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Justin Elliott

I am a ProPublica reporter covering business and politics.

Have a Tip for a Story?

What I Cover

I report on money and power. I’m currently focused on the second Trump administration, but I’m always looking for under-covered business and politics stories.

My Background

I’ve been a reporter with ProPublica for more than a decade. In 2023, my colleagues and I revealed how a set of politically connected billionaires provided lavish gifts and travel to Supreme Court justices over many years. Those stories won the Pulitzer Prize for public service.

I was previously on a team of reporters documenting how the rich avoid taxes for “The Secret IRS Files” series. I co-wrote a story revealing how tech mogul Peter Thiel turned a Roth IRA into a multibillion-dollar tax haven.

My work has spurred congressional investigations and changes to federal law. My coverage of TurboTax-maker Intuit’s misleading marketing tactics led to a settlement delivering $141 million back to consumers.

In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, I have won a George Polk Award, the Selden Ring Award and a Gerald Loeb Award for business journalism. I earned a bachelor’s degree from Brown University.

You can send me feedback, story tips and documents via email at [email protected], or by Signal or WhatsApp at 774-826-6240.

If you want to better understand how I handle tips and story ideas, read my piece on the important role of reader tips in the Supreme Court series.

Key Senate Staffer on Military Issues Got Big Payout From Lockheed Martin

Ann Sauer went through the revolving door twice — from working as a Capitol Hill staffer to becoming a Lockheed Martin lobbyist to now returning to the Hill, just as the fight over defense cuts heats up.

Free the Files

Broadcasters Make Emergency Motion to Block Transparency Rule

The National Association of Broadcasters, an industry group representing television stations around the country, is asking a court to block the implementation of a new rule that will put political ad information online before it goes into effect next month.

Bloomberg on NYPD Counter-Terrorism Record: “We’ll Never Know.”

The mayor, who previously said the NYPD had stopped 14 plots, now says he believes it’s impossible to know for sure how many plots the NYPD has thwarted.

Fact-Check: How the NYPD Overstated Its Counterterrorism Record

Has the NYPD, celebrated as the nation’s top counterterrorism cops, really helped thwart 14 "full-blown terrorist attacks”?

Columnist Clarence Page Spoke at Rally for Iranian Militant Group

The syndicated columnist and Chicago Tribune editorial board member now says he will return the $20,000 he got to speak at a Mujahadin-e Khalq (MEK) event in Paris in June.

Free the Files

Political Ad Transparency Rule Clears Another Hurdle

Over the objection of broadcasters, the Office of Management and Budget OKs measure to put political ad information on the Internet.

Free the Files

Republicans Back Down On Effort to Defund Transparency Rule

A House committee drops legislation that would have blocked an FCC rule to put political ad data online.

Interactive: How Obama Drone Death Claims Stack Up

Obama administration assertions about the number of civilians killed by U.S. drone strikes have varied widely. We charted every claim we could find.

The Drone War

Interactive: How Obama Drone Death Claims Stack Up

The Drone War

Obama Administration’s Drone Death Figures Don’t Add Up

Administration officials often claim few or no civilian deaths from drone strikes in Pakistan, but are their own accounts consistent?