House Oversight Committee Chair Elijah Cummings Sends 51 Document Requests To Trump Administration

On Tuesday, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) sent 51 letters to numerous Trump Administration officials – namely the heads of select government agencies, White House officials and Trump Organization officials. He is asking for documentation that pertains to various ongoing congressional investigations.

Cummings, who will probably become the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has every intention to launch investigations into Trump’s actions, including his administration’s handling of Hurricane Maria and the separation of families at the border. Other areas of interest to Cummings include foreign payments to the Trump Organization and inappropriate activities by high-ranking government officials, as well as former EPA administrator Scott Pruitt.

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In his statement, Cummings said, “These are documents that even the Republicans on the Oversight Committee—at least at some point in time—believed we needed to conduct effective oversight, but when the Trump Administration refused to comply fully, the Republicans would not issue a single subpoena.  Many of these requests were bipartisan, and some are now more than a year old.  As Democrats prepare to take the reins in Congress, we are insisting—as a basic first step—that the Trump Administration and others comply with these Republican requests.”

Although his letters aren’t subpoenas, Cummings hopes Donald Trump and his administration will cooperate with him. Cummings’ persistence might foreshadow the stern demeanor he will take after the Democrats reclaim the House, which will give him more leverage. However, he has noted on Sunday that he does not plan on issuing droves of subpoenas yet. His early days aboard the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will likely focus on “day-to-day” problems like “skyrocketing drug prices” instead.