'We'll take the House in November': Democrats prepare sweeping probe of Trump's inner circle

US President Donald Trump disembarks Air Force One in Maryland on Sunday. [AFP]

House Democrats are gearing up for a sweeping investigation into President Donald Trump's political and business ties as the party eyes a majority takeover in November's midterm elections — with impeachment as a potential endgame.

Citing four sources, Reuters reported Sunday that senior House Democrats and committee staff have been discussing how to use hearings, subpoenas and document requests to obtain records from companies with financial or political ties to Trump.

If Democrats win control of the House in November, the plan calls for using investigative powers to scrutinize the administration's decision-making and determine whether Trump has used his office to benefit himself, his associates or his political donors.

The approach marks a deliberate departure from the party's strategy during Trump's first term, Reuters said, reflecting lessons learned from that period. Trump became the first US president to be impeached twice by the House during a single term, yet the Senate acquitted him both times, allowing him to remain in office. That experience has fueled a cautious faction within the Democratic Party, which argues that a premature impeachment push would drain congressional resources and hand Trump a ready-made narrative as a victim of partisan attacks.

A senior Democratic official described the thinking among party leadership and committee figures. "The purpose of starting this work is not impeachment," the official said. "Nobody wants a vote that fails on day one." The goal, the official added, is to "build evidence through investigations and use it to hold Trump accountable."

Republicans currently hold a narrow House majority, but polling suggests Democrats have a real chance of flipping it in November. Should Democrats take control, they would gain the power to issue subpoenas, compel testimony and document production, hold public hearings and pursue contempt-of-Congress proceedings against those who refuse to comply.

Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the ranking Democrat on both the House Oversight Committee and the Judiciary Committee. [AP]

Companies in Democrats' sights include Apple, Google parent Alphabet, Palantir, Blackstone, BlackRock, Tesla and other firms owned by Elon Musk, sources said. All have government contracts, face federal regulation or have had various dealings with the Trump administration.

However, sources said a final target list has not been set and no formal investigation has begun, and they declined to specify which issues would be examined. Reuters said it could not confirm any allegations of illegal conduct or wrongdoing against the companies named.

Two sources said investigators would look into Department of Homeland Security contracts, funding for a White House banquet hall Trump has pushed to build, corporate donors and alleged "pay-to-play" arrangements. Financial investment vehicles linked to Trump are also expected to come under scrutiny — particularly foreign sovereign wealth funds that have invested in companies connected to the Trump family, including 1789 Capital, a venture capital firm run by Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.

Letters sent by Democrats also sought information from media company Paramount Skydance about its dealings with the Trump administration and its pending merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. YouTube and parent company Alphabet received a separate request for information related to a $24.5 million settlement reached with Trump last September.

A senior Democratic aide said that if investigations turn up evidence meeting the threshold for impeachment, "we will not hesitate to move to the next step."

Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said Democrats would examine everything from "suspicious Defense Department contracts that lined the pockets of the president's sons, to Trump's multibillion-dollar virtual assets project, to backroom deals for Trump's donors." He added: "When Democrats take back the House in November, we will fight corruption."

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mokiya@heraldcorp.com