Trump Orders Criminal Probe Into Congressional Oversight
President Donald Trump ordered the Justice Department to investigate Democratic lawmakers for announcing that Congress might perform congressional oversight, an offense the administration said becomes criminal when directed at the president. The emergency began after Democrats won control of the House and Representative Robert Garcia advised administration officials to “lawyer up,” a phrase federal authorities interpreted as evidence that lawmakers intended to use subpoenas, hearings and other instruments traditionally associated with organized legislating.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to rule out investigating members of Congress who investigate the administration, restoring the constitutional system of checks and balances under which Congress may check the executive branch only after receiving written permission from the executive branch. “Congressional oversight is a very serious crime, possibly the worst crime, especially when it involves looking at me without first agreeing that I did everything perfectly,” Trump explained. “The Founders created Congress to applaud the president, and they created the Justice Department to remind Congress when the applause is getting weak.”
The inquiry will determine whether Garcia, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and other lawmakers possess materials commonly used in oversight plots, including gavels, committee stationery, document requests and annotated copies of Article I. Prosecutors are also reviewing whether the phrase “lawyer up” constituted a threat against public officials, unlike a presidential order to investigate political opponents, which administration lawyers classified as routine supervision. Officials said lawmakers remain free to examine the government provided they request no records, compel no testimony, identify no misconduct and conclude every hearing with a televised apology to Trump.
The Justice Department also cautioned Americans against attempting oversight at home. Citizens who ask where taxpayer money went, whether officials followed the law or why prosecutors are examining Congress may already be participating in an unlawful conspiracy involving informed voters and representative institutions. Under the administration’s clarified constitutional doctrine, presidential power is accountable to Congress whenever the president finds accountability convenient, and representative government is now a prosecutable offense.
* None of the quotes in this article were spoken by an actual person. More info.