US President Donald Trump defended Sunday his latest attack on a prominent African-American lawmaker in comments that drew more accusations of racism.

In a series of tweets on Saturday, Trump took aim at Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings -- a high-profile critic of Trump's administration whose district covers much of the majority-black city of Baltimore, Maryland.

"Cumming (sic) District is a disgusting, rat and rodent-infested mess," the president wrote, calling it "the worst run and most dangerous anywhere in the United States."

"No human being would want to live there," he said, in an attack ostensibly provoked by Cummings' criticism of the harsh conditions facing would-be asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border.

Trump's comments triggered a torrent of criticism and he defended them on Sunday in another burst of tweets.

"There is nothing wrong with bringing out the very obvious fact that Congressman Elijah Cummings has done a very poor job for his district and the City of Baltimore," Trump said, without adding anything to back up his argument.

"Just take a look, the facts speak far louder than words! The Democrats always play the Race Card, when in fact they have done so little for our Nation's great African American people," Trump wrote.

"Now, the lowest unemployment in US&nbsp;history, and only getting better. Elijah Cummings has failed badly!"

Saturday's diatribe ignited a storm of criticism less than two weeks after the House of Representatives condemned Trump for "racist" comments targeting four first-term Democratic congresswomen who are from ethnic minorities.

The top Democrat in Congress, Nancy Pelosi, on Saturday accused Trump of a "racist" attack on a "champion... of civil rights and economic justice, a beloved leader in Baltimore, and deeply valued colleague."&nbsp;

"We all reject racist attacks against him," wrote Pelosi -- who was born in Baltimore and whose father served as mayor of the city.&nbsp;

Former vice president Joe Biden -- the Democratic frontrunner to challenge Trump in 2020 -- called out the president directly on Twitter.

"It is despicable for you to attack him and the people of Baltimore this way," Biden wrote. "Once again you have proved yourself unfit to hold the office. A President is supposed to lift this nation up. Not tear it down."

In another tweet on Sunday, Trump said Pelosi is doing a bad job representing her district in California.

"Speaking of failing badly, has anyone seen what is happening to Nancy Pelosi's district in San Francisco. It is not even recognisable lately. Something must be done before it is too late," he wrote.

US President Donald Trump defended Sunday his latest attack on a prominent African-American lawmaker in comments that drew more accusations of racism. In a series of tweets on Saturday, Trump took aim at Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings -- a high-profile critic of Trump's administration whose district covers much of the majority-black city of Baltimore, Maryland.

US President Donald Trump defended Sunday his latest attack on a prominent African-American lawmaker in comments that drew more accusations of racism. In a series of tweets on Saturday, Trump took aim at Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings -- a high-profile critic of Trump's administration whose district covers much of the majority-black city of Baltimore, Maryland. "Cumming (sic) District is a disgusting, rat and rodent-infested mess," the president wrote, calling it "the worst run and most dangerous anywhere in the United States." "No human being would want to live there," he said, in an attack ostensibly provoked by Cummings' criticism of the harsh conditions facing would-be asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border. Trump's comments triggered a torrent of criticism and he defended them on Sunday in another burst of tweets. "There is nothing wrong with bringing out the very obvious fact that Congressman Elijah Cummings has done a very poor job for his district and the City of Baltimore," Trump said, without adding anything to back up his argument. "Just take a look, the facts speak far louder than words! The Democrats always play the Race Card, when in fact they have done so little for our Nation's great African American people," Trump wrote. "Now, the lowest unemployment in US history, and only getting better. Elijah Cummings has failed badly!" Saturday's diatribe ignited a storm of criticism less than two weeks after the House of Representatives condemned Trump for "racist" comments targeting four first-term Democratic congresswomen who are from ethnic minorities. The top Democrat in Congress, Nancy Pelosi, on Saturday accused Trump of a "racist" attack on a "champion... of civil rights and economic justice, a beloved leader in Baltimore, and deeply valued colleague." "We all reject racist attacks against him," wrote Pelosi -- who was born in Baltimore and whose father served as mayor of the city. Former vice president Joe Biden -- the Democratic frontrunner to challenge Trump in 2020 -- called out the president directly on Twitter. "It is despicable for you to attack him and the people of Baltimore this way," Biden wrote. "Once again you have proved yourself unfit to hold the office. A President is supposed to lift this nation up. Not tear it down." In another tweet on Sunday, Trump said Pelosi is doing a bad job representing her district in California. "Speaking of failing badly, has anyone seen what is happening to Nancy Pelosi's district in San Francisco. It is not even recognisable lately. Something must be done before it is too late," he wrote.

Donald Trump defends attack on African-American US lawmaker Elijah Cummings

Top aides in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-angry-about-khashoggi-murder-but-says-no-one-blames-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-231433">President Donald Trump's</a> White House, including his daughter <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-daughter-ivanka-and-pompeo-beautiful-couple-beauty-and-the-beast-231774">Ivanka Trump </a>and son-in-law, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/economic-plan-necessary-pre-condition-for-middle-east-peace-kushner-230435">Jared Kushner</a>, will come under increased scrutiny for their use of personal emails and other unofficial messaging to conduct government affairs, a congressional oversight chairman said on Monday.

US Representative Elijah Cummings, the Democratic chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, said the panel would begin its own review of emails and other communications by the White House that he said violated federal records law.

"The purpose of this investigation is to determine why White House officials used non-official email accounts, texting services and encrypted applications for official business," Cummings wrote to White House Counsel Pat Cipollone.

Lawmakers will look at why records sent or received by non-official accounts were not forwarded to official accounts within 20 days as legally required, as well as whether there was a topic White House officials wanted to conceal, he said.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump pilloried his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 presidential campaign for her use of a private email server when she was secretary of state. He continues to refer to her emails in speeches and on Twitter.

The Republican leaders of the oversight panel had also sought information on the use of non-official messaging by White House staff in 2017 and 2018. Democrats took over the panel after winning the House of Representatives in 2018 elections.

Cummings said the White House had not produced any documents in response to those requests or his own previous requests, saying it was conducting an internal investigation.

In March, Cummings wrote to the White House counsel with "more troubling information" about apparent violations by Kushner, Ivanka Trump and former advisers Steve Bannon and K.T. McFarland.

Cummings said Kushner's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, had told lawmakers that Kushner used WhatsApp for official duties and that his wife, Ivanka, continued to use a personal email account for her White House business.

Lowell, in a reply to Cummings, denied telling lawmakers that Kushner had communicated through any app with foreign "leaders" or "officials" but said Kushner had used such apps for communicating with "some people," who were not specified.

CNN reported last year that Kushner communicated with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman via the Facebook Inc-owned WhatsApp messaging application. 
&nbsp;

Top aides in President Donald Trump's White House, including his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will come under increased scrutiny for their use of personal emails and other unofficial messaging to conduct government affairs, a congressional oversight chairman said on Monday.

Top aides in President Donald Trump's White House, including his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will come under increased scrutiny for their use of personal emails and other unofficial messaging to conduct government affairs, a congressional oversight chairman said on Monday. US Representative Elijah Cummings, the Democratic chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, said the panel would begin its own review of emails and other communications by the White House that he said violated federal records law. "The purpose of this investigation is to determine why White House officials used non-official email accounts, texting services and encrypted applications for official business," Cummings wrote to White House Counsel Pat Cipollone. Lawmakers will look at why records sent or received by non-official accounts were not forwarded to official accounts within 20 days as legally required, as well as whether there was a topic White House officials wanted to conceal, he said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump pilloried his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 presidential campaign for her use of a private email server when she was secretary of state. He continues to refer to her emails in speeches and on Twitter. The Republican leaders of the oversight panel had also sought information on the use of non-official messaging by White House staff in 2017 and 2018. Democrats took over the panel after winning the House of Representatives in 2018 elections. Cummings said the White House had not produced any documents in response to those requests or his own previous requests, saying it was conducting an internal investigation. In March, Cummings wrote to the White House counsel with "more troubling information" about apparent violations by Kushner, Ivanka Trump and former advisers Steve Bannon and K.T. McFarland. Cummings said Kushner's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, had told lawmakers that Kushner used WhatsApp for official duties and that his wife, Ivanka, continued to use a personal email account for her White House business. Lowell, in a reply to Cummings, denied telling lawmakers that Kushner had communicated through any app with foreign "leaders" or "officials" but said Kushner had used such apps for communicating with "some people," who were not specified. CNN reported last year that Kushner communicated with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman via the Facebook Inc-owned WhatsApp messaging application.

United States Congress expands probe of White House personal email use

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Donald Trump defends attack on African-American US lawmaker Elijah Cummings

United States Congress expands probe of White House personal email use