May Have Created External Social Security Data Files and Had Contact with Election Denier Group

January 21, 2026January 21, 2026

New lawsuit filings allege a member of Elon Musk’s DOGE team may have created an external file containing personal Social Security information. That month, that employee and another were allegedly contacted by a “political advocacy group” attempting to find evidence of voter fraud.

Trump’s Executive Order on Elections Handed Another Defeat, as Federal Court Upholds a State’s Right to Set Ballot Deadlines, Choose Methods

January 12, 2026January 12, 2026

President Donald Trump’s executive order on elections took yet another hit January 9th, as a federal judge blocked portions of the order trying to dictate election and ballot deadlines, what voting systems can be used, and blocking federal funding for non-compliant states.

Missouri Secretary of State Tactics Attempt to Derail Citizen Repeal of Gerrymandered Congressional Map

January 11, 2026January 11, 2026

January 6th, the Missouri Secretary of State disqualified one third of the qualifying signatures for a ballot initiative repealing a gerrymandered mid-decade congressional map. January 9th, his lawyer admitted in court that the state’s language for the ballot initiative was “likely to create prejudice.” It’s all part of an all-out effort to derail the pro-voter ballot measure.

The Transcript of Former Jan. 6th Prosecutor Jack Smith’s Deposition to the House Judiciary Committee is Released. It’s an Interesting Read.

January 6, 2026January 6, 2026

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee released the transcript of former Special Prosecutor Jack Smith’s December 17th deposition defending his January 6th insurrection and Mar-a-Lago classified documents cases. The 255-page transcript released New Year’s eve shows Smith was convinced that President Donald Trump was responsible for the insurrection.

Ohio Election Oversight Becomes More Partisan on Jan. 1; Utah Judge Allows Legislature to Appeal Replacement Fair Congressional Map

January 4, 2026January 4, 2026

We have state updates today, both with significant implications for voters. Ohio replaced its independent election commission with an “election integrity” commission under the control of the Secretary of State. A Utah judge will allow the legislature to appeal the state’s court-mandated congressional district map, which replaced the legislature’s unconstitutional map last year.