The Latest: Congress seeks info on private Trump-Putin chats
The House Judiciary Committee is launching a sweeping new probe of President Donald Trump, his White House, his campaign and his businesses. The panel is sending document requests to 81 people linked to the president and his associates.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler says the investigation will be focused on obstruction of justice, corruption and abuses of power. The aggressive, broad investigation could set the stage for impeachment, although Democratic leaders have pledged to investigate all avenues and review special counsel Robert Mueller’s report before taking drastic action.
Nadler said Monday’s document requests are a way to “begin building the public record” and the committee has the responsibility to investigate.
- House Judiciary Committee launches sweeping probe of possible ‘abuses of power’ by writing to 81 people and groups with requests for documents
- Trump called the move a ‘political hoax’ on Monday and predicted it would turn up no evidence that his 2016 campaign colluded with the Kremlin
- Targets include both of Trump’s adult sons, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and ex-White House communications director Hope Hicks and counsel Don McGahn
- Trump campaign and organization figures targeted including felons Michael Cohen, Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort and accused felon Roger Stone
- David Pecker, CEO of National Enquirer publisher AMI is targeted as is WikiLeaks and Trump’s longtime executive assistant Rhona Graff
- Committee chair Rep. Jerrold Nadler says his panel is investigating whether Trump abused power
- Inquiry will focus on whether Trump used powers to obstruct justice, oust enemies, tamper with witnesses or offer pardons
President Donald Trump blasted House Democrats on Monday after they announced the launch of a new ‘abuse of power’ investigation with 81 separate document requests to people and organizations inside the president’s orbit.
The targets include his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner, disgraced former lawyer Michael Cohen and former adviser Roger Stone, who is awaiting trial.
‘It’s a political hoax,’ Trump said as he hosted an event for college football players at the White House.
‘I cooperate all the time with everybody,’ he insisted, suggesting that the White House won’t gratuitously dodge the requests from Capitol Hill.
Monday’s letters are requests. Recipients aren’t yet obligated to provide anything to Congress, but the powerful Judiciary Committee has subpoena power to back up any demands that might come later.
‘You know the beautiful thing?’ Trump asked as he joshed with the North Dakota State University football players. ‘No collusion. It’s all a hoax.’
‘You’re going to learn about that as you grow older,” Trump told the players before inviting them to lunch on a spread of fast food.