House targets Trump White House, organization, family for broad corruption probe

Corruption Probe Targets Trump White House, Organization and Family

House Democrats announced Monday that they’ve opened a broad investigation into possible corruption, abuse of power and obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump.

House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, sent letters to 81 agencies, people and entities connected to the president on Monday. He said the letters were sent to “begin building the public record.”

“We will act quickly to gather this information, assess the evidence and follow the facts where they lead with full transparency with the American people,” Nadler said. “This is a critical time for our nation, and we have a responsibility to investigate these matters and hold hearings for the public to have all the facts. That is exactly what we intend to do.”

An unidentified source told The Associated Press the House Judiciary Committee expects to use the information gathered from its document requests to "amass information that officials can then comb through."

Among those targeted were the Trump Organization, the Trump Foundation and the presidential inaugural committee. The president's sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were also among those who got letters requesting documents.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement that White House officials had also received a letter Monday from the House Judiciary Committee.

“The (White House) Counsel’s Office and relevant White House officials will review it and respond at the appropriate time,” she said.

The Associated Press reported that lawmakers anticipate some of those who were contacted will eventually face subpoenas to get them to turn over information. It was not immediately clear how many people would be called for interviews before the committee.