House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer warned the Biden administration Monday he would slap a subpoena on the White House if officials ignore his demand for documents related to an initiative ostensibly to boost voter registration.
In March 2021, President Biden instructed federal agencies to “consider ways to expand citizens’ opportunities to register to vote,” alarming Republicans and conservatives who warned the order was inappropriate at best and flagrantly illegal at worst.
In May, Comer (R-Ky.) requested documents detailing the “drafting, implementation, and third-party organizations involved with the order.”
“The Committee received a short letter response from Office of Management and Budget (OMB) over one month past the [May 28] deadline, in which none of the requested documents or communications were produced,” the lawmaker wrote in a Monday letter to OMB Director Shalanda Young.
“Additionally, OMB has not provided a timeline for the production of responsive documents despite several requests by Committee staff to work with your agency on this matter to obtain the requested documents and communications,” Comer added.
Some critics say the order could violate the 150-year-old Antideficiency Act, which blocks federal agencies from using taxpayer funds for a “purpose that Congress did not explicitly authorize.”
Others have warned that executive branch agencies are using the order to target key Democratic-leaning constituents with get-out-the-vote messages ahead of the 2024 election.
In Monday’s letter, Comer gave OMB a new deadline of Sept. 2 to hand over the requested papers and warned that his panel will “consider additional measures, including use of the compulsory process” if cooperation is not forthcoming.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
