From Epstein to Immigration: Democrats Eye Trump Probes If They Win Midterms

House Democrats are preparing a broad investigation agenda targeting President Donald Trump, his administration and his family if the party retakes control of the chamber in November’s midterm elections.

The plans span Trump family wealth, immigration enforcement, the restructuring of federal agencies, prosecutions of political adversaries, foreign policy and the Epstein files, according to The Washington Post.

“There’s so much corruption and grift that it’s going to take the entire House on the Democratic side to do investigations appropriately,” said Rep. Robert Garcia of California, who could chair the Oversight Committee. “We are all talking.”

Trump Family Wealth

One of the most prominent lines of inquiry would examine whether Trump and members of his family have financially benefited from his presidency.

Garcia’s committee has tracked profits linked to cryptocurrency and foreign deals, estimating that Trump received $2.25 billion from foreign payments during the first year of his second term.

Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who could lead the Judiciary Committee, has also sought information on investment firms linked to Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.

Democrats could investigate whether companies backed by the president’s sons later benefited from federal contracts or favorable administration policies.

Other potential targets include Trump’s IRS settlement, paid access tied to Truth Social posts and Jared Kushner’s business dealings.

Pardons and Political Allies

Democrats are also considering scrutiny of pardons granted to fraud offenders with ties to Trump’s political network.

One case involves nursing home executive Joseph Schwartz, who spent nearly $1 million lobbying for a pardon before Trump granted clemency seven months after he was sentenced for defrauding the government of $38 million.

Rep. Jared Huffman of California is separately focused on energy and mining decisions that benefited Trump supporters.

He has highlighted a proposed $1.2 billion settlement with a German energy company that would require most of the money to be reinvested in a Louisiana liquefied natural gas project owned by a Trump donor.

“Trump is using the settlement fund as a slush fund,” Huffman said.

Immigration Enforcement

Trump’s immigration policies are expected to become another major investigative front.

Democrats are preparing to examine misconduct allegations involving immigration officers, the detention of lawful residents and U.S. citizens, deaths in detention centers and National Guard deployments to Democratic-led cities.

They are also interested in alleged problems involving spending and contracts under then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem.

The scrutiny follows an immigration operation in Minneapolis earlier this year that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens.

Federal Government Overhaul

Democrats also want to investigate Trump’s restructuring of the federal government and whether agencies are continuing to perform duties mandated by Congress.

Potential inquiries include mass firings carried out by the U.S. DOGE Service, the dismantling of USAID and the Education Department, efforts to reduce the childhood vaccine schedule, and the withholding of congressionally approved funds.

Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut said he would also examine the dismissal of intelligence officials whose assessments contradicted Trump.

“I’m going to go case-by-case with some of these people who lost their jobs,” Himes said.

Political Prosecutions and Foreign Policy

Democrats want to probe prosecutions they consider politically motivated, including cases involving former FBI director James B. Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Democratic lawmakers who told military personnel they could refuse illegal orders.

They are also considering investigations into the administration’s use of regulatory power against law firms, universities and corporations.

Foreign policy is another target.

Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York has questioned Trump’s reliance on Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for negotiations involving Iran, Israel, Russia and Ukraine.

He has pointed to a $500 million investment by investors tied to the United Arab Emirates in a cryptocurrency company run by Trump's and Witkoff's sons as a possible subject for scrutiny.

“What role does the State Department play in this?” Meeks said.

Epstein Files

Democrats also plan fresh hearings tied to Jeffrey Epstein and federal records concerning his crimes.

The issue became a major political confrontation after Trump reversed a campaign pledge to release files from an earlier federal investigation before congressional pressure forced the documents into the public domain.

Democrats are considering testimony from Epstein’s former associates as part of an effort to examine how his sex trafficking operation continued for years.

Trump and Epstein were friends before falling out in the mid-2000s. Authorities have not accused Trump of participating in Epstein’s criminal conduct.

White House Pushback

The Trump administration is already preparing for potential Democratic oversight.

The White House Counsel’s Office has briefed political appointees on handling congressional investigations, while the Justice Department has argued that Trump’s private attorneys could invoke executive privilege to avoid congressional questioning.

The White House has dismissed the planned inquiries as politically motivated.

“Democrats have no agenda to improve the lives of the American people, just plans to obstruct and baselessly target President Trump’s commonsense agenda,” spokesperson Olivia Wales said.

Some Democrats are also warning against overpromising.

Himes cautioned that the party could hurt itself if voters expect investigations to produce immediate consequences, citing the expectations surrounding Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation during Trump’s first term.

“We were in the terrible position of looking like we failed to deliver,” Himes said.