President Donald Trump s threat to fight all the subpoenas from Congress marks a presidential refusal to cooperate with the legislative branch that is unprecedented in its scope and justification.

By that announcement yesterday, he has gone beyond where any prior president that Ive seen has gone in saying no information will go over, said Nelson Cunningham, who previously served as counsel in the Clinton White House and the Senate Judiciary Committee and is currently president of McLarty Associates, a corporate strategic advisory firm.

Members of Congress are seeking documents and testimony from Trump administration officials on a range of issues, from the presidents alleged corrupt acts to his purge of immigration enforcement officials. Trumps vow to refuse all subpoenas could inaugurate a new era of interbranch warfare one in which Democrats could even threaten to fine or arrest administration officials to defend their constitutional turf.

This is a massive, unprecedented, and growing pattern of obstruction , Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), chair of the House Oversight Committee, said Wednesday.