The Trump administration is preparing for war with the incoming Democratic Congressional majority, warning that it plans to investigate threats to Republicans and even initiate criminal investigations against lawmakers themselves.
The warning comes days after the Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in the midterm elections, leaving President Trump facing two years of congressional investigations into his administration and political allies.
Visit of US Congressional Delegation – House pf Democracy Partnership
In a letter dated Monday, November 9, White House counsel Will Scharf warned California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia, who is expected to assume control of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in January, that Democrats could face criminal investigations if they use their congressional power to intimidate Trump administration officials.
The official warning comes after President Trump said on November 7 that he would instruct the Department of Justice to investigate Democratic lawmakers for allegedly threatening Republican administration officials with impeachment.
White House Warns Democrats
Reports on Thursday revealed that Scharf accused Democrats of preparing to abuse their investigative authority once the new Congress convenes in January.
The White House counsel argued that legislators seemed more interested in punishing political opponents than conducting legitimate congressional oversight, and wrote that the administration is now monitoring statements from Democratic legislators suggesting they intend to interfere with government operations.
Specifically, Scharf warned that any attempts to intimidate federal officials through congressional investigations could constitute criminal conduct.
The letter also accused incoming Democratic legislators of intending to exceed the constitutional limits on their congressional investigative power.
U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaking with attendees at a “Fight Oligarchy” rally at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona. By Gage Skidmore.
Scharf also gave an example, citing a warning Garcia issued on election night that the Trump administration should “LAWYER UP.”
The message clearly signaled that Democrats were preparing to use their new congressional powers to investigate the Trump administration.
Still, given the years of hostility toward the Trump administration, including impeachment attempts and an effort to imprison the president, the White House is interpreting those warnings as threats.
Garcia Says Democrats Won’t Back Down
Democrats are already doubling down on their threats, with Garcia saying on Wednesday, November 11, that the White House’s assertion that his comments constituted a threat was inaccurate. He went even further, suggesting that the president may have “something to hide.”
“It appears Donald Trump has something to hide. Let’s be clear: Congress’ authority comes from Article I of the Constitution, not from the permission of the White House. Congress has wide latitude to conduct investigations and oversight, an authority inherent in the power to legislate,” Garcia wrote in a statement.
“The American people voted overwhelmingly for us to pass laws to root out corruption and abuse.
The Trump Administration continues to weaponize the government with threats of unconstitutional attacks on Congress.
We are a co-equal branch of government and will not be deterred by baseless threats from a weaponized DOJ or from the President’s lawyers,” he continued.
Garcia’s response suggests that the Democrats have no intention of moderating their position or toning down their rhetoric.
It’s also worth noting that, while Garcia claims the president has something to hide, it’s entirely plausible that the Trump administration is concerned that the Democrats are not acting in good faith and do not have anything to hide.
But time will tell which side is telling the truth.
White House Prepares for Two Years Of Chaos
The Trump administration knows what is coming.
The Washington Post reported on November 11 that the White House counsel’s office has already hired 15 additional members of staff in anticipation of the incoming Democratic congressional majority.
Administration lawyers have also reportedly spent months consulting with federal agencies on how to respond to subpoenas from Congress and requests for information.
Democrats already have an extensive list of targets, too — and those lists have not been kept secret. Democratic figures have already said that they plan to target President Trump’s family and their business dealings, Trump’s cryptocurrency deals, immigration enforcement, and even the financing of the White House ballroom project.
Connecticut Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal has also already requested records from companies that donated to the ballroom project, including defense contractors Palantir and Lockheed Martin.
Those companies may now face subpoenas once Democrats take control of Congress.
The White House has some cards to play and could block investigations by challenging subpoenas in court.
The administration may argue that the requests lack legitimate legislative purpose or claim they seek information protected by executive privilege.
Importantly, many of the requests for information may not even be based on evidence that anything deserves to be investigated, and the Trump administration may argue that they are completely politically motivated.
And even if the judges reject the administration’s arguments, prolonged litigation could delay some investigations for months or years, preventing Democrats from getting the information they seek until Trump’s presidency ends in January 2029.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, and he produces and edits analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
