Transparency, that is what Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) is asking for when it comes to oversight by members of Congress.

Grassley sent a letter to President Trump calling for him to rescind a policy for the Office of Legal Counsel to only answer oversight requests from committee chairmen. With the Republican control of Congress, all of the chairmen at this time are Republicans. In his letter, Grassley writes, “This is nonsense.” Grassley says it can even be difficult as a committee chairman to get information upon request, let alone those in a minority party. Grassley says he doesn’t agree with the administration on this, “And when the Trump administration sends out a message that only committee chairmen or committees are entitled to oversight, that’s entirely contrary to my position ever since I’ve been in the Senate. It’s contrary to the Constitution. And it’s just not right, because whoever wants information should have it, because of a principle I believe in, transparency means accountability.”

Grassley also cited court cases that uphold his belief that any member of Congress has the right to request information, including Murphy vs. Department of the Army which says each member “participates in the law-making process; each has a voice and a vote in that process; and each is entitled to request such information from the executive agencies as will enable him to carry out the responsibilities of a legislator.” Grassley writes in his letter, “Oversight brings transparency, and transparency brings accountability.  And, the opposite is true.  Shutting down oversight requests doesn’t drain the swamp, Mr. President.  It floods the swamp.”

The Senator tells KCII News he has yet to hear a response from the White House.

For a copy of the letter click here.