The Judiciary Committee of the US House of Representatives launched a
sprawling new probe Monday into Donald Trump’s inner circle and alleged
abuses of power.
sprawling new probe Monday into Donald Trump’s inner circle and alleged
abuses of power.
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| Donald Trump |
It demanded documents from dozens of individuals including the president’s sons Donald Jr and Eric and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The powerful panel’s Democratic chairman, Jerry Nadler, sent letters
to 81 people and entities in Trump’s current or former orbit or who may
have information pertinent to the investigation, amid a push by
opposition lawmakers to hold the president and his associates
accountable for possible wrongdoing.
to 81 people and entities in Trump’s current or former orbit or who may
have information pertinent to the investigation, amid a push by
opposition lawmakers to hold the president and his associates
accountable for possible wrongdoing.
They include the Trump Organization’s longtime chief financial
officer Allen Weisselberg, White House ex-aides Steve Bannon and Hope
Hicks, current Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, former attorney
general Jeff Sessions, and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
officer Allen Weisselberg, White House ex-aides Steve Bannon and Hope
Hicks, current Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, former attorney
general Jeff Sessions, and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
The request is the most serious overt ramp-up of investigations into
Trump since Democrats took control of the House of Representatives in
early January, and seeks to uncover whether Trump or his administration
have participated in obstruction of justice, public corruption, or other
abuse of power.
Trump since Democrats took control of the House of Representatives in
early January, and seeks to uncover whether Trump or his administration
have participated in obstruction of justice, public corruption, or other
abuse of power.
“This is a critical time for our nation, and we have a responsibility
to investigate these matters and hold hearings for the public to have
all the facts,” Nadler said in a statement.
to investigate these matters and hold hearings for the public to have
all the facts,” Nadler said in a statement.
“Over the last several years, President Trump has evaded
accountability for his near-daily attacks on our basic legal, ethical,
and constitutional rules and norms,” he added.
accountability for his near-daily attacks on our basic legal, ethical,
and constitutional rules and norms,” he added.
“Investigating these threats to the rule of law is an obligation of Congress.”
Trump himself swatted away the probe as a fabrication.
“The beautiful thing is, no collusion. It’s all a hoax… a political
hoax,” Trump said at a White House event, as he suggested he would
cooperate with the probe.
hoax,” Trump said at a White House event, as he suggested he would
cooperate with the probe.
“I cooperate all the time with everybody,” he added.
Nadler has given the recipients of his requests two weeks to respond.
The 71-year-old Democrat now at the helm of a substantial
investigation has made clear that his party is serious about probing the
heart of Trump world.
investigation has made clear that his party is serious about probing the
heart of Trump world.
The investigation appears to be focused on Trump’s business dealings,
possible collusion with Russia, and obstruction of justice allegations.
possible collusion with Russia, and obstruction of justice allegations.
It also will address accusations of campaign finance law violations
and potential violations of the US Constitution’s ban on foreign
emoluments.
and potential violations of the US Constitution’s ban on foreign
emoluments.
The letters include requests for information on the June 2016 meeting
in Trump Tower attended by Kushner, Trump Jr, now-jailed former
campaign manager Paul Manafort, and a Russian lawyer reportedly close to
the Kremlin, and documents surrounding the termination of FBI director
James Comey.
in Trump Tower attended by Kushner, Trump Jr, now-jailed former
campaign manager Paul Manafort, and a Russian lawyer reportedly close to
the Kremlin, and documents surrounding the termination of FBI director
James Comey.
The expansive new probe suggests the potential for laying the groundwork for possible impeachment proceedings against Trump.
But Democratic congressional leaders including Nadler and House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been reticent about pushing for the
president’s impeachment.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi have been reticent about pushing for the
president’s impeachment.
Nadler told ABC on Sunday that such action would be “a long way down the road.”
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