After campaigning on affordability, Democrats outline plans to investigate Trump admin

After campaigning heavily on affordability and healthcare ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms, Democratic lawmakers preparing to take control of Congress in January are outlining plans to launch sweeping investigations into President Donald Trump, his family, and administration officials.

Their plans include hearings and possible subpoenas, though lawmakers say they will also pursue legislation to lower costs.

Speaking on MS NOW’s “The Last Word” Nov. 5, Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., who is expected to chair the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, warned that members of what he called the “Trump crime family” who are “grifting off the American public” should “lawyer up.”

He extended the warning to people he accused of corruption and inhumane treatment in Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Department of Homeland Security operations, as well as CEOs and corporations he alleged were “colluding” with the Trumps and “ripping off the American people.”

“The reality is that the American public, at this moment, are focused on ensuring that we have both affordability and accountability,” Garcia said. “There must be justice for the enormous harm that the Trump crime family, that folks like Corey Lewandowski and Kristi Noem have done, and the CEOs that are taking advantage of people and stealing people’s data.” 

He added that there must also be justice for survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse.

“And so at this moment, we are excited and putting together a robust oversight agenda that’s going to take a look at those four issues on day one,” Garcia said.

Asked about Democratic voters who want lawmakers to concentrate on legislation, Garcia said the party could pursue both priorities.

“We can do both,” he said. “We have to focus on affordability because that’s what we got elected to do.”

In a separate PBS NewsHour interview Nov. 5, Garcia said Trump family financial dealings would be his first investigative priority. He also said lawmakers had questions about Elon Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency, including its handling of personal data and cuts to the federal workforce.

Garcia said another effort to impeach Trump was not on House Democrats’ incoming agenda, though he anticipated efforts to impeach War Secretary Pete Hegseth if Hegseth did not resign.

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Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., similarly emphasized investigations during a Nov. 5 CNN interview. She said Democrats are “without a doubt” focused on accountability after being asked by host Audi Cornish whether she agreed with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., that impeachments and investigations should “take a back seat to legislation.”

“There is rampant chaos and corruption from this criminal enterprise in the White House. They have self-enriched on the taxpayer dime, and we will be investigating,” Underwood said, promising depositions, hearings, and potential subpoenas to examine the administration’s use of taxpayer dollars.

Underwood argued that the election results showed Americans are “fed up” with the Trump administration and said lawmakers must pursue both affordability legislation and oversight.

“We have to have a legislative agenda focused on affordability, and then use our Article I oversight power to do the accountability work,” Underwood said, adding that the “whole Cabinet should get ready.”

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Democrats are also preparing to scrutinize fundraising for Trump’s planned presidential library in Miami. The library foundation, run by Eric Trump and Michael Boulos, is raising private donations for the project, which would occupy land donated by Florida. 

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., has accused contributors of potentially using donations to buy influence with the administration.

“The donors bankrolling his personal vanity project will have to answer to a new majority in Congress,” she said in a Nov. 5 CBS News interview, arguing that “giant corporations and foreign governments should not be able to buy influence in Washington with donations to the president’s library” and pledging to investigate.

>> Eric Trump releases first renderings of Trump presidential library in Miami <<

The foundation aims to raise nearly $1 billion by the end of 2027, as Zeale News previously reported. Eric Trump unveiled renderings in March showing a waterfront skyscraper with the President’s name across its facade, a presidential aircraft, and replicas of White House spaces.