WASHINGTON — Democrats are prepping aggressive investigations into the “Trump Crime Family” and will use their newfound subpoena power to attempt to drag President Trump’s inner circle before Congress.
Hours after their party’s blowout victories in the 2026 midterms, incoming Democratic leaders of House investigative committees name-dropped their intended targets, including Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, ex-Department of Homeland Security official Corey Lewandowski and Attorney General Todd Blanche.
House and Senate Dems are planning probes of Trump, his family and the administration officials for allegedly using elected office to enrich themselves or to shield themselves from legal scrutiny. A primary focus is expected to be the Trump family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial.
The president’s own sales of a Trump-branded memecoin, his son Don Jr.’s close relationship with a Russian oligarch who footed the bill for part of the Trump scion’s wedding last year and property deals involving the Trump Organization are seen as other avenues of investigation, The New York Times reported.
Leaders on panels leading the charge are also setting “crony” corporate leaders and associates of deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in their sights.
Weeks before the election, Kushner released a lengthy “fact check” that denied he had ever “taken a diplomatic action” while serving as envoy to benefit his private equity firm, Affinity Partners; himself; or “any investor.”
The Democratic committee leaders have also suggested targeting ex-Department of Government Efficiency chair Elon Musk for his dismantling of the US Agency for International Development last year.
Meanwhile, Trump has expressed little concern that the investigations will lead to a third impeachment of himself.
“I think it would destroy the Democrat Party if they did that — impeachment for no reason. What, for having a successful country?” he told reporters Wednesday.
Democrats were quick to give advice to those anticipating their subpoenas and other inquiries.
“Lawyer up,” said Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), who will be taking control of the powerful House Oversight Committee. Current Republican chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) will now become the panel’s ranking member.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the soon-to-be chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, called the investigations urgent. Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) will be making a run for House minority leader.
“The political and financial corruption driving the Trump presidency is a civic emergency,” Raskin said in a statement. “Congress has a responsibility to confront all this corruption directly—to expose it and take all steps necessary to crush it as quickly as possible.”
The Judiciary Dem noted that hearings with ex-Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem were followed “shortly after” by their firings in April and March, respectively.
“Our efforts in this Congress will continue and expand next Congress,” added Raskin. “We already have a strong team of investigators and experienced counsel engaged in this work, and that capacity will expand significantly in the Majority.”
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, vowed that the administration “will finally be faced with real oversight.”
“We will investigate the administration weaponizing DHS against Americans, its out-of-control immigration policies, and its blatantly corrupt self-dealing,” Thompson told The Post.
It’s unclear whether Thompson will pursue Lewandowski through the committee.
The Department of Justice is already looking into Noem’s deputy for allegedly abusing the contract process to benefit himself. Lewandowski has denied all wrongdoing.
Previously, Dem lawmakers had said Blanche would be in their crosshairs for a nearly $1.8 billion settlement fund reached with the IRS as a result of Trump’s 2024 suit involving the leaking of his tax filings. The AG reversed course after bipartisan backlash to the so-called “slush fund.”
Control of both chambers of Congress will give the committee leaders carte blanche to hold hearings with Trump officials and, when needed, issue them subpoenas to compel their appearance or force them to hand over documents critical to their investigations.
But that power has limits, according to Brian Nieves, a former senior Justice Department official who now advises clients on congressional investigations at the law firm Holtzman Vogel.
“Congressional power is not unlimited,” Nieves told The Post. “They can’t investigate just for the sake of investigating.”
Enforcing those subpoenas is another matter. If a witness defies one, the House can hold them in contempt — but it’s up to the DOJ to prosecute.
Nieves, a former Republican counsel on the House Judiciary Committee, said former President Biden’s DOJ “kind of sat on our letters, too,” adding: “There’s precedent for DOJ not taking action, especially on investigations that a lot of people deemed pure political theater.”
Not every Democrat wants investigations to come first, however. Senate Majority Leader-in-waiting Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urged colleagues to address cost-of-living issues first.
“Should we investigate? Yes,” Schumer said on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe” Wednesday. “Trump is the most corrupt president we have ever had by a lot. … So we have to pay some attention to that. But number one, get those costs down.”
“As the President has said, he’s willing to work with anyone to continue delivering victories for hardworking Americans,” White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said. “If Democrats choose to pursue sham investigations and radical left policies, they are choosing to work against the American people.”
A White House official, speaking on background, was blunter.
“If crazed Democrats want to abuse their power and politicize the process of investigations, subpoenas, and destroying lives, they should be reminded that we still control the federal government and all of its powers,” the official told The Post.
