Donald Trump and Democrats set for showdown

President Donald Trump and his Department of Justice are taking a combative stance toward Democrats after their election victories in the midterms, signaling intense conflict to come as lawmakers prepare aggressive investigations into the executive branch next year.

Trump set the tone, declaring on social media that investigative requests already made by Democrats are "extortion at the highest level, and they should be held accountable." Attorney General Todd Blanche echoed the Republican president and said criminal investigations of Democrats are possible.

"They are not allowed to just go around threatening existing members of the administration, to go around threatening companies, and that's what President Trump is extremely worried about and he should be," Blanche said as he and congressional Democrats appeared on the Sunday news shows to discuss the repercussions from last week's elections.

Rep. Robert Garcia, who is poised to chair the powerful House Oversight Committee in the next Congress, is preparing investigations into what he calls the "Trump crime family." He said Democrats are not going to be intimidated.

"The days of us not fighting back are over," said Garcia, D-Calif.

The early rhetoric sets up a showdown ahead that will likely define Trump's remaining two years in office and test the power of Congress to put a check on the White House. About 7 in 10 voters nationally say Congress is not doing enough to provide checks and balances on the presidency, according to The AP Voter Poll, a survey of more than 100,000 midterm voters.

Democrats have made clear that impeachment is an option.

If there are people who have been "shortchanging the American people, screwing over the American people, or stealing from the American people, then they need to be held accountable in a manner consistent with Congress' role, constitutionally," said Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

But the investigative onslaught is also a source of tension for Democrats, with many warning that delivering on their central promise to voters - actions to lower the cost of living - must take precedence.