White House Counsel Warns Democrats Their Planned Probes Could Cross Into Criminality

White House Counsel Will Scharf sent a letter on Wednesday to Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., warning that investigations planned by the incoming Democratic majority could exceed constitutional limits and, in some cases, amount to criminality. Scharf wrote that threats meant to deter officials from public service, or legal process meant to abuse or frighten recipients, may cross that line and may warrant further investigation. He cited a Supreme Court ruling that investigations for personal aggrandizement or to punish targets are indefensible. Garcia, the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee and its likely next chairman, replied that Congress's authority comes from Article I, not the White House. On MS NOW he called the letter a shocking threat and said Democrats would not be intimidated. After last week's midterms, Garcia had told Trump officials to get lawyers; Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Emily Randall also spoke of subpoenas. Separately, Texas U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz posted a letter asking Sen. Richard Blumenthal to preserve documents tied to a planned inquiry into funding of the White House ballroom.

Fox News and Breitbart, on the right, center on Garcia. Breitbart runs his MS NOW remarks at length, including his claim that Trump wants to halt oversight. Fox quotes Scharf's letter and adds the election-night "lawyer up" post and Randall's subpoena remark, noting Republicans will be in the minority. CBS News and Talking Points Memo, on the left, lead with the White House warning. TPM mocks it, faults other coverage for treating it credibly, and adds Reitz, Blanche and Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter. Both sides feature Garcia's rebuttal. Reason, among the alternative sources, adds Trump's weekend extortion and imprisonment remarks and Justice Department resignations, and says Trump and Blanche did not explain how the rhetoric was criminal.