Todd Blanche says DOJ could investigate Democrats over oversight plans
The attorney general said investigations of lawmakers could follow their comments as Democrats prepare to take committee gavels and subpoena power in January.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Sunday, November 8, that the Justice Department could investigate Democratic lawmakers over their planned oversight of the Trump administration, according to CNBC. The White House said Blanche made the remarks during Sunday television appearances, as Democrats prepare to gain control of both chambers of Congress in January.
CNBC reported that Blanche said on CNN’s State of the Union that investigations of lawmakers “could” occur, depending on what had been said. The White House release described his appearances as a defense of the Justice Department’s role representing the executive branch. It quoted him saying Democrats had threatened donors, students considering conservative work and private citizens, and arguing that talk of impeachments and investigations of Cabinet members went beyond oversight. Those are Blanche’s assertions, presented by the White House; the release itself characterizes Democrats’ oversight as a “charade.”
- Blanche said a DOJ investigation of Democratic lawmakers could occur depending on their statements, CNBC reported.
- Incoming Democratic committee leaders have promised investigations; Rep. Robert Garcia called Blanche’s comments a threat, according to CNBC.
- Democrats are expected to gain committee gavels and subpoena power when the new Congress convenes in January, CNBC and The Guardian reported.
What Democrats say they will investigate
CNBC reported that Democrats plan to scrutinize the White House and businesses that worked with the administration, including companies in technology, cryptocurrency and prediction markets. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, whom CNBC described as the incoming chair of the Senate Banking Committee, called for investigations of companies she accused of cheating families or scamming investors. Garcia, the likely incoming chair of the House Oversight Committee, told administration officials and business leaders to “lawyer up.” Blanche said committee members should be worried, CNBC reported; Garcia replied that Blanche was trying to stop Congress from conducting oversight and said Congress has a constitutional role in overseeing the executive branch.
The Guardian reported that Democrats won control of both chambers in Tuesday’s midterm elections, with their priorities including healthcare, tariffs, government costs and corruption. It said impeachment of President Donald Trump did not appear to be on the party’s agenda. The report also noted that committee information demands made while Democrats were in the minority carried no legal force; the incoming majority will be able to issue subpoenas after taking committee gavels. Votes were still being counted in several states when CNBC published its account.
What the incoming oversight powers mean
Committee gavels and subpoena authority give incoming Democratic leaders formal tools to compel information as they investigate the administration and related businesses. The Guardian reported that the party’s ability to pass legislation will remain constrained: Trump can veto bills, and Senate Republicans can use the filibuster to block legislation lacking 60 votes.
A separate Justice Department development was reported by Reuters, in a story republished by Hindustan Times: Trump ordered the department on Saturday to look into Democrats over what he called threats, without providing evidence for his claim that their conduct was criminal. Reuters said his post referred to Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s remarks at the University of Chicago about deterring young people from working for the administration; Slotkin later said Sen. Mike Lee had misrepresented her comments. The report also said a grand jury rejected an earlier DOJ effort to indict Slotkin and other lawmakers over a video concerning illegal orders. The reported presidential directive and Blanche’s conditional Sunday remarks do not establish that a new investigation has begun.
Read in depth: Politics
UK plans law requiring salaries in job adverts
The government says it will bring forward legislation as soon as possible and urges employers to publish pay now, while the scope and enforcement remain unsettled.
Democratic lawmakers call for data center moratorium and AI pause
After the midterms, Bernie Sanders urged a national data center moratorium, while Yassamin Ansari said pausing AI development should be a priority for the new House majority.
What this story rests on
4 sources from 4 organisations: 1 news agency, 1 official source, 1 broadcaster, 1 newspaper or magazine.
- 1ICYMI: AG Todd Blanche Dismantles Democrats’ “Oversight” Charade on the Sunday ShowsThe White House · whitehouse.govOfficial source
- 2Democrats amp up Trump investigation threats, Blanche counters he may probe lawmakersCNBC · cnbc.comBroadcaster
- 3Trump orders DOJ to investigate Democrats over alleged threats of impeachment and punishmentReuters, republished by Hindustan Times · hindustantimes.comNews agency
- 4Healthcare, tariffs – but not Trump impeachment: Democrats chart next two years of powerThe Guardian · theguardian.comNewspaper or magazine
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.
Researched and drafted with AI tools from these sources, then checked against them paragraph by paragraph before publication. How we work · Everyone we cite · Report an error