Democrats target Trump wealth, Epstein files, and White House projects in midterm plan

Democratic leaders are preparing a series of investigations into President Donald Trump's administration and personal business interests ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections. If they secure a majority in either chamber, the party intends to use expanded budget and staff resources to compel the White House to respond to congressional inquiries. This strategy aims to avoid the procedural deadlocks that characterized the impeachment battles of Trump's first term.

California Representative Robert Garcia, who is poised to lead the House Oversight Committee if Democrats win, has identified the Trump family's financial dealings as a primary target. Garcia told The Washington Post that the scale of the issues requires a full Democratic majority to manage effectively. Specific requests have already been made regarding Jared Kushner, who serves as an informal foreign policy adviser while also heading a private equity firm with ties to foreign governments. Inquiries will also examine whether crypto investments by the Trump family created channels for foreign influence.

The party is also moving to scrutinize the Justice Department's handling of documents related to financier Jeffrey Epstein. Democrats are investigating whether the department violated the Epstein Files Transparency Act by withholding or improperly redacting records. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer established a working group in February to review information that has been kept from the public. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a likely chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, noted that over 90 percent of voters believe the government has been corrupted. He emphasized that these probes must not distract from the immediate cost of living pressures felt by American families.

Democrats plan to examine what they describe as wasteful spending on presidential projects in Washington. This includes the troubled Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and a 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom. Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, said he would investigate whether proper approval processes were followed for the ballroom and whether donors received favorable treatment in exchange for funding.

While some members are wary of pursuing a third impeachment, others are targeting specific cabinet officials. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated at an October rally that Democrats intend to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Andy Kim, and Richard Blumenthal have demanded information regarding Pentagon loans and contracts awarded to companies associated with the president's son. Garcia has also sought records detailing the relationship between Donald Trump Jr. and Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev, who helped fund his May wedding in the Bahamas.

Anticipating delays and executive privilege claims from the White House, Democrats are planning to investigate private entities linked to the president. Daniel Goshorn, chief investigative counsel to Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee, said banks could provide information to Congress without the administration having to formally release it. White House lawyers have briefed agency leaders on how to handle subpoenas, advising officials to be careful with written communications. Democrats also intend to investigate pardons, including the reported $50 million earned by former Trump lawyer Alina Habba Mildon for helping secure a pardon for a Venezuelan family member and Trump's pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao.

The party has also set aside time to review the impact of private equity on healthcare and housing costs, as well as the taxation of data centers amid public concern over artificial intelligence. These economic issues are being balanced against the desire to hold the executive branch accountable for its financial interactions with the public sector.