Meadows penned ‘confidential’ plan to fight back against Dem probes into Trump: report

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), set to be the ranking Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform committee in January, penned a confidential document detailing his plans to fight back against Democratic-led investigations of President Trump and his administration.

In a 28-page document obtained by Bloomberg News, which had been watermarked “confidential” on every page, Meadows explains how Republicans on the oversight committee can paint Democrats as pursuing partisan, costly investigations while not passing major legislation.

“We will need a larger team of experienced investigators who will be able to handle the heavy volume and intellectual challenges presented by the Democrats’ attacks,” Meadows wrote, adding that Republicans need a consistent line of attack.

“Americans want their Congress to get things done and focus on their agenda — not on endless, frivolous, and partisan investigations.”

Meadows added in the document that if chosen as the GOP’s ranking member on the committee, he would raise concerns that “the Democrats are interfering too much with presidential duties and have encroached too far on the fundamental powers of the executive branch.”

Republicans, he added, should be “encouraging less-severe means of conducting investigations [targeting the Trump administration], like briefings, bipartisan letters, etc.”

Representatives for Meadows’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.

Meadows is supported by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), the current chairman of the committee, according to Bloomberg and sees the committee as a tool for Republicans to use in their attempts to retake the House in 2020.

“I believe I can position the committee as an effective platform to win back the House,” Meadows wrote, according to Bloomberg. “[I’m] confident that with the right team and member engagement, our conference will be able to tactically play the Democrats’ politicized activities to our advantage.”

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is set to be chaired by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), currently its ranking member, in the new Congress.