Pelosi says House won’t be intimidated over Trump inquiries

Donald Trump turns to Speaker Nancy Pelosi as he delivers his State of the Union address.Credit:AP

Mueller has already used two such transcripts to charge associates of the President with lying to Congress, and Democrats believe others could have intentionally misled the committee.

The committee's chairman, Adam B. Schiff of California, also unveiled the parameters of a new investigation, to be pursued in collaboration with the financial services committee and others, of "any credible allegations of leverage by the Russians, the Saudis, or anyone else" over Trump or his administration.

"Our job involves making sure the policy of the United States is being driven by the national interest, not by any financial entanglement, financial leverage or other form of compromise," Schiff said.

The judiciary committee had called a meeting on Thursday to vote on a subpoena to compel testimony from Trump's acting Attorney-General, Matthew G. Whitaker, if needed. Whitaker, a loyalist of the President's who is overseeing Mueller's work, is scheduled to testify voluntarily on Friday, but Democrats have concerns that he may try to back out or dodge questions.

Perhaps most consequentially, a ways and means oversight subcommittee, was expected to hold its first hearing on Thursday to start building a public rationale to pursue Trump's tax returns.

Democrats view obtaining Trump's returns — which he has refused to release — as necessary for their broader inquiries into potential conflicts of interest between his role as president and his business operations, as well as accusations of money laundering that may have involved Russian oligarchs or other financial crimes, including those being pursued by the intelligence committee.

But the Democrats are prepared for a legal challenge from the administration and are proceeding slowly to try to build an airtight public relations and legal case.

"We will not be bullied by the President of the United States," said Hakeem Jeffries of New York, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. "The days of the House operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump administration are over."

Advisers around the President have been preparing for the congressional onslaught for months, and they know there is little hope of dissuading Democrats, who won control of the House by promising to be a check on Trump. That, and the long history of congressional oversight of the executive branch, made Trump's comments on Tuesday night all the more surprising to lawmakers.

"An economic miracle is taking place in the United States — and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics or ridiculous partisan investigations," Trump said amid a broader call for bipartisan co-operation between the two branches. "If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn't work that way!"

Pelosi said that was a false choice, telling reporters on Wednesday that Democrats could engage with Trump on such issues as immigration and reducing prescription drug pricing while also holding his administration accountable.

Pelosi also offered measured optimism over negotiations between appropriators from the House and Senate over a spending package to secure the southern border. But she hinted that Trump could pose a threat to any final deal.

"Left to their own devices, I think they can come to an agreement by Friday," she said.

The New York Times

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