Prominent cryptocurrency lawyer John E Deaton has accused the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of stonewalling and hiding crucial documents and emails necessary for Ripple Labs to mount a strong defense in the ongoing legal battle. Deaton, who represents a group of XRP holders in the case against the SEC, expressed his frustration with the regulatory body on Twitter, stating that the SEC leadership is corrupt and not transparent in its dealings with Ripple Labs. Empower Oversight, a non-profit organization, has filed a complaint seeking transparency and to force the SEC to comply with a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request previously filed by the body. The FOIA request was made to obtain information about conflicts of interest and selective enforcement by former high-level officials concerning cryptocurrencies.