Tag: House oversight of the Executive Branch

Rep. Phillips Responds to President Trump’s Rejection of Oversight Language in Stimulus

Phillips helped secure key legislation that mandates a Congressional Oversight Commission for a $500 billion fund

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Just hours after signing a historic $2.2 trillion stimulus package, President Trump announced that he would attempt to reject certain elements the bill, including provisions introduced by Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) mandating oversight over the spending, including a five-person Congressional Oversight Commission for the $500 billion Treasury Department fund.

“This is the most significant distribution of taxpayer money in human history. Everybody in this country, Republicans, Democrats, and independents agree – we want to see our tax dollars used effectively, efficiently and with accountability and oversight,” Phillips said during an interview with Alex Witt on MSNBC.

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Trump asks Supreme Court to shield financial records from House Democrats

The Hill logoPresident Trump has asked the Supreme Court to shield his financial records from the Democratic-led House Oversight and Reform Committee, in the latest case to bring questions over separation of powers to the justices.

The case marks the second time Trump has appealed to the high court to prevent the disclosure of financial documents and sets the stage for a potentially groundbreaking ruling on the extent of congressional oversight authority and presidential power.

In their Wednesday petition to the court, filed ahead of a Thursday deadline, Trump’s personal attorneys warned the justices that a lower court ruling in favor of the Democratic lawmakers would set a dangerous precedent if allowed to stand.

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House Democrats file lawsuit to enforce subpoena against McGahn

The Hill logoHouse Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) filed a civil lawsuit Wednesday to enforce a subpoena for testimony from Don McGahn, the former White House counsel who at the Trump administration’s direction defied lawmakers’ request to appear before the Judiciary panel.

The announcement comes two weeks after former special counsel Robert Mueller, who interviewed McGahn extensively as part of his probe into possible obstruction of justice by President Trump, testified for nearly seven hours on Capitol Hill about his 22-month long Russia investigation.

Lawyers for Judiciary Committee Democrats described McGahn as both “critical” and the “most important fact witness” during a call with reporters Wednesday before the lawsuit was filed, noting that he witnessed key obstruction episodes examined by Mueller.

View the complete August 7 by Olivia Beavers, Jacqueline Thomsen and Morgan Chalfant on The Hill website here.

House claims broad power in legal fight over Trump records

An attorney for the House described a sweeping congressional power to subpoena information Tuesday during a court hearing in Washington, as a federal judge appeared unlikely to block lawmakers from getting eight years of President Donald Trump’s financial records from an accounting firm.

The hearing was the first showdown over Trump’s efforts to stonewall investigations by House Democrats, including his lawsuit that argues the House Oversight and Reform Committee lacks a legitimate legislative purpose to force Mazars USA to turn over records.

The arguments made clear that the legal fight will continue to higher courts, no matter how U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta rules.

View the complete May 14 article by Todd Ruger on The Roll Call website here.