Jake Pearson
I’m an investigative reporter covering the intersection of business and government.
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What I Cover
I cover the intersection of business and government.
My Background
I’ve conducted metro, campaign finance and national political investigations for ProPublica since 2018. Last year, I investigated New York’s troubled guardianship system and found that it was failing thousands of elderly and infirm people who could not care for themselves. My stories prompted the state attorney general to launch an investigation and the courts to appoint a special counsel to oversee changes. Other work has spurred criminal prosecutions and oversight hearings and has been recognized with various journalism awards.
Previously, I worked for The Associated Press, NBC News and the New York Daily News.
Lawmakers Ignored Warnings About New York’s Broken Guardianship System for Decades. Here’s How They Can Fix It.
From public funding for guardians to more scrutiny of nonprofit providers, experts say policymakers could take several actions to bolster the state’s foundering system for caring for its most vulnerable.
How One Woman Endured a Decade of Neglect in New York’s Guardianship System
Judith Zbiegniewicz lived in squalor, yet every month, her legally appointed guardian was paid $450 from her bank account. She is one of the thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers left stranded by a system meant to protect them.
This Man’s Conviction Was Overturned After Two Years in Prison. But the City Said He Didn’t Deserve a Dime.
A jury found New York City liable for NYPD rights violations in a case city lawyers fought for years. Critics say the hardball approach helps perpetuate a cycle of police misconduct.
As New York Pays Out Millions In Police Misconduct Settlements, Lawmakers Ask Why They Keep Happening
Decades of costly settlements have prompted some elected officials to question whether the city enables bad policing by aggressively defending against misconduct claims instead of demanding changes to NYPD practices.
More Than Two Years After George Floyd’s Murder Sparked a Movement, Police Reform Has Stalled. What Happened?
George Floyd’s caught-on-camera murder prompted massive social justice and police reform protests. But a spike in violent crime shifted the narrative around public safety.
Years Before Police Union Leader Was Raided by FBI, Local Investigators Didn’t Pursue Allegations Against Him
City agencies were aware of misconduct claims against the powerful leader of the NYPD’s sergeants union, but didn’t investigate. Years later, his home and union headquarters were raided by federal agents.
A Union Scandal Landed Hundreds of NYPD Officers on a Secret Watchlist. That Hasn’t Stopped Some From Jeopardizing Cases.
After prosecutors flagged hundreds of cops caught fixing tickets for friends and family a decade ago, the officers’ work was supposed to get an extra level of scrutiny. Some cases fell apart anyway.
Inspector General Urges Ethics Review at Federal Election Commission Following ProPublica Report
The FEC’s inspector general has called for the agency to review its policies and internal controls after ProPublica revealed a key employee’s undisclosed ties to Trump.
The Inside Story of How de Blasio Promised, Then Thwarted NYPD Accountability
Bill de Blasio once pledged powerful oversight of the police. Then he became mayor. Insiders reveal what happened next.
A Police Union Contract Puts Taxpayers on the Hook to Defend Officers When the City Won’t
A little-known labor contract provision obligates New Yorkers to help pay officers’ legal bills in lawsuits that city lawyers won’t defend.