White House orders agencies to ignore Democrats oversight requests

[demmiblue]

Source: Politico

The White House is telling federal agencies to blow off Democratic lawmakers' oversight requests, as Republicans fear the information could be weaponized against President Donald Trump.

At meetings with top officials for various government departments this spring, Uttam Dhillon, a White House lawyer, told agencies not to cooperate with such requests from Democrats, according to Republican sources inside and outside the administration.

It appears to be a formalization of a practice that had already taken hold, as Democrats have complained that their oversight letters requesting information from agencies have gone unanswered since January, and the Trump administration has not yet explained the rationale.

The declaration amounts to a new level of partisanship in Washington, where the president and his administration already feels besieged by media reports and attacks from Democrats. The idea, Republicans said, is to choke off the Democratic congressional minorities from gaining new information that could be used to attack the president.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/02/federal-agencies-oversight-requests-democrats-white-house-239034?cmpid=sf

[Ligyron]

1. This just makes them look more guilty.

Plus, some of that stuff could be dynamite.

Besides, they won't be able to keep it away from the Special Council.

[FarPoint]

2. More Obstruction....

More Abuse of Power.....tRump does not embrace nor understand Democracy.

[UCmeNdc]

3. Is this legal?

Isn't this obstruction of justice?

[Calista241]

24. Unfortunately, I don't think so.

Since Dems aren't in power, they can't subpoena anything, anything else is just a request. Requests can be refused.

[Zoonart]

4. Seems to me this could be unconstitutional as it...

attempts to override the system of checks and balances that the Congress exerts over the executive branch.

[Shell_Seas]

8. Who's going to stop them?

[Zoonart]

10. The time for feel-good marches is over.

I fear it is time for civil disobedience, and I don't know if the masses are up for it.

[TryLogic]

12. Help from overseas? Mass demonstrations on Trump's golf courses?

And at home!

[Shell_Seas]

15. Until...

Protesters are arrested and get felony riot charges. Then they will be locked away in private, for-profit prisons for years to come. They'll be weeded out. The Trump Regime can do what they want, there is no one to stop them.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. This is untenable in an era of universal real time communication

A shroud might have worked in Nazi Germany. It won't work here.
People and government officials who are not part of the conspiracy
are too aware and informed about what's going on. You can't fool
all the people all of the time.

[C_U_L8R]

6. There must be remedies

Trump is betraying the duties of his office

[Ohioblue22]

17. Well there are but it is up to the cons to initiate them and Pelosi said

No to impeachment again at least not yet

[Txbluedog]

23. I really don't like Pelosi and think she should step aside BUT...

She is playing it safe on the impeachment front. If they start calling for it now before a lot of the facts are out they will just look like partisan hack and ineffective to boot

[BumRushDaShow]

7. If they did "nothing wrong"

then they would gladly provide the information. Right?

[Zambero]

9. This is what autocratic rule looks like

The voters who sent Democratic representatives to Washington are being held in contempt, as is the constitutionally mandated system of checks and balances.

[LiberalLovinLug]

22. That would be the majority of voters period

The majority voters preferred party has now no oversight on the minority supported overlords.

How does this happen in a so-called democracy?

[TryLogic]

11. This is action parallel to obstruction of justice.

Is it not in the category of high crimes and misdemeanors?

[rdking647]

13. but the GOP controlled congress wont do anything

maybe we need teh military to step in and remove teh GOP

[ehrnst]

14. They know what's coming and are trying to hold the door shut as long as possible. (nt)

[annabanana]

16. Stonewalling to hide their guilt!

Only plausible explanation!

[ananda]

18. Agree.

They're all guilty as hell!

[dhill926]

19. ok....game on fucksticks....

this is beyond the pale. Only answer is to GOTV in 2018. And protest like hell until then...

[riversedge]

20. WH- policy of the administration is to accommodate the requests of chairmen --BUT THERE ARE NO DEM

CHAIRMEN--or women --since all committee's are headed by REpugs!! Slimly Sob's!q



.....................A White House spokeswoman said the policy of the administration is “to accommodate the requests of chairmen, regardless of their political party.” There are no Democratic chairmen, as Congress is controlled by Republicans.

The administration also responds to “all non-oversight inquiries, including the Senate’s inquiries for purposes of providing advice and consent on nominees, without regard to the political party of the requester,” the spokeswoman said. “ Multiple agencies have, in fact, responded to minority member requests. No agencies have been directed not to respond to minority requests.”...............

[Bayard]

21. Is this information they can subpoena?

Or can that be done only by a committee chairman?