Soon-empowered House Democrats have so many ready targets for subpoena and investigation in the Trump administration they are vowing to sort them strategically – but that still leaves more than six dozen targets.
The avenues of potential inquiry for Democrats who take over the investigatory machinery of the House include President Trump’s finances, his family’s ethics disclosures, and the president’s firing of FBI Director James Comey and Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Democrats raised the prospect of getting hold of the president’s tax returns even before the elections – where a Democratic wave took down close to 40 Republican seats once California results came in.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (left) says the Democrats will be strategic in using their subpoena power once they officially take control in January. They have more than 6 dozen potential targets
The heads of congressional tax-writing panels have the authority to get any return under existing law, though Trump has resisted making his returns public for years.
President Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki this past summer, which attracted a flurry of criticism when Trump explained Putin’s position on election meddling, also may be the subject of investigative oversight, which each congressional panel is empowered to conduct.
A list generated by Axios based on public comments and other information lists a whopping 85 potential targets for investigation before Republicans even hand over the gavel.
A Democratic aide referred to it in the report as a ‘subpoena cannon.’
House Democrats want to examine the firing of attorney general Jeff Sessions
The incoming House Intelligence Committee chairman is warning new acting attorney general Matt Whitaker any role he plays with the Mueller probe ‘will be exposed’ – one of several leaders stating more oversight is on the way
LOYALIST: Former Sessions chief of staff Matt Whitaker has taken over oversight of the Russia probe, but will be summoned to testify before the House Judiciary Committee
President Trump’s meeting in Finland with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where the two men met in private, could get additional oversight
House Democrats may probe payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had an affair with Trump
On the list are payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had an affair with Trump. The payment is the basis for a guilty plea in federal court for longtime Trump fixer Michael Cohen, for breaking campaign finance laws at the direction of a candidate (Trump).
The House speaker told Face The Nation Sunday: ‘We are not scattershot. We are not doing any investigation for a political purpose, but to seek the truth. So I think a word that you could describe about how Democrats will go forward in this regard is we will be very strategic.’
Trump son in law Jared Kushner’s compliance with ethics rules could invite requests for documents and information
Incoming Judiciary chair Rep. Jerrold Nadler says he will summon new acting AG Matt Whitaker
Trump’s post-election actions also are certain to generate scrutiny. Incoming Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler is already promising to probe the firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Trump installed loyalist Matt Whitaker as ‘acting’ attorney general – another action to generate formal oversight on constitutional and other grounds. Whitaker was never Senate-confirmed to a senior post.
Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner’s compliance with ethics rules – he submitted multiple amended financial disclosure forms – is also on the list. Kushner is a key unpaid advisor to Trump in a senior White House role. His wife, Ivanka Trump, also works in the White House.
The administration’s handling of the hurricane response in Puerto Rico and its family separation policy at the border – the type of administration policy issues that normally would get scrutiny even outside of a hyper-partisan environment – will also get probed now that there is divided government.
The administration’s transgender military ban, which met resistance from inside the Pentagon when it was suddenly announced, also could get review.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who in theory could be blocked from issuing his final report, could still get a venue to speak if House Democrats invite him to testify, as they say they may if necessary.
The flurry of subpoenas are certain to take up time and energy of an administration also accustomed to being whipsawed by new policy pronouncements from the White House. Republicans fear the Democrats will issue countless subpoenas to try to make President Trump’s life more difficult.
House minority leader Nancy Pelosi responded: ‘‘Well, if the Republicans would say that, they’re just projecting their own attitude toward investigations, which was very political.’
‘We are coming to do something that is very important for our country: a more open Congress with accountability to the public, with a, seeking bipartisanship where we can find it. Stand your ground where we can’t,’ Pelosi told Face The Nation Sunday.
‘We are not scattershot. We are not doing any investigation for a political purpose, but to seek the truth. So I think a word that you could describe about how Democrats will go forward in this regard is we will be very strategic,’ she said.