House Intelligence Committee Resumes Investigation of Trump

Now that the House is under Democratic Party control, Individual I faces the prospect of an intensified and broadened, investigation of his family, his campaign, and financial dealings. Chairman Schiff released a statement today that must have sent chills down the spine of Hair Further. Schiff stated, "It is now known that, from late 2015 through early 2017, individuals close to Donald Trump engaged in a significant number of contacts with an array of individuals connected to, or working on behalf of, the Russian government, and that several of these contacts involved efforts to acquire and disseminate damaging information about Hillary Clinton and her campaign, or related to Russia’s desired relief from U.S. sanctions." The Chairman acknowledged the efforts of the Special Counsel to uncover the facts behind the accusations of "collusion" with foreign government agents to influence the 2016 campaign, but reminded us that the House of Representatives has an oversight role it must fulfill as well as a role in protecting US from "malign influence" operations conducted by foreign governments. He outlined five areas in which his committee will focus their efforts:

1. The scope and scale of the Russian government’s operations to influence the U.S. political process, and the U.S. government’s response, during and since the 2016 election; 
2. The extent of any links and/or coordination between the Russian government, or related foreign actors, and individuals associated with Donald Trump’s campaign, transition, administration, or business interests, in furtherance of the Russian government’s interests; 
3. Whether any foreign actor has sought to compromise or holds leverage, financial or otherwise, over Donald Trump, his family, his business, or his associates;
4. Whether President Trump, his family, or his associates are or were at any time at heightened risk of, or vulnerable to, foreign exploitation, inducement, manipulation, pressure, or coercion, or have sought to influence U.S. government policy in service of foreign interests; and
5. Whether any actors – foreign or domestic – sought or are seeking to impede, obstruct, and/or mislead authorized investigations into these matters, including those in the Congress.

Trump called Chairman Schiff a "political hack", that he had "never heard of". That kind of arrogance is guaranteed to win him friends and influence people on the Hill. Schiff said he understands why meaningful oversight terrifies the President since several of his associates have already gone to jail. The Committee voted to turn over transcripts of previous Congressional sworn testimony to the Special Counsel. Speaker Pelosi publicly promised that investigations of Trump and his business dealings will go forward, but has cautioned that the investigations should be deliberate to avoid the public perceptions of political revenge against Individual I. Repugnants are already making this accusation. If Democrats play their cards correctly, the Russian Connection investigations could extend well into the next presidential campaign.

The House Ways and Means Committee will begin its efforts to obtain Individual I's tax returns under a mandatory provision of the US tax code Sec. 6103 passed in the wake of the Teapot Dome scandal during the Hoover administration.  The Committee could use his tax return information to finally determine if any of the financial dealings of the "King of Debt" might have resulted in foreign agents exerting undue influence over a bankrupt businessman strapped for cash*. Allegations of money laundering by Trump businesses have circulated for years.  The way his business was conducted-- through multiple shell companies, contracts with pseudonyms, and attorney cut-outs like Michael Cohen to make deals--has raised a firestorm of suspicion. 

*Contrary to recent precedent of presidential candidates Trump refused to release his tax returns.  In one of only two pieces of tax information to be publicly released, Trump claimed a huge loss of $916 million in 1995, a loss so big it could have legally released him, through loss carry forward provisions of the tax code, from paying federal taxes for eighteen years.