The US Capitol: President Donald Trump faces an onslaught of investigations that could gridlock his adminsitration after Democrats captured control of the House of Representatives in Tuesday’s elections (MANDEL NGAN)

Washington (AFP) – President Donald Trump faces a barrage of investigations targeting everything from his taxes to his Russian business ties after Democrats captured the House of Representatives in Tuesday’s elections.

With the House in their control beginning in January, Democrats will replace Republicans at the head of every committee, giving them the power to set hearing agendas, call witnesses and issue subpoenas to top officials of Trump’s administration.

Hours after the election results became clear, Trump tweeted a warning Wednesday morning that he was ready to fight fire with fire.

“If the Democrats think they are going to waste Taxpayer Money investigating us at the House level, then we will likewise be forced to consider investigating them for all of the leaks of Classified Information, and much else, at the Senate level. Two can play that game!” he said.

Losing his Republican majority in the House removes much of the insulation that has been crucial to Trump’s political success in his first two years.

Now Democrats could lay bare alleged conflicts of interest, misuse of funds, and abuse of power by the president and his cabinet.

Investigations could gridlock a White House already besieged by the Russia collusion investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, heavily bogging down the administration’s agenda and foiling Trump’s message.

And, indeed, after Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions Wednesday, putting the Mueller probe in jeopardy, Democratic Congressman Jerry Nadler warned that he intended to lead a House Judiciary Committee examination. 

“The firing of Jeff Sessions will be investigated and people will be held accountable. This must begin immediately, and if not, then a Democratic Congress will make this a priority in January,” he said.

– Two dozen probes possible –

A Republican spreadsheet obtained by the Axios news site before the vote detailed a long list of the probes expected from the new House, including: 

– Billionaire Trump’s record of paying taxes

– Whether Trump and his family illegally benefit from their business while in power

– Trump’s hush payments to women claiming past affairs with him  

– Alleged misuse of funds for personal needs by cabinet secretaries

– Trump’s controversial firing of former FBI director James Comey

– Trump’s mishandling of classified information

– Alleged legal abuses in the anti-Muslim travel ban

– Security clearances in the White House

According to some estimates, two dozen probes could be opened quickly.

Democrats have already piled up scores of subpoenas of documents and witnesses which Republicans have repeatedly rejected over the past two years.

“We are going to have to ruthlessly prioritize because there is so much that has gone wrong,” Democrat Adam Schiff, who is expected to become chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said ahead of the election.

The Intelligence Committee will press ahead with the Russia election meddling investigation, and Trump’s business relations with Russians.

The Judiciary Committee, expected to be headed by current senior Democrat Jerry Nadler, has its eyes on business conflicts of Trump’s family.

Republicans’ silence on the issue “speaks to an administration run amok and a Republican majority willing to turn a blind eye to gross misconduct,” Judiciary Committee Democrats said in a report earlier this year.

Nadler could also launch a probe into the Russia meddling issue, preparing the ground for a possible impeachment motion against Trump.

The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to subpoena Trump’s long-hidden tax returns amid suspicions the billionaire has paid minimal amounts for years and possibly expose hidden foreign ties.

Asked about it on Monday, Trump replied stiffly: “I don’t care. They can do whatever they want and I can do whatever I want.”

Elijah Cummings, currently the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, also has a wish list of probes, including Trump’s apparent interference in a plan to build a new headquarters for the FBI; drug pricing under the Trump administration; and the mishandling of the deadly 2017 hurricane disaster in Puerto Rico.

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