Dem Senators Accuse White House Of Ignoring Congress’ Requests For Info

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill about news reports of Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ contact with Russia's ambassador to the United States during the presidential campaign, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 2, 2017. The revelation is spurring growing calls in Congress in both parties for him to recuse himself from an investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. election.  (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill about news reports of Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ contact with Russia's ambassador to the United States during the presiden... Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill about news reports of Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ contact with Russia's ambassador to the United States during the presidential campaign, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 2, 2017. The revelation is spurring growing calls in Congress in both parties for him to recuse himself from an investigation into Russian interference in the U.S. election. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Democratic senators sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Wednesday complaining that the administration appears to be purposefully ignoring requests for information from Democratic members of Congress.

“We write to express our concerns with recent reports that the White House may have instructed certain Federal agencies to refuse requests for information from Democratic members of Congress,” the senators wrote in a letter first reported by the Washington Post. “If true, such an instruction would be a significant departure from the practices of past Administration and seriously inhibit Congress’s ability to fulfill its legislative and oversight duties.”

The senators noted in the letter that the Supreme Court has acknowledged the need for Congress to have access to information from the White House in order to conduct oversight. They contended that most requests sent to agencies have gone unanswered under the Trump administration, however.

The senators asked Trump to “clarify that your Administration will not refuse requests for information from Congress, including Democratic members, and will provide the courtesy of a response to congressional inquiries in a timely and comprehensive manner.”

The letter was signed by 17 Democratic senators, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who caucuses with the Democrats.

Read the letter:

Latest DC

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for tsp tsp says:

    It’s a shame that the US Government can’t be run like a Russian criminal organization. Sorry, trumPP. You are not above the law. You cannot establish the law. You cannot ignore the law. You cannot obstruct the law… You cannot interpret the law. You must OBEY the law!

  2. Another sternly written letter.

  3. If this is what it seems to be, it’s an insane practice by the administration.

  4. Keep piling up those instances of obstruction you guys! The more evidence, the better!

  5. And a precursor to a lawsuit.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

13 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for lestatdelc Avatar for paulw Avatar for rob_beatty_walters Avatar for thaverly Avatar for littlegirlblue Avatar for arrendis Avatar for darcy Avatar for dickweed Avatar for cincypix Avatar for gajake Avatar for georgeh Avatar for tsp Avatar for mkposs Avatar for proudlibtard

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: