Democrats Vow to Probe Trump Corruption With New Congressional Majities
House and Senate leaders plan extensive investigations into the president's financial dealings following the November midterm elections.
By Nadia Rahman ·
About 50% of U.S. voters said government corruption was crucial to their decision in Tuesday's midterm elections, according to The AP Voter Poll. This figure drove the agenda for the Democratic Party, which regained control of Congress. The new majority plans to use its expanded investigative powers to examine the financial activities of President Donald Trump and his associates.
Hakeem Jeffries of New York is set to become House speaker. He has not ruled out a third impeachment attempt against Trump. Jeffries tasked Rep. Robert Garcia of California and Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland with leading the oversight effort. Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, outlined five priorities. These include the Trump family's business dealings, the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
In the Senate, Chuck Schumer of New York will return as majority leader. He stated that Americans want corruption cleaned up. He noted that voters should not face tradeoffs at the supermarket while the president makes stock market trades. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who will chair the Homeland Security Committee’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said his panel will look into Trump’s real estate projects near Washington, D.C. He also plans to examine the president's crypto dealings with special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Witkoff partnered with Trump on World Liberty Financial, a family cryptocurrency venture. Blumenthal told The Associated Press that the administration's corruption has added costs to everyday Americans. He also wants hearings on ICE raids and the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, who is set to lead the Senate Finance Committee, listed banks and pharmaceutical companies as targets. Wyden said these entities will be forced to answer for their roles in enabling the administration.
The AP Voter Poll, which surveyed more than 100,000 voters, found that roughly 3 in 10 identified the state of democracy as the top national issue. About 8 in 10 of those voters supported the Democratic candidate for their local House race. Older voters, aged 65 and above, were more likely to cite the state of democracy as the primary concern. Younger voters were more likely to prioritize the economy.
President Trump has adopted a conciliatory tone since the election results were tallied. White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said the president is willing to work with Democrats. She added that if the party pursues what she called sham investigations, they are working against the American people. Jeffries wrote in a letter to his colleagues that the days of the House functioning like a subsidiary of the Trump administration are over. He promised to target price gouging and push for a stock trading ban for lawmakers.
The Congressional Integrity Project, an advocacy group, urged Democratic lawmakers to trace the administration's actions to specific individuals and corporations. Jack Miller, a senior adviser to the group, stated that corruption is costing taxpayers money. Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont cautioned the party to remain judicious. He said Democrats must earn voters' trust and avoid turning the oversight process into a vengeance tour.
The House majority brings an infusion of committee staff and resources. The effort is expected to involve multiple committees with authority over Cabinet officials. Democrats aim to link the costs of public corruption to the affordability concerns hitting American pocketbooks. They intend to use subpoenas and larger investigative staffs to probe self-enrichment at the public's expense.
