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The U.S President Donald Trump has refused efforts by Democrats in Congress to obtain files related to his son-in-law’s White House security clearance. He called the probes into his campaign and administration a witch hunt and a shame for the United States. The comments came as House oversight committee chairman Elijah Cummings said that he and his colleagues would consider their next steps after the White House refused to hand over documents related to Jared Kushner’s security clearance.

Cummings had requested the documents after reports indicated Trump had himself ordered his former chief of staff to grant Kushner a security clearance despite concerns from U.S intelligence agents. Kushner is the president’s son-in-law and a senior White House adviser. He has been tasked with an ambitious set of projects including negotiating peace in the Middle East and working on criminal justice reform in the United States, since taking a position in the West Wing.

Cummings wrote, “There is a key difference between a president who exercises his authority under the Constitution and a president who overrules career experts and his top advisors to benefit his family members and then conceals his actions from the American people”. He added, “The White House security clearance system is broken, and it needs both congressional oversight and legislative reform. I will be consulting with members of the committee to determine our next steps”. The House Judiciary Committee has also launched an investigation with over 80 organizations or individuals connected to Trump or his campaign receiving letters from that probe. Trump said, “It’s a disgrace, it’s a disgrace to our country. I’m not surprised that it’s happening”.