New Congress: Democratic members sworn in, Pelosi to be elected speaker – live updates – CBS News

Who are the new committee chairs?

Reporting by Caitlin Huey-Burns

When Democrats officially take control, a group of President Trump’s top critics will have new powers.

Until now, the highest ranking Democratic lawmakers on key committees have had limited reach, essentially relegated to voicing their concerns through cable news programs and social media. Now, the change in power, issuing from November’s midterm elections, not only gives them a megaphone but also real legislative tools, like the power to issue subpoenas, to hold the president to account on everything from his tax returns and business dealings to the Russia investigation to administration scandals and his immigration policies.

Here are five members to watch in the New Congress and what they hope to achieve:

New York Rep. Jerry Nadler, chair of the House Judiciary Committee

Nadler says he’s prioritizing oversight. His committee has already called upon acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker because Democrats are concerned about the nature of his appointment and its relation to the Russia investigation. Nadler said that Whitaker has agreed to testify, but hasn’t committed to a date. He says he’ll issue a subpoena if necessary. The incoming committee chairman is also determined to protect the special counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller.

“For the last two years, the president has had no oversight, no accountability from Congress. The Republican Congress was completely derelict in its responsibility to provide oversight,” Nadler told “CBS This Morning.” “We’re going to provide that oversight. We’re going to use the subpoena power if we have to.”

California Rep. Adam Schiff, chair of the House Intelligence Committee

When he takes the reins of the committee, Schiff has said he will focus the panel’s efforts around protecting the Mueller investigation and re-engaging it in the overall probe. Schiff has also expressed interest in calling back witnesses related to the Russia investigation who have already testified. “We believe other witnesses were untruthful before our committee,” Schiff said in November, after Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress.

Schiff has identified two key areas of interest when it comes to the Russian investigation and possible collusion between Trump associates: The details of the infamous Trump Tower 2016 meeting, which could involve issuing subpoenas for phone records, and whether Russians laundered money through the Trump organization.

Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee

If Democrats have been craving oversight of the president, they will certainly be watching Cummings, as the chair of the committee with oversight in its name. Cummings has said he would use his power to make Mueller’s findings public. “What the public has said is they want accountability and transparency,” Cummings told CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “I would do anything and everything in my power to have the findings presented not only to the Congress but to the people of the United States.” Cummings has also said he would like Cohen to come before the committee. “The public needs to know exactly what happened,” he told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “There’s a lot to look at.”

California Rep. Maxine Waters, chair of the House Financial Services Committee

Waters has become a hero of the the anti-Trump resistance–and a top target of the president’s attacks. Now, she will become the first woman and first African-American chair of the Financial Services Committee, and she has her eye on the banks that lent Mr. Trump money.

As ranking member of the committee, Waters has been focused on Deutsche Bank, which lended Trump money after bankruptcies, and was also hit with a large fine for a $10 billion Russian money laundering scheme.

Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee

Unlike recent predecessors, the president has refused to release his tax returns. That could change once Neal takes the helm of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. “Yes, I think we will,” Neal told the Associated Press whether he would request the president’s taxes. “I hope that the president would do this on his own, largely because every president since Gerald R. Ford has voluntarily done this.”

Mr. Trump has repeatedly declined to make his returns public, protesting that he is under audit. If he doesn’t comply with Neal’s request, the tax code provision allows the chairman to request the taxpayer’s information from the Internal Revenue Service and the treasury secretary would have to produce it.