9 Questions Democrats Want Answered About Donald Trump’s Transition Team
Since returning to work after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, congressional Democrats have taken or requested at least nine separate actions seeking to address their concerns about the Trump transition.
It is traditional for members of the opposing party to request inquiries and information about the policies, and sometimes the personnel, of the White House, but the given the unique nature of Trump’s incoming presidency, the congressional requests themselves are unusual and noteworthy.
Most of them are from House Oversight Committee ranking member Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, who has issued a request for information or an oversight hearing every weekday since Congress returned from its election recess on Nov. 14.
His requests have gone to parties unlikely to respond, including Vice President-elect Mike Pence and lawyers representing the Trump Foundation. But they are a way for him to contrast himself with Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, whom Cummings has accused of being “reluctant” to take any actions to investigate Trump.
A few members have requested information from government oversight groups, the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Government Ethics. Those may be more likely to see action as they are officially unbound by political considerations.
