Trump 'greatest threat' to US democracy since Civil War: Top Dem

A top US Democrat has lashed out at President Donald Trump for his abuse of power, calling the Republican head of state the "greatest threat" to American democracy.

Representative Jerrold Nadler, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said in an interview airing Sunday that never since the Civil War the democratic process in the US had been so much vulnerable.

"I view this president and his conduct as the greatest threat to the democratic system and to the constitutional government since the Civil War,” Nadler told a radio interview. "Whether it’s threatening the newspapers or threatening the judiciary or calling people who criticize him treasonous.”

Nadler, who has the power to authorize investigations into various aspects of the Trump administration, said the House of Representatives was going to hold hearings on a number of issues, including Trump’s "abuse of power" as well as his "obstruction of justice."

“Clearly...there have been major abuses of power, major obstruction of justice, obvious violations of the emoluments clause of the Constitution," the New York lawmaker said. "All of these have to be looked at."

Democrats insist that Trump has been using his powers as president to undermine US Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into his alleged “collusion” with Russia during the 2016 presidential election.

Nadler said the hearings would be focused on actions conducted in a “noncriminal manner,” whether they were in violation of norms or threatened the democratic system.

He also said congressional Democrats were putting together legislation that required Mueller's final report to be made public.

Mueller has subpoenaed many members of the Trump campaign, including his former campaign manager Paul Manafort and former lawyer Michael Cohen.

PressTV-14 Trump associates interacted with Russians: Report

US media reports suggest Russians made contact with at least 14 associates of Donald Trump during his campaign and presidential transition.

The special counsel’s months-long probe has already found traces of corruption within the Trump team but has yet to reveal any evidence that suggests Trump had been directly “colluding” with the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin to influence the outcome of the White House race.

As the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Nadler would also oversee any impeachment investigation should Democrats try to deliver on their many pledges to impeach Trump in case his gets in Mueller’s way.

Barack Obama, Trump’s predecessor, and his intelligence chiefs had claimed in the final days of their terms in office that Moscow had been running a large cyber warfare campaign to help Trump defeat his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

Russia has denied all the charges, dismissing them as part of the Russophobia campaign the West has been running against Moscow for years.

Trump has also denounced the probe as a “witch hunt,” accusing Clinton and Democrats of being in collusion with Moscow.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk