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US Politics

Democrats, poised to run Congress, vow wide investigations of Trump and his circle

The White House has long denied wrongdoing, and spokeswoman Lauren Bis says that if Democrats pursue "sham investigations," they are working against Americans.

Donald Trump in 2025
Donald Trump in 2025. Photo: Daniel Torok, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
16 news outlets reported this
Liberal8 outletsCorruption oversight pledges, balanced against voters' cost-of-living concernsCenter5 outletsOversight plans and Trump's stated openness to cooperationConservative3 outletsDemocrats' long target list and the pushback
Published 3 min read
Overview

Democrats won control of in Tuesday's elections. Leaders in and say the new majorities will give them power and bigger investigative staffs. They plan to examine what they describe as Donald Trump and his associates profiting at public expense.

The president and the White House have long denied wrongdoing. Rep. Robert Garcia of California, expected to lead the House Oversight Committee, posted "Lawyer up" on X. Among his five priorities are Trump family business dealings, the administration's handling of the Epstein investigation, and operations. Hakeem Jeffries, in line to be , has not ruled out a third attempt against Trump.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal said his panel wants to look at Trump real estate projects in the Washington area and crypto dealings with envoy Steve Witkoff. Sen. Ron Wyden, in line to chair the Finance Committee, lists banks he believes brushed aside warnings about Epstein's finances and drugmakers that gained from links to the administration. Rep. Jamie Raskin told MS NOW that Attorney General Todd Blanche could face impeachment hearings.

Sen. Chuck Schumer said Democrats should investigate but first bring costs down. White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said that if Democrats pursue "sham investigations and radical left policies," they are working against Americans.

Key figures
  • more than 100,000 voters surveyed in the AP Voter Poll — The Philadelphia Inquirer
  • About half of voters called government corruption "crucial" to their vote for Congress, per the AP poll — The Philadelphia Inquirer
  • roughly 4 in 10 voters who named the economy the top issue, per the AP poll — The Philadelphia Inquirer
  • about 3 in 10 voters who named the state of democracy the top issue, per the AP poll — The Philadelphia Inquirer
  • Seven in 10 voters who said Congress isn't doing enough to check presidential power, per Axios citing the AP poll — Axios

Three sides of the story

Liberal8 outlets

Corruption oversight pledges, balanced against voters' cost-of-living concerns

Axios frames the vow of subpoenas as a balancing act, since voters also want action on the cost of living. It quotes Jeffries saying Americans "don't want us to try and get even." The Philadelphia Inquirer runs the AP wire report, which opens with corruption topping voters' concerns and quotes Blumenthal on the "tentacles of corruption" and Schumer on Trump's "inside trades."

MS NOW leads with Raskin saying Blanche could face impeachment hearings and calling the Justice Department a "Department of Injustice." Mother Jones says voters ousted Republicans by "astounding margins" and looks at one exception: Rep. Henry Cuellar, charged in 2024 with taking bribes, which he denies. Trump pardoned him, and he may now chair a House Appropriations subcommittee.

Mother Jones quotes CREW's Donald Sherman urging Democrats not to give him a leadership post.

Center5 outlets

Oversight plans and Trump's stated openness to cooperation

Courthouse News carries the AP wire report, which says corruption topped voters' concerns and Democrats are preparing a vast oversight agenda. It includes the White House reply from Lauren Bis and Schumer's insistence that Democrats can legislate while investigating. Newsweek's lead is the choice facing Democrats between constant confrontation of Trump and the working relationship that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has built with him.

It quotes Trump saying "We're going to work with the Democrats," and a White House official warning about "crazed Democrats" and subpoenas. Forbes says Democrats in Congress and in Texas are already vowing to probe Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO, and looks at what the midterm wins mean for his fortune. NewsNation asks whether the Epstein files will be a top Democratic priority, noting that the Epstein investigation was among the issues on midterm voters' minds.

Conservative3 outlets

Democrats' long target list and the pushback

The New York Post names targets: Jared Kushner, Corey Lewandowski and Blanche. It says the Trump family's crypto venture is expected to be a primary focus. It gives space to a Justice Department spokesperson saying officials are "not afraid of threats from Democrats," a White House official's "crazed Democrats" warning, and a former Justice Department official, Brian Nieves, saying "Congressional power is not unlimited."

A second Post story says Democrats reportedly plan to question JPMorgan over Epstein, citing CNBC, and notes Wyden's "Subpoenas" post drew a "Let's f–king go" reply. Breitbart, citing a CBS News report, says Democrats pledge a probe of Trump's presidential library and quotes Sen. Elizabeth Warren saying "donors bankrolling his personal vanity project" will have to answer. The Washington Times runs the AP headline on the vow of major probes.

All sources: 23 articles from 16 outlets

Liberal (11)

Center (8)

Conservative (4)

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Congress

The US parliament: the Senate and the House of Representatives. A bill becomes law when both pass it and the president signs it.

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Midterm elections

US elections halfway through a president's four-year term. The whole House, a third of the Senate and many governors are elected. In 2026 Election Day is November 3.

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House of Representatives

The lower chamber of Congress: 435 members elected every two years, with more seats for bigger states. It is the chamber that can impeach officials.

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Senate

The upper chamber of Congress: 100 senators, two per state, elected for six years. It confirms judges and ministers and approves treaties.

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Subpoena

A legal order to testify or hand over documents, issued by a court, a prosecutor or a congressional committee. Ignoring it can be punished.

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ICE

Immigration and Customs Enforcement: the federal agency that arrests, detains and deports people who are in the US without legal status.

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Speaker of the House

The leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by its members, usually from the majority party. Second in line to the presidency after the vice president.

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Impeachment

A formal accusation against a top official, up to the president, voted by the House of Representatives. Only the Senate can then remove the official, with two-thirds of the votes.

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