The White House warned the incoming House Oversight chairman on Wednesday that aggressive investigations of the Trump administration could cross into criminal conduct, setting up a confrontation before Democrats take control of Congress in January.
White House counsel William Scharf sent the warning in a letter dated Nov. 9 to Rep. Robert Garcia of California, who will chair the Oversight Committee when the new majority takes over. “The Administration will not be extorted and will not be cowed,” Scharf wrote, according to USA Today.
Scharf wrote that congressional investigations must serve a legitimate legislative purpose, citing Supreme Court precedent, and that threats aimed at officials or subpoenas issued to punish people “may warrant further investigation.” The letter was first reported by Punchbowl News and made public on Nov. 11.
Garcia answered the same day. “It appears Donald Trump has something to hide,” he said in a statement. “Congress’ authority comes from Article I of the Constitution, not from the permission of the White House.” He added that lawmakers “will not be deterred by baseless threats.”
Democrats have said they plan a wide set of inquiries once they hold the gavel, including the administration’s immigration enforcement, the war in Iran, the business dealings of Elon Musk and the Trump family’s crypto ventures, and the actions of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Garcia’s first message to administration officials on election night was two words: “Lawyer up.”
President Donald Trump echoed the warning over the weekend, calling the planned investigations “extortion at the highest level” in a social media post. The letter arrives days after Trump replaced White House chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller, who has driven the administration’s combative posture toward its critics.
Source: USA Today
