Rep. Ruben Gallego, pictured, and eight of his colleagues will seek clarity on whether staff may collaborate with the White House and sign nondisclosure agreements. | Getty Democrats press Ryan on nondisclosure rules

Nine House Democrats will press Speaker Paul Ryan on Thursday as to whether House Judiciary Committee staff broke chamber rules while advising Trump officials on an executive order.

In a letter to the Wisconsin Republican, Reps. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Norma Torres (D-Calif.), and seven of his colleagues will seek clarity on whether staff may collaborate with the White House and sign nondisclosure agreements about their work.


POLITICO reported Monday that several Judiciary staffers helped Trump officials craft the travel ban on refugees and residents of seven predominantly Muslim countries. Sources said they signed confidentiality agreements, just as transition officials asked all employees to do during the transition period.

“We respectfully ask you to, in consultation with the House Committee on Ethics and the Committee on House Administration, provide written clarification and guidance… as to whether it is permissible for House Members or staff to assist in the drafting of executive orders, to provide assistance to the administration in any other fashion, or to enter into non-disclosure agreements with the administration,” the letter, obtained by POLITICO, reads.

The letter cites a concern about the separation of powers between two independent branches of government: “While we recognize that the current administration lacks policy experience, it is nonetheless imperative to maintain a clear division between the executive branch and the legislative branch.”

The other singers are Democratic Reps. Carol Shea-Porter (N.H.), Tim Walz (Minn.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas), Darren Soto (Fla.), Ted Lieu (Calif.), Eliot Engel (N.Y.) and Betty McCollum (Minn.).

Asked about the matter during a press conference Tuesday, Ryan deflected questions to Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.). Goodlate and the House Judiciary Committee, however, have refused to answer numerous inquiries about the arrangement.

An outside group on Tuesday asked the Office of Congressional Ethics to probe the matter.

CLARIFICATION: This story has been updated to correct Rep. Ruben Gallego's party affiliation.