White House counsel Will Scharf sent a letter warning incoming House Oversight Chairman Robert Garcia that Democratic investigations of the Trump administration could constitute criminal conduct.
White House counsel Will Scharf sent a Monday letter to Rep. Robert Garcia, the incoming House Oversight Committee chairman, warning that Democratic investigations and subpoenas targeting the Trump administration "may cross the line into blatant criminality" and could warrant further investigation. Garcia responded that Congress's authority derives from Article I of the Constitution and that Democrats will not be deterred by threats from a "weaponized DOJ." Democrats won control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections and take committee gavels in January.
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Divergence score
This event sits in the top 8% of divergence this week. 17 outlets covered it, splitting into 17 framing camps across 4 bias groups.
17 camps
4 bias groups
The spectrum · how 17 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
CBS News
PBS NewsHour
Washington Times
Washington Examiner
HuffPost
Mother Jones
ABC News
The Hill
NBC News
New York Times
NY Post
Reason
Al Jazeera
Reuters
Bloomberg
Breitbart
CNN
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
Washington Times
White House says proposed Dem probes may be 'blatant criminality'
combative White House stance, cites Dem subpoena boasts · positive
HuffPost
White House Threatens Oversight Democrats With Criminal Investigation
unusual threat, doubts legal viability · negative
First to report
- Reutersfirst
- CNN+24 min
- ABC News+1.1 h
- The Hill+1.5 h
- Washington Examiner+1.6 h
- HuffPost+1.7 h
- NY Post+1.7 h
- Washington Times+2.8 h
- New York Times+3.1 h
- CBS News+3.8 h
- Mother Jones+4.9 h
- PBS NewsHour+6.3 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
The split, in one line
Right frames investigations as weaponized abuse; left escalates to constitutional violations and questions Trump lawyers' understanding of separation of powers; Bloomberg examines legality of threats to congressional independence itself.
How each outlet covered it
Two readings of the same facts
The left and the right lead with different language. The loaded words each chose are highlighted.
40DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“White House says proposed Dem probes may be 'blatant criminality'”WT Washington Times RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“Read the letter the White House's top lawyer sent Rep. Garcia over threats to investigate Trump - PBS” · PBS NewsHour, The Hill, Al Jazeera, Reuters, Bloomberg
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 17 outlets put it
LEFT4
HPHuffPost White House Threatens Oversight Democrats With Criminal Investigation 15h ago MJMother Jones Investigate Trump? The White House Says That Might Be a Crime. 12h ago TNew York Times White House Threatens Congress, Saying Aggressive Investigations Could Be Crime 14h ago CNNCNN Incoming House Oversight Chair: ‘It’s very clear’ Trump administration lawyers ‘don’t understand the Constitution’ 17h ago LEFT-CENTER3
CBSCBS News White House warns of "blatant criminality" in Democratic probes 13h ago ABCABC News Top WH lawyer warns Democrats that threats of oversight could be criminally probed 16h ago NBCNBC News White House lawyer sends warning to House Democrats about potential investigations 10h ago CENTER4
PBSPBS NewsHour Read the letter the White House's top lawyer sent Rep. Garcia over threats to investigate Trump - PBS 11h ago HThe Hill White House asserts Democratic investigations could 'cross the line into blatant criminality' 16h ago RReuters White House tells Democrats that investigating Trump administration could be criminal 17h ago BLBloomberg House Democrats Respond to White House Threat Over Coming Probes 8h ago RIGHT-CENTER1
RReason Democrats' Investigations Could Constitute 'Blatant Criminality,' Says White House Counsel 10h ago RIGHT4
WTWashington Times White House says proposed Dem probes may be 'blatant criminality' 14h ago WEWashington Examiner White House warns House Democrats not to harass staff with oversight investigations 15h ago NYPNY Post White House blasts Democrats planning probes of Trump admin: 'Will not be extorted and will not be cowed' 15h ago BBreitbart Rep. Robert Garcia: 'Shocking' Trump Is 'Clearly' Threatening Congress 8h ago 6 tracked claims across 17 outlets
Fact ledger
All6Disputed1Claimed1Corroborated4
2/17
Disputed
Whether the White House threat has any legal basis, given constitutional immunity for legislative acts and Congress's broad investigative power
Corroborated
Disputed
5 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger