Democrats target Trump's 'tentacles of corruption' as new Congress prepares sweeping investigations

Democrats are preparing to launch a series of sweeping investigations into President Donald Trump, his family and members of his administration after securing control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections, putting allegations of corruption at the centre of their legislative agenda.

Armed with subpoena powers and expanded committee resources when the new Congress takes office, Democratic leaders plan to scrutinise Trump's business dealings, cryptocurrency ventures, immigration operations and the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The Republican president and his White House have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

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The investigations will be led by senior Democrats in both chambers, with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become speaker, not ruling out a third impeachment attempt against Trump.

The push comes after corruption emerged as a significant factor in Tuesday's election, with roughly half of US voters saying government corruption was crucial to their congressional vote, according to The AP Voter Poll.

"Lawyer up," Democratic Representative Robert Garcia of California posted on X as election results began pointing to a Democratic victory on Tuesday night.

Trump family businesses, Epstein files and crypto deals in Democrats' crosshairs

Jeffries has tasked Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, with spearheading the oversight effort.

Garcia has outlined five investigative priorities, including the Trump family's business dealings, the administration's handling of the Epstein investigation and operations conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Other potential targets include the White House ballroom and construction projects linked to Trump, as well as the family's involvement in mineral deals, said Representative Jared Huffman of California, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee.

In the Senate, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who is expected to lead the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations under the Homeland Security Committee, wants to examine Trump's real estate projects in Washington and his cryptocurrency dealings with special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Witkoff, a longtime Trump ally, partnered with the president on the Trump family's cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial.

"The tentacles of corruption reach deep in this administration, and they have added costs to everyday Americans," Blumenthal told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

He also wants hearings on ICE raids, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Medicare plans that he says have restricted access to care for some patients.

Meanwhile, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, who is expected to chair the Senate Finance Committee, has identified banks' handling of financial transactions linked to Epstein and pharmaceutical companies' ties to the Trump administration as potential areas of investigation.

"When I am chair, they will be forced to answer to the Senate Finance Committee for their role in hurting the American people and enabling Trump's corruption," Wyden said in a statement on Wednesday.

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Democrats face challenge of linking corruption to cost of living

The election results suggest Democrats have a strong political mandate to pursue the issue. The AP Voter Poll, which surveyed more than 100,000 voters nationwide, found that about half considered government corruption crucial to their congressional vote. Most of these voters backed Democratic candidates in their local House races.

The findings also showed that roughly three in 10 voters identified the state of democracy as the country's most important issue, while about four in 10 placed the economy at the top of their concerns. Among voters who prioritised democracy, about eight in 10 supported Democratic candidates.

However, Democrats will have to ensure that their investigations do not overshadow the affordability concerns that helped drive their electoral gains.

White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis criticised the proposed inquiries, describing them as politically motivated.

"As the president has said, he's willing to work with anyone to continue delivering victories for hardworking Americans," Bis said on Wednesday. "If Democrats choose to pursue sham investigations and radical left policies, they are choosing to work against the American people."

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said his party could pursue investigations while continuing to work on issues affecting household budgets.

"Americans want us to clean up corruption in government," Schumer said. "No American should have to make tradeoffs at the supermarket while Trump is making inside trades on the stock market."

In his letter to Democratic lawmakers announcing his bid for House speaker, Jeffries said the change in congressional control would end what he described as the chamber's subservience to the administration.

"The days of the House functioning like a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump administration are over," he wrote.

"The massive corruption the country has experienced from the Trump Cartel explains why very little is getting done to help everyday Americans," Jeffries added, promising action against price gouging and support for a stock trading ban for lawmakers.

Democrats will also receive support from the Congressional Integrity Project, an advocacy group that previously focused on countering Republican investigations into former President Joe Biden's administration. The group is now shifting its attention towards helping Democrats connect alleged corruption within the Trump administration to its economic consequences.

"Corruption is not just corruption," said the group's senior adviser, Jack Miller. "It is costing taxpayers and costing Americans in their everyday lives."

(With inputs from Reuters)