Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, demanded on Wednesday that the Department of Homeland Security keep every record it holds and answer every request the committee has made, a day after Democrats won control of the House. His letter gives Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin until 11 November to promise in writing that the department's records "have not been and will not be destroyed, modified, removed, transferred, or otherwise rendered inaccessible."

The letter reminds Mullin that the Federal Records Act covers tweets, social media posts and press releases as well as documents. Any official who "willfully and unlawfully" destroys a federal record can be jailed for up to three years and barred from federal office.

Thompson accused DHS of a "repeated refusal to cooperate" and wrote that in the new Congress the committee "intends to address the Trump administration's assault on the rule of law and hold those responsible accountable." He renewed every request the committee made over the last two years and set 2 December as the deadline for the documents.

Among the requests DHS has ignored are those for documents on its purchase under Kristi Noem of 10 luxury jets from Daedalus Aviation, whose head was one of Noem's political donors. Only one of the jets is in use, and not by DHS. In October, Thompson also demanded that DHS stop officers going door to door asking people about their immigration status and their plans to vote.

Other Democrats have named the officials they want in front of committees. Delia Ramirez listed Mullin, Noem, Tom Homan, Gregory Bovino and Stephen Miller and told them "Clear your schedule." Robert Garcia, who takes over the Oversight Committee in January, posted "LAWYER UP" on election night.

The new Congress is sworn in on 3 January. Until then Republicans run the committee, with Andrew Garbarino as its chair.