GOP House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz says he is not going to be a "cheerleader" for President-elect Donald Trump, conceding working under a Republican commander-in-chief is a "big test for me."
At a news briefing with reporters, the Utah Republican said Trump will be exempt from most federal conflict of interest laws.
"My job is not to be a cheerleader for the president," he told reporters Monday, per The Hill. "My job is to hold them accountable, and they do not necessarily like it."
When he ran for Congress in 2008, Chaffetz criticized Republicans for not conducting aggressive enough oversight of the Bush administration, ABC News reported.
Now, working under a GOP president is a "big test for me," he said, per ABC News.
Chaffetz also told reporters the powerful panel also will press ahead with its probe into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server as secretary of state, calling it "very important."
"Just because there's an election doesn't mean this goes away," Chaffetz said, ABC News reported. "It cannot, and should not be repeated ever again."
Chaffetz said he will be watching Trump's press conference Wednesday, when he plans to announce his plans for his business interests.
"My concern is to make sure there is compliance with the law," he said, per The Hill. "A president is exempt from a lot of these. I didn't write those laws, but that is the reality of it. I will not shy away from diving in and having a look."
He also said he is planning to meet with incoming White House counsel Don McGahn, and has to review anti-nepotism statutes following news Trump's son-in-law will join the White House as an adviser.
"That's going to draw some questions, and it will for us as well," Chaffetz said, per ABC News.
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