Rep. Jamie Raskin is preparing to use the House Judiciary Committee’s power to target businesses and law firms that cooperated with Trump.
The Maryland congressman outlined plans after Democrats won the House, promising investigations backed by subpoena authority when Congress begins.
Raskin is set to take over the committee’s chairmanship in January, giving his warnings consequences for companies facing Democratic scrutiny.
Speaking with MS NOW’s Nicolle Wallace after the election, he accused private corporations of collaborating in what he called lawlessness.
“We’ve done it before, and we will absolutely do it again.”
His remarks signal that Democrats intend to extend investigations beyond administration officials to private organizations that reached agreements with Trump.
Law firms are a particular target, following deals negotiated after executive orders issued early in Trump’s second term.
Those orders targeted firms over representation of clients and decisions involving personnel, triggering a confrontation between Washington and major practices.
Multiple firms subsequently agreed to provide free legal services aligned with administration priorities and change diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
Nine firms collectively pledged approximately $940 million in pro bono work under arrangements reached with the administration.
That figure describes promised legal services, making the terms and execution of those commitments central to the coming oversight fight.
Raskin singled out Paul Weiss while criticizing firms that accepted the administration’s demands instead of resisting them.
He contrasted those firms with practices he praised for opposing Trump, describing the agreements as surrender to presidential pressure.
His comments therefore divide the legal industry between firms Democrats applaud and firms they intend to confront using congressional authority.
The committee’s Democratic minority previously sent letters to Kirkland & Ellis, Skadden Arps, Paul Weiss, and A&O Shearman.
Cadwalader, Latham & Watkins, and Simpson Thacher were also among the firms receiving requests from committee Democrats.
Raskin said those firms had not been forthcoming, setting up his argument for stronger demands once Democrats control the committee.
The difference between a minority request and a subpoena is the ability to compel documents and testimony.
Raskin made clear that he expects the transfer of power to change how the firms respond to his inquiries.
He warned that firms failing to cooperate would be compelled to comply with federal subpoenas once Democrats assume majority control.
That puts private employers and attorneys inside a political confrontation likely to consume resources and attention beyond the White House.
The announced focus includes the agreements themselves, concessions firms made, and information Democrats say they have been unable to obtain.
For Republicans, the remarks preview a Democratic majority prepared to use investigative tools aggressively against organizations connected to Trump.
They also show how quickly the party’s election celebration is becoming a discussion about demands, investigations, and possible impeachment proceedings.
Raskin’s warnings extend to Attorney General Todd Blanche, whom he has accused of turning law enforcement toward Trump’s personal interests.
He described the Justice Department under Blanche as an instrument of political revenge and indicated that impeachment proceedings could follow.
Raskin also accused Blanche of functioning primarily as Trump’s personal criminal defense attorney, intensifying his attack on the department’s leadership.
Those accusations form part of the congressman’s broader case for investigating the administration and private entities that dealt with it.
The president himself could face another impeachment push if Raskin and his colleagues decide to pursue that course.
“We’re not afraid to impeach Donald Trump.”
“We’ve done it twice,” Raskin said following the election results.
He previously described impeachment as an available congressional tool, saying Democrats would use it if they believed circumstances required it.
“Impeachment is not a taboo with us.”
“It is a tool in the toolbox,” Raskin had said earlier.
