Democrats insist it’s not solely a partisan exercise. With Trump having expressed an interest in a major infrastructure plan, equal pay for women, and closing the carried interest tax loophole – all initiatives that appeal to liberals – Democrats say they see a benefit in not having a president distracted by endless ethical scandals. They say it’s good for the country, too.
“I really think it’s doing him a favor to try to make sure he does not step into those mine fields by just simply asking the question: Is this going to be avoided?” Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said in an interview. “I’m not going to wait until he steps into the mine. I just want to know what he’s going to do because I think the American people deserve it.”
While Democrats claim they’re trying to save Trump from himself, the president-elect’s fellow Republicans are laying low.
A POLITICO survey of lawmakers found only a smattering of support among rank-and-file Republicans for aggressive oversight into Trump’s financial situation, and nearly every GOP leader approached for an interview on the topic hunkered down or tried to avoid comment.
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