Standoff at Library of Congress; Sewell, others seek probe of potential improper communications with White House

WASHINGTON – In the wake of last week’s sudden firing of the Librarian of Congress, several members of Congress, including U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, are calling for a probe of potential improper communications between the Library of Congress and the White House.

Also Monday, there was a brief standoff at the library where staff refused to admit  Justice Department officials who claimed to be in charge of the library. After library officials resisted, the DOJ officials left.

Capitol Police officers were called to the scene but told by library staff that they were were not needed.

Sewell (D-Birmingham) joined Committee on House Administration Ranking Member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) in a letter request to the Library of Congress Inspector General Kimberly Benoit seeking an investigation and continued monitoring of potential improper communications between the Library of Congress — a legislative branch agency — and the executive branch. The members also include the possibility of the unauthorized transfer of congressional or Library data to executive branch agencies and personnel.

“The abrupt firing of Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden raises serious concerns that the executive branch is improperly targeting the Library and its employees with adverse employment actions and inappropriate requests for information including, but not limited to, confidential communications between congressional offices and the Library’s various service units,” wrote the lawmakers. “The Library is part of the legislative branch—an independent and coequal branch of government.

“The executive has no authority to demand or receive confidential legislative branch data, and the Library has no legal basis to supply such information without authorization from Congress.”

The letter was also signed by House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Legislative Branch Ranking Member Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.), and Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Texas).

The members request that the IG’s Office investigate:

• Whether the Department of Government Efficiency or other executive branch entities have requested or otherwise attempted to access or review Library data, including but not limited to communications between the Congressional Research Service and congressional offices;
• Whether Library staff have received directives from the executive branch to modify access protocols or information sharing practices with entities outside the legislative branch;
• Whether executive branch officials have attempted to circumvent existing inter-branch communication pathways; and
• Any other potentially illegal or inappropriate actions by the executive branch that you discover as part of your investigatory efforts.

“Given the time-sensitive nature of this matter and the potential for irreparable harm to one of our most important and inimitable institutions, I request this investigation be prioritized,” the request said.