White House counsel Will Scharf warned House Oversight Committee top Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia that deterring executive branch officials through investigations could cross into “blatant criminality.”
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White House counsel Will Scharf issued a warning to Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, saying planned probes into the Trump administration could amount to “blatant criminality.”
In a letter dated Monday, Scharf responded to Garcia’s pledge to pursue broad oversight in a new Democratic-controlled House that is seated in January.
Garcia had previously cautioned Trump officials to “lawyer up” after Democrats’ “stunning victories” in last week’s midterm elections, arguing their investigative powers do not require White House approval.
In his reply, 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.”
Garcia said the White House’s position suggests Trump “has something to hide,” adding that Congress has “wide latitude to conduct investigations and oversight,” an authority he described as “inherent in the power to legislate.”
Democrats have been preparing an oversight agenda aimed at examining how Trump and his family have become wealthier since he returned to office, with Republicans and the White House continuing to deny wrongdoing.
Garcia also said he wants to look at the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Other areas mentioned include Trump’s White House ballroom and other construction projects, as well as the Trump family’s role in mineral deals and Trump’s crypto dealings involving special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that there “could be” a crime to investigate if Democrats’ rhetoric became threatening. He later said in Missouri that Congress has oversight authority and that the federal government works with Congress “whether it’s through subpoenas or letters,” adding that nothing he said suggested otherwise.
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