Ivanka Trump used a private email account in 2017 to conduct official government business, according to a White House review. The news gives incoming House Democrats another potential opening for congressional oversight hearings.
The first daughter’s email use included exchanges with cabinet secretaries, among other forms of correspondence, The New York Times reported Monday night, citing sources who’ve seen the emails. The story also places more pressure on House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to cave into Democratic members who are intent on wrapping the White House in probes.
The Washington Post initially reported on the scope of Trump’s email use, noting Monday that there were several related to government business, but hundreds of others related to schedules. Her email usage also rehashes reports from 2016 concerning Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server when she was the secretary of state.
Abbe Lowell, a lawyer for Trump, did not respond to TheNYT’s request for comment but a spokesman for the lawyer confirmed again that Trump had used personal email for a time before she transitioned into government.
“To address misinformation being peddled about Ms. Trump’s personal email, she did not create a private server in her house or office, there was never classified information transmitted, the account was never transferred or housed at Trump Organization, no emails were ever deleted and the emails have been retained in the official account in conformity with records preservation laws and rules,” the spokesman, Peter Mirijanian, said in a statement.
Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing back against a concerted effort to elect Pelosi as the next House speaker – one of the major bugaboos among many in her caucus is the California Democrat’s willingness to subpoena the Trump administration.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responds forcefully to intense questioning Washington Jan. 23, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Reed
Sixteen Democrats — 12 incumbent representatives, three incoming House freshmen and one candidate who has not yet won his seat — signed a letter opposing Pelosi’s campaign. They claim the party needs a new direction. (RELATED: Here Are The Investigations You Can Expect Democrats To Open When They Take Control Of The House)
The Monday letter puts a substantial crimp in Pelosi’s plan. She needs 218 votes among lawmakers present and voting to be elected speaker in January. House Democrats won 233 seats, meaning she can only afford to lose 15 votes. Any reports riling up the progressive members of the Democratic Party will only exert more pressure on Pelosi to issue a tsunami of probes against President Donald Trump.
Incoming House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff told “Axios on HBO” on Nov. 13 that every committee will focus on investigating the Trump administration and providing oversight to a variety of issues that Democrats believe could be damning to Republicans. Schiff will take over for current House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes, as Republicans lost majority in the Nov. 6 midterm elections.
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