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Tom Dreisbach Tom Dreisbach is a correspondent on NPR's Investigations team focusing on breaking news stories.
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Tom Dreisbach

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Tom Dreisbach
Allison Shelley/NPR

Tom Dreisbach

Correspondent, Investigations

Tom Dreisbach is a correspondent on NPR's Investigations team focusing on breaking news stories.

His reporting on issues like COVID-19 scams and immigration detention has sparked federal investigations and has been cited by members of congress. Earlier, Dreisbach was a producer and editor for NPR's Embedded, where his work examined how opioids helped cause an HIV outbreak in Indiana, the role of video evidence in police shootings and the controversial development of Donald Trump's Southern California golf club. In 2018, he was awarded a national Edward R. Murrow Award from RTDNA. Prior to Embedded, Dreisbach was an editor for All Things Considered, NPR's flagship afternoon news show.

Story Archive

Wednesday

ICE releases investigation into immigrant's death after months of 'inexcusable' delay

The Aurora ICE Processing Center in Colorado currently holds more than 600 immigrant detainees on behalf of the federal government. The facility is operated by GEO Group, a for-profit government contractor. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

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David Zalubowski/AP

Investigations

ICE releases investigation into immigrant's death after months of 'inexcusable' delay

Under pressure, the government released a report examining the death of an immigrant in ICE custody. The report found multiple failures, but did not indicate they caused the migrant's death.

ICE releases investigation into immigrant's death after months of 'inexcusable' delay

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Monday

Illinois Dems criticize Biden adviser, cut ties with PR firm over #MeToo conflict

Emanuel "Chris" Welch, the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, said that Democrats in the Illinois House would no longer work with the public relations firm SKDK due to revelations of a "glaring conflict of interest" in a sexual harassment and retaliation case. Ted Schurter/AP hide caption

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Ted Schurter/AP

Investigations

Illinois Dems criticize Biden adviser, cut ties with PR firm over #MeToo conflict

Illinois Democrats said they cut ties with the prominent public relations firm SKDK following reporting by NPR about an undisclosed conflict of interest in a sexual harassment case.

Thursday

Politics

Corruption trial reveals a #MeToo ethics entanglement for a top Biden adviser

Newly disclosed evidence revealed an apparent conflict of interest for Biden adviser Anita Dunn, when she consulted for an Illinois politician facing #MeToo related allegations in 2018.

Corruption trial reveals a #MeToo ethics entanglement for a top Biden adviser

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Wednesday

A corruption trial revealed a #MeToo ethics entanglement for a top Biden adviser

Anita Dunn (left) speaks onstage with Hilary Rosen (right) at an event titled "Women Rule" in June 2018. That summer, Dunn and her communications firm began providing crisis communications for the then-Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives regarding allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images hide caption

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Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Investigations

A corruption trial revealed a #MeToo ethics entanglement for a top Biden adviser

Newly disclosed evidence revealed an apparent conflict of interest for Biden adviser Anita Dunn, when she consulted for an Illinois politician facing #MeToo related allegations in 2018.

A corruption trial revealed a #MeToo ethics entanglement for a top Biden adviser

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Thursday

A 'shocking' 911 call and other key takeaways from NPR's ICE detention investigation

Immigrants in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) use the phones at a detention center in California in 2019. Secret government reports obtained by NPR described "negligent," "barbaric" and "filthy" conditions in ICE detention. Chris Carlson/AP hide caption

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Chris Carlson/AP

Investigations

A 'shocking' 911 call and other key takeaways from NPR's ICE detention investigation

NPR obtained secret government inspection reports, which described "negligent," "barbaric" and "filthy" conditions inside immigration detention facilities. Here's what to know.

Wednesday

Investigations

NPR investigation reveals significant failures at immigrant detention facilities

NPR obtained confidential files from the U.S. government which reveal "barbaric" and "negligent" treatment at ICE detention centers.

NPR investigation reveals significant failures at immigrant detention facilities

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Government's own experts found 'barbaric' and 'negligent' conditions in ICE detention

Immigrants await processing at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Adelanto, California. By filing a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act, NPR obtained a trove of inspection reports detailing serious problems at this ICE facility and others across the United States. Chris Carlson/AP hide caption

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Chris Carlson/AP

Investigations

Government's own experts found 'barbaric' and 'negligent' conditions in ICE detention

Inspectors for the Department of Homeland Security found dangerous problems in immigration detention facilities. For years, the government fought NPR's efforts to obtain its often damning reports.

Government's own experts found 'barbaric' and 'negligent' conditions in ICE detention

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Tuesday

Law

How Trump's latest indictment fits into the bigger Jan. 6 investigation

Former President Donald Trump was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on four counts related to the efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

How Trump's latest indictment fits into the bigger Jan. 6 investigation

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Sunday

National

Over 1,100 rioters have been charged for Jan. 6. Many name Trump in their statements

More than 1,100 people have already been charged for their actions around Jan. 6 and many of them invoked Former President Donald Trump, who may also be indicted.

Over 1,100 rioters have been charged for Jan. 6. Many name Trump in their statements

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Saturday

Law

A pro-Trump attorney involved in overturning the 2020 election was on trial this week

Pro-Trump lawyer John Eastman went on trial this week in California's State Bar Court, where the state bar is seeking to revoke his law license.

A pro-Trump attorney involved in overturning the 2020 election was on trial this week

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Friday

What we've learned from pro-Trump attorney John Eastman's state bar trial

Attorney John Eastman stands outside the California State Bar Court in downtown Los Angeles. The State Bar is seeking to revoke Eastman's law license over his work on former President Donald Trump's effort to overturn the 2020 election. Jae C. Hong/AP hide caption

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Jae C. Hong/AP

Law

What we've learned from pro-Trump attorney John Eastman's state bar trial

Attorney John Eastman was a key player in Donald Trump's legal efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The State Bar of California is now seeking to revoke Eastman's law license.

Wednesday

Law

John Eastman fought to overturn the election. He may lose his law license

Attorney John Eastman worked on former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The State Bar of California is trying to revoke Eastman's law license.

John Eastman fought to overturn the election. He may lose his law license

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Tuesday

Here's what changed in Dinesh D'Souza's '2,000 Mules' book after it was recalled

In August, the conservative publisher Regnery abruptly recalled Dinesh D'Souza's election denial book 2,000 Mules from stores citing an unspecified "publishing error." NPR compared the recalled version of the book with the version that Regnery published this week. Willy Sanjuan/AP hide caption

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Willy Sanjuan/AP

Investigations

Here's what changed in Dinesh D'Souza's '2,000 Mules' book after it was recalled

In August, the conservative publisher Regnery abruptly recalled Dinesh D'Souza's election denial book "2,000 Mules." NPR compared the recalled version with the version that Regnery released today.

Wednesday

A former UCLA student was sentenced to over three years in prison for Capitol riot

The FBI started investigating former UCLA student Christian Secor shortly after the Capitol riot. This surveillance photo of Secor is cited in the government's application for a search warrant. Department of Justice hide caption

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Department of Justice

Investigations

A former UCLA student was sentenced to over three years in prison for Capitol riot

Christian Secor, a former UCLA student and follower of the far-right racist livestreamer Nick Fuentes, was sentenced on Wednesday for obstructing congress during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Tuesday

Election Vendor Faces Charges After Conspiracy Group's Allegations

A sign reading "Vote Here" points toward a polling place for the 2018 Minnesota primary election at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on August 14, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images hide caption

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Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

The NPR Politics Podcast

Election Vendor Faces Charges After Conspiracy Group's Allegations

Prosecutors in Los Angeles say Konnech, a small company that makes software for scheduling election workers, has illegally given its contractors in China access to sensitive data as part of a "massive data breach." A defense attorney said the prosecution was relying on dubious information from "one of the more discredited election deniers."

Election Vendor Faces Charges After Conspiracy Group's Allegations

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Friday

Election software CEO is charged with allegedly giving Chinese contractors data access

A poll worker sanitizes ballot marking machines at an early voting location in Inglewood, Calif., on Oct. 29, 2020. The Los Angeles County district attorney alleges that the CEO of Konnech, which makes scheduling software for poll workers, improperly gave Chinese contractors access to sensitive employee data. Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

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Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Investigations

Election software CEO is charged with allegedly giving Chinese contractors data access

The Los Angeles County district attorney alleges that the CEO of Konnech, which makes scheduling software for poll workers, improperly gave Chinese contractors access to sensitive employee data.

Tuesday

Wednesday

A software CEO was arrested on suspicion of storing poll worker data in China

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, seen here in 2020, said his office had aided in the arrest of the CEO of a Michigan-based election software company on "suspicion of theft of personal identifying information." Bryan Chan/AP hide caption

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Bryan Chan/AP

Investigations

A software CEO was arrested on suspicion of storing poll worker data in China

The Los Angeles County district attorney accused the CEO of a small company that makes software for election workers of illegally storing data on servers in China. The company denies the allegation.

Tuesday

A new book's behind-the-scenes look at Congress' Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigation

Denver Riggleman, a former Republican Congressman, joined the staff of the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. His new book, "The Breach," describes his work on the investigation and his path to politics. Steve Helber/AP hide caption

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Steve Helber/AP

House Jan. 6 committee hearings

A new book's behind-the-scenes look at Congress' Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigation

Denver Riggleman spent 8 months as an adviser to the Congressional committee investigating the January 6th Capitol Riot. Now he's written a book about his experience — called, "The Breach."

A new book's behind-the-scenes look at Congress' Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigation

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Tuesday

Prominent election deniers are facing growing legal trouble

Catherine Engelbrecht, seen here in 2015, founded the controversial nonprofit True the Vote. A new lawsuit alleges that Engelbrecht and True the Vote defamed a small company that makes software for election workers. Anadolu Agency/Getty Images hide caption

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Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Investigations

Prominent election deniers are facing growing legal trouble

The group True the Vote, which executive produced Dinesh D'Souza's "2,000 Mules" election denial film, is facing a defamation lawsuit brought by a small company that makes election software.

Prominent election deniers are facing growing legal trouble

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Thursday

A publisher abruptly recalled the '2000 Mules' election denial book. NPR got a copy.

The book version of "2,000 Mules," the latest project from author and filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza, was abruptly recalled due to an unspecified "error." John Raoux/AP hide caption

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John Raoux/AP

Investigations

A publisher abruptly recalled the '2000 Mules' election denial book. NPR got a copy.

Due to an unspecified "publishing error," the conservative publisher Regnery recalled the book version of Dinesh D'Souza's widely debunked election denial film 2000 Mules. Here's what's inside.

A publisher abruptly recalled the '2000 Mules' election denial book. NPR got a copy.

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Wednesday

Experts say a Trump-backed charity is pushing the boundaries of tax law

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, right, and former Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, left, attend a summit organized by the America First Policy Institute on July 25. Meadows and DeMint have both been involved with the Conservative Partnership Institute, a nonprofit raising concerns among tax experts. Oliver Contreras/SIPA USA via Reuters hide caption

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Oliver Contreras/SIPA USA via Reuters

Investigations

Experts say a Trump-backed charity is pushing the boundaries of tax law

An NPR investigation has raised questions about whether the nonprofit Conservative Partnership Institute may be violating a legal ban on participating in political campaign activities.

Experts say a Trump-backed charity is pushing the boundaries of tax law

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Friday

An attempted attack on an FBI office raises concerns about violent far-right rhetoric

FBI agents document evidence outside a bureau field office in Kenwood, Ohio, on Aug. 11, after an armed man tried to breach the building. He fled and was later killed by law enforcement, authorities said. WKEF/WRGT via AP hide caption

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WKEF/WRGT via AP

Investigations

An attempted attack on an FBI office raises concerns about violent far-right rhetoric

Far-right extremists escalated their violent rhetoric after an FBI search of former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. An attempted breach of an Ohio FBI office has those tracking extremism worried.

National

An armed man was killed after trying to breach an Ohio FBI office

An armed man clad in body armor who tried to breach the FBI's Cincinnati office on Thursday was shot and killed by police after he fled the scene and engaged in an hourslong standoff.

An armed man was killed after trying to breach an Ohio FBI office

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