Democrats are poised to launch sweeping investigations into President Donald Trump's alleged corruption and abuses of power if they regain control of the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections, according to legal experts and lawmakers. The inquiries would target what critics describe as a "target rich" environment of scandals, including a proposed $1.8bn "anti-weaponization" slush fund, weaponization of the Justice Department, and Trump's lucrative cryptocurrency ventures.
Raskin Leads Democratic Charge
Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has already initiated several probes and is expected to assume the chairmanship if Democrats win the majority. Raskin characterized the situation as a "civic emergency," stating, "The political and financial corruption driving the Trump presidency is a civic emergency. 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."
Raskin's ongoing investigations include scrutiny of the $1.8bn slush fund, which he says provides "total and permanent immunity from all tax and legal matters" for the Trumps. He also cited probes into "the weaponization of the Department of Justice against chosen enemies in the nonprofit world; the comprehensive Epstein human trafficking cover-up; rampant violations of the foreign emoluments clause and legal conflicts of interest by the president, Jared Kushner and other senior officials; and the theft and waste of public resources by Trump and his cabinet of corruption."
Ex-Prosecutors and Legal Experts Weigh In
Former federal prosecutor Ty Cobb, who served as special White House counsel during Trump's first term, said Trump's corruption "dwarfs that of any other president," comparing it to "Fort Knox versus a child's piggy bank." Cobb highlighted the $1.8bn slush fund as "criminal conduct" and urged investigations into Trump's stock trades, which reportedly ranged from $220m to $750m, including shares in Nvidia and other government contractors. He also pointed to a $400m plane from Qatar and a $500m investment from the UAE in Trump's World Liberty Financial crypto venture.
Former US attorney Barbara McQuade, now a law professor at the University of Michigan, identified multiple areas for investigation: "Trump's acceptance of emoluments, such as the plane from Qatar, his solicitation of donations for his ballroom from government contractors, and the apparent cottage industry that has developed around the pardon power are all worthy of investigation." She also cited the administration's "apparent abuse of the justice department to attack enemies, such as ex-FBI director James Comey, New York AG Letitia James, former Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell."
Historical Context and Republican Opposition
Harvard professor Steven Levitsky, coauthor of How Democracies Die, said Trump's actions involve "large-scale attacks on the constitution and the rule of law... When a leader abuses his power, attempts to steal an election and sells out to foreign governments, he needs to be investigated." However, he noted potential divisions among Democrats on how aggressively to proceed, as "many top Democrats were not trained for hardball or authoritarian politics."
Some Senate Republicans, including Thom Tillis of North Carolina, have sharply criticized the $1.8bn slush fund. Former GOP Representative Charlie Dent predicted Democrats would "take a run at a number of issues," including DOJ weaponization and Trump's business deals, adding that "the judiciary committee will have a field day with the prosecutions."
Trump's Defenses and Potential Backlash
Trump and the White House have denied conflicts of interest, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that "neither the president nor his family have ever engaged or will ever engage in conflicts of interest." Trump himself attributed his $2bn income in 2025 to a rising stock market, saying, "I'm profiting, because the stock market's going up... Everybody's profiting."
Trump has acknowledged the stakes, telling Republican lawmakers at a January retreat, "You gotta win the midterms, because if we don't win the midterms, it's just gonna be... I mean, they'll find a reason to impeach me." Legal analysts warn that Trump is likely to fight back hard, potentially refusing to cooperate with congressional oversight. Former DOJ inspector general Michael Bromwich cautioned that "one major question is whether this administration will shatter yet another norm – and simply refuse to submit to congressional oversight."
Former Federal Election Commission general counsel Larry Noble summed up the challenge: "If the Democrats take the House, they will have a number of investigative tools. I have little doubt, however, that Trump will use the powers of his office, real and imagined, as well as the efforts of those in Congress and the courts who seem too willing to do his bidding to fight back. Self-preservation is way above the preservation of our democracy as his guiding principle."
