Democrats in Congress are already drawing up the investigations they would open if they win the House or the Senate in next week’s midterm elections, according to the BBC. Staffers have begun assembling lists of possible inquiries and witnesses, and the party has identified four broad areas it would pursue first.
The first and most prominent target is money. Democrats have said lucrative deals connected to the Trump family’s business empire would lead any initial round of inquiries, the BBC reported. Items under consideration include ties between the administration and corporate entities, particularly cryptocurrency firms, the international business dealings of Jared Kushner, the $400 million aircraft gifted by Qatar to serve as Air Force One, and multimillion-dollar defence contracts awarded to firms linked to the Trump family.
The second area is immigration enforcement. Senior Democrats, including Robert Garcia, the California Democrat in line to lead the House Oversight Committee if the party retakes the chamber, have identified it as a key priority, according to the BBC. Potential inquiries would examine allegations of misconduct by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during raids across the country.
The third area is the war with Iran, which began in February, and the record of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Democratic lawmakers have vowed to examine civilian casualties, munitions shortfalls, spending, and claims that troops and facilities were poorly prepared, the BBC reported. The Pentagon has pushed back: press secretary Kingsley Wilson called Hegseth a transformative leader and said the department was better under his leadership by every measurable metric.
The fourth area, and the most divisive inside the party, is whether to attempt to impeach Trump for a third time. Some Democrats, such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, support the idea, citing what they view as an unauthorised war with Iran and other alleged impeachable offences, according to the BBC. Others urge caution, arguing that conviction in the Senate would require a two-thirds vote and that the party has not agreed on a single reason to launch proceedings. The White House has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and spokesperson Olivia Wales said the president was focused on keeping Republican majorities in Congress.
Source: BBC News
