Democrats Vow Wide Investigations of Trump After Winning Control of Congress
Senior Democrats say they will use subpoena power and larger committee staffs to investigate President Donald Trump's business dealings and his administration, while promising to keep the cost of living at the center of their agenda.
Senior Democrats in both chambers of Congress said Wednesday they will use the subpoena powers and larger investigative staffs that come with their new majorities to investigate what they describe as self-enrichment by President Donald Trump and people in his orbit. The president and the White House have long denied any wrongdoing.
House Democrats are preparing a broad oversight agenda covering how Trump and his family have grown wealthier since he returned to office. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the Democratic leader in line to become House speaker, has not ruled out trying to impeach Trump for a third time.
In a letter to Democratic lawmakers announcing his run for speaker, Jeffries said the “days of the House functioning like a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump administration are over.” He promised to target price gouging and push for a ban on stock trading by lawmakers.
“Lawyer up”
Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the Democrat expected to chair the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, posted “Lawyer up” on X as election results favoring Democrats came in on Tuesday night. Garcia has outlined five priorities, including Trump family business dealings, the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
In the Senate, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, expected to become chairman of the Homeland Security Committee’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said his panel will look into Trump’s real estate projects in Washington and his crypto dealings with special envoy Steve Witkoff. Blumenthal also wants hearings on ICE raids, the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency and Medicare plans he says are too restrictive.
Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, in line to become Senate Finance Committee chairman, said his targets include banks he contends ignored red flags about Epstein’s financial dealings and drug companies that have profited from ties to the Trump administration. “When I am chair, they will be forced to answer to the Senate Finance Committee for their role in hurting the American people and enabling Trump’s corruption,” Wyden said in a statement Wednesday.
Corruption and the cost of living
The AP Voter Poll, which surveyed more than 100,000 voters nationwide, found corruption was a driving force in the election. About half of voters said government corruption was central to their vote for Congress, and most of those voters backed the Democrat in their local House race. About 4 in 10 voters said the economy was the top issue facing the country, while about 3 in 10 named the state of democracy.
Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, poised to return as Senate majority leader, said Democrats can pursue investigations and legislate on affordability at the same time. “Americans want us to clean up corruption in government,” Schumer said. “No American should have to make tradeoffs at the supermarket while Trump is making inside trades on the stock market.”
The White House pushed back. “As the president has said, he’s willing to work with anyone to continue delivering victories for hardworking Americans,” spokeswoman Lauren Bis said Wednesday. “If Democrats choose to pursue sham investigations and radical left policies, they are choosing to work against the American people.”
Reporting based on coverage by The Associated Press.
