Democrat push to investigate Trump World raises possibility he will follow Biden’s pardon lead
By naming the officials and companies they plan to investigate, Democrats may have given Trump a ready-made list for preemptive pardons, the same tool Biden used to protect his son, Fauci and others, though a pardon wouldn’t stop congressional investigations or state charges.
Immediately after winning control of the House and Senate, Democrats took to social media to announce they would be issuing subpoenas against anyone and everyone associated with President Donald Trump and his administration.
By expressly naming many of their targets, Democrats may have given Trump a list of people and corporations to preemptively pardon, just as former President Joe Biden did with his son, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and other top officials.
PBS reported that Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has outlined five priorities, including Trump family business dealings, the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
uncertain
Garcia → investigate → investigation
Trump says Biden's pardon spree set a precedent he may follow
Trump in October told reporters that he would consider preemptively pardoning members of his staff, citing the Biden pardons.
uncertain
he → say → pardons
"It's not something I'm thinking about now, but based on Biden, I can do whatever I want, because he certainly pardoned a lot of people.
asserted
he → think → people
He pardoned everybody of note," Trump said.
asserted
Trump → pardon → note
He also told conservative commentator and New York Post columnist Miranda Devine on the “Pod Force One” podcast prior to the election that he would pardon Elon Musk and others if Democrats targeted them.
"If they do it, we'll just have to protect those people," Trump said.
asserted
Trump → tell → people
On Biden’s last day in office, Fauci and others received a full and unconditional pardon covering any offenses they may have committed between January 1, 2014, and January 19, 2025.
uncertain
they → receive → January
Despite saying for months he would not do so, in December 2024, Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, for any alleged offenses committed between those same dates.
asserted
Biden → say → dates
Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., said at the time that “The scope of pardon is breathtaking, encompassing all of Hunter’s activities over the last 11 years [...] a result of this pardon, Hunter cannot be prosecuted for any potential criminal activity related to Ukraine, China or any lobbying activities that enriched the Biden crime family."
asserted
that → say → family
Trump could do the same, using the list Democrats have laid out in the past week.
uncertain
Democrats → do → week
Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., named multiple past and present members of Trump’s administration for potential prosecution, writing on X, "Noem, Markwayne, Miller, Homan, Bovino, what’s up?
asserted
what → name → X
“We need to be laser-focused on the pain points," libertal think tank says
On Thursday, The Washington Sun reported that Democrats are reviewing a plan to investigate corporations, including tech, energy, and health care firms.
asserted
Democrats → need → firms
In particular, Democrats plan to investigate Amazon, Walmart, and companies allegedly tied to the Trump administration.
uncertain
Democrats → plan → administration
“Trump’s Qatari jet, his ballroom, the Reflecting Pool renovations — those take a lot of Beltway energy that is not interesting or motivating to anybody but hard-core Democrats who already hate Trump,” said Alex Jacquez, senior vice president at Groundwork Collaborative, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public policy think tank and progressive advocacy group.
asserted
Jacquez → take → Collaborative
The Washington Sun also reported that senior congressional Democrats have been studying a 181-page dossier produced by Groundwork Collective that identifies hundreds of executives and companies for them to investigate after they take control of the House and Senate next year.
asserted
they → report → House
“We need to be laser-focused on the pain points and the corporations people blame for jacking up their prices, and that means using the tools of Congress to confront them,” Jacquez said.
asserted
Jacquez → need → them
During a news conference on Wednesday, Garcia claimed “the amount of grift and corruption” by the Trump family has been “unprecedented.”
asserted
amount → claim → family
"You have Don Jr., whose wedding is being paid for by a Russian oligarch.
asserted
wedding → have → oligarch
You have Jared Kushner, who got $2 billion from the Saudis when he left the White House," Garcia said, according to NBC Los Angeles.
uncertain
Garcia → have → NBC
The president's son held his May wedding on an exclusive island in the Bahamas, and ABC News noted that the oligarch Umar Kremlev only covered a portion of the wedding costs.
uncertain
oligarch → hold → costs
Garcia also singled out former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, aide Corey Lewandowski, and Trump’s soon-to-be chief of staff, Stephen Miller.
asserted
Garcia → single → staff
Musk in the Democratic crosshairs
Elon Musk has also been a major target for Democrats ever since he came out as a conservative several years ago.
asserted
he → come → conservative
Politico reported in October that Democrats were considering investigations into Musk’s handling of the Department of Government Efficiency and government contracts his businesses were awarded.
asserted
businesses → report → Efficiency
Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., took to social media to say Monday that “Elon Musk waved a chainsaw on stage and laughed while he fired public servants and gutted the services Americans rely on,” adding that Musk “must answer for it under oath.”
If Trump pardons anyone, such pardons would only apply to federal charges.
asserted
pardons → take → charges
It wouldn’t stop Democrats from tying up members of his administration in investigations, nor would it apply to any state crimes that Democrats throw at them.
asserted
Democrats → stop → them
The Aporia
