President Trump was impeached and not found guilty, as expected from the Republican-led Senate. However, there are several other wrongdoings by Trump that the Democratic-led House oversight committees should continue to investigate or start investigating. The primary reasons for going ahead with these investigations are the same as for conducting the impeachment. First, it is their responsibility to do so, and second, to establish unacceptable versus acceptable behavior.
Trump has continually had meetings and telephone conversations with Russian President Putin and refused to produce summaries of the discussions as required by precedent and by the Presidential Records Act of 1978. Last March, the House Committees on Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight and Reform requested documents from interviews with personnel of the White House, Executive Office of the President and Department of State related to communications between Trump and Putin. The White House has refused to provide the documents. Consequently, the committees must press on and go to court to force the issue.
Last summer, the House Judiciary Committee issued subpoenas to 12 key current and former Trump administration officials as part of its investigation of whether Trump obstructed justice (before the Ukraine/impeachment events). Subpoenas were issued to National Inquirer executives who are of interest in the hush-money payments Trump made to Stormy Daniels and the Trump mistress. Most, if not all, individuals refused to comply. I argue that the House should continue with whatever parts of those investigations that have not been resolved. And there should be no consideration of the probability that the election this fall will occur before the courts hear the cases.
Before the impeachment hearing and trial, the House Judiciary Committee launched a broad investigation into three areas: whether Trump obstructed justice by interfering with criminal investigations; potential corruption such as violation of campaign and financial reporting laws, and possible misuse of office for personal gain; and abuses of power in the misuse of the President’s pardon power and Trumps’ attacks on the press, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies. Some of these investigations should continue.
While there is no law requiring Trump to release his tax returns publicly, federal law does require Trump’s (or anyone else’s) tax returns to be given to Congress if they request it. Attorney General Barr is currently blocking the request for Trump’s returns in his apparent role of Trump fixer; however, the House Ways and Means Committee should exert more pressure on this issue.
The House Oversight Committee has been investigating several issues concerning the Trump Administration, including its handling of security clearances. A White House staff person overruled intelligence officials and provided 30 staffers security clearances when the intelligence agencies were saying no because they were security risks, including presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The House of Representatives has pursued its investigation into Trump’s dealing with Deutsche Bank, the bank that provided Trump with loans when no other bank would do so. The case involving Trump’s financial and business reports is now before the Supreme Court. These records, if revealed—as they should be—would undoubtedly show Trump having committed bank fraud.
Congress should keep pursuing the illegal behavior of the Trump administration despite the significant roadblock that Attorney General William Barr has provided. Among other reasons, a crack might be appearing in Barr’s shady behaviors. Federal Judge Reggie Walton said last week that he had “grave concerns about the objectivity” of Barr and his handling of the Mueller report’s release last year. And importantly, he will conduct an independent review of the unredacted version of the report to assess if the Department of Justice properly withheld portions from the public under the Freedom of Information Act.
Experienced observers predict that Barr will not win this fight with “no-nonsense” Judge Walton, an African American appointed by President George W. Bush. Let’s hope so. Clear thinking and actions on the side of right and the law are sorely needed.
