Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 2h

ICYMI: We sued the DOJ and the FBI for any records of interviews with Donald Trump in connection with the government’s investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The public deserves the full truth.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...

American Oversight Sues DOJ and FBI for Records of Any Trump Interviews in Epstein Investigation - American Oversight

We’re challenging the FBI’s refusal to confirm whether President Trump was interviewed.

americanoversight.org

3 11 34

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 6h

The DOD Office of Inspector General has reportedly completed its review of Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of Signal for official business.

We filed a FOIA for the OIG’s independent findings. When the stakes are this high, disclosing what happened isn’t optional.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...

American Oversight Seeks Release of Pentagon Inspector General’s Report on Secretary Hegseth’s Signal Use - American Oversight

We filed a FOIA request for the DOD watchdog’s review of auto-deleting messaging app use for official business.

americanoversight.org

5 11 29

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 9h

The Trump administration is attacking the educational institutions that strengthen our democracy. We’re investigating how the president is abusing the power of the federal government to go after these schools.
americanoversight.org/investigatio...

2 4

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 9h

Last week, the White House pressured nine universities to promise support for Trump’s agenda or risk losing federal funding.

This is political extortion and it must be stopped.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...

1 4 12

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 1d

DOJ reportedly wrote a memo that justified Trump’s acceptance of a luxury jet from Qatar.

We’re representing @freedom.press in its lawsuit to obtain the memo.

Now, DOJ is blocking its release and trying to strike key factual claims from our complaint.
americanoversight.org/opposition-f...

Opposition Filed Against DOJ Effort to Strike Context from Complaint About Qatar’s ‘Gifted’ Jet to Trump Administration - American Oversight

As the DOJ refuses the prompt release of a memo clearing the Qatari jet ‘gift,’ Freedom of the Press Foundation, represented by American Oversight, argues against erasing this context and the…

americanoversight.org

11 20

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 1d

The Trump administration is trying every card in the deck to avoid transparency. We’re using public records requests and litigation to fight back.
americanoversight.org/opposition-f...

Opposition Filed Against DOJ Effort to Strike Context from Complaint About Qatar’s ‘Gifted’ Jet to Trump Administration - American Oversight

As the DOJ refuses the prompt release of a memo clearing the Qatari jet ‘gift,’ Freedom of the Press Foundation, represented by American Oversight, argues against erasing this context and the…

americanoversight.org

1 6 11

Reposted by American Oversight

Lauren Harper @laurenleharper.bsky.social · 1d

The Trump administration says reporting about its acceptance of the Qatari jet is "scandalous" and "immaterial" and should be cut from our FOIA complaint.

The administration’s secrecy is the scandal.

Thanks to @weareoversight.bsky.social for working with @freedom.press to fight it.

Opposition Filed Against DOJ Effort to Strike Context from Complaint About Qatar’s ‘Gifted’ Jet to Trump Administration - American Oversight

As the DOJ refuses the prompt release of a memo clearing the Qatari jet ‘gift,’ Freedom of the Press Foundation, represented by American Oversight, argues against erasing this context and the agency’s...

americanoversight.org

2 46 100

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 1d

The Qatari jet deal isn’t finalized yet, but the Trump White House’s enthusiasm to accept the gift highlights the blatant disregard for ethics and laws that have marked both of Trump’s presidencies. Learn more about the jet here:
americanoversight.org/trumps-free-...

3 9

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 1d

In July, we filed a FOIA lawsuit on behalf of Freedom of the Press Foundation after the DOJ stonewalled releasing a May 2025 memo signed by AG Pam Bondi—who previously lobbied for Qatar’s government. The public deserves transparency.
americanoversight.org/doj-sued-for...

1 2 5

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 1d

What does the Trump administration have to hide? The claims DOJ is attempting to strike are drawn from public reporting and show why it’s important for the public to see the memo. This is just another attempt to obscure what really happened.
americanoversight.org/opposition-f...

1 1

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 1d

We’re representing @freedom.press in a lawsuit seeking a DOJ memo that reportedly justified Trump accepting a luxury jet from Qatar.

DOJ is stonewalling the release and asking the court to strike factual background, including public reporting, from our complaint.

2 13 37

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 1d

Learn more about how DOGE twists its mandate to shield itself from scrutiny — and how we’re fighting back:
americanoversight.org/doges-smoke-...

2 11

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 1d

A third of White House staff will reportedly be furloughed due to the government shutdown but all 49 DOGE employees will be spared.

The public deserves answers about how the shadowy agency operates. We’re investigating.
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

4 14 28

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 1d

Read more about our investigation into the iTrump administration’s deportation efforts and the devastating consequences here:
americanoversight.org/investigatio...

2 2

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 1d

We also requested records from the Georgia and South Carolina governors’ offices — states reportedly considering similar detention sites — seeking internal and external communications with the White House, DHS, and ICE.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...

1 3 6

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 1d

The public has a right to know how taxpayer dollars are being spent and whether basic human rights and legal standards are being violated. We’ve sent public records requests to multiple agencies for related communications, cost records, and facility inspection reports.

1 2

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 1d

At the Everglades detention facility cruelly dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz," detainees are reportedly only allowed water at mealtimes and have been punished with prolonged sun and mosquito exposure.

These are inhumane conditions. We need answers now.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

2 8 14

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 1d

Judge Cannon imposed a gag order indefinitely barring the release of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on Trump’s mishandling of classified documents.

Last week, we asked the Eleventh Circuit to vacate the order. The public deserves transparency.
apnews.com/article/trum...

Groups press for release of special counsel Jack Smith's report on Trump's classified documents case

A First Amendment group and watchdog organization is pressing a federal appeals court to compel the release of a Justice Department special counsel’s report on the criminal investigation into…

apnews.com

2 17 46

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 2d

Defense Sec. Hegseth included a journalist on a Signal chat discussing sensitive military operations in Yemen. The DOD Office of Inspector General reportedly completed its review of the incident. We filed a FOIA to find out what the watchdog uncovered. americanoversight.org/american-ove...

American Oversight Seeks Release of Pentagon Inspector General’s Report on Secretary Hegseth’s Signal Use - American Oversight

We filed a FOIA request for the DOD watchdog’s review of auto-deleting messaging app use for official business.

americanoversight.org

4 7 28

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 2d

ICYMI: We sued the DOJ and the FBI for any records of interviews with Donald Trump in connection with the government’s investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...

American Oversight Sues DOJ and FBI for Records of Any Trump Interviews in Epstein Investigation - American Oversight

We’re challenging the FBI’s refusal to confirm whether President Trump was interviewed.

americanoversight.org

6 15

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 3d

Presidents shouldn’t pressure television networks to pull their critics off the air. But that’s what reportedly happened to Jimmy Kimmel.

We sent FOIA requests to the FCC for communications regarding this flagrant disregard for the first amendment.

2 15

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 3d

The Trump administration bombed a small boat last month, killing 11 people on board. Legal experts allege the attack was a possible war crime. We requested records to learn more about the attack.

8 31

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 3d

The DOD Office of Inspector General has reportedly completed its review of Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of Signal for official business.

We filed a FOIA for the OIG’s independent findings.

When the stakes are this high, disclosing what happened isn’t optional.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...

2 9 27

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 3d

Earlier this month, we sued the DOJ and the FBI for failing to release records related to the Trump administration’s controversial review of materials about Epstein, including his connections to the president. Read more about that lawsuit here: americanoversight.org/american-ove...

1 1 6

American Oversight @weareoversight.bsky.social · 3d

“The American people deserve to know whether the president of the United States was questioned by federal investigators about his ties to one of the nation’s most notorious sexual predators,” our Executive Director Chioma Chukwu said.

1 1 7