California Democrats plan to investigate Trump but leave a third impeachment off the table for now
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asserted
Democrats → plan → table
- California Democrats are poised to lead key congressional committees as their party takes control of Congress, putting them at the center of investigations into President Trump.
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party → poise → Trump
They say scrutinizing alleged corruption by Trump, his administration and his family is directly tied to the affordability crisis that helped drive Democratic victories in the midterm election.
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that → say → election
California Democrats, poised to play a prominent role in the next Congress, plan to use their newly won power to investigate President Trump over allegations that corruption, cronyism and self-dealing enriched the president, his family and his allies while housing, fuel and food costs skyrocketed for everyday Americans.
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costs → poise → Americans
The potential targets are wide-ranging, from immigration raids and the fatal shootings of protesters by federal agents to Trump’s ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein and billions of dollars in investment made by Middle Eastern countries allegedly seeking to influence U.S. foreign policy.
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targets → range → policy
The war with Iran, which increased oil prices, the military operation in Venezuela and dizzying tariff policies are also expected to come under intense scrutiny.
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which → increase → scrutiny
However, Democrats are notably focused on investigations, not the other “I-word” — impeachment.
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Democrats → focus → investigations
“That’s not on my bingo card,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), who is expected to become House Democratic whip.
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who → ’ → card
“We’re focused on accountability, and we’re focused on holding people accountable, and that should be to follow the evidence wherever it leads ...
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it → ’re → evidence
but that’s not anything that House Democrats are discussing at this point.”
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Democrats → ’ → point
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who played a leading role in the impeachment proceedings against Trump in 2020, said the priority is to alleviate the affordability crisis, but that the administration’s actions must be scrutinized for causing it.
“Our oversight agenda should be focused on corruption that has led to higher costs,” said Schiff, who has been making calls to colleagues about his desire to serve in leadership next year given his fundraising prowess, his visibility communicating the party’s priorities and his oversight experience, according to a source close to the senator.
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who → play → senator
“Corruption involving the oil industry, allowing the oil industry to gouge consumers, corruption that is costing taxpayers by raising the cost of federal contracts because of kickbacks or sweetheart deals or contributions to ballrooms.
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that → involve → ballrooms
Judicial appointments are also a priority for California’s two senators, who could review appointments to the federal courts across the nation as well as Supreme Court nominees if any of the nine justices retire in the next two years.
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any → review → years
Schiff, who lives in Burbank, serves alongside Sen. Alex Padilla of Porter Ranch on the Judiciary Committee.
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who → live → Committee
Committee Democrats, Schiff said, would be able to block federal judicial appointments of “incompetent partisans … who have no business being on the bench, and in any other administration would have never been nominated.”
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who → say → administration
Schiff also hopes to pursue an enforceable code of ethics and term limits on the high court.
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Schiff → hop → court
(The Supreme Court has a code of conduct but has resisted the idea of adopting one written by Congress.)
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Court → have → Congress
Democrats’ sweeping victories in the Nov. 3 election may prompt a significant upheaval in the already-fraught power dynamic between Trump and Schiff.
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victories → prompt → Trump
Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate in two first-term impeachments, has relentlessly attacked Schiff, from mocking him as “Shifty Schiff” to ordering investigations into unfounded allegations that he committed mortgage fraud.
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he → acquit → fraud
Trump’s response to this new round of Democratic-led investigations is expected to be just as aggressive.
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response → lead → investigations
On Monday, White House counsel Will Scharf sent Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach), who is expected to chair the House’s chief investigative committee, a letter warning that he and his Democratic colleagues could face criminal scrutiny over their planned investigations.
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he → send → investigations
The White House counsel made the warning in a letter dated Monday to Rep. Robert Garcia of Long Beach, who is in line to lead the House oversight committee.
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who → make → committee
Shortly after the election, Garcia made it clear that the incoming Democratic-led Congress will hold the Trump administration to account.
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Congress → make → account
“LAWYER UP,” he posted on social media.
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he → lawyer → media
“Taking on the Trumps and their grift is taking on corruption, but it’s also going to lower your costs,” Garcia said.
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Garcia → take → costs
“Prices are up at the gas pump because of Trump’s corruption in Iran, because Trump is paying off oil companies in Venezuela while they’re making record profits.
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they → pay → profits
“While the Trumps get richer on their crypto schemes, the American public is struggling with gas and groceries.
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public → get → gas
It’s all connected.”
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It → connect → ?
The White House dismissed Democrats’ plans as counterproductive to the nation’s economy.
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House → dismiss → economy
“As the President has said, he’s willing to work with anyone to continue delivering victories for hardworking Americans,” spokesperson Lauren Bis said in an email.
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Bis → say → email
“If Democrats choose to pursue sham investigations and radical left policies, they are choosing to work against the American people.”
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they → choose → people
After Trump threatened Democrats who pursue investigations, Garcia sought to turn it to his advantage.
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Garcia → threaten → advantage
“Because I promised that our incoming House Oversight majority will hold him accountable, investigate his administration’s abuses, and pull back the curtain on his corruption, he is trying to use the legal system as a weapon to stop us,” Garcia wrote in a fundraising email to supporters.
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Garcia → promise → supporters
While some ballots are still being counted, Democrats had won 256 House seats to the Republicans’ 169, as of Friday, according to the Associated Press.
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Democrats → count → Press
In the Senate, Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them had secured 55 seats to the GOP’s 44.
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who → caucus → 44
Follow live results as Angelenos and Californians vote for Los Angeles mayor, state governor and other state, county and city races.
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Angelenos → follow → mayor
The Democratic gains in traditionally Republican states and congressional districts could be short-lived, however, if the incoming Congress is consumed by political revenge and fails to address voters’ economic concerns.
“Managing a very large caucus that represents America is going to be thrilling and important as we change America’s direction to focus on affordability and accountability,” said Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance), who is expected to lead the House Democratic caucus.
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who → live → caucus
The former prosecutor said he views an impeachment as akin to an indictment, which shouldn’t be pursued based on news reports but on witnesses’ testimony, documents and tangible evidence.
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which → say → testimony
“After we do those investigations, then we can make a decision,” Lieu said.
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Lieu → do → decision
“I absolutely support investigating the corruption in the Trump administration, and then we can see where that leads.”
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that → support → administration
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
