Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said Friday that Democrats would pursue what she described as an “aggressive investigation” into President Donald Trump and his administration if they regain control of Congress after the 2026 midterm elections.
Appearing on MS NOW’s The Briefing with host Jen Psaki, Ocasio-Cortez argued that congressional oversight and advancing the Democratic agenda could happen simultaneously, rejecting the notion that lawmakers would have to choose between investigations and legislation.
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Psaki framed the discussion by referencing comments from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who has warned that Democrats would use a House majority to investigate Trump, members of his Cabinet and those close to the administration.
“I played a clip of little Mike Johnson, as I like to call him, laying out how a Democratic majority in Congress would investigate the president, the cabinet, donors and friends,” Psaki said.
“It all sounds, I think, probably to a lot of people watching and a lot of people out there who were infuriated by the level of corruption. Pretty good.”
“But you’ve also talked about a lot of things you deeply care about: health care and affordable housing. I know there are many other things.”
“What do you see as the right priorities? Balance of things, especially as it relates to investigations and accountability? Where does that fall on how much time should be spent on that?”
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Ocasio-Cortez responded by pointing to her previous work on the House Oversight Committee during Trump’s first administration.
“I mean, I of course, some I spent many years on the oversight, and on the oversight committee in Congress, which is in charge of investigations during the first Trump administration,” she said.
“I helped on the investigation of Michael Cohen at the time, which led to a record setting settlement from, Attorney General Letitia James.”
The New York Democrat said she believes congressional committees can investigate the administration while lawmakers continue working on legislation addressing issues such as housing and health care.
“But, I think that it really is — it genuinely is a situation of we can walk and chew gum at the same time,” she said.
“There are certain committees that I think will be spearheading real investigations into this administration.”
Ocasio-Cortez argued that congressional oversight is necessary to ensure future administrations are held accountable.
“There has to be accountability, and it has to be because we cannot allow this level of corruption to consume our public service and our government ever again,” she said.
“And the only way that you allow that are the only way that you set that precedent is by aggressive investigation and consequence.”
She added that congressional investigations can sometimes lead to additional legal action outside of Congress.
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“And often times, some of the things that do come out in congressional investigations sometimes yield to, either state pursuits, etc..”
Ocasio-Cortez also dismissed Johnson’s criticism that Democrats would be conducting politically motivated investigations.
“And, you know, Mike Johnson paints this as though it’s some partizan witch hunt but if you don’t want to be prosecuted for crimes, don’t do crimes.”
Republicans have repeatedly accused Democrats of using congressional investigations to target Trump for political purposes, pointing to multiple investigations conducted during his first term and after he left office.
Democrats, meanwhile, have argued that congressional oversight is one of the legislature’s core constitutional responsibilities and say future investigations would focus on ensuring accountability within the executive branch.
Control of the House remains one of the biggest prizes in the 2026 midterm elections.
Should Democrats regain the majority, committee chairmanships would shift to Democratic lawmakers, giving them subpoena power and broad authority to launch investigations into the Trump administration, Breitbart News reported.
Friday’s comments offered one of the clearest indications yet that aggressive oversight of Trump would be a major priority for Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats if voters hand the party control of the House next November.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
