House Democrats launch probe of Trump's dinner with oil executives

[Mr. Sparkle]

Source: Washington Post

House Democrats are launching an investigation into Donald Trump’s meeting with oil executives last month at his Mar-a-Lago Club, where the former president asked the executives to steer $1 billion to his 2024 campaign and promised to reverse dozens of President Biden’s environmental policies. The probe comes after The Washington Post on Thursday first reported the fundraising dinner, where Trump said that giving $1 billion would be a “deal” because of the taxation and regulation the oil companies would avoid thanks to him, according to people with knowledge of the meeting, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a private conversation.

In letters sent Monday evening, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee asked nine oil executives to provide detailed information on their companies’ participation in the meeting. The Democrats voiced concern that Trump’s request at the dinner may have been a quid pro quo and may have violated campaign finance laws, although experts say his conduct probably did not cross the threshold of being illegal. Lawmakers sent the letters to the CEOs of Cheniere Energy, Chesapeake Energy, Chevron, Continental Resources, EQT Corporation, ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum and Venture Global. They also fired off a missive to the head of the American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry’s top lobbying arm in Washington.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, asked the executives to provide the names and titles of any company representatives who attended the Mar-a-Lago dinner, copies of any materials shared with the attendees, a description of any policy proposals discussed at the event, and a list of any contributions to the Trump campaign made during or after the event. Raskin also asked the executives to provide a copy of any draft executive orders or policy paperwork that their companies have prepared for Trump or his campaign. Politico reported that oil industry lawyers and lobbyists have drawn up executive orders for Trump to sign in a possible second term, including directives aimed at boosting natural gas exports and offshore oil drilling.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/05/14/trump-oil-executives-investigation-democrats/

[AZ8theist]

1. Democrats are not in charge of the House..

Other than sending a strongly-worded letter, what power to investigate do they have?

[Barry Markson]

3. Oh let them have their fun

It's not like they're doing anything else important.

[FBaggins]

4. That's about the size of it

They have the power to send a letter requesting information from the companies. The letter carries no weight beyond the likelihood that the next time the company testifies before the House, some Democrat will ask why they haven't responded by the deadline and they'll have to answer.

Some of those questions wouldn't be in bounds even if we were in the majority and issued a subpoena. They certainly aren't within the power of an individual congressman to demand.

IOW - it's a stunt. Likely an effective one since "he's in the back pocket of Big Oil" is going to be a commercial either way. Why not imply that he's soliciting a bribe?

[AZ8theist]

5. If it's soliciting a bribe, it's ANOTHER crime...

..refer it to the Justice Department.

Where maybe in 2038 they will look into it...

[FBaggins]

6. It isn't that either

It's just useful rhetoric

[twodogsbarking]

2. If he were in prison where he belongs it would help.