US Democrats eye probes into Trump-linked firms over impeachment if they regain House control: Report
US House Democrats are reportedly preparing a broad investigative strategy targeting companies, contractors and financial firms linked to President Donald Trump and his administration if they regain control of the House of Representatives in November.Rather than making impeachment their first move, Democrats plan to use congressional investigations, hearings, subpoenas and document requests to examine the administration’s decisions and whether Trump used his office to benefit himself, his allies or donors, as reported by Reuters citing sources.
What Democrats have planned
Democrats are expected to focus on companies and financial entities that have contracts with or regulatory dealings involving the Trump administration. The discussions have included Apple, Alphabet, Palantir, Blackstone, BlackRock and companies owned by Elon Musk, including Tesla.No final target list has been prepared and no formal investigations have begun.Democrats are also expected to examine Department of Homeland Security contracts, financing for Trump’s planned White House ballroom, corporate donations and alleged pay-to-play arrangements.Potential investigations could also cover Trump-linked financial vehicles, including 1789 Capital, a venture capital firm in which his son Donald Trump Jr. is a partner, as well as US-based companies and funds connected to foreign sovereign wealth funds investing in Trump family-linked businesses.Democrats have already begun preparing for possible investigations. Party leaders have sent letters seeking information from companies and organisations that could become targets of congressional inquiries if Democrats take control of the House.The letters have sought records from Paramount Skydance over its dealings with the Trump administration and a proposed Warner Bros. Discovery deal, as well as YouTube and its parent company Alphabet over its $24.5 million settlement with Trump.Other companies that have received requests include private prison operator GEO Group, security firm Salus Worldwide Solutions and commodity traders Vitol and Trafigura.The requests do not carry the force of congressional subpoenas while Democrats remain in the minority, but could help identify records that lawmakers may later seek if they gain control of the House.However, Democrats involved in the planning say impeachment would remain an option if investigations uncover evidence of an impeachable offence, but they do not want to begin with an impeachment effort. “We’re not going into this to impeach,” a senior Democratic aide said, quoted by Reuers, saying, “The focus is on building a body of evidence through investigations that can hold Trump accountable.”Democrats say the approach reflects lessons from Trump’s first term, when he was impeached twice by the House but acquitted by the Senate both times.House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has said the party has not ruled out impeachment if it regains control of the House, but has indicated that Democrats would initially focus on issues affecting Americans’ finances.If Democrats win the House, they would gain the authority to issue subpoenas, compel testimony and documents, hold public hearings and pursue contempt proceedings.The White House said Trump remains committed to preserving Republican majorities in Congress and is prepared to respond to oversight requests regardless of which party controls the House or Senate.
