White House warns Democrats over planned Trump administration probes

The White House has intensified its warnings to Democratic Representative Robert Garcia, who is set to chair the House Oversight Committee, regarding forthcoming investigations into the Trump administration. In a letter sent on Monday, White House legal counsel Will Scharf suggested that some investigative actions could be deemed criminal offenses liable to prosecution.

Scharf stated that using threats to coerce executive officials or obstruct their duties, alongside parliamentary procedures aimed at intimidating or harassing, could escalate from lawful political conduct to outright criminality. He also warned that issuing unlawful subpoenas, intended to infringe upon citizens' constitutional rights and privileges, could invite additional investigations into those actions.

This escalation follows Democrats' preparations to take control of Congress in January, after Republicans lost their majority in the House and Senate during the recent midterm elections. The shift presents Democrats with the chance to assume oversight committees and scrutinize the Trump administration's actions during the final two years of his presidency.

The White House warned that incoming members of Congress appear determined to circumvent constitutional limitations on congressional investigations and the issuance of subpoenas, citing remarks from several lawmakers. Democratic leaders have vowed to investigate Trump, his relatives, aides, and advisers, holding them accountable through Congress's oversight powers.

Despite the White House's warnings, Garcia has refused to abandon the committee's plans, asserting that the committee's work will proceed despite the administration's threats. Garcia attributed the administration's warnings to Trump's attempts to conceal something, accusing the White House of leveraging government institutions to pressure Congress through what he deemed unconstitutional threats.