Schumer says Trump is ‘scared’ of congressional investigations
WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning about “ridiculous” congressional investigations during his State of the Union address showed that he has “something to hide.”
Schumer’s comments came the morning after Trump threatened not to work with House Democrats on legislation if they move forward with impending oversight investigations into his conduct and personal finances, as well as alleged corruption in the administration.
Appearing on CNN, Schumer said the president’s words showed that “he’s scared.”
“He’s got something to hide,” Schumer said. “Because if he had nothing to hide, he’d just shrug his shoulders and let these investigations go forward. He’s afraid of them.”
Since taking over control of the House, Democrats have vowed far more robust oversight of Trump and his administration.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters Wednesday that she considers Trump’s comments a “threat.”
“Presidents should not bring threats to the floor of the House,” Pelosi said. “He said he wasn’t going to co-operate unless we didn’t exercise our constitutional responsibilities of oversight.”
During his speech Tuesday night, Trump said that “an economic miracle is taking place in the United States and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics or ridiculous partisan investigations.”
“If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation,” he added.
During a separate appearance Wednesday on “CBS This Morning,” Vice-President Pence acknowledged that “congressional oversight is part of the checks and balances of our system.”
“What the president referred to last night was partisan investigations,” Pence said. “We don’t object to oversight. That’s the proper role of committees in the Congress. But when it takes on a partisan tint, when it seems more intent on becoming a forum for invective against the president and against the administration, the American people expect better.”
During a news conference after last year’s midterms, Trump said that hope for bipartisan deals would evaporate if House Democrats used their new powers to investigate him or his administration. Such efforts, he said, would spark “a warlike posture.”