Rep. Crow helps launch anti-corruption caucus in Congress

U.S. Rep. Jason Crow is leading a new congressional caucus with the goal of ending corruption and the influence of outside money in politics.  

The Aurora Democrat also brought back two previously introduced bills that intend to increase transparency around political action committee donations and other so-called dark money spending in elections. 

Crow will co-chair the End Corruption Caucus alongside U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, and U.S. Rep. Mike Levin, a California Democrat. Inaugural members include the three co-chairs, U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell, a Missouri Democrat, and U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, a New Hampshire Democrat, though membership is expected to grow.

Crow said American democracy is “buckling under the influence of billionaire donors and special interests.”

“Corruption is why costs are so high, why the government feels unresponsive, and why the system seems to only benefit the wealthy and well-connected,” Crow said in a statement. “We must take on corruption to lower prices, restore trust, and help working families.”

Crow previously co-chaired an earlier version of the End Corruption Caucus. 

In a letter to other members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the co-chairs said the caucus has five legislative priorities: removing the influence of dark money, corporate PACs and special interests; enforcing accountability in all branches of government through transparent, regular reporting; preventing former elected officials and government employees from becoming lobbyists; reducing the power of kleptocrats and prohibiting foreign election interference; and stopping the weaponization of the government. 

The letter calls out how President Donald Trump has consistently used the presidency for his own personal profit. As of March, Forbes estimated Trump’s net worth to be about $6.5 billion, compared to the $2.3 billion he was worth before he was elected president in 2024. Trump has also weaponized his presidency, the letter says, including by stalling government investigations of his allies, changing tax benefits for universities and defunding public media. 

The caucus will meet quarterly with good governance organizations and highlight anti-corruption initiatives from its members, though it will not formally endorse specific pieces of legislation. 

Disclosure mandates

Crow and caucus leaders introduced a resolution asking Congress to denounce corruption “in all its forms” and to oppose policies that benefit special interests and “corrupt politicians.” The resolution says only 17% of adults in the U.S. trust that the federal government will “do the right thing.” 

The Stopping Hidden Interests and Non-Disclosure in Elections Act would require political action committees to disclose high dollar donations they receive within 20 days of an election. The goal is to prevent the creation of super PACs that form close to an election so they don’t have to publicly disclose their donors until after an election occurs — known as a “pop-up” super PAC. 

Crow and co-sponsor U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, a Pennsylvania Democrat, introduced the same legislation in 2024, but it has not moved forward in the Republican-controlled House. 

Crow also signed onto the DISCLOSE Act, led by Pappas, which would require that super PACs disclose donors who contribute more than $10,000, among other provisions to increase spending transparency. Many versions of that measure have been introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision, which allowed unlimited independent spending in elections by corporations and other organizations. 

Crow has also backed measures that would ban any stock ownership for members of Congress, limit foreign interference in elections, and close loopholes around political donations through so-called social welfare organizations.