This is the Democrat Party’s plan,
House Democrats are preparing an extensive slate of investigations involving President Donald Trump, members of his administration and his family if they regain control of the House of Representatives in the November midterm elections.
Several Democratic lawmakers have publicly outlined areas they want congressional committees to examine, offering voters an early look at how dramatically Washington could change if control of the House switches parties.
The potential investigations could touch everything from the Department of Defense and the Trump family’s business activities to immigration enforcement, the Jeffrey Epstein case and federal health policy.
And although Democratic leaders have not committed to another impeachment effort against Trump, at least one prominent lawmaker is refusing to rule out that possibility.
Democrats Prepare for a Possible House Takeover
Control of Congress will be one of the biggest questions facing voters in November.
Republicans currently control the House, allowing GOP lawmakers to determine committee leadership, investigative priorities and much of the chamber’s legislative agenda.
A Democratic victory would reverse that arrangement.
Democrats would gain control of powerful committees and the authority that comes with them, potentially including hearings, investigations and subpoenas involving the Trump administration.
Some Democratic lawmakers are already making clear where they would focus their attention.
Pentagon Could Face Immediate Scrutiny
Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado has identified the Department of Defense as one of his priorities.
Crow, who serves on both the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees, has alleged that the department suffers from corruption, incompetence and nepotism.
He has also called for scrutiny of reports involving defense spending and companies allegedly connected to the Trump family.
Those allegations should not be confused with established findings of wrongdoing. Any future congressional investigation would be tasked with examining the evidence behind such claims.
Crow also has a history with Trump’s previous congressional battles. During Trump’s first presidency, he served as one of the House impeachment managers.
That history makes Crow’s comments about possible future impeachment especially noteworthy.
Another Trump Impeachment?
When questioned about whether impeachment could return if Democrats regain the House, Crow declined to eliminate the possibility.
He characterized impeachment as one of several congressional mechanisms available for pursuing accountability and obtaining information.
That does not mean another Trump impeachment is certain.
In fact, impeachment resolutions introduced against Trump and administration officials during the current Congress have not attracted enough support among House Democrats to become a major caucus-wide effort.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has also repeatedly avoided committing his party to another impeachment campaign.
The more immediate possibility appears to be investigations.
For Americans who remember the political battles of Trump’s first term, however, even the prospect of another impeachment fight is likely to attract considerable attention.
Trump Family Business Dealings Could Be Investigated
Rep. Robert Garcia of California is another Democrat preparing for the possibility of a House takeover.
Garcia could become chairman of the House Oversight Committee if Democrats win the majority, putting him in charge of one of Congress’s most influential investigative panels.
He has already identified several subjects he believes deserve examination.
One is the business activity of the Trump family.
Garcia has also pointed to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation and activities involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security.
Corporate practices and federal health policy could receive attention as well.
That would give a Democratic-controlled Oversight Committee an investigative agenda extending across numerous parts of the federal government.
Jeffrey Epstein Case Could Return to Capitol Hill
Garcia’s reference to Jeffrey Epstein could prove particularly significant.
Questions surrounding the government’s handling of Epstein-related records have generated political attention across party lines.
A Democratic House majority could use committee hearings and document requests to pursue additional information concerning the government’s handling of the matter.
Exactly what such an investigation would uncover remains unknown, but Garcia has explicitly listed Epstein among the subjects he wants the committee to examine.
Jamie Raskin Eyes Trump Family and Administration
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland could play an equally important role.
If Democrats take the House, Raskin is positioned to lead the House Judiciary Committee.
He has already pursued information concerning business dealings involving Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and the president’s son Donald Trump Jr.
Raskin has also sought information involving FBI Director Kash Patel.
Raskin has accused members of the Trump family of conflicts of interest and self-dealing and says Democrats intend to follow the evidence through congressional investigations.
Those claims remain allegations and should be evaluated on the evidence produced by any investigation.
The Judiciary Committee’s broad jurisdiction means Raskin could become one of the central figures in Democratic oversight of the administration.
Republicans Warn Trump’s Agenda Could Be Stalled
Republicans see another danger in a Democratic takeover: legislative gridlock.
A change in House control would not simply determine who conducts investigations.
It would also determine which party controls committees, what legislation receives attention and how easily Trump can advance his agenda through Congress during the remainder of his presidency.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has previously warned that he believes Democrats would quickly pursue another impeachment effort if they regain power.
Democrats have not collectively committed themselves to doing so.
Still, extensive congressional investigations could consume substantial political attention even without impeachment.
Hearings, testimony, document demands and disputes over subpoenas could become a major feature of Washington if Democrats capture the chamber.
What This Could Mean for Americans
For voters, the consequences extend beyond another partisan fight in Washington.
Congress deals with issues directly affecting American households, including taxes, federal spending, Social Security and Medicare policy, immigration, national defense, energy and the broader economy.
A divided government can make major legislation more difficult to pass, particularly when the White House and House majority have sharply different priorities.
At the same time, congressional oversight is one of the legislative branch’s established functions, and Democrats argue that stronger investigations would provide necessary scrutiny of the executive branch.
Republicans contend that another round of Trump-centered investigations could distract Congress from legislation and revive the bitter political battles that characterized Trump’s first presidency.
The Midterms Could Reshape Washington
That leaves voters with a consequential decision in November.
If Republicans retain the House, GOP lawmakers will continue controlling its committees and investigative agenda.
If Democrats win, several lawmakers are already indicating that investigations involving Trump, his administration and his family would become major priorities.
Whether those investigations ultimately uncover wrongdoing cannot be known in advance.
Nor is another impeachment effort inevitable.
What is already clear is that a change in House control would dramatically alter the balance of power in Washington and give Trump’s political opponents considerably greater authority to investigate his administration.
With the midterms approaching, the emerging plans provide voters with a preview of what the next two years in Washington could look like — and why control of Congress matters far beyond Election Day.
