March 9, 2009
The Investigative Reporter’s Handbook: Investigating the Executive and Legislative Branches
By Ashley Dischinger
Some of the most telling investigative reporting pieces involve closer examinations of the works of government officials. An important part of a journalist’s duty is to act as a watchdog, constantly investigating the actions of the executive and legislative branches to expose any instances of corruption.
Probing corruption in the legislative branch
Chapters Eight and Nine in The Investigative Reporter’s Handbook detail how journalists should successfully probe an investigative piece involving the government. Though often a tricky and tedious process, these investigations should be covered thoroughly in order to hold public officials to a higher standard.
The opening of Chapter Nine mentions a scandal investigated by several members of The Washington Post staff. Their series of 10 stories brought to light the misconduct of lobbyist Jack Abramoff, spurred reform efforts and led to the eventual indictment of several other public officials. The staff, including Susan Schmidt, James V. Grimaldi and R. Jeffrey Smith, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2006 for Investigative Reporting.
The Washington Post’s coverage of the Abramoff scandal reflects many of the tips in The Investigative Reporter’s Handbook. Ultimately, the Pulitzer Prize-winning staff continued to scrutinize the conduct of an influential figure and his influence on public policy and legislation.
Following the money
The investigation began when the staff “followed the money” after realizing an Indian tribe and gambling services company made donations to a Washington public policy group. The staff researched the contributions from outside interest groups (the Indian tribe and a gambling services company) to legislators (Abramoff and his Republican associates.)
By studying numerous reports documenting expenses and donations, the Washington Post staff concluded that Abramoff had encouraged American Indian tribes and other clients to make close to $2.9 million in federal political contributions.
E-Lottery, a gambling services company, was just one of the outside interest groups linked to the Abramoff lobbyist scandal. Logo from the e-Lottery Web site.
After doing some initial research, they discovered that Abramoff had arranged a questionable weeklong trip that was funded by the Choctaw Indian tribe and eLottery, a gambling services company, both of which deny knowing their money would be funding the trip.
Investigating motives behind the ‘raw dollars’
The Washington Post staff went beyond looking at the “raw dollars” and investigated the motives behind the large donations on behalf of these groups, an important next step emphasized by the Investigative Reporter’s Handbook.
Shortly after this investigation, the Republican officials with whom Abramoff was closely associated killed the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act, which was opposed by eLottery and the Choctaws. It quickly become clear that Abramoff was encouraging financial contributions in exchange for influencing legislation that would favor the contributing groups.
As the investigation continued, the reporters also revealed that Abramoff funded various trips and other “favors” to congressmen to further ensure favorable legislation for his clients.
Close scrutiny leads to justice
Abramoff leaves the Federal Court in the wake of his lobbying scandal. The photo is taken from the Flickr Commons.
The Washington Post staff followed many of the steps for investigating lobbyists, as specified by the Investigative Reporter’s Handbook.
They closely examined the groups, businesses and government officials with which Abramoff was closely associated, which led them to the corrupt practices of several prominent Republican officials and congressmen.
Their award-winning work serves as a prime example of how investigative reporting can “push legislators to make decisions contrary to the public’s interest,” as discussed in Chapter Nine of the Investigative Reporter’s Handbook.
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