Here is what happens if the Democrats get control. Scary. Rabid. Relentless. Get out and vote.
Democratic victory in November would put Trump under microscope
by Reuters
Thursday, 18 October 2018 10:00 GMT
By Amanda Becker, Richard Cowan and David Morgan
WASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - If Democrats win control of the U.S. House of Representatives or Senate next month, nearly every aspect of Donald Trump's presidency could face swift examination – from his long-elusive tax returns to possible business ties with Russia and conflicts of interest, congressional sources say.
While numerous probes have been expected if Democrats win a majority in the Nov. 6 elections, the sequencing and scope of their inquiries has only begun to emerge in recent talks among party leaders and prospective committee chairs.
Leaders are clear about what's not on the agenda: impeachment of Trump – at least until the outcome of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections and possible Trump campaign collusion with Moscow.
But congressional aides say Democrats would move quickly to obtain Trump's tax returns to look for business ties to Russia and possible conflicts with the Republican president, his family businesses and U.S. government interests, along with a possible examination of his handling of security clearances.
Trump has refused to release his tax returns, unlike recent U.S. presidents.
Polls show Republicans likely to lose control of the House while possibly expanding their majority in the Senate. Few congressional aides and leaders will speak openly about the Democrats' investigative agenda.
Democratic majorities in the House or Senate would bring more money and staff for investigations that could derail or delay Trump's agenda, but aides said Democrats will still aim for some bipartisan cooperation lest their push seem too overtly political ahead of the 2020 presidential election.
Cummings said he would take a "two-lane" approach, examining Trump's businesses and potential conflicts of interests, while also probing "day-to-day" issues such as prescription drug pricing, voter suppression and questions about citizenship added to the 2020 U.S. Census.
Another early item on the agenda would likely be Trump's revoking of security clearances from perceived political enemies and his granting of an interim security clearance to an aide who later resigned amid allegations of spousal abuse, aides said.
Cummings would also examine the use of private email at the White House by Trump's son-in-law and aide Jared Kushner, aides said. Democrat Hillary Clinton's use of private email as secretary of state was an issue in the 2016 presidential election.
The oversight panel later sent a bipartisan letter to the White House seeking information on Kushner's emails but got no response. Cummings would issue a subpoena if needed, according to the aides.
Probes into Trump would also be conducted by the House Judiciary Committee, the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. There is no plan for a special temporary committee, but Democratic leaders would coordinate investigative efforts with the heads of the committees, aides said.
The committees would spend January organizing, with investigations cranking up as soon as February, they added.
The Ways and Means Committee would use its authority to request Trump's tax returns from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The judiciary and intelligence committees could then use the returns to dig into whether Trump got anything of value from foreigners or had business ties to Russia.
Senate Democrats have a list of Trump-related concerns that runs about 100 pages, according to a document seen by Reuters…….
Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House intelligence panel…..
Schiff said Democrats must "restore Congress as an equal branch and check the ambition of an imperial and erratic president."
Sauce:http://news.trust.org/item/20181018095920-02as5