White House to Congress: Investigating Trump officials could be “criminal”

White House counsel Will Scharf warned Rep. Robert Garcia that investigating Trump officials could be “criminal.”

The warning came in a Nov. 9 letter to Garcia, the California Democrat set to chair the House Oversight Committee in January. Reuters reported the text.

Scharf wrote that the administration is “monitoring the abusive and capricious threats” from Democratic lawmakers, and that process “designed merely to abuse or instill fear in the recipient may cross the line into blatant criminality.” Issuing “unlawful subpoenas,” he wrote, “may warrant further investigation.”

No subpoena has been issued. Democrats do not take control of the House until Jan. 3.

It follows Donald Trump’s weekend post ordering the Justice Department to look into congressional critics, calling them “extortionists” who deserve imprisonment. Reason reported the post.

His attorney general, Todd Blanche, then told CNN that Oversight members should “be very worried.”

Garcia answered Wednesday: “We are a co-equal branch of government and will not be deterred by baseless threats from a weaponized DOJ or from the President’s lawyers.”

The criminality claim is the White House’s assertion, not a legal finding. No investigation of Democrats has been confirmed.

Democrats have promised to look into the president, his family and aides, including the Iran war and immigration enforcement.

Turning oversight into a crime threat rigs the rules.

When the White House threatens Congress before questions even start, the public gets fewer answers. You get less say.

You do not have to be a Democrat to see the line here. Government should answer questions without threatening jail.

If this stands, expect fewer answers and more fear. That’s the point.

Your move. Speak up before Jan. 3, when the new Congress decides whether to use the power the Constitution gives it.

• Tell your representative you expect full, unfettered oversight without criminal threats
• Ask your local paper to publish the Scharf letter and your member’s stance on it
• Ask your members of Congress whether they will hold oversight hearings after Jan. 3 despite the letter
• Check your voter registration at Vote.gov

Countdown

The swearing-in of the new Congress is in 49 days.

References

UPDATE: White House warns incoming Oversight chair that investigating Trump officials could be criminal. Nov 11, 2026
UPDATE: White House warns incoming Oversight chair that investigating Trump officials could be criminal. Nov 12, 2026
UPDATE: White House warns incoming Oversight chair that investigating Trump officials could be criminal. Nov 9, 2026