Garcia Told Trump Admin To Lawyer Up After Democrats Take House
The incoming House Oversight Chairman vowed to investigate the Trump administration and the Justice Department following the midterm elections.
By Luis Medina ·
Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia told the Trump administration to "lawyer up" on Tuesday. Garcia is scheduled to become the chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform after Democrats secured a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. The party also regained control of the Senate in the recent midterm elections.
House Democrats released a statement announcing Garcia's upcoming role. The party said he would target the "Trump Crime Family," corporate corruption, and abuses by the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Garcia also pledged to investigate the cover-up of the Epstein files.
Voters in the election campaigned on issues of affordability and healthcare. A Strength In Numbers/Verasight poll earlier this month found that a strong majority of voters wanted the new Congress to undo Trump's agenda on tariffs, trade, health care, and immigration. Many of those voters also called for a legal reckoning against the current administration.
Some senior Democrats have attempted to moderate the call for immediate prosecutions. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries told reporters on Wednesday that he had not discussed impeachment with any House Democratic member. He stated that the caucus has been "relentlessly focused on affordability and accountability."
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said party leaders plan to issue subpoenas and hold hearings against the administration. However, he noted that their top priority is fixing the economy. "We are going to work hard to drive costs down with the president or without him, period," Schumer said.
The incoming Democrats have raised questions about the administration's use of legal power. They plan to examine whether the president and Justice Department officials abused their authority against elected officials and civilians. Garcia and other leaders are also looking into how the administration used its position to settle lawsuits and grant immunity to the president and his family.
The new leadership will also review the administration's immigration enforcement tactics. These include what critics described as violent and chaotic operations. The committee will also examine unsuccessful attempts at election interference. The House Oversight Committee will serve as the primary vehicle for these investigations in the coming legislative session.
