USAupdated 25m ago3 min read
Democrats Win Congress Control, Vow Investigations and Trump Warns He’ll Use Veto Power
“The bigger priority for me, and I think for most people in America, especially people living paycheck to paycheck, is ‘please help us with the cost of living,’”
“Democrats have made it clear that impeachment is an option.”
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Democrats win House and Senate, gaining power to pursue investigations. Robert García to chair House Oversight; announces investigations targeting Trump administration.
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Democrats seize oversight power
Democrats won control of both chambers in the midterm elections of November 3, securing 54 seats in the Senate compared with 44 for the Republicans, and winning 252 to 162 in the House with 21 seats still to be defined.
Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday night, “We’re going to demand accountability from those who have inflicted unprecedented corruption on this country,” and he asserted that “the Democrats in the House will put the American people first.”
Steve Scalise warned in a letter to Republican committee chairs that Democrats would embark on a “vengeance” and seek to impeach President Trump, urging them to compile “as many documents and lines of defense as possible.”
Ross Baker, a political science professor at Rutgers University, said Democrats could use their Senate majority to block presidential nominations for the cabinet and the judiciary, and he added that “Life will become quite unpleasant” for “Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth” and other named officials.
Trump told Fox News before Election Day, “I suppose I’ll become ‘Mr. Veto,’” describing his ability to block any law approved by both chambers.
Blanche and Garcia clash
Robert García, the Democrat expected to chair the House Committee on Oversight, announced investigations into alleged corruption within the Trump family and its administration and warned that family members and administration officials should start looking for lawyers now.
Todd Blanche told Fox News that “Stephen Miller has a lawyer.
It is me and the entire Department of Justice,” and he suggested García should read the Constitution because “it is the Congress that oversees the Executive.” García replied that “what Todd Blanche is doing right now is a threat.
He is threatening our committee.
He is trying to prevent us from doing real oversight” or accountability.
Trump responded by appointing Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff, effective Monday, November 9, replacing Susie Wiles, and García intensified a video pledging to investigate the Trump family’s business, its crypto activities, and Pentagon contracts.
The Attorney General and García faced off again in separate interviews on CNN, with Blanche arguing the Department of Justice would defend Miller if Democrats pursued him improperly rather than exercise legitimate oversight.
What investigations could target
Democrats discussed using their control of the House of Representatives and the Senate to issue subpoenas and to receive additional funds to initiate investigations, with party members drafting a list of possible investigations and witnesses.
Suhas Subramanyam said, “We want to ensure that taxpayers’ money is used wisely and not stolen or diverted because of corruption,” and he identified links between the government and companies, particularly cryptocurrency firms, as potential points of investigation.
The White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales denied the allegations, saying, “The Democrats have no agenda to improve the lives of the American people, only plans to obstruct and baselessly attack the president Trump’s sensible agenda,” while a White House official said the administration is “always prepared” to respond to oversight.
Democratic lawmakers promised to investigate Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s conduct in the war with Iran that began in February, including civilian casualties, spending, and accusations of ammunition shortages and inadequately prepared facilities.
Richard Painter, former head of the White House ethics office during George W. Bush’s administration, told the BBC that “this war was never authorized by the U.S. Congress,” adding, “The Constitution says Congress declares war.”