Garcia says Congress does not need White House permission for investigations
White House counsel Will Scharf warned Rep. Robert Garcia on Monday that threats or abusive processes aimed at executive branch officials could cross into what he called “blatant criminality.” In the letter, Scharf wrote that “threats to executive branch officials designed to deter them from public service, or process designed merely to abuse or instill fear in the recipient may cross the line into blatant criminality.” The letter’s existence was first reported by Punchbowl News.
Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, most likely would chair the panel when the new Democratic-controlled Congress is seated in January. After his party’s victories in last week’s midterm elections, Garcia had warned Trump administration officials to “lawyer up.” In response to Scharf’s letter, Garcia said “it appears Donald Trump has something to hide” and stressed that Congress’s investigative powers do not need the White House’s permission.
Garcia said, “Congress has wide latitude to conduct investigations and oversight, an authority inherent in the power to legislate.” He added, “The American people voted overwhelmingly for us to pass laws to root out corruption and abuse.”
Democrats are preparing a broad oversight agenda to examine how Donald Trump and his family became wealthier after Trump returned to office. The Republican president and his White House have long denied any wrongdoing.
Garcia said he also wants to look at the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
Other targets include the Trump White House ballroom and other construction projects, the Trump family’s role in mineral deals, and Trump’s crypto dealings with special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Attorney General Todd Blanche also addressed the planned oversight. In a CNN interview that aired Sunday, Blanche said “there could be” a crime to investigate if rhetoric from Democrats turned threatening.
Blanche appeared to strike a more conciliatory tone during an appearance in Missouri this week. He said “Congress has oversight authority. It always has, it always will.” Blanche also said the Department of Justice works with Congress to address oversight questions through subpoenas or letters and “we’re not going to stop working with Congress.” He added, “Nothing I’ve said this weekend, or in the past, should suggest otherwise.”
The warning and the response come as Democrats prepare their oversight agenda for a Congress seated in January. Garcia said voters had empowered Democrats to pass laws to root out corruption and abuse, while Scharf warned that threats or abusive processes aimed at executive branch officials could cross into blatant criminality. Blanche said the Justice Department would continue working with Congress.