Democrats’ Investigations Could Constitute ‘Blatant Criminality,’ Says White House Counsel

After Democrats made gains in last week’s midterm elections and promised closer scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s administration, White House counsel William Scharf warned that some proposed congressional investigations could cross legal boundaries. His letter to likely House Oversight chairman Robert Garcia said indiscriminate or intimidating use of subpoenas might be criminal, marking an unusual intervention by the White House in disputes over congressional oversight.

Scharf pointed to lawmakers’ social media posts promising subpoenas and investigations, while President Trump had called their plans “extortion” and urged the Justice Department to investigate. Legal scholars Ryan Goodman and Deborah Pearlstein criticised Scharf’s letter, arguing that it overlooks constitutional protections for lawmakers’ speech and legislative work. The article notes that political threats of investigation are common, while the letter says any inquiries must serve a legitimate legislative purpose.