‘Hysteria’ feeds inaugural probe, White House spokeswoman says

NEW YORK — A U.S. federal subpoena seeking documents from Donald Trump’s inaugural committee is part of “a hysteria” over the fact that he’s president, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Tuesday.

Federal prosecutors in New York issued the wide-ranging subpoena Monday, furthering a federal inquiry into a fund that has faced mounting scrutiny into how it raised and spent $107 million US on events celebrating Trump’s 2017 inauguration.

Inaugural committee spokeswoman Kristin Celauro told the Associated Press the committee was still reviewing the subpoena. “It is our intention to co-operate with the inquiry,” she said.

The investigation is the latest in a series of criminal inquiries into Trump’s campaign and presidency.

“Actually, I think the common thread is a hysteria over the fact that this president became president,” Sanders said Tuesday in response to a CNN question. “The common thread is that there is so much hatred out there that they will look for anything to try to create and tie problems to this president.”

The subpoena seeks “all documents” related to the committee’s donors and vendors, as well as records relating to “benefits” donors received after making contributions, according to a person familiar with the document. The person was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

“They want everything,” the person said, referring to federal prosecutors.