But I do know this: the United States of America is the greatest country on the face of the planet and somehow, some way, we will figure it. Yet it takes all of us, in our own way, in our own neighborhoods, to be involved, engaged, and educated on the facts. This is the miracle of our Constitution. Government is not going to solve these problems unless we the people demand the change. Government works for us. At least it is supposed to.
It is my hope that this book will illuminate the issues and help you more fully understand the mess that is Washington, D.C. The mere fact that you are reading or listening to this at the end of the book gives me hope. Your engagement demonstrates you will be part of the solution and not part of the problem. For that, I thank you.
God bless,
Jason Chaffetz
Index
The pagination of this digital edition does not match the print edition from which the index was created. To locate a specific entry, please use your ebook reader's search tools.
Abe, Shinzo, 191–192
Abedin, Huma, 219, 233–234
Abrams, Stacy, 84–85, 252
absentee ballots
impact of fraudulent, 151
For the People Act and no-fault, 144–147
Accountability Review Board (ARB), of H. Clinton, 206
ActBlue, Democrats’ fund-raising and, 156–158
Adams, John, 254–255, 259
Affordable Care Act, 2, 142
inaccurate scoring of economic impact of, 128
and inflexibility of federal programs, 71, 274–275
Pelosi and, 133
Afghanistan, Trump’s foreign policy and, 71
Africa, Planned Parenthood and, 42–43
Albright, Madeleine, 80
Alien and Sedition Acts, 254
Allegiance, 60
Allen, Mike, 246
America-first agenda, of Trump, 68, 69
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
donations to after 2016 election, 19–20
Grassroots Campaigns Inc. And, 54–55, 57
opposition to Kavanaugh’s nomination, 52–55
opposition to no-fault absentee ballots, 147
opposition to Trump, 52, 159
Antifa, patterns of violence and, 28–29
Archprogressive (blogger), 1
Arkansas, 24
Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), 23–26
authoritarianism. See fascism and authoritarianism
automatic voter registration, For the People Act and, 152–153
Avenatti, Michael, 103, 105
Axelrod, David, 249–250
Axios, 246
Ayers, Bill, 170
ballot harvesting, election fraud and, 144–147
Barack Obama Foundation, 57
Barenblatt v. U.S., 194, 212
Barr, William, 97, 121, 184–185, 200–201
Barrett, William P., 57
Belknap, William, 241
Benghazi attack (2012), and investigation of, 22, 172, 188, 205–210, 243
Berke, Barry, 200
Biden, Joe
Benghazi and, 207
charitable giving of, 38
Phelps and, 56
Bill of Rights, 78, 162
need to protect, 253, 255, 271–277
see also specific amendments
Blase, Brian, 128–129
Blasey-Ford, Christine, 100–103, 105, 106
Bledsoe, Scott, 54
Blitzer, Wolf, 231
Blount, William, 241
Boehner, John, 129, 132
Booker, Cory
charitable giving of, 38
Kavanaugh hearings and, 91–92, 98–99
border security. See immigrants and immigration
Boxer, Barbara, 258
Brennan, Margaret, 118
Brennan Center for Justice, at NYU, 164, 226
Brigham Young University, 76
Brookings Institution, 200
Budget Control Act (2011), 63
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), 181–182
Burkina Faso, 43
Burr, Thomas, 243–244
Bush, George W., 226, 274
Buttigieg, Pete, 258, 268
California
ballot harvesting in, 145–146
Electoral College and smaller states, 259–264
illegal voters in, 152–153
Camp, Dave, 26
campaign finance reform
and growth of non-profit advocacy groups, 20–21
left and power, 78
Capital One, 172
Carlson, Tucker, 79
Carter, Jimmy, 44
Castro, Joaquin, 239
census, 2020, 23–25, 195
Center for American Progress, 56
Center for Immigration Studies, 58, 60
Center for Public Integrity, 20, 157–158
Chait, Jonathan, 244–245
Chamber of Commerce, of U.S., 27
charitable giving, political motivations and, 37–39
Cicilline, David, 184–185
Citigroup, 63–64
Citizens United, 34, 157, 159–160
citizenship
Democrats future legislative plans and, 166
voting and proof of, 152–153
Classical Association of the Middle West and South (CAMWS), 76
Clinton, Bill, 242, 246
Clinton, Hillary
Benghazi and, 207, 210
earmarks and, 130
election of 2016 and, 1, 5, 20, 68, 83–85, 158, 251–252, 259
use of private email for confidential government work, 120, 207–208, 210, 218–224, 226
Clinton Foundation, 56, 57
CNN, 63, 97, 98, 231, 234, 239, 242, 244, 263
Cohen, Michael, 118, 171, 210–211
Cohen, Richard, 29, 30
Collins, Doug, 115, 200
Colorado, 44, 259, 263
Comey, James, 219–223, 232, 233
Trump’s firing of, 238, 240, 241, 248
Committee for a Responsible Budget, 126
“Comprehensive Sexuality Standards” (Planned Parenthood), 42
Congress
constitutional lack of law enforcement authority, 204–205
given authority to control elections, 143
Congressional oversight
Constitutional limits on, 192–195
and evidence as impetus, not outcome, 201–209
false investigations and, 189–192
FISA and invasive surveillance, 224–227
fishing for evidence and, 187–189, 202, 209–214
government records and accountability, 218–224
illegal leaking and, 229–235
legal responsibilities of, 173–175, 194–195
loss of faith in government with lack of reforms, 217–235
investigations and, 189–192, 197–201
need for same standards regardless of party in White House, 201
outcome-driven, 197–216
productive use of review of government, 202, 214–216
protection of federal employees, 178–180
purpose and mandate of, 170, 171
subcommittee reorganization and, 177–178
subpoena authority and executive privilege, 181–186
transformation of congressional committee from watchdog to anti-Trump research, 169–173, 175–177, 208–209
White House security clearances and, 228–229
without reforms, 169–216
see also House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Connolly, Gerry, 180
conservatives groups
501(c)(4) advocacy nonprofits and, 57–60
IRS obstruction of, 21, 26–27, 76
Constitution, of U.S.
Electoral College and, 257, 262
limits on House Oversight Committee, 192–195
need
to return to principles of, 252–255, 275–277
For the People Act and violations of, 162–167
see also Bill of Rights
Cornyn, John, 93
Cottonwood Heights, Utah. See town hall meeting, in Utah’s 3rd Congressional District
Court of Appeals, of D.C. Circuit, 152
Cox, T. J., 145
Crenshaw, Dan, 146
cross-check programs, of voters, 149
Crossroads GPS, 27
Cruz, Gabriela, 146
C-SPAN, 112, 131
CSW62 (Commission on the Status of Women), 42
Cummings, Elijah
government reform and, 122–123
and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 117, 119, 170–171, 174–175, 176, 177, 179, 184, 187–189, 212
investigation of Trump with outcome predetermined, 226–227
and thoughts of impeaching Trump, 237
White House security clearances and, 228–229
Daily Caller, 115
Daily Kos, 1
Daily Signal, 151
Daily Wire reports, 30
Daniels, Stormy, 211
debt ceiling, Pelosi’s statutory rules changes, 124–125
deceased voters, 148
decontaminant powder, earmarks and Defense Department costs, 130
Deep State, The (Chaffetz), 173–174, 269
Dees, Morris, 29, 30
Defense Department, earmarks and, 130–131
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, 74, 186
democracy
importance of town hall meetings to, 11–12
left’s power grab as threat to, 16–17
Democratic National Committee, 56
“Democratic Socialism,” 253
Democratic-Republicans, and election of 1800, 254–255
Dershowitz, Alan, 55
DISCLOSE Act (Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act), 159–160
Dodd, Chris, 110
double standards, of Democrats, 109–137
H. Clinton’s and Ivanka Trump’s emails, 221–223
obstruction’s effect on democratic institutions, 136–137
oversight of Trump versus Obama programs, 109–114, 117–121
Pelosi and motion to recommit (MTR), 114–117
Pelosi’s tendency to overreach and, 131–137
possible change in earmarks, 129–131
strategic rule changes and, 121–129
subpoena responses and, 119–120, 181–185, 189, 228–229, 248
DREAM Act, 166
Dreamers
amnesty and, 186
ballot harvesting and, 145–146
Durbin, Dick, 98, 104
Eagle Forum, 58, 60
earmarks, possible statutory rules changes and, 129–131
economy, Pew report on American priorities and, 140
education, Pew report on American priorities and, 140
Eisen, Norm, 200
election of 1800, polarization and, 254–255, 259
election of 2010, 62, 131, 154
election of 2016,
calls for abolishing Electoral College after, 258
H. Clinton and, 1, 5, 20, 68, 83–85, 158, 251–252, 259
Progressives’ reactions to, 1–2, 5
in Utah, 6–7, 15
election of 2018, 20, 66, 88, 109, 156, 197, 252, 264, 270, 274
election of 2020, Democrats, FEC, and Trump’s possible loss of, 161–162
election security, For the People Act’s effects on
DISCLOSE Act, 159–160
eligibility challenge prevention, 150–151
Federal Election Commission as partisan weapon and, 160–162
fraud and, 142–144
no-fault absentee ballots and, 144–147
online voter registration, 151–152
small donors and multiple gifts, 155–158
voter ID law nullification, 151
voter lists, restricted maintenance on, 147–150, 163–164
see also voting laws
elections of 2022 and 2024, 161
Electoral College, value of and benefits to small states, 257–265
Electronic Voter Registration Center (ERIC), 149
Ellison, Keith, 239
Engel, Elliot, 172
Environment America, 56
Environmental Protection Agency, employees of, 180
Equality Act, 165–166
Escobar, Veronica, 238
executive branch, check and balances on, 181–186, 266
false narratives, Democrats and, 83–107, 132
H. Clinton’s election loss and, 83–85
Kavanaugh confirmation hearings and assault accusations, 85–107
power of, 85
Republican obstruction of Obama and, 110–114
see also Russian collusion narrative
Family Research Council, 28, 59
Family Watch, 60
Farrakhan, Louis, 170
fascism and authoritarianism
definitions of, 68
left’s power grab and, 74–80
Trump and predictions versus reality, 67–74, 80–81
Fast and Furious, 182
FBI
Kavanaugh hearings and, 102, 104, 105, 198
loss of faith in, 218, 219, 221, 223–225, 230, 233–235
Smollett and, 31
SPLC and, 28
Steele Dossier and, 247
Federal Air Marshal Service, investigation of, 214–215
Federal Election Commission
as partisan weapon, 160–162
For the People Act and politicizing of, 141, 143, 165
federal employees, congressional oversight and, 178–180
federalism
advantages for democracies, 162–164
need to protect and to limit government programs, 273–275
Federalist, 54, 247
Federalist No. 68, 258
Federalists, and election of 1800, 254–255
Feinstein, Dianne, Kavanaugh confirmation hearings and, 85–86, 88, 92, 93, 95, 99–102, 106
felons, voting rights and, 164–165
1543 LLC, 56
First Amendment. See free speech
FISA. See Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court
501(c)(3) charities, 19
ACLU as, 52–55
becoming fronts for political campaigning, 36–37, 41–43
conservative nonprofits and, 57–60
domestic spending as conduit to nonprofits, 62–63
Grassroots Campaigns Inc. as, 43–49
misuse of settlement funds and, 63–65, 155–158
Phelps and, 55–56
questions raised by activities of, 61
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as, 49–52
tax exempt status, dark money, and SuperPacs, 32–33
501(c)(4) advocacy nonprofits, 19
conservative groups and, 26
Progressive ideology and, 39
tax exempt status, dark money, and SuperPacs, 32, 33–34
501(c)(6) labor unions, 34
FiveThirtyEight, 157–158
Focus on the Family, 59
For the People Act (H.R. 1, 116th Congress), 139–167
Constitutional violations of, 162–167
Democrats’ power priorities and, 139–142
DISCLOSURE Act and, 159–160
election security weakening and, 144–154
Federal Election Commission as partisan weapon and, 160–162
protection of small dollar donors and, 155–158
redistricting commission and, 154–155
voter fraud facilitation measures of, 142–144, 162, 163–165
Forbes, 57
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court, 70, 218
invasive government surveillance and, 224–226, 273
purpose of, 224
Steele Do
ssier and, 247
Fourteenth Amendment. See election security, For the People Act’s effects on; voting laws
Fox News, 117
Foxx, Kim, 31
free speech
current threats to, 70–71, 271–272
Democrats future legislative plans and, 165
disclosure laws for non-profits and, 35–36
left and suppression of, 76–79
need to protect, 162, 271–272
“Freedom from Influence Fund,” matching of small dollar political contributions, 155–158
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 27, 59, 174, 207, 213, 226
Freshman Year (CNN series), 263
Fullwood, Mike, 13
Fund for the Public Interest, 56
Gabbard, Tulsi, 240
Garland, Merrick, 268
Gephart, Richard, 124
get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts, 44
Gillibrand, Kirsten, 38, 268
Goldberg, Jonah, 74
Goldman, Daniel, 172
Goodlatte, Bob, 63, 64–65, 225
Gorsuch, Neil, 86
Governing magazine, 179
Government Accountability Office (GAO), 24, 205
government reform, Pelosi’s statutory rules changes and, 122–123
Gowdy, Trey, 22, 231, 247
Grassley, Charles, 93, 96, 100
Grassroots Campaigns Inc., 43–49
ACLU and, 54–55, 57
ballot harvesting and, 145, 147
fund-raising consultants and, 59
list of clients of, 45–46
services of, 48–49
Green New Deal, 75, 123
Green Wave, of small dollar donors to candidates, 155–158
Grenell, Richard, 69
Gun Owners of America, 58, 60
gun ownership rights, 114–117, 272–273
Hamilton, Alexander, 163, 258
Hardball, 184
Harris, Kamala
charitable giving of, 38
Electoral College and, 258
immigration and, 75
Kavanaugh hearings and, 99
Supreme Court and, 268
Hawley, Josh, 107
health care policies
Pew report on American priorities and, 140
statutory rule change and federal budget, 126
Trump versus left and, 71–72
see also Affordable Care Act
Hemingway, Mollie, 197–199
Heritage Foundation, 144
Herrell, Yvette, 151
Hill, 55, 64, 89
Hinckley Journal of Politics, 130–131
Holder, Eric, 63, 182, 184, 229
Holmes-Norton, Eleanor, 180
Holtz-Eakin, Douglas, 126
Horowitz, Michael, 219
House Committee on Economic and Consumer Policy, 178