Top Dem on committee fires back after White House counsel warns against overreach amid investigation threats
Counsel to the president William Scharf warned House Democrats against exceeding constitutional powers in investigations, as incoming committee chair Robert Garcia accused the Trump administration of weaponizing government.
In a letter to Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., White House counsel William Scharf warned Democrats against running afoul of constitutional limits on congressional investigations and subpoenas. Garcia, poised to chair the House Oversight Committee next year when Democrats gain the majority, fired back by accusing President Trump's administration of weaponizing government.
Constitutional Limits
Scharf's letter emphasized foundational constitutional constraints on investigative powers. We are monitoring the abusive and capacious threats that are now proliferating from Democrat legislators who seek to abuse the legislative process, the letter stated, referring to public statements about issuing subpoenas like candy. Scharf warned that such actions may cross into blatant criminality and unlawful subpoenas.
Democratic Response
Garcia rejected the warning, suggesting the president has something to hide. Congress' authority comes from Article I of the Constitution, not from the permission of the White House, he stated. Garcia emphasized that Democrats were elected to pass laws to root out corruption and abuse and vowed not to be deterred by baseless threats from a weaponized DOJ or from the President's lawyers.
Escalation
The exchange follows Republicans' midterm losses that will make them the minority in both chambers. Before the election, Garcia had warned Trump to lawyer up, while committee member Rep. Emily Randall vowed to pass out subpoenas like candy. In response, Trump has ordered a DOJ probe into Democrats over alleged threats against administration officials.
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