Incoming House Oversight Committee Chair Robert Garcia Responds to White House Warning

Rep. Robert Garcia, a Democrat from California and the expected chair of the House Oversight Committee in January, stated that Democrats will continue their investigations into President Trump’s administration. This comes despite a warning from the White House alleging potential criminal conduct.

Garcia affirmed, “We’re not going to be deterred, and we’re certainly not going to be intimidated by Donald Trump or anyone in the administration.” He made these remarks on NPR’s Morning Edition on Thursday.

The White House counsel, Will Scharf, in a letter dated Monday and released on Wednesday, accused Democratic lawmakers of making “abusive and capricious threats” toward the administration. He suggested that such threats or attempts to intimidate executive branch officials could verge on “blatant criminality.” This message emerges as Democrats gear up to take control of the House in January, aligning with previous statements from the administration, such as Trump’s calls for Democratic lawmakers’ incarceration and Attorney General Todd Blanche’s openness to investigations or prosecutions.

Garcia highlighted prioritizing investigations into alleged corruption involving Trump’s family, particularly a $2 billion Saudi investment in a firm led by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. He also mentioned plans to investigate former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former DHS adviser Corey Lewandowski for reported potential pay-to-play schemes.

Garcia remarked, “Our job is to investigate, to take issues to the courts, to make criminal referrals, and to write good legislation so that this kind of corruption doesn’t happen again.” He indicated that Democrats will persist in pursuing the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of overseeing civilian killings at sea, misappropriating funds, and initiating illegal wars. Garcia concluded, “I expect that the issue around impeachment hasn’t ended.”

The full interview can be accessed by clicking the blue button above. The radio interview was edited by Alice Woelfle, and the text version was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.