Incoming House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings is asking for more information on the Trump administration’s handling of hurricanes Irma and Maria, its family separation policy at the border and more. | Alex Brandon/AP photo congress Cummings puts Trump on notice for wave of investigations

Democrats still have two weeks until they take control of the House, but a top Democratic investigator is already putting President Donald Trump on notice.

Incoming House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings on Wednesday sent more than 50 letters to multiple agencies and departments as well as the Trump Organization and Trump’s personal attorneys requesting documents on a series of scandals that have plagued the White House.


The Maryland Democrat is asking for more information on the administration’s handling of hurricanes Irma and Maria, Trump’s controversial family separation policy at the border, the White House decision to revoke the security clearances of high ranking former officials who became Trump critics, and more.

While the documents are not subpoenas, Cummings’ letters lay the groundwork for a much more aggressive oversight of the executive branch in the next two years. Democrats have long complained that House Republicans have turned a blind eye to allegations of misconduct, misuse of official funds and other alleged conflicts of interest. Cummings, a veteran of oversight battles, is planning to hold the administration’s feet to the fire.

“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,” Cummings said in a statement. “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.”

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The requests also touch on misconduct allegations surrounding former EPA administrator Scott Pruitt; the use of government jets by Cabinet members for non-official travel; and the use of non-government emails for official business, which could ensnare Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Democrats also want to examine Trump’s financial ties, including payment by foreign governments or foreign government entities to the Trump Organization. Democrats are eager to explore whether the president has used his office to enrich himself personally.