The White House has warned Democratic lawmakers against launching investigations into President Donald Trump’s administration when they take control of Congress in January. The warning suggests that the coming political battle could test the limits of congressional oversight and the balance of power between the White House and lawmakers.
White House counsel Will Scharf sent a letter on Monday to Representative Robert Garcia, the leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. Garcia is expected to become chairman of the powerful panel after Democrats take control of the House in the new Congress.
In the letter, Scharf argued that some actions by lawmakers could cross legal boundaries. He wrote that threats aimed at government officials to discourage them from public service, or legal processes used mainly to create fear, could amount to “blatant criminality.”
The warning followed Garcia’s comments after the Democrats’ strong performance in the November midterm elections. He had told officials in the Trump administration to “lawyer up” as his party prepared to investigate the president and members of his administration.
Garcia rejected the White House response. Speaking to reporters outside the Capitol on Wednesday, he said Trump appeared to be hiding information and insisted that Democrats would not be intimidated. He also stressed that Congress is an independent branch of government with the authority to examine the actions of the executive branch.
Garcia defended his earlier remarks, saying officials who had abused the public or business leaders who had harmed consumers should prepare to answer questions. He accused the White House of reacting too strongly to the prospect of scrutiny.
The planned investigations could cover several areas of the Trump administration and the president’s business interests. Democrats want to examine how Trump and members of his family have increased their wealth since he returned to office. The president and his administration have repeatedly denied allegations of wrongdoing.
Other possible inquiries include the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Democrats are also interested in construction work at the White House, including a planned ballroom, as well as the Trump family’s involvement in mineral deals.
The president’s cryptocurrency activities and business links involving special envoy Steve Witkoff may also face scrutiny. Democrats have not yet set out the full details of their investigative plans, but their expected control of key committees will give them greater power to request records, hold hearings and issue subpoenas.
