Scalise tells House GOP chairs to 'take inventory' of coming Democratic probes

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, sent a letter Thursday to the current Republican chairs of House committees. He told them to prepare for investigations by the Democrats who will run the House next year ¹². Fox News said a source gave it a copy of the letter ¹.

Scalise urged the chairs to "maximize our remaining days in power to prepare for what is coming" ¹. He said Democrats have signaled they intend to impeach President Trump, "but they will not stop there" ¹.

What the letter asks for

Fox News described three requests. First, chairs should take inventory of current and likely future Democratic investigative efforts. Second, they should identify who is on Democrats' target list. Third, they should review how recent Supreme Court rulings and a Justice Department memo on executive privilege could affect future investigations ¹. Executive privilege is a president's claim that some internal communications can be kept from Congress.

Scalise wrote that Democrats could target "administration officials, programs and authorities, and external allies," including conservative partners and industry leaders ¹. He said his staff would meet with committees to prepare ¹.

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The Washington Examiner also reported the letter. It said Scalise warned that Democrats would use oversight as cover to pursue payback through many politically motivated investigations ². Political Wire, summarizing Politico, reported that Scalise said that although Democrats ran on affordability, the main focus of their new majority would be retribution and a wave of investigations under the guise of oversight ³.

How Democrats responded

Rep. Robert Garcia of California is expected to be the next chair of the House Oversight Committee. On Tuesday night, when Democrats were projected to win the House, he issued a two-word statement telling Trump and Republicans to lawyer up ¹. His committee has said he plans to take on the Trump crime family, corporate corruption, abuses at the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the cover-up of the Epstein files ¹.

A spokeswoman for House Judiciary Democrats said Scalise was asking Republicans to compile a list of misconduct they had shielded from oversight. She added that "the cover-up expires with the Republican majority" ¹. Fox also reported that House Homeland Security Democrats are reportedly preparing to look into DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin ¹.

What happens next

Democrats retake the House in the new year, and Fox described them as poised to investigate Trump's Cabinet, family, businesses and allies ¹. Until then, Republicans still run every House committee.

The letter arrived a day after Scalise launched a bid to become House minority leader. He faces Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio for that post. Speaker Mike Johnson is not running to lead House Republicans after the midterm losses ².

That matters because the letter shows Republicans planning a defense before Democrats have issued a single subpoena, which is a legal order to produce documents or testimony. The pattern is familiar: the party in power sets the oversight rules, and the party out of power calls the other side's probes political. Voters will now see how each side uses that power.

maximize our remaining days in power to prepare for what is coming

The Record

1. Nov 3, 2026Election night: Rep. Robert Garcia, the likely next Oversight chair, tells Trump and Republicans to lawyer up as Democrats are projected to win the House ¹.
2. Nov 4, 2026Scalise launches a bid to become House minority leader, a day before sending his letter to chairs ¹.
3. Nov 5, 2026Scalise sends the letter telling GOP chairs to take inventory of likely Democratic investigations ¹².

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<h2>Scalise tells House GOP chairs to &#39;take inventory&#39; of coming Democratic probes</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Capitol Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/scalise-tells-house-gop-chairs-to-take-inventory-of-coming-democratic-probes">The GOP Files</a> on Thursday, November 5, 2026.</em></p> <p>House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, sent a letter Thursday to the current Republican chairs of House committees. He told them to prepare for investigations by the Democrats who will run the House next year . Fox News said a source gave it a copy of the letter .</p> <p>Scalise urged the chairs to &quot;maximize our remaining days in power to prepare for what is coming&quot; . He said Democrats have signaled they intend to impeach President Trump, &quot;but they will not stop there&quot; .</p> <h2>What the letter asks for</h2> <p>Fox News described three requests. First, chairs should take inventory of current and likely future Democratic investigative efforts. Second, they should identify who is on Democrats&#39; target list. Third, they should review how recent Supreme Court rulings and a Justice Department memo on executive privilege could affect future investigations . Executive privilege is a president&#39;s claim that some internal communications can be kept from Congress.</p> <p>Scalise wrote that Democrats could target &quot;administration officials, programs and authorities, and external allies,&quot; including conservative partners and industry leaders . He said his staff would meet with committees to prepare .</p> <p>The Washington Examiner also reported the letter. It said Scalise warned that Democrats would use oversight as cover to pursue payback through many politically motivated investigations . Political Wire, summarizing Politico, reported that Scalise said that although Democrats ran on affordability, the main focus of their new majority would be retribution and a wave of investigations under the guise of oversight .</p> <h2>How Democrats responded</h2> <p>Rep. Robert Garcia of California is expected to be the next chair of the House Oversight Committee. On Tuesday night, when Democrats were projected to win the House, he issued a two-word statement telling Trump and Republicans to lawyer up . His committee has said he plans to take on the Trump crime family, corporate corruption, abuses at the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the cover-up of the Epstein files .</p> <p>A spokeswoman for House Judiciary Democrats said Scalise was asking Republicans to compile a list of misconduct they had shielded from oversight. She added that &quot;the cover-up expires with the Republican majority&quot; . Fox also reported that House Homeland Security Democrats are reportedly preparing to look into DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Democrats retake the House in the new year, and Fox described them as poised to investigate Trump&#39;s Cabinet, family, businesses and allies . Until then, Republicans still run every House committee.</p> <p>The letter arrived a day after Scalise launched a bid to become House minority leader. He faces Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio for that post. Speaker Mike Johnson is not running to lead House Republicans after the midterm losses .</p> <p>That matters because the letter shows Republicans planning a defense before Democrats have issued a single subpoena, which is a legal order to produce documents or testimony. The pattern is familiar: the party in power sets the oversight rules, and the party out of power calls the other side&#39;s probes political. Voters will now see how each side uses that power.</p> <blockquote><p>maximize our remaining days in power to prepare for what is coming</p><p>&mdash; Steve Scalise, House Majority Leader, R-Louisiana</p></blockquote> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/scalise-tells-house-gop-chairs-to-take-inventory-of-coming-democratic-probes">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/scalise-tells-house-gop-chairs-to-take-inventory-of-coming-democratic-probes.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. Fox News, “House GOP launches defense plan to shield Trump from looming Democrat investigations” (2026-11-05). foxnews.com/politics/house-gop-launches-defense-plan-shield-
2. Washington Examiner, “Scalise tells GOP chairmen to prepare defenses against Democratic 'retribution'” (2026-11-05). washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/4794263/scalise-warning-le
3. Political Wire, “Steve Scalise Tells GOP Chairs to Prep for Investigations” (2026-11-05). politicalwire.com/2026/11/05/steve-scalise-tells-gop-chairs-

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