Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that the House could start to arrest Trump administration officials she deems are obstructing Congress’s investigations — but quipped that they don’t have the jail space to hold everyone.
Her comments came as Democrats ponder how to respond to President Trump’s warning that he will resist House Democrats’ efforts to pry into the president’s personal and official business, on everything from his tax returns to his business dealings to Justice Department operations.
“We do have a little jail down in the basement of the Capitol,” Mrs. Pelosi told a laughing audience at a Washington Post Live event. “But if we were arresting all the people in the administration we would have an overcrowded jail situation and I’m not for that.”
On the demand for Mr. Trump’s tax returns, she said there are several options available, including asking a court to referee the dispute.
Democrats have requested that the IRS turn over the president’s personal and business tax returns, saying they are needed for Congress to investigate how the IRS conducts audits.
The Treasury Department has refused, saying Democrats are actually engaged in a partisan attack, so the request is illegitimate.
The New York Times reported late Tuesday night that Mr. Trump lost more than $1 billion from 1985 to 1994, allowing him to avoid paying federal income taxes for eight years out of the 10 years.
Mrs. Pelosi said the report reveals “nothing new” about Mr. Trump, but later tweeted that it highlights “the importance of the Administration giving the Congress access to [Donald Trump’s] tax returns.”
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.
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