Reuters: Democrats prepare investigations into Trump if they win elections
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US Democrats could launch a series of investigations into the business dealings of US President Donald Trump and his family if they gain control of Congress after the November elections, according to Reuters.
According to Reuters, if they gain control of either the House of Representatives or the Senate, Democrats could begin scrutinizing business deals linked to Trump and his family. Potential targets also include corporate donors who funded the construction of the president's ballroom.
Control of either chamber of Congress would give Democrats greater ability to use their powers to obtain documents and subpoena company representatives. According to Reuters sources, some investigations could begin as early as February.
Potential investigations could become one of the major storylines of the second half of Trump's presidential term. Over the past two years, his family has expanded its business activities into cryptocurrency, drones, artificial intelligence and prediction markets.
What they want to investigate
Potential areas of scrutiny for Democrats include cryptocurrency companies linked to Trump and Donald Trump Jr.'s venture capital firm, "1789 Capital." At the same time, lawmakers emphasize that there is not yet a final list of future investigations.
Democrats are also focusing on the activities of Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and head of the investment firm Affinity Partners.
Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin said Congress could examine Kushner's company's deals with governments in the Middle East. These include Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Another area concerns Vulcan Elements, a company involved in rare earth resources. Raskin pointed to a $620 million Pentagon loan provided to the startup about three months after "1789 Capital" invested in it.
Another potential area of investigation concerns the oil and gas industry. Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released a report alleging that companies in the sector received tax breaks, subsidies and relaxed environmental regulations after making donations to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.
Trump's response
The US administration criticized the possibility of future investigations. White House spokesperson Olivia Wiles told Reuters that Democrats were allegedly focused on opposing Trump's policies rather than issues important to Americans.
At the same time, Republican Senator Kevin Cramer said Democrats could face a backlash from voters if they focus on Trump and his business.
If Democrats gain control of the Senate, Senator Richard Blumenthal said he intends to use subpoena powers.
Thus, the outcome of the November elections could determine whether Congress gains additional powers to scrutinize business deals linked to Trump and his family.
As a reminder, the United States will hold congressional midterm elections in November 2026.
The White House under Donald Trump is already preparing for the possibility that Republicans could lose control of at least one chamber of Congress.
Meanwhile, the US president's approval rating has fallen to a new low.
Only 37% of adults approve of his performance. Half of those surveyed strongly disapprove, while 63% disapprove of his actions.
