Dems flip another House seat; WH counsel warns them over investigations

CNN can now project that. Democrat Raymond. Smith. will win the election. in North Carolina's third district. This part of the Outer Banks area. and and involves completion as well. He defeats Republican incumbent. Greg Murphy, who's held that seat since 2019. So his seat is now flipped to Democrats. The House balance of power is now 257. for Democrats in the new House, 169. for Republicans, a huge win. for the Democrats.

The Trump administration. issuing a warning for Democrats. who are about to take. control of Congress. CNN has obtained a letter. from the white House. counsel, Bill Shaffer, addressed to Congressman Robert Garcia, the Democrat who, of course, will likely chair. the House Oversight Committee. come January. In that letter, Shaffer accuses. Democrats of planning. to abuse their subpoena power. to intimidate officials. and warns. that could cross the line. into criminality. In just the last hour, Kate spoke with one of the Democrats. on that committee, Congressman. Stephen Lynch. He says President. Trump has had a free ride.

from Republicans, and now that ride. is over. The idea that we're not. allowed to conduct oversight. to the president has benefited greatly. from the Republican House. and the Republicans Senate, because they have done zero oversight. They put the blinders on. Right. So so. the president has has enjoyed. that for two years. But that is over. The American people said that is over. We want. we want the. the president to be held accountable. and that that's what we're going to do.

with gusto. CNN's Alina. Arena is live at the white House. this morning. Julianna, talk to us a little bit more. about this letter. and the warning that it's sent out. I mean, look, it is a remarkable. letter, Erica, and it's very clear. that the administration is showing. that they have. very few plans. to cooperate with investigations. that they do not like, and essentially. trying to draw this line in the sand, arguing that already. before Democrats. really come into power,

that will begin in January. in the new Congress, of course, that they are drawing a line. in the sand between accountability. and retribution. The administration. and in this letter from Will. Schaaf, the white House. counsel to Robert Garcia, the incoming House. Oversight Committee chair, essentially laying out, they believe that. some of the new majority's. investigations could cross the line. into criminal behavior. I want you to listen. or I'm going to read for you. what I think a key line in this says so. Schaaf writes to Garcia, quote, the administration will not be extorted.

and will not be cowed. by unlawful process, motivated by animus, pettiness, hatred, or any other unlawful motive. to intimidate, penalize or interfere. with the lawful. functioning of government. You also see and hear this suggestion. that perhaps. the administration. will investigate Democrats, if they believe. that they are going too far. with these investigations, something that we actually heard. The Attorney general, Todd Blanch, also insinuate. in his interview. with Dana Bash over the weekend.

I want you to listen to. what Blanch said about this. Department of. justice lawyers. represent members of the executive, and the fact. that Congressman Garcia. is critical of that. shows a remarkable lack. of understanding of how government works. And I would be very worried. if I was a member on that committee. I would be very worried if I was a member. on that committee or something, Blanch said. He also said. that the Justice Department, it is their job to represent. legally top. members of the Trump administration. So I think you're just. getting a huge sense of what.

this fight is going to look like. We know Democrats, Eric. We have a lot of investigations, a lot of oversight. that they are planning to conduct. They have been preparing for this moment. for a long time. The white House making clear. they are planning to fight this tooth. and nail along the way. And I should make clear as well. that these types of investigations, this type of oversight, is something we see. whenever there is a turnover in power. I remind people. that during the Biden administration, when Republicans. had control of the House, the type of oversight we saw. in to the members of the Biden family,

other oversight that was conducted. that is a part of their duties. The difference. in what. the Trump. administration is trying. to proactively and preemptively argue. is that. this could go beyond. the legislative scope of oversight. So a lot to watch for. as we expect this fight. to begin in the new year. Yeah. And fascinating, especially that line. you pulled out and drill down on Elena, leaning into pettiness, certainly makes you think, and about the source of that as well. And I appreciate the reporting. Kate. Joining us right now. is Democratic Congresswoman. Susan del Bene.

She is. also has been the chair. of the Democratic. Congressional Campaign Committee. who ran the Democrats. midterm strategy here. Let's get to that in just a second. But on just what we are learning, about this letter. from the white House counsel. and also what. we just heard from Democratic Congressman. Stephen Lynch. when he was just on with me, his response to the letter. and the threats. to kind of investigate. the investigators was, come at me, bro. I mean, what is your reaction. to the white House. counsel saying that you are already. potentially overreaching.

even before you get into power? I think. it really shows that they don't care. what the American people think. The American people said. with a strong voice across the country. that they want Congress. to stand up to do its job, not be a rubber stamp. for the administration. And that is our job, conducting oversight, transparency and accountability. Clearly, the administration is scared of that. But we're going to continue. to do our job. And the American people were very clear.

They want to see that happen, too. Let's talk to one of the Democrats. on the House Oversight Committee, congressman, Democratic Congressman. Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts. Now, just looking at this letter. obtained by my colleagues. over my colleague Linda Tripp. at the white House, this may cross the line. into blatant criminality. And also talking. about these unlawful. subpoenas as described. And that is, as I just read, if unlawful subpoenas happen, in their view, may warrant. further investigation. What's your response. to that, Congressman,

about this election? Well, first of all, thank you, Kate. Thanks for having me. First of all, the subpoenas that we issued. had the support of Republicans as well. We're in the minority here. The only reason we could get subpoenas, effective subpoenas. was to have the Republicans join us. So. So clearly, those were legal. The the white House counsel. seems to be trying. to preemptively attack, congressional oversight functions. That is just a. that's a ridiculous premise.

So clearly Congress has the the. power to pass laws. That's our function. And to make sure the laws. are being followed. And that's. that's at the core of our function. So the idea that we're not allowed. to conduct oversight, the the president has benefited greatly. from the Republican House. and the Republican Senate. because they have done zero oversight. They they put the blinders on. Right. So so. the president has has enjoyed. that for two years, but that is over.

The American people said that is over. We want. we want the. the president to be held accountable. and that that's what we're going to do. with gusto. One of the things I think. that it is getting at in. this letter. is the threats of investigations. to come very, almost explicit. threats, promises, whatever statements, especially coming from the incoming. chairman, Robert Garcia. I mean, on election night. with the tweet lawyer up, was some of the response, do you think that was premature,

that you got from your incoming chairman. on that front? Because it seems that in large. part is what is being is being, what they're taking issue with here. I think he was expressing relief. that that. now that that the Democrats. are in control of the House. and in the Senate, we will actually see. the House and Senate reactivated and, begin its its work. that there's been tremendous frustration, with the unwillingness.

and inability of the Republicans. to actually and investigate. We we have never had a single public. hearing on the Epstein investigation. That's that's been going on for. for several years now. They refuse to do that. So I think what what Robert was. what Garcia was expressing was relief. And, and exasperation. of how long it has taken. And that. finally, at last, we're going to be able to do our job. as as members of Congress.

Let me assess. if what I'm reading, if this is a. if this letter, if this new. if this position from the white House. is now meaning. that the administration. may go after you, you all Democrats. who are conducting investigations. in the new Congress, what do you do about that? Now come at me, bro. You know, I just think we are so well, situated to do our jobs. What they're saying.

is, don't do your jobs, don't do oversight, don't check. on the administration of. of of of the government. Obviously we passed laws. And the president habitually violates. those laws. So we believe we have the right. and we have been empowered expressly. in the Constitution. to make sure that the president obeys. the law. This is pretty basic. And so that's the core function. The oversight committee. is the primary investigative committee.

in the House of Representatives. And we are going to do our jobs, I and I. and I speak on behalf of of the chairman. in this respect as well, I am sure.