After sweeping both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections, Democrats will turn their new investigative powers on the Trump family's business deals, making what they call corruption a central part of the 2028 campaign for the White House, Reuters reported on Thursday.
Rep. Robert Garcia of California, who is set to become chairman of the House Oversight Committee, posted "LAWYER UP" on X late on Tuesday night. An hour later, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, who is expected to lead the Senate Finance Committee, posted a single word: "Subpoenas." Democratic committee leaders began outlining an oversight agenda on Wednesday that targets both the Trump administration and major corporations.
The investigations are expected to sweep widely. Targets are likely to include the Trump family's cryptocurrency ventures — Reuters reported in June that the family had earned about $2.3 billion through four crypto ventures, including World Liberty Financial and the Trump meme coin — as well as the president's sons, tech CEO and Republican mega-donor Elon Musk, and a swath of other Republican donors and contractors. Wyden said he plans to scrutinize agreements between the Trump administration and pharmaceutical companies on drug pricing.
Other planned lines of inquiry include the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency, the White House ballroom construction project and the Trump family's role in mineral deals. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said his panel would look into the family's real estate projects around the nation's capital and its crypto dealings with special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Democrats have opted for investigations rather than trying to impeach Trump immediately, Reuters previously reported. Their subpoena powers begin when the new Congress convenes on January 3, and investigations into the Trump family businesses could begin as early as February. The White House has denied any wrongdoing and pushed back against the looming probes, calling them politically motivated. In an August Reuters/Ipsos poll, about 69 percent of Americans said they thought the president's private business interests were influencing his decisions — a concern Democratic leaders say helped drive Tuesday's results.
