Washington, DC (July 17, 2018)—Today, during a business meeting of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Republicans blocked consideration of six more Democratic requests to allow Members to offer, debate, and vote on subpoenas—bringing the total number of subpoena motions denied by Oversight Committee Republicans during Donald Trump’s Presidency to 52.

“It is difficult to imagine House Republicans doing more to protect President Trump than they are now—especially on the Oversight Committee,” said Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings. “Instead of serving as a check on executive branch offenses, Oversight Committee Republicans are enabling President Trump’s abuses, rationalizing his incompetence, and interfering with the independent investigation being conducted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.”

Since Rep. Trey Gowdy assumed his role as Chairman, the Oversight Committee has not issued a single subpoena to anyone, despite the Trump Administration’s refusal to respond to dozens of requests for documents, including requests from Gowdy himself.

Gowdy issued 13 subpoenas during his tenure as Chairman of the Benghazi Committee investigating the Obama Administration and then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Vice Ranking Member Gerry Connolly offered a motion to debate and vote on six subpoena motions, but Republicans blocked his motion.

“Today marks the fifth time that we, on our side of the aisle, have asked during business meetings to let our Committee vote on subpoenas covering issues of critical importance to the public,” Connolly said. “The past four motions were ruled out of order. No subpoenas were issued, and the Committee did not have an opportunity to debate or vote on the motions.”

52 Subpoena Motions Blocked by Oversight Committee Republicans

To date, Oversight Committee Republicans have blocked a total of 52 subpoena requests for critical documents and testimony being withheld by the Trump Administration and others relating to matters within the Oversight Committee’s core oversight jurisdiction.

At today’s business meeting, Republicans blocked a Democratic motion to issue six subpoenas :

52. Department of Justice Withholding Documents About Refusal to Defend the Affordable Care Act in Court

51. Black Cube Withholding Documents on “Dirty Ops” Operation

50. White House Withholding Documents on Contractor Wanted for Attempted Murder

49. State Department Withholding Documents on Political Loyalty Lists

48. Department of Health and Human Services Withholding Documents on Title X Family Planning Program Proposed Gag Rule

47. Environmental Protection Agency Withholding Documents on Freedom of Information Act

At a hearing on July 12, 2018, Republicans blocked a subpoena to compel Steve Bannon to testify before the Oversight and Judiciary Committees about his involvement with law enforcement actions before, during, and after the 2016 election.

46. Republicans immediately moved to table the subpoena motion and then voted along party lines to block debate on the motion on the motion.

At a business meeting on May 23, 2018, Republicans blocked Democratic requests to consider 12 subpoena motions.

45. Commerce Department and Census Bureau Withholding Documents on Citizenship Question

44. Department of Justice Withholding Documents on Request to Add Citizenship Question to Census

43. Department of Justice Withholding Documents on Politicized Hiring Allegations for Immigration Judges

42. Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice Withholding Documents on Gag Order Against Whistleblowers

41. White House Withholding Information on Chartered Flights

40. White House Withholding Documents on Use of Private Email Accounts

39. Department of Justice Withholding Documents on Improper Attempt to Classify Dana Boente Notes

38. State Department and White House Withholding Documents and Testimony on “Cleaning” Out of Career Employees

37. White House Withholding Documents on Rejected Security Clearance Application for NSC Deputy Robin Townley

36. Cambridge Analytica Withholding Documents about Foreign Employees’ Participation in U.S. Elections

35. Department of Health and Human Services Withholding Documents on Effort to Strip Information from Women’s Health Website

34. The Federal Savings Bank Withholding Documents Relating to Loans Made to the President’s Campaign Chairman

At a hearing on May 18, 2018, Republicans blocked a subpoena to compel their own witness, a top appointee at the Department of Justice, to answer questions on the Trump Administration’s decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.

33. Republicans immediately moved to table the subpoena motion and then voted along party lines to block debate on the motion.

At a business meeting on March 15, 2018, Republicans blocked Democratic requests to consider 13 subpoena motions.

32. White House Withholding Documents on Security Clearances

31. DHS Withholding Documents on Contract for Emergency Meals

30. White House Withholding Information on Deadly Niger Ambush

29. CBP Withholding Documents on Allegations of Sexual Assault by CBP Employees

28. Agencies Withholding Identities of Regulatory Reform Task Force Members

27. DOD Withholding Documents on Federal Response to Hurricanes

26. HHS Withholding Documents on Collaboration with Right-Wing Group to Rescind Medicaid Freedom-of-Choice Letter

25. DOI Withholding Documents on Reassignment of Employees

24. DOJ Withholding Documents on Communications with White House on AT&T Time-Warner Merger

23. TIGTA Withholding Response to Complaint

22. USDA Withholding Documents on Communications with Corporate Lobbyists

21. Trump Foundation Withholding Documents on Transfer of Assets to a Disqualified Person

20. Jared Kushner for Testimony at Emergency Hearing on Conflicts of Interest and Security Clearances

At a business meeting on February 6, 2018, Republicans blocked Democratic requests to consider 12 subpoena motions:

19. Trump Organization Withholding Documents on Foreign Payments

18. DHS Withholding Documents on Russian Attacks Against States Before Election

17. DHS Withholding Information from IG Report on Trump Muslim Ban

16. White House and HHS Withholding Documents on Biased Refugee Report

15. HHS Withholding Documents on Gag Order Against Whistleblowers

14. Kushner Withholding Emails That Violate Presidential Records Act

13. White House Withholding Documents on Security Clearance Suspensions

12. Transition Team and DOJ Withholding Flynn, Jr.’s Security Clearance Documents

11. White House Withholding Documents on Interim Security Clearances

10. Flynn and Business Partners Withholding Documents on Middle East Nuclear Deal

9. Data Firms Withholding Documents on Foreign Contacts During Election

8. OMB Withholding Agency Downsizing Plans

7. FDIC Withholding Documents on EPA Senior Advisor Banned from Banking

At a business meeting on November 2, 2017, Republicans blocked Democratic requests to consider six subpoena motions.

6. White House Withholding Documents on Flynn’s Foreign Contacts

5. White House Withholding Documents on Personal Email Use by Top Aides

4. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump Withholding Documents on Emails

3. White House Withholding Documents on Hurricane Response

2. Governor Snyder Withholding Documents on Flint Water Investigation