Democrats Plan Investigations of Trump Family Deals and Start Hiring for the Probes

Democrats will use the Congress they just won to investigate the business deals of President Donald Trump's family, and they have started hiring the people who will run the probes.

Democrats seized control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives in Tuesday's midterm elections. The new majority takes office on January 3, and with it comes subpoena power.

The opening signals came within hours of the result. "LAWYER UP," Representative Robert Garcia, who is set to chair the House Oversight Committee, posted on X late on Tuesday. "Subpoenas," Senator Ron Wyden, who is expected to lead the Senate Finance Committee, wrote an hour later. Representative Delia Ramirez told several Trump administration officials to clear their schedules.

Hiring for the probes

On Wednesday, Senate Democrats posted job openings for investigators and anti corruption attorneys to staff the incoming chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Washington Examiner reported. The listings seek people with experience in complex inquiries and set a November 12 deadline for applications.

Committee leaders also began setting out the agenda on Wednesday. Wyden said he plans to scrutinize agreements between the Trump administration and pharmaceutical companies on drug pricing. The wider list reported by the Wall Street Journal reaches Trump's cryptocurrency dealings, his family's business ties, his construction projects in Washington, the acceptance of a Qatari jet and a tax deal struck with his own administration.

Reuters, citing interviews with about a dozen lawyers, members of Congress, aides and political consultants, reported that tech chief executive and Republican donor Elon Musk, Trump's sons and a range of Republican donors and contractors are also likely to be drawn in. A representative for Musk did not respond to a request for comment. A representative for Donald Trump Jr. declined to comment, and one for Eric Trump did not respond.

The White House answer

The Trump administration has denied any wrongdoing and pushed back on Wednesday. "If Democrats choose to pursue sham investigations and radical left policies, they are choosing to work against the American people," White House spokesperson Lauren Bis said. Another White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Democrats "should be reminded that we still control the federal government and all of its powers."

Reuters reported earlier that Democrats have chosen investigations rather than trying to impeach Trump immediately. "We expect a huge volume of aggressive and expansive investigations that will target both the administration and the private sector," said Rachel Cotton, a congressional oversight specialist at the law firm Arnold and Porter.

The risk in the polls

The strategy carries a political risk, and the polls in the same reporting show it. In a Reuters and Ipsos poll taken from late last week through Monday, 48 percent of registered voters said the cost of living was the top issue behind their vote. Republican consultant Ron Bonjean warned that if the search for vengeance overwhelms the legislative agenda, Democrats could have "a very short legislative majority."

But concern about the president's own money is also on the record. In an August Reuters and Ipsos poll, 69 percent of Americans said they thought Trump's private business interests were influencing his presidential decisions. Former Republican strategist Sarah Longwell said the aim will be to tie what Democrats call corruption to the whole administration and to the Republican Party itself, with the 2028 presidential race already in view.

For the probes to land, oversight lawyers say the House will have to keep its demands narrow, move early on subpoenas and pick court fights it can win against a White House that can claim executive privilege. Companies cannot claim that privilege, one reason corporate targets sit high on the list.