CABINET/DHS/INTELLIGENCE/LEGAL/TRUMP PEOPLE/JOHN KELLY: “At least one top Trump Cabinet official is bucking administration policy when it comes to oversight requests from Congress.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told senators on Tuesday during congressional testimony that his department will respond to any inquiry from members of Congress, no matter who sends the request. A May 1 opinion from the Justice Department argues that only chairmen – all of which are Republicans, since the GOP controls Congress — have the power to conduct oversight of the Trump administration.
Kelly noted during his testimony that under his tenure, DHS has appeared more than 37 times before Congress, sent 57 witnesses and has been involved in 973 ‘Hill engagements.’ The Homeland chief also noted that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), known for his zealous oversight of the executive branch, “gave me nothing but high marks” on the matter.
‘We’re going to make that better,’ Kelly said. ‘I think in every case thus far, and certainly in the last 90 days, 60 days anyways, we’re getting high marks. I will not freeze you out.’ “
-Seung Min Kim, “Kelly to Senate: We’ll respond to all inquiries,” Politico, June 6, 2017 07:21pm