Trump: House Judiciary should investigate Obama Netflix deal instead of his business

President Trump on Monday suggested the House Judiciary Committee investigate former President Obama’s post-presidency book deal and agreement with Netflix instead of pursuing various inquiries into the Trump administration.

The president complained that the House panel “has given up on the Mueller report,” which he inaccurately claimed cleared him of collusion and obstruction.

“So they say, OK, lets look at everything else, and all of the deals that ‘Trump’ has done over his lifetime,” the president tweeted. “But it doesn’t work that way. I have a better idea. Look at the Obama Book Deal, or the ridiculous Netflix deal. Then look at all the deals made by the Dems in Congress, the ‘Congressional Slush Fund,’ and lastly the IG [inspector general] Reports.”{mosads}

….work that way. I have a better idea. Look at the Obama Book Deal, or the ridiculous Netflix deal. Then look at all the deals made by the Dems in Congress, the “Congressional Slush Fund,” and lastly the IG Reports. Take a look at them. Those investigations would be over FAST!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 16, 2019

Trump returned to the subject a couple of hours later, when he appeared to equate allegations that he has profited off the presidency by declining to put his assets in a blind trust to the Obamas’ decision to sign a deal with Netflix a year after leaving office.

“I am far beyond somebody paying for a hotel room for the evening, or filling up a gas tank at an airport I do not own,” Trump tweeted. “These Radical Left Democrats are CRAZY! Obama Netflix?” 

An Obama spokeswoman declined to comment on the tweets when reached by The Hill.

The president is facing multiple lawsuits that allege he is in violation of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, which prohibits elected officials from accepting gifts from foreign leaders without congressional approval.

His refusal to completely divest from his business has come under continued scrutiny, including recently after Vice President Pence spent two nights at a Trump property in Ireland and amid reports that Air Force pilots stayed at a Trump property in Scotland during refueling stops in the area.

In response to those reports, Trump has asserted that he is losing billions of dollars by being president.

On multiple occasions, Trump has suggested that Obama’s book deal be investigated, despite such agreements being standard for most presidents once they have left office.

Monday marked the first time Trump broadened his calls for an investigation to include the Obamas’ agreement with Netflix. The streaming service announced in May 2018 that it reached a deal with Barack and Michelle Obama for the former first couple to produce a film series.

The president’s repeated calls for the Department of Justice or House lawmakers to look into his predecessor could fuel concerns from watchdogs that Trump may use the government to investigate his political opponents.

Trump’s most recent tweets come as the House Judiciary Committee weighs whether to launch a formal impeachment inquiry. Numerous House Democrats have indicated the panel is already in the midst of an impeachment investigation, though party leaders have been reluctant to label it that way.

The committee is investigating potential obstruction of justice, public corruption and abuses of power by the White House.