Dems demand answers on Trump officials’ decision not to defend ObamaCare

House Democrats are pushing the Trump administration to release documents and information about its decision not to defend ObamaCare in court.

Top Democrats, led by Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.) and Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings (Md.), sent letters Tuesday to the White House and departments of Justice as well as Health and Human Services demanding access to materials that explain the decision and identifies the officials involved in making it.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) last month sided with a lower court ruling that found ObamaCare unconstitutional, going past its previous position that only part of the law should be struck down. The DOJ has refused to defend the law in court, and a coalition of Democratic states are seeking an appeal of the decision.

{mosads}“This refusal appears to be violating longstanding policies to defend and enforce Acts of Congress; will have a significant negative impact on the accessibility of healthcare for Americans; and appears to be driven by political considerations rather than considered legal arguments,” the Democrats wrote in the letter to the DOJ.

Specifically, Democrats are asking for lists of all officials involved in the decision, including President Trump’s chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, and any communications between key officials about the lawsuit.

The Democrats also want DOJ’s legal justification for refusing to defend the law in court and want four key attorneys from the department to testify.

Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday responded to criticisms from Democrats about the DOJ’s decision.

“We are in litigation and we have to take a position,” Barr said in response to a question from Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) during a House Appropriations Committee hearing.

“If you think it’s such an outrageous position, you have nothing to worry about. Let the courts do their job,” he added.