Justice Dept Admits to Criminal Investigation into U.S. African Development Foundation Following Judicial Watch Lawsuit

Whistleblowers’ Years-Long Efforts Vindicated

(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced that, in a status conference hearing today related to its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit seeking documents regarding corruption at the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF), the U.S. Department of Justice publicly announced an ongoing criminal investigation related to the agency. This announcement comes after years of whistleblowing by Judicial Watch clients Jasmine Battle and Mateo Dunne.

Judicial Watch sued the agency in October 2025 for records regarding its expenditures and deposits related to credible allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse committed by senior officials, contractors, and grantees and retaliation against whistleblowers as well as its attempt to block Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) audits (Judicial Watch Inc. v. U.S. African Development Foundation (No. 1:25-cv-02623)).

The Justice Department said at today’s hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that it would immediately begin producing documents related to those allegations with some redactions.

Mateo Dunne became general counsel of the U.S. African Development Foundation in October 2021 following a distinguished legal career in both private practice and public service. Jasmine Battle, an accomplished administrative professional, became executive assistant to the agency’s president and CEO in March 2022. Together, they raised internal alarms regarding misconduct and ultimately became whistleblowers after facing resistance and retaliation.

Battle and Dunne pursued every lawful avenue to expose corruption at USADF, including providing information to the U.S. Senate. Their disclosures resulted in a formal letter from Senator James E. Risch, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, requesting an investigation into the agency.

As Senator Risch wrote in November 2023:

According to whistleblower complaints received by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—complaints that I understand have also been shared with the [Office of Inspector General]—current President and CEO Travis Adkins, former President and CEO C.D. Glin, Managing Director for Finance and Administration Mathieu Zahui, Chief Program Officer and former Acting President and CEO Elisabeth Feleke, and Chairman of the Board of Directors Jack Leslie are aware of, and may be complicit in, corrupt and potentially unlawful practices …

The whistleblower allegations that Senator Risch brought to light included misuse of official funds, conflict of interest and inappropriate partnerships, discriminatory employment practices, and retaliation against employees who dared to raise questions about this misconduct.

Institutions designed to protect whistleblowers — including the USAID Office of Inspector General, the Office of Special Counsel, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission — failed to provide meaningful protection or relief.

“For years, Battle and Dunne cooperated with law enforcement, including the Department of Justice, resulting in today’s public announcement of an ongoing criminal investigation,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “For speaking out against a corrupt agency, they have been retaliated against, mistreated, and maligned.  The systems that were created to protect them as whistleblowers, like the USAID Office of Inspector General, the Office of Special Counsel, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, have thus far failed them.  Today’s announcement is vindication for the years they’ve spent exposing government corruption.”

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