The US presidential administration is preparing an aggressive countermeasure against the large-scale investigations that the Democratic Party intends to conduct following its victory in the congressional midterm elections. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing The New York Times. According to the publication, the White House plans not only to obstruct the legislators' requests but also to classify some of their actions as potential criminal offenses, taking the political confrontation to a new, legally acute level.
Counter-Strategy and Coordinator
According to The New York Times, the main coordinator of the counter-strategy will be the new White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. The Justice Department and the administration's legal counsel are reportedly involved in developing the plan. This composition of participants indicates that the administration views the upcoming probes not as routine parliamentary work, but as a threat requiring a centralized legal and political response.
Democratic Focus: Trump, Family, and Donors
Democrats, for their part, intend to conduct large-scale investigations into the activities of Donald Trump, his family members, administration representatives, and the president's largest financial donors. Specifically, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Congressman Robert Garcia, and Senator Richard Blumenthal have announced the start of an investigation into fundraising organizer Meredith O'Rourke. According to available reports, she secured over $800 million for Trump's construction projects. "The fundraising operation that President Trump is reportedly running with your assistance raises serious concerns about potential corruption and the provision of political favors in exchange for donations," the lawmakers wrote.
Legal Warnings and Justice Department Position
A representative for the fundraising organization rejected the accusations and stated that Trump cannot be bought. The president himself called on the Department of Justice to investigate the actions of Democratic Party representatives, stating on social media that "many people, all innocent, received threat letters from Democrat political leaders," and directing the agency to "immediately investigate this criminal act." Subsequently, the US Federal Prosecutor for the Southern District of Texas, Aaron Reitz, sent a warning to Senator Blumenthal regarding potential serious legal consequences if he continues investigating the sponsors of the White House ballroom construction. US Attorney General Todd Blanche assured that no criminal investigations are currently being conducted in connection with the statements of future Congress members, however, he did not rule out that under certain circumstances, threats could become grounds for criminal liability: "There may come a point where criticism turns into a threat. There are threats that may also be permissible, but at some point, it becomes a crime."
Context: Aid to Ukraine and White House Statements
Against the backdrop of growing confrontation, it recently became known that Democrats are preparing a $15 billion military aid package for Ukraine. The White House, in turn, stated that Democrats would not be able to "undo Trump's achievement." Thus, the struggle for the agenda in Congress is combined with a discussion on further US financial obligations to allies and the limits of what is permissible in parliamentary oversight of the executive branch.
