Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) on Friday prompt Congress might defend towards an “unleashed” Trump administration.
“Trump is laying the groundwork for an unleashed administration,” Swalwell warned in an op-ed revealed by MSNBC, citing earlier remarks from President-elect Trump, like his pledges for retribution towards his perceived political opponents and his historical past of media feuds.
Swalwell cited a report launched by the Justice Division’s Workplace of Inspector Basic associated to the division’s entry of information throughout Trump’s first time period of greater than 40 congressional staffers, together with two Democratic lawmakers and several other journalists, together with then-Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Swalwell.
Though not required, the Justice Division by no means knowledgeable the courtroom it was looking for information for members of Congress or congressional staffers.
The 96-page report concluded that looking for the information of lawmakers and staffers didn’t violate any Justice Division insurance policies on the books on the time, however the transfer nonetheless “risks chilling Congress’s ability to conduct oversight of the executive branch … and [creates], at a minimum, the appearance of inappropriate interference by the executive branch in legitimate oversight activity by the legislative branch.”
Swalwell additionally talked about the Supreme Court docket’s resolution earlier this 12 months that provides presidents absolute immunity for actions that fall inside the core obligations of their workplace and are presumptively immune for all different official acts.
“Who can America turn to for checks and balances? To hold up the rule of law? What will a completely unchecked, unleashed and guardrail-free Trump do to his dissenters? How will Trump be successfully fenced in?” Swalwell warned within the op-ed.
“The answer is Congress,” he mentioned, admitting the reply might appear “laughable” given the GOP secured majorities in each chambers after Election Day. Nonetheless, he cites former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-Fla.) withdrawal from legal professional common consideration after it appeared he would face an uphill battle towards Senate affirmation.
Gaetz got here beneath hearth amid a Home Ethics Committee probe into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, amongst different claims. The investigation was successfully killed after Gaetz resigned from Congress, and the committee determined to not launch the report.
“By banding together, a half-dozen senators said, “Hell no” and made Gaetz’s path impossible. Do they have it in them to do it again? And again? And again, until the message is received by Trump that they will not rubber stamp America’s path to a dictatorship?” Swalwell wrote.
“Congress is still the last, best check to stop Kash Patel from carrying out a lawful revenge tour,” he added, referencing Trump’s decide to steer the FBI — a selection that has confronted backlash from some who fear that his nomination might result in adjustments over the company’s independence.
