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Trump says he's against White House aides testifying before Congress

President Trump says he's opposed to White House aides providing testimony to congressional panels in the wake of the Mueller report.
President Trump. Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

President Trump told The Washington Post Tuesday he's against White House aides — past and present — testifying before congressional panels following the Mueller report findings.

QuoteThere is no reason to go any further, and especially in Congress where it’s very partisan — obviously very partisan."

Why it matters: Trump's comments indicate a further escalation in the White House's power struggle with House Democrats, who've stepped up investigations into his administration.

The big picture: The Trump administration has taken several steps to block oversight by House Democrats this week.

  • Earlier Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin informed House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) the department would decide by May 6 whether to release Trump's tax returns to Congress — effectively ignoring Neal's April 23 deadline.
  • On Monday, the president and the Trump Organization sued House Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings in an attempt to block Cummings' subpoena of Trump's longtime accountant, Mazars USA LLP.
  • Also on Monday, the White House directed former security clearance official Carl Kline not to comply with an Oversight subpoena. Cummings is moving to hold Kline in contempt of Congress.
  • And the administration plans on fighting a House Judiciary subpoena of former White House counsel Don McGahn.
Donald Trump