Scalise Orders GOP to Prepare for Probes

House Republican leadership has distributed a new set of instructions to its members as they prepare to lose control of the House next year. Majority Leader Steve Scalise wrote to current committee chairs on Thursday, urging them to use their remaining time in power to build a defense against anticipated inquiries. Scalise warned that incoming Democrats would use their oversight authority to pressure the White House, its personnel, and allied groups. He stated that committee chairs would serve as a primary line of defense in this effort.

The guidance directs committees to take inventory of current and probable future investigations while Republicans still hold the majority. It also asks leaders to identify specific individuals and entities likely to be targeted by Democrats. The list of potential targets includes administration officials, government programs, and external partners such as conservative groups and industry leaders. Scalise said his staff would coordinate with relevant committees to refine these preparations.

A third element of the plan involves reviewing recent legal developments. The letter instructs chairs to examine how recent Supreme Court rulings and a Department of Justice memo on executive privilege might apply to future investigations. Scalise noted that Democrats have signaled their intent to impeach President Trump but predicted they would go further in their probing. He described the coming actions as an effort to appease the party base.

Democrats have already outlined their priorities for the new Congress. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., who is expected to lead the House Oversight Committee, posted a brief statement Tuesday night following projections of a Democratic House victory. He told the committee to lawyer up. The committee statement said Garcia intends to investigate the Trump family, corporate corruption, Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement abuses, and the Epstein files. House Homeland Security Committee Democrats have also signaled plans to probe DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

A spokeswoman for House Judiciary Committee Democrats responded to Scalise’s letter by suggesting Republicans were compiling a list of issues they had shielded from oversight. She stated that the Republican majority’s cover-up expires with their term. Scalise sent the letter one day after launching his bid for the House minority leadership position. He is currently in a contest for that role against House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. Fox News Digital contacted Democrats on the House Oversight Committee for comment.