The White House has warned congressional Democrats that planned investigations into President Donald Trump and his administration could cross legal boundaries and potentially result in criminal investigations of lawmakers themselves.
The warning, delivered in a letter to Democratic Representative Robert Garcia, who is expected to chair the House Oversight Committee in January, comes as Democrats prepare to take control of Congress following Republican defeats in last week’s midterm elections.
White House counsel Will Scharf accused Democratic lawmakers of threatening to misuse congressional investigative powers to intimidate administration officials and pursue politically motivated inquiries.
In the letter sent Monday, Scharf argued that investigations designed to harass government officials rather than serve legitimate legislative purposes could constitute criminal conduct.
He also warned that issuing unlawful subpoenas intended to violate constitutional rights could warrant further investigation.
Democrats prepare investigations into Trump administration
The dispute follows sweeping Democratic victories that handed the party control of both chambers of Congress, setting the stage for confrontations with the White House during the final two years of Trump’s presidency.
Democratic leaders have pledged investigations into the president, his family, senior officials and political advisers, promising to examine their conduct and hold those responsible for wrongdoing accountable.
Scharf cited statements by Democratic lawmakers suggesting that subpoenas would be issued aggressively once the new Congress convenes.
Among them was an election-night message from Garcia telling Trump administration officials to “LAWYER UP.”
The White House argued that such remarks demonstrated an intention to use congressional investigations for political intimidation rather than legitimate oversight.
Garcia rejects White House warning
Garcia dismissed the administration’s warning on Wednesday, accusing Trump of attempting to intimidate Congress before Democrats assume control.
“It appears Donald Trump has something to hide,” Garcia said in a statement released by House Oversight Democrats.
He maintained that Congress derives its investigative authority from the Constitution and does not require White House permission to examine executive branch conduct.
Garcia said the committee would proceed with its planned investigations despite the administration’s threats.
The confrontation follows Trump’s announcement on Saturday that he had instructed the Justice Department to investigate Democrats over threats of impeachment and other punitive measures against administration officials.
Trump accused his political opponents of engaging in criminal conduct but provided no evidence supporting the allegation.
The escalating dispute signals a potentially bitter constitutional confrontation between the White House and the incoming Democratic-controlled Congress, with both sides preparing for a prolonged battle over presidential accountability and congressional investigative powers.
