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Top Republicans are moving to block a Senate investigation into the US Justice Department’s secret seizure of data from Democrats to track leaks of classified information, fearing a careful investigation could harm the former president.
And Trump, facing a mounting crisis of legal woes and political criticism, continues to wield enormous power among Republicans, and recently hinted at a return to the White House.
In fiery remarks, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized the rapidly expanding Congressional investigations as unnecessary and accused Democrats of initiating “politically motivated investigations.”
“I am confident that the current investigation will reveal the truth,” McConnell said. “There is no need for a partisan circus here in Congress.”
McConnell’s strong response shows concern about the latest aggressive move by Democrats to engage in retroactive censorship that has subjected Trump to abuse of the massive power of the federal government to go after his political enemies.
It also means Republicans will close arms to block subpoenas against Trump Justice Department officials, including former Attorney General Bill Barr and Jeff Sessions. Democrats need at least one Republican member for subpoenas because of the even split between Democrats and Republicans on the committee.
Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, indicated he would not provide such support. “Investigations with members of Congress and staff are nothing new, especially for classified leaks,” he said.
The Republican criticism came as Democrats ramped up investigations at the Justice Department to secretly seize in 2018 data belonging to two Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee, and some of Trump’s fiercest critics.
In the Senate, Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin demanded in a letter that Attorney General Merrick Garland give a briefing and respond to a set of questions about the forfeiture by June 28. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler said his committee would open an investigation into “coordinated efforts by the Trump administration to target President Trump’s political opposition” while he was considering a draw at Bar Sessions.
Adam Schiff speaking to reporters with Jimmy Raskin and Eric Swalwell. Trump’s Justice Department has seized statements from fierce Trump critics Schiff and Swalwell. Photo: Erin Scott/Reuters
Parallel investigations demonstrated Democrats’ determination to seize the momentum, even as Republicans began to mobilize opposition — much the same reasons that govern their motive for sinking a 9/11-style commission to examine the Capitol attack.
Democrats also said they would press ahead with their investigations with Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz, whose office last week opened a separate investigation.
“I think there should be a role for Congress to supplement anything that is not being handed over by the Department of Justice,” Congressman Eric Swalwell, one of the House Democrats whose records were seized, told the Guardian.
But in requesting Garland to appear only before the Senate Judiciary Committee — not Barr or Sessions — Democrats revealed the power Senate Republicans wield to block proceedings they fear would anger Trump and his base ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.
The political barriers that Senate Republicans have put in place mean that the most significant congressional investigation into Trump’s Justice Department targeting Democrats is likely to come from the House Judiciary Committee.
Because of his Democratic majority in the House, Nadler doesn’t have the same problems as his Senate colleagues, and he retains the ability to subpoena Barr and Sessions without Republican support.
The Judicial Committee did not specify concrete steps for the investigation. A source familiar with the matter said Nadler plans to keep the subpoena threat hanging on Trump’s attorneys general as he ramps up pressure in the coming weeks.
The dual investigations by House and Senate Democrats follow a referral from Deputy Attorney General Lisa Mascaro to the inspector general to begin the review, according to a senior Justice Department official.
The inspector general’s investigation came after the New York Times reported that the Trump administration used grand jury subpoenas to force Apple and another service provider to turn over data linked to Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee.
Although investigations into leaks of classified information are routine, the use of subpoenas to extract data on accounts belonging to members of current Congress is almost unprecedented in outside corruption investigations.
Justice Department investigators gained access to, among other things, the records of Adam Schiff, then the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee and now its chair; Swallow. Members of Parliament’s families and aides.
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