
Alex Mierjeski
I’m a research reporter at ProPublica based in New York.
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What I Cover
I cover a wide range of stories as a part of ProPublica’s national team. Most recently, I’ve contributed to investigations of the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary, as well as President Donald Trump’s business dealings.
My Background
I’ve worked with both local and national teams at ProPublica, where I’ve been a research reporter since 2020.
My work alongside colleagues in the newsroom has spurred change, driven news cycles and won awards. In 2024, my colleagues and I received the Pulitzer Prize for public service for our work revealing ties between Supreme Court justices and billionaire benefactors. Our stories helped lead to the court establishing a code of conduct — a first in its history. Our work also won a George Polk Award, the Selden Ring Award and an Investigative Reporters and Editors medal.
Prior to ProPublica I was a post-graduate reporting fellow at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
Alito Took Unreported Luxury Trip With GOP Donor Paul Singer
In the years after the undisclosed trip to Alaska, Republican megadonor Paul Singer’s hedge fund has repeatedly had business before the Supreme Court. Alito has never recused himself.
Clarence Thomas Friend Acknowledges Harlan Crow Paid Child’s Tuition
In response to ProPublica reporting, the friend said Crow covered two years of schooling for the teen, which would amount to roughly $100,000 of undisclosed gifts.
by Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan, Alex Mierjeski and Brett Murphy,
Clarence Thomas Had a Child in Private School. Harlan Crow Paid the Tuition.
Crow paid for private school for a relative Thomas said he was raising “as a son.” “This is way outside the norm,” said a former White House ethics lawyer.
by Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott and Alex Mierjeski,
How Bankruptcy Helps the Coal Industry Avoid Environmental Liability
Jeff Hoops built Blackjewel into the nation’s sixth largest coal company by acquiring bankrupt mines. When it declared bankruptcy, he pivoted to other ventures, leaving polluted streams and mud-shrouded roads in his wake.
by Ken Ward Jr., Mountain State Spotlight, and Alex Mierjeski, ProPublica, with data analysis by Scott Pham for ProPublica,
Local Reporting Network
Billionaire Harlan Crow Bought Property From Clarence Thomas. The Justice Didn’t Disclose the Deal.
The transaction is the first known instance of money flowing from Crow to the Supreme Court justice. The sale netted the GOP megadonor two vacant lots and the house where Thomas’ mother was living.
by Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan and Alex Mierjeski,
Congress Members Announce Hearing, Demand Chief Justice Investigate Clarence Thomas’ Trips
The lawmakers said the chief justice was duty-bound to conduct a “swift, thorough, independent and transparent investigation” of Thomas’ undisclosed travel with billionaire Harlan Crow in order to “safeguard public faith in the judiciary.”
by Alex Mierjeski, Joshua Kaplan and Justin Elliott,
Clarence Thomas Defends Undisclosed “Family Trips” With GOP Megadonor. Here Are the Facts.
In response to a ProPublica report, Thomas explained why he did not disclose lavish travel provided by billionaire Harlan Crow. But legal experts maintain the justice was required to make these disclosures.
by Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott and Alex Mierjeski,
Lawmakers Call for Investigation and Ethics Reforms in Response to ProPublica Report on Clarence Thomas
Influential Democratic legislators are pushing for changes at the Supreme Court and a probe into Thomas’ undisclosed luxury trips provided by powerful conservative donor Harlan Crow.
by Justin Elliott, Joshua Kaplan and Alex Mierjeski,
The Cold War Legacy Lurking in U.S. Groundwater
For the first time, ProPublica has cataloged cleanup efforts at the 50-plus sites where uranium was processed to fuel the nation’s nuclear arsenal. Even after regulators say cleanup is complete, polluted water and sickness are often left behind.
by Mark Olalde, Mollie Simon and Alex Mierjeski, video by Gerardo del Valle, Liz Moughon and Mauricio Rodríguez Pons,
What We Know About Alaska’s Recent Series of Fatal Flight Collisions
In the past five years, Alaska had five fatal midair collisions involving commercial operators. The rest of the U.S. hasn’t had any since 2009.
by Zoë Sobel, KUCB, and Agnel Philip and Alex Mierjeski, ProPublica,
Local Reporting Network