Ever since Donald Trump announced his candidacy for president, he has caused a split between the Republican Party. After House republicans voted to weaken an independent ethics watchdog, the president-elect wasn't happy to hear about it.
Trump on Twitter
It came as a major surprise, but House Republicans came together and voted Monday night to shift responsibility from the independent watchdog Office of the Congressional Ethics to the House Ethics Committee. The vote weakens the ability of the office to investigate members of Congress, while putting more power in the hands of those who made the vote.
The move has received heavy criticism, which was evident when President-elect Donald Trump took to his offical Twitter account on January 3 to voice his outrage.
With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2017
With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it may be, their number one act and priority," Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday morning. In a follow-up message on Twitter, Trump added, "Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance!" The billionaire real estate mogul than concluded with the hashtag "#DTS," standing for one of his campaign slogans "Drain the Swamp."
........may be, their number one act and priority. Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance! #DTS
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2017
The vote made by House Republicans would "bar the panel from reviewing any violation of criminal law by members of Congress," according to CNN.
Many of complaints that would normally have been made to the Office of the Congressional Ethics would instead be made to the House Ethics Committee. In addition, the House Ethics Committee would be granted the power to halt any current investigation, while preventing the ethics office from investigating any reports that were made anonymously.
"Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things": Trump criticizes Republican move to gut ethics watchdog https://t.co/i0omQxfcUf
— CNN (@CNN) January 3, 2017
Moving forward
While Republicans have mostly come together since Donald Trump pulled off the upset and became the new president-elect, there are still apparent issues behind the scenes.
In addition to his comments about House Republicans on Twitter, recent reports exposed that the former host of "The Apprentice" is not fond of House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, which was revealed during a private conversation between Trump and Sen. Chuck Schumer. Only time will tell how Trump's relationship with Republicans and Democrats will pan out, with the president-elect being sworn in as the new president on January 20.
