WASHINGTON, March 3 (Reuters) – The president of the American House's judicial commission announced Sunday that the committee would request documents from more than 60 people and entities as part of an investigation into a possible obstruction of justice. and an abuse of power by President Donald Trump.
Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler told ABC channel "This Week" that the committee is seeking documents from the Justice Department, President Donald Trump Jr.'s son and Trump Organization's Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg. among others.
"We will open investigations on abuse of power, corruption … and obstruction of justice," Nadler said. "It's our job to protect the rule of law."
"It is very clear that the president has obstructed justice," Nadler said. He added that it was too early to determine whether the indictment should be continued or not.
"Before you dismiss someone, you have to convince the American public that this should happen," he said.
RELATED: Key Figures of the Judiciary Committee of the House
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Key figures of the Judiciary Committee of the House
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United States – February 08: President Jerrold Nadler, DN.Y., arrives for a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee at Rayburn Building titled "US Department of Justice Surveillance," where the lawyer Acting General Matthew Whitaker was interviewed on the investigation of Special Advocate Robert Mueller on Friday, February 8, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call)
Senior Member Representative Doug Collins (R-GA) Speaks to US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker at the Judiciary Committee of the House on the Investigation Conducted by US Deputy Attorney General Special Advocate on the Interference of Russia at the 2016 Election, Capitol Hill, Washington, DC Friday, February 8, 2019. (Photo by Cheriss May / NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Representative Joe Neguse, D-Colo., Has a meeting with Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (Vice-Chair), during a debate before the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives of the Acting Attorney General , Matthew Whitaker, at Capitol Hill, Washington, on Thursday, February 7, 2019. (AP Photo / Jose Luis Magana)
Representative Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker before the Judiciary Committee of the House on Capitol Hill, Friday, February 8, 2019 in Washington. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)
United States – April 12: Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., Attends a press conference with Democrats of the House Judiciary Committee to announce new legislation to protect the investigation of Special Advocate Robert Mueller on Thursday, April 12, 2018. (Photo by Bill Clark / CQ Call)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 08: Ted Deutch (D-FL), US Representative, speaks at a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee of the Rayburn House Building Building at Capitol Hill, the February 08, 2019 in Washington, DC. After a fight between the chairman of the committee, Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and the Department of Justice, the acting American Attorney General, Matthew Whitaker, was questioned about the fact that he had supervised the 39; investigation by the special advocate Robert Mueller on the interference of Russia in the 2016 presidential election. (Photo by Alex Wong / Getty Images)
United States – Feb. 08: Representatives Jamie Raskin, D-MD and Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., Conduct a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee at Rayburn Building entitled "US Department of Justice Surveillance", where Acting General Counsel Matthew Whitaker was questioned about the investigation of Special Advisor Robert Mueller on Friday, February 8, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 08: US Representative Veronica Escobar (D-TX) speaks at a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee of the Rayburn House Building at Capitol Hill, February 08, 2019 in Washington, DC. After a fight between the chairman of the committee, Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and the Department of Justice, the acting American Attorney General, Matthew Whitaker, was questioned about the fact that he had supervised the 39; investigation by the special advocate Robert Mueller on the interference of Russia in the 2016 presidential election. (Photo by Alex Wong / Getty Images)
Matt Gaetz, Representative of the R-Rep., Speaks at a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee on Armed Violence, Capitol Hill, Washington, Wednesday, February 6, 2019. (AP Photo / Jose Luis Magana)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 08: The representative of the House Judiciary Committee, Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), interviews acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker at a supervisory hearing in Toronto. Rayburn House building at Capitol Hill on February 08, 2019 in Washington. Following a fight between committee chairman, Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and the Department of Justice, Whitaker was questioned about the fact that he had overseen the investigation Special advocate Robert Mueller on the inquiry conducted by Russia in the 2016 presidential election. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)
Rep. Louis Gohmert, R-Texas, asks a question during a joint hearing with the testimony of the Inspector General of the Department of Justice, Michael Horowitz, at a joint commission of the Judicial Committee and the Government's Monitoring and Reform Committee reviewing the FBI's report of Horowitz's Clinton Email Survey at Capitol Hill on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 in Washington. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 08: US Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL) speaks at a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee in the office building of Rayburn House at Capitol Hill, February 8, 2019 in Washington, DC. After a fight between the chairman of the committee, Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and the Department of Justice, the acting American Attorney General, Matthew Whitaker, was questioned about the fact that he had supervised the 39; investigation by the special advocate Robert Mueller on the interference of Russia in the 2016 presidential election. (Photo by Alex Wong / Getty Images)
Representative Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., Chair of the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, made a statement at Capitol Hill, Washington, on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, at the meeting. of the Judiciary Committee of the House. approve rare bipartite legislation that would reduce the prison time of some non-violent drug offenders. Bipartite bills aim to reduce prison overcrowding in the country, save taxpayer money and give second chance to some non-violent offenders while keeping the most dangerous criminals in jail . (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)
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As evidence of obstruction, Nadler cited the dismissal of former FBI director, James Comey, by Trump, who was leading at the time an investigation into the alleged interference of the Russia in the 2016 US presidential election and on a possible collusion between his campaign and Moscow.
This investigation was then assigned to special advocate Robert Mueller, who is expected to submit his findings to the US Attorney General within a few weeks.
Nadler also cited what he called Trump 's attempts to intimidate witnesses during the investigation.
The White House, the Department of Justice and the Trump organization did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Nadler said the committee would issue Monday the list of people and organizations for which it would request documents. (Report by Tim Ahmann, edited by Doina Chiacu and Sonya Hepinstall)
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