Defending Democracy
Congressman Garcia believes that one of the biggest threats facing the Unites States today comes from efforts to undermine our democratic process by restricting access to the ballot and attacking the legitimacy of the electoral process. Congressman Garcia knows that we need leaders who will work to defend our civil rights, and this starts with making voting accessible to every American regardless of their background.
More on Defending Democracy
The House Oversight Committee's top Democrat is seeking information about Corey Lewandowski and his work as a special government employee.
Why it matters: Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) sent an inquiry letter to the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday following multiple media reports that Lewandowski may be working past the legal time limit for his role while wielding significant power in the department.
Long Beach, CA – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) was ceremonially sworn in as the Ranking Member and top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee by Vice President Kamala Harris. At the ceremony, Congressman Garcia delivered remarks outlining his new leadership role, his priorities for holding the Trump Administration accountable, and his plans to rebuild and reform our government so that it works better for every single American. He was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, who administered the oath.
In his first return to the city’s Civic Chambers since he was mayor, Congressman Robert Garcia stood before Long Beach family, friends and colleagues to take another oath of office, this time as the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
The ceremony was officiated by former Vice President Kamala Harris, who previously swore Garcia into his mayoral office in 2014.
Rep. Robert Garcia, top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, told MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell that despite all the distractions, Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have the power to release the full Epstein files and records “today, tonight, right now.”
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) has moved forward with a plan to partially release information from the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case — but House Democrats, including ranking member Robert Garcia (D-CA), are not satisfied with this limited production.
A key congressional Democrat is demanding answers from the Trump administration about a deal it reportedly struck with El Salvador’s president to send him several MS-13 gang leaders held in the United States, alleging it may have compromised several ongoing investigations and national security.
Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, told MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell that the Department of Justice “can’t be trusted” after the Oversight Committee’s Republican Chairman Rep. James Comer announced that the Justice Department will now begin turning over the Epstein Files on Friday instead of the August 19 deadline.
As the former Mayor of Long Beach, and now in Congress, I have always fought to protect our communities, stand up for what’s right, and make government work for people.
As the newly elected top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, I’m helping lead the fight to hold our government accountable and make sure it delivers for folks across this country and back here at home.
The top Democrat on a House committee is demanding that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins account for discrepancies between her public statements about wildland firefighter staffing and a ProPublica report showing there were thousands of vacancies in the Forest Service’s firefighting workforce as peak wildfire season approached.
The House Oversight Committee is made for viral moments. It deals with some of the testiest issues on Capitol Hill, and many of the dramatic confrontations that make the rounds on social media are from the committee. It once again thrust itself into the spotlight after one of its subcommittees voted to subpoena the Justice Department’s files on Jeffrey Epstein, going further on the case than Republican leadership seemed willing to go.