Scalise urges House Republicans to prepare for Democratic probes
Steve Scalise is urging House Republican committee chairmen to prepare for Democratic investigations expected after the party takes control of the chamber next year. In a letter sent Thursday, the House majority leader called on them to use their remaining time in power to get ready.
Scalise’s guidance asks committees to catalogue current and potential investigations, identify people and entities Democrats might scrutinize, and consider how Supreme Court decisions and a Justice Department memo on executive privilege could affect future inquiries. Potential targets could include administration officials, government programs and powers, and outside allies, he wrote. Scalise said his staff would meet with committees to discuss preparations and offer support.
Democrats have signaled plans to investigate the Trump administration, family, businesses and allies. Robert Garcia, expected to lead the House Oversight Committee, posted “Lawyer up” after Democrats were projected to win the House. The committee said he had pledged to examine the Trump family, corporate conduct, DHS and ICE, and the handling of Epstein-related files. Homeland Security Committee Democrats have also indicated they are preparing to scrutinize Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
A House Judiciary Committee Democratic spokeswoman said Scalise appeared to be asking Republicans to identify matters they had shielded from oversight, and argued that would end with the new majority. Scalise’s letter came a day after he entered the race to become House minority leader. He is set to face Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan for the position.
Democrats prepare oversight as Scalise rallies GOP against scrutiny
House Republicans are preparing to resist the oversight investigations Democrats have said they intend to pursue when they take the House next year. In a Thursday letter, Majority Leader Steve Scalise instructed Republican committee chairmen to map out possible inquiries and targets while Republicans still hold power.
The instructions include assessing likely investigations, identifying people and organizations Democrats may examine, and weighing how court rulings and a Justice Department memo on executive privilege could shape future probes. Scalise described the coming investigations as a threat to the president, his family and allies.
Democrats, meanwhile, have outlined areas they want to examine. Robert Garcia, expected to chair the Oversight Committee, said “Lawyer up” after the House result was projected. His committee says his priorities include the Trump family, corporate conduct, DHS and ICE, and the handling of Epstein-related files. Homeland Security Committee Democrats have also signaled plans to investigate Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
A Judiciary Committee Democratic spokeswoman said the Republican preparations amounted to cataloguing issues that had been kept from congressional scrutiny, and said that protection would end with the change in control. Scalise’s letter frames oversight as a partisan threat; Democrats say their incoming majority intends to use its authority to investigate. Scalise is also seeking the House minority leader post, facing Jim Jordan.
Scalise mobilizes House Republicans against Democratic investigation push
With Democrats poised to take the House, Steve Scalise is telling Republican committee chairmen to prepare for a campaign of investigations targeting President Trump and his allies. The House majority leader’s Thursday letter asks them to use their remaining time in control to organize a defense.
Scalise’s plan calls for committees to inventory likely inquiries, identify potential targets and assess how Supreme Court rulings and a Justice Department memo on executive privilege could apply. He warned that Democrats could use oversight against administration officials, government programs and outside allies, and said his staff would help committees prepare.
Democrats have openly signaled plans for investigations. Robert Garcia, expected to lead the Oversight Committee, posted “Lawyer up” after the House outcome was projected. The committee listed the Trump family, corporate conduct, DHS and ICE, and the handling of Epstein-related files among his promised areas of scrutiny. Homeland Security Committee Democrats have also said they are preparing to examine Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
A Democratic Judiciary Committee spokeswoman dismissed the Republican effort as an attempt to catalogue matters shielded from oversight, saying that would change with the new majority. Scalise’s warning presents the coming probes as partisan retribution; Democrats say they will pursue oversight. Scalise sent the letter as he launched a bid for House minority leader against Jim Jordan.
Reported by Fox News, The Washington Examiner.
