White House to incoming Democratic Oversight chair: 'The administration will not be extorted and will not be cowed'

The White House warned House Democrats on Wednesday that it will fight their plans to bury the administration in investigations once they take control of Congress in January, the New York Post reports.

"The administration will not be extorted and will not be cowed," White House Counsel Will Scharf wrote in a letter to Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., who is expected to chair the House Oversight Committee.

Scharf laid out the limits the Constitution puts on congressional investigations. Subpoenas, he wrote, can be used only for legislative purposes, not for "criminal persecution."

He also turned the warning around on the investigators. "Threats to executive branch officials designed to deter them from public service, or process designed merely to abuse or instill fear in the recipient may cross the line into blatant criminality," Scharf wrote. "And issuing unlawful subpoenas with the intention of depriving citizens of their constitutional rights and privileges may warrant further investigation."

Democrats have threatened a stream of subpoenas aimed at administration officials and the president's family, and some newly elected members have hinted that criminal charges could follow. The Post says the letter shows the aggressive defense the White House is preparing under new Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.