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{{stub}}'''Judicial Watch, Inc.'''describes itself on its website, at [http://www.judicialwatch.org/ www.judicialwatch.org], describes itself as "a conservative, non-partisan educational foundation, promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law."<ref>Judicial Watch [http://www.judicialwatch.orghome], organizational website, accessed March 17, 2017</ref> It has also fashioned itself as a media organization.<ref name=nyt/> It was initiated near the beginning of the Clinton Administration in 1994 and asserts that its role is "to serve as an ethical and legal ''[[watchdog]]'' over our government, legal, and judicial systems to promote a return to ethics and morality in our nation's public life." The group was founded in 1994 by [[Larry Klayman]],<ref name=nyt>Jonathan Mahler [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/13/us/politics/judicial-watch-hillary-clinton.html Group’s Tactic on Hillary Clinton: Sue Her Again and Again] ''The New York Times'' Oct. 12 2016</ref> who the Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled as an anti-government "extremist."<ref name=spl>Southern Poverty Law Center [https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/individual/larry-klayman Larry Klayman] SPLC, accessed July 2018</ref> It is now run by Thomas Fitton, who serves as its president.<ref name=nyt/> Judicial Watch has been called "one of the biggest players in the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy."<ref>HEATHER DIGBY PARTON [https://www.salon.com/2016/08/22/judicial-watch-vs-hillary-the-conservative-group-has-a-long-history-of-spreading-clinton-lies/ Judicial Watch vs. Hillary: The conservative group has a long history of spreading Clinton lies] ''Salon'' Aug. 22 2016</ref> It has made many claims since its founding which news outlets describe as either false or misleading.<ref name=billboard>Sarah Jarvis [https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/fact-check/2017/05/12/fact-check-did-taxpayers-fund-anti-trump-billboard-phoenix/101607546/ Fact Check: Did taxpayers fund anti-Trump billboard in Phoenix?] ''The Republic'', June 12 2017</ref><ref name=sethrich>Kristen Phillips and Peter Holley[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2017/05/23/fox-news-retracts-controversial-story-on-seth-richs-death-and-alleged-wikileaks-contact/?utm_term=.a378aa079981 Sean Hannity done talking about Seth Rich and WikiLeaks ‘for now’ as Fox News retracts story] ''The Washington Post'' May 24 2017</ref><ref name=georgez>Katie Sanders [https://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2013/jul/12/judicial-watch/judicial-watch-says-department-justice-unit-organi/ Judicial Watch says Department of Justice unit organized protests against George Zimmerman] Politifact, July 12 2013</ref><ref name=pelosi>Jess Henig [https://www.factcheck.org/2008/12/nancy-pelosis-personal-jet/ Nancy Pelosi’s Personal Jet] Factcheck.org, Dec 28, 2008</ref> __TOC__==News and Controversies=====Judicial Watch President Takes Helm of Council for National Policy's Executive Committee===Judicial Watch President Thomas Fitton is the 2022 president of the [[Council for National Policy]], the Center for Media and Democracy reported.<ref name="cnp22">David Armiak, [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2022/03/11/revealed-new-leaders-of-council-for-national-policy-set-extremist-agenda/ Revealed: New Leaders of Council for National Policy Set Extremist Agenda], ''ExposedbyCMD'', March 11, 2022.</ref> Fitton took over the position leading the influential Christian Right group from William Walton.===Judicial Watch Investigations Director is an Oath Keepers Paying Member===Hate Watch, a publication of the Southern Poverty Law Center, identified Christopher Farrell, the director of investigations and a board member at Judicial Watch as a paying member of the antigovernment extremist Oath Keepers.<ref name="ok">Creede Newton, [https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2021/11/02/judicial-watch-investigations-director-listed-dues-paying-oath-keeper-leak-shows Judicial Watch Investigations Director Listed As Dues-paying Oath Keeper, Leak Shows], ''Hate Watch'', November 2, 2021.</ref> "Farrell is listed twice in the leaked document. The first membership status is listed as 'Liberty Tree.' According to the Oath Keepers website, this membership sustains the group and provides the member with discounts on Oath Keepers merchandise," Hate Watch reported.<ref name="ok"/> "Farrell is listed as an 'annual' member in another entry. The entry lists a different address and spelling of Farrell’s first name, but the same email and a comment: 'I currently serve as the Director of Investigations and Research for Judicial Watch (1999 to present).' The entry is undated," Hate Watch found.<ref name="ok"/> ==="Voter Fraud" Advocacy===Judicial Watch has an "Election Integrity Project" which has participated in campaigns to "maintain accurate voting rolls." Alongside the [[Public Interest Legal Foundation]] the [[American Civil Rights Union]] (ACRU), and [[True the Vote]], Judicial Watch sent "menacing" letters to local election officials across the United States.<ref name=letter>Christopher Deluzio and Myrna Pérez [https://www.brennancenter.org/midterms-looming-conservative-groups-push-aggressive-voter-purges With Midterms Looming, Conservative Groups Push Aggressive Voter Purges] Brennan Center for Justice, June 25, 2018</ref> The letters, using the Judicial letterhead and its "nobody is above the law" motto, notified recipients that their jurisdiction was in violation of the National Voter Registration Act."<ref>Judical Watch [http://www.judicialwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NVRA-Violation-letter-FL-2017.pdf Florida Letter] Judicial Watch, April 11 2017</ref>  After laying out a proposal to address their concerns, Judicial Watch threatened litigation if they suggestions are not followed. Organizations such as the Brennan Center have called similar campaigns baseless attempts to perpetuate the myth of voter fraud.<ref>Brennan Center [https://www.brennancenter.org/press-release/civil-rights-groups-launch-national-effort-combat-alarming-voter-purge-attempt Civil Rights Groups Launch National Effort to Combat Alarming Voter Purge Attempt] Press Release, Nov 22, 2017</ref> Robert Popper, who directs the Election Integrity Project provided testimony to Trump's [[Election Integrity Commission]], which many saw as an attempt to substantiate his baseless claim that there was widespread voter fraud leading him to lose the popular vote to Hillary Clinton in 2016. In his testimony, he said "We know that voter fraud, whether impersonation fraud, absentee ballot fraud, registration fraud, double voting, noncitizen voting, or voting by those ineligible under state law, occurs and is, in some form, a feature of every election, and we have suggestive, but not conclusive, evidence about the extent of such fraud."<ref>Robert Popper [https://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/press-releases/judicial-watch-election-integrity-project-director-robert-popper-give-testimony-presidential-advisory-commission-election-integrity/ Judicial Watch Election Integrity Project Director Robert Popper to Give Testimony to Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity] Press Release, Sept. 11, 2017</ref> The Commission disbanded after being unable to show any evidence of voter fraud of the proportion Trump implied in the 2016 election.<ref>Charles Stewart III [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/01/04/trumps-controversial-election-integrity-commission-is-gone-heres-what-comes-next/?utm_term=.6db45c7febf8 ] '''The Washington Post'' Jan. 4 2018</ref> ===Judical Watch and Donald Trump===When asked by ''The New York Times'' about his organization's plans to hold the [[Trump]] administration accountable, Judicial Watch President Thomas Fitton deflected on the proposition that Trump should disclose his tax returns taking aim at the I.R.S instead, calling it "a menace.” Likewise, he said that lawsuits about [[Trump University]] defrauding students were akin to "ambulance chasing."<ref name=nyt/> ===Judicial Watch and Hillary Clinton===According to ''The New York Times'', "Judicial Watch was one of the Clintons’ original tormentors." Judicial Watch has sued Hillary and Bill Clinton consistently since 1994. The '''Times''' credits Judicial Watch, the "indefatigable Clinton adversary," with shaping the narrative that the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee is untrustworthy.<ref name=nyt/> ===Record of "False" or "Misleading" Statements===Some statements from Judicial Watch officials have been deemed untrue by various news outlets.<ref name=billboard/> In 2017, an article published by Judicial Watch claimed that an "Anti-Trump" billboard was funded with public money citing "city documents." ''The Republic'' says that this assertion is "False." In 2017, Judicial Watch president Thomas Fitton stated that there was "credible evidence" of DNC staffer Seth Rich was murdered in relation to the WikiLeaks release of 20,000 emails.<ref>Judicial Watch [https://www.judicialwatch.org/press-room/in-the-news/credible-evidence-points-hanky-panky-seth-rich-case/ ‘Credible evidence’ points to ‘hanky panky’ in Seth Rich case] Recommended News, May 29 2017</ref> In 2018, The ''BBC'' called that theory a conspiracy "based on little or no evidence."<ref>Charlie Mole [https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-43727858 Seth Rich: How a young man's murder attracted conspiracy theories] The ''BBC'' April 21 2018</ref> In 2015, Judicial Watch asserted that ISIS, the terrorist group, has a base eight miles from the U.S. border in Mexico according to anonymous sources. Similar claims have been made in the past, but no independent outlet has been able to confirm such a claim. ''Politifact''rated the claim "False."<ref>W. Gardner Selby [https://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2015/apr/17/judicial-watch/judicial-watch-says-isis-has-camp-mexico-and-near-/ Judicial Watch says ISIS operating a camp in Mexico--near El Paso] ''Politifact'' April 17 2017</ref> In 2013, Judicial Watch claimed that the Obama Justice Department’s had a role in organizing protests following the death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed African American boy who George Zimmerman killed supposedly in "self-defense." Judicial Watch's findings were based on an FOIA response. The report went on the garner attention from [[The Heritage Foundation]], [[The Daily Caller]] and [[Rush Limbaugh]] who claimed: "Obama Regime Organized Trayvon Protests." ''Politifact'' evaluated the assertion and rated it "Mostly False."<ref name=georgez/> Other news outlets such as FactCheck.org, among others have also rather Judicial Watch's claims, dating back at least to 2008, as false.<ref name=pelosi/> ==Ties to the Council for National Policy==As of February 2022, Judicial Watch's Tom Fitton is the president of the [[Council for National Policy]]'s Executive Committee.<ref name="dacnp">David Armiak, [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2022/03/11/revealed-new-leaders-of-council-for-national-policy-set-extremist-agenda/ Revealed: New Leaders of Council for National Policy Set Extremist Agenda], ''ExposedbyCMD'', March 11, 2022.</ref>{{Council for National Policy}} ==Ties to the State Policy Network==Judicial Watch is an "associate" member of the [[State Policy Network]], a web of right-wing “think tanks” in every state across the country.<ref>State Policy Network, [https://spn.org/directory/ Directory], ''State Policy Network'', accessed July 2018</ref>{{About_SPN}} ==Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council==Judicial Watch's Russel Noblile attended the Task Force Chairs Meeting at the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]]'s [https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_2020_States_and_Nation_Policy_Summit_Attendees 2020 States and Nation Policy Summit].{{about ALEC}}

In all, between 1997 and 2002, Judicial Watch received $7,069,500 (unadjusted for inflation) in 19 grants from a handful of foundations including. The bulk of this funding came from just three foundations - the Sarah Scaife Foundation, The Carthage Foundation and the [[John M. Olin Foundation]], Inc. <ref> Media Transparency, [https://web.archive.org/web/20051219151114/http://www.mediatransparency.org/recipientgrants.php?recipientID=1122Judicial Watch], organizational website, archived by WayBack Machine on December 19, 2005.</ref>

Judicial Watch received $77,500 from [[DonorsTrust]] between 2010 and 2014, a donor-advised fund that serves to further disguise the identity of donors. (This section needs to be updatedSee all DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund contributions [[DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund Grant Recipients|here]].)

Judicial Watch has also taken donations from the [[Alleghany Foundation]], [[National Christian Charitable Foundation]], [[Robert S. and Star Pepper Foundation]], [[The Whitcomb Charitable Foundation]], [[Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation]], [[Bill and Berniece Grewcock Foundation]] and [[The Rodney Fund]] among others.<ref>Conservative Transparency [http://conservativetransparency.org/recipient/judicial-watch/?opptax=recipient&og_tot=Controversy47&order_by=contribution+DESC Judicial Watch] American 21st century bridge foundation, accessed July 2018</ref> ==Core Financials=='''<big>2023</big>'''<ref name="2023 990">Judicial Watch, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25232545-judicial-watch-2023-990 2023 IRS Form 990], ''Judicial Watch'', August 2, 2024.</ref>*Total Revenue: $104,336,382*Total Expenses: $53,230,384*Net Assets: $401,312,533 '''Grants Distributed'''*[[American Conservative Union Foundation]]: $33,000*[[Council for National Policy]]: $17,500*[[Coalition for America]]: $5,000*[[Freedomfest]]: $5,000 '''<big>2022</big>'''<ref name="2022 990">Judicial Watch, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24017608-judicial-watch-2022-990 2022 IRS Form 990], ''Judicial Watch'', August 21, 2023.</ref>*Total Revenue: $102,787,643*Total Expenses: $57,385,244*Net Assets: $313,631,449 '''Grants Distributed'''*[[American Conservative Union Foundation]]: $33,000*[[Council for National Policy]]: $15,000*[[Coalition for America]]: $5,000 '''<big>2021</big>'''<ref name="2021 990">Judicial Watch, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23131554-judicial-watch-2021-990 2021 IRS Form 990], ''Judicial Watch'', July 28, 2022.</ref>*Total Revenue: $124,212,420*Total Expenses: $57,474,581*Net Assets: $312,110,219 '''Grants Distributed'''*[[American Conservative Union]]: $33,000*[[Council for National Policy]]: $15,000*[[Turning Point USA]]: $13,750 '''<big>2020</big>'''<ref name="2020 990">Judicial Watch, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21526542-judicial-watch-2020-990 2020 IRS Form 990], ''Judicial Watch'', July 28, 2021.</ref>*Total Revenue: $109,973,904*Total Expenses: $60,400,307*Net Assets: $238,600,573 '''Grants Distributed'''*[[American Conservative Union]]: $33,000*[[Council for National Policy]]: $15,000*[[Coalitions for America]]: $5,000*[[Unreported Story Society]]: $150,000 '''<big>2019</big>'''<ref name="2019 990">Judicial Watch, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21526536-judicial-watch-2019-990 2019 IRS Form 990], ''Judicial Watch'', June 25, 2020.</ref>*Total Revenue: $91,200,569*Total Expenses: $49,144,797*Net Assets: $166,392,924 '''Grants Distributed'''*[[American Conservative Union]]: $33,000*[[Council for National Policy]]: $15,000*[[Coalitions for America]]: $5,000 '''<big>2018</big>'''<ref name="2018 990">Judicial Watch, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21526532-judicial-watch-2018-990 2018 IRS Form 990], ''Judicial Watch'', June 3, 2019.</ref>*Total Revenue: $71,740,368*Total Expenses: $40,431,062*Net Assets: $110,041,633 '''Grants Distributed'''*[[American Conservative Union]]: $33,000*[[Council for National Policy]]: $20,500*[[Coalitions for America]]: $5,000 '''<big>2017</big>'''<ref name="2017 990">Judicial Watch, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21526528-judicial-watch-2017-990 2017 IRS Form 990], ''Judicial Watch'', June 11, 2018.</ref>*Total Revenue: $53,061,725*Total Expenses: $32,128,134*Net Assets: $89,507,455 '''Grants Distributed'''*[[American Conservative Union]]: $33,000*[[Council for National Policy]]: $20,000*[[Coalitions for America]]: $8,000 '''<big>2016</big>'''<ref name="2016 990">Judicial Watch, [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21526525-judicial-watch-2016-990 2016 IRS Form 990], ProPublica, June 30, 2016.</ref>*Total Revenue: $45,391,916*Total Expenses: $30,901,051*Net Assets: $63,634,313 '''Grants Distributed'''*[[American Conservative Union]]: $25,000*[[Council for National Policy]]: $15,000*[[Coalitions for America]]: $8,000 '''<big>2015</big>'''<ref name="2015 990"> Judicial Watch, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2015/521/885/2015-521885088-0d36f56a-9.pdf 2015 IRS Form 990], Internal Revenue Service, June 3, 2016.</ref>*Total Revenue: $37,863,937*Total Expenses: $24,486,270*Net Assets: $47,131,962 '''<big>2014</big>'''<ref> Judicial Watch, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2014/521/885/2014-521885088-0b87b815-9.pdf 2014 IRS Form 990], Internal Revenue Service, June 9, 2015.</ref> *Total Revenue: $30,811,460*Total Expenses: $21,638,212*Net Assets: $36,135,037 '''<big>2013</big>'''<ref name="2013 990"> Judicial Watch, [http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2013/521/885/2013-521885088-0ab5b8aa-9.pdf 2013 IRS Form 990], May 19, 2014.</ref>*Total Revenue: $20,622,935*Total Expenses: $17,657,173*Net Assets: $27,453,495 '''<big>2012</big>'''<ref name="2013 990"/>*Total Revenue: $20,210,502*Total Expenses: $15,902,133(placeholder)*Net Assets: $23,039,263

'''Former Staff'''* Tom Fitton, PresidentChristopher Fedeli – Attorney* Paul Orfanedes, Legal RepresenativeSterling “Ernie” Norris – Attorney* Chris Farrell, Carter Clews – Director of Investiagations and Board MemberCommunications*Brandon Cockerham – Public Affairs Assistant* Rick Ventura, John Britten – Director of FundraisingDigital Strategy*Michael Love – Digital Media Associate*Mike Aquila – Digital Media Associate*Mark Spencer – Southwest Project Coordinator*Beth Avery – Development Coordinator*Victoria Sanders – Foundations Manager*Susan Prytherch – Chief of Staff*Patrick Roy – Operations Manager*Jerry Dunleavy – Administrative Assistant*Janice Rurup – Special Assistant to the President*Connie Ruffley – Executive Assistant, CA

== Contact =Board of Directors===As of March 2022:<ref> Judicial Watch, [https://www.judicialwatch.org/about/#board Board of Directors], organizational website, accessed March 2022.</ref>*Tom Fitton, President*Paul Orfanedes, Director of Litigation*Chris Farrell, Director of Investigations & Research

==Contact Information=='''Judicial Watch, Inc.'''<br> P.O. Box 44444425 3rd Street, SW, Suite 800<br>Washington, DC 2002620024<br>TelPhone: (202).646.5172<br>Phone: 1.888-.JW-ETHIC.Ethic<br>

Email: info@judicialwatch.org<br>Web:http://www.judicialwatch.org/ Southern Regional Headquarters<br>100 STwitter: [https://twitter.E. 2nd Street<br>Bank of America Tower<br>com/JudicialWatch?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor @JudicialWatch]Suite 3920<br>Miami, FL 33131-2148<br>TelFacebook: 305-349-2391<br>Faxhttps: 305-374-9054<br>//www.facebook.com/JudicialWatch/

Western Regional Headquarters==Articles and Resources=====IRS Form 990s===<div class="docframe"><big>2023</big><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25232545-judicial-watch-2023-990?responsive=1&title=1|width=350|height=250}}</p></div><div class="docframe"><big>2022</big><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24017608-judicial-watch-2022-990|width=350|height=250}}</p></div><div class="docframe"><big>2021</big><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23131554-judicial-watch-2021-990|width=350|height=250}}</p></div><div class="docframe"><big>2020</big><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21526542-judicial-watch-2020-990|width=350|height=250}}</p><br/div>2540 Huntington Drive<brdiv class="docframe">Suite 201<brbig>2019</big>San Marino, CA 91108<p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21526536-2601judicial-watch-2019-990|width=350|height=250}}<br/p>Tel</div><div class="docframe"><big>2018</big><p>{{#widget: 626Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21526532-287judicial-4540watch-2018-990|width=350|height=250}}<br/p>Fax</div><div class="docframe"><big>2017</big><p>{{#widget:Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21526528-judicial-watch-2017-990|width=350|height=250}}</p></div><div class="docframe"><big>2016</big><p>{{#widget: 626Iframe|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21526525-237judicial-2003watch-2016-990|width=350|height=250}}<br/p></div>{{Clear}}

Southwestern Regional Headquarters<br>===Articles===5735 Pineland Drive*Creede Newton, Suite 275<br>[https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2022/03/24/judicial-watch-investigator-supported-covid-research-anti-vaccine-former-trump-official Judicial Watch Investigator Supported 'COVID Research' of Anti-vaccine Former Trump Official, Leaks Reveal], ''Hate Watch'', March 24, 2022.*David Armiak, [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2022/03/11/revealed-new-leaders-of-council-for-national-policy-set-extremist-agenda/ Revealed: New Leaders of Council for National Policy Set Extremist Agenda], ''ExposedbyCMD'', March 11, 2022.*Creede Newton, [https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2021/11/02/judicial-watch-investigations-director-listed-dues-paying-oath-keeper-leak-shows Judicial Watch Investigations Director Listed As Dues-paying Oath Keeper, Leak Shows], ''Hate Watch'', November 2, 2021.*Alex Kotch, [https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2020/12/11/conservative-activist-leaders-call-for-an-end-to-democracy/ Conservative Activist Leaders Call For an End to Democracy], ''ExposedbyCMD'', December 11, 2020.Dallas*David Armiak, TX 75231<br>[https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2020/10/27/secretive-council-for-national-policy-closely-tied-to-trump/ Secretive Council for National Policy Closely Tied to Trump], ''ExposedbyCMD'', October 27, 2020.Tel*Robert O'Harrow, [https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:MZg8XqRgznwJ:https: 214//www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/council-national-policy-video/2020/10/14/367f24c2-739f793-7188<br>11ea-a510-f57d8ce76e11_story.html+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us Videos show closed-door sessions of leading conservative activists: ‘Be not afraid of the accusations that you’re a voter suppressor’], ''Washington Post'', October 14, 2020.Fax*Alex Kotch, [https: 214//www.exposedbycmd.org/2020/09/16/an-739all-8873<br>out-assault-gop-aligned-groups-attack-voting-rights-from-all-angles/ An All-Out Assault: GOP-Aligned Groups Attack Voting Rights From All Angles], ''ExposedbyCMD'', September 16, 2020.