House Democrats launch sweeping probe into possible ‘abuses of power’ by Donald Trump

Donald Trump has exploded with rage after a new investigation was announced, with his sons and Jared Kushner among 81 targets.

America’s House Judiciary Committee is launching a sweeping new probe of US President Donald Trump, his White House, his campaign and his businesses, sending document requests to 81 people linked to the president and his associates.

Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said on Monday the investigation will be focused on possible obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power.

US President Donald Trump speaks during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, on March 2, 2019. Pic: AFP

The aggressive, broad investigation could set the stage for an impeachment effort, although Democratic leaders have pledged to investigate all avenues and review special counsel Robert Mueller’s report before trying any drastic action.

On the list of 81 people are many of his current and former close advisers, including Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Jared Kushner, Steve Bannon, WikiLeaks, Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, formerWhite House communications director Hope Hicks and David Pecker, CEO of the National Enquirer.

Donald Trump’s adult sons Eric and Donald Jr. are on the list. Picture: AP

Mr Trump denounced the probe as a “political hoax” as he hosted an event for college football players at the White House hours after the news broke.

“It’s a political hoax,” he told reporters.

“I co-operate all the time with everybody,” he added.

“You know the beautiful thing? No collusion. It’s all a hoax.”

On Twitter, Mr Trump slammed it as “ridiculous”.

Quoting Fox News host Devin Nunes, Mr Trump said: “There is no Collusion. All of these investigations are in search of a crime. Democrats have no evidence to impeach President Trump.”

Mr Trump also quoted Fox News contributor Ari Fleischer, who said the investigation was an attempt to subvert the will of the electorate.

“Now that the (Democrats) are going to try and switch from collusion to some other reason, it makes them continue to look like sore losers who didn’t accept the will of the people in the last election - they will do anything to get rid of the President.”

“There is no Collusion. All of these investigations are in search of a crime. Democrats have no evidence to impeach President Trump. Ridiculous!” @DevinNunes @FoxNews

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2019

“Now that the Dems are going to try & switch from Collusion to some other reason, it makes them continue to look like sore losers who didn’t accept the WILL OF THE PEOPLE in the last election - they will do anything to get rid of the President.” @AriFleischer It will never work!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2019

Mr Nadler said that the document requests, with responses to most due by March 18, were a way to “begin building the public record” and the committee had a responsibility to investigate and hold public hearings.

White House adviser and Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner has been sent a letter requesting documents regarding the president. Picture: AP

“Over the last several years, President Trump has evaded accountability for his near-daily attacks on our basic legal, ethical, and constitutional rules and norms,” Mr Nadler said in announcing the beginning of the probe.

“Investigating these threats to the rule of law is an obligation of Congress and a core function of the House Judiciary Committee.”

Now that Democrats hold a majority in the House, the new probe is a sign that Mr Trump’s legal and political peril is nowhere near over, even as the special counsel’s Russia investigation winds down. The move all but guarantees that potentially damaging allegations will shadow Mr Trump for months to come as Democrats try to keep them in the public eye.

(L-R) House Democrats Judy Chu, Nancy Pelosi and Terri Sewell. Pic: AFP

Nadler’s announcement comes after the House intelligence panel has already announced a separate probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election and Mr Trump’s foreign financial interests. The House Oversight and Reform Committee has launched multiple investigations. Several other committees are probing related matters as well, and while many might overlap, the committee chairmen and chairwomen say they are working together on the investigations. The list of 81 names touches on all parts of Mr Trump’s life — his businesses, his campaign, the committee that oversaw the transition from campaign to the White House and the White House.

There are also people connected to Russian interference in the 2016 campaign, including participants in a meeting at Mr Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer before the election.

In a letter to the White House, the committee asks for information surrounding former FBI Director James Comey’s termination, communications with Justice Department officials, the Trump Tower meeting and multiple other matters.

Former US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been asked to provide documents. Picture: AFP

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said on Monday the White House had received the letter and that “the counsel’s office and relevant White House officials will review it and respond at the appropriate time.”

The committee is expected to use the information to amass information that officials can then comb through, according to a person familiar with the investigation. The person declined to be named to discuss the committee’s internal process.

The committee expects some people to produce right away, and others may eventually face subpoenas, the official said. It is unclear how many will eventually be called in for interviews.

Donald Trump, pictured with son Donald Jr., has called the probe a “political hoax”. Pic: AFP)

The announcement of the new investigation follows a bad political week for Mr Trump. He emerged empty-handed from a high-profile summit with North Korea leader Kim Jong-un on denuclearisation, and Mr Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in three days of congressional testimony, publicly characterised the president as a “conman” and “cheat.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has kept calls for impeachment at bay by insisting that Robert Mueller first must be allowed to finish his work, and present his findings publicly — though it’s unclear whether the White House will allow the full release.