House and Senate Democrats intend to investigate President Donald Trump and his allies over the administration’s handling of the Epstein files and allegations of corruption following the Democratic Party’s blue tsunami victory in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Speaking to several unnamed Democratic House and Senate staffers this week, NPR congressional reporter Eric McDaniel revealed that the Democrats intend to target Trump and his administration’s handling of the Epstein files — government files relating to the late Jeffrey Epstein, who was close friends with Trump for several years.
President Donald J. Trump calls the International Space Station from NASA Mission Control Center at the NASA Johnson Space Center, Friday, August 28, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)
Donald Trump at Oval Office Event Creative Commons Photo
Democrats have accused the Trump administration of illegally redacting and withholding government documents relating to Epstein and his crimes and have also accused the Department of Justice of protecting the president from allegations involving himself.
“In the new Congress, lawmakers are expected to probe ties between Epstein and other powerful figures, including the president himself,” McDaniel reported.
Investigation Could Implicate Members of Trump Family, Including Jared Kushner
House and Senate Democrats are also reportedly planning to investigate allegations of corruption in the Trump administration, which have been rife in Trump’s second term and could potentially implicate prominent members of the president’s family, including son-in-law Jared Kushner.
“In particular, Democrats highlight the president’s continued business interests, including Truth Social, a number of cryptocurrency projects and overseas projects involving his sons and powerful foreign investors,” wrote McDaniel, who added that Trump’s Iran war, ties to trillionaire Elon Musk, and controversial projects such as the White House Ballroom would also be investigated and scrutinized by Democratic lawmakers.
CNBC reported Wednesday that House Democrats also planned to bombard the president with a slew of bills in the New Year, ranging from healthcare and tariffs to congressional control and the Iran war.
Democrats Plan ‘Shock-and-Awe’ Legislative Bombardment in New Year
The New York Times described the plans as a “shock-and-awe legislative sprint” which Democrats intended to “demonstrate within hours of taking power that they are passing bills to deliver on their promises.”
Trump, as president, could simply veto such bills — and he has already threatened to do just that — but such an onslaught could bog him down in his final years in the White House and prevent him from working on his legacy.
Trump Could Opt to Work With Democrats as ‘Lame Duck President’
While the next two years could be a never-ending cycle of Democratic bills being swatted down by the Oval Office, Trump and the Democratic Party could instead come to an agreement to pass palatable legislation with the president’s support.
“I have a lot of friends that are Democrats,” boasted Trump this week, telling reporters he would be open to working together with the opposition to get “stuff done.”
In his second term, the president has already shown a willingness to work with Democrats, meeting with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on three occasions, during which he praised the Democrat and said they had much in common.
Newsweek senior editor Shane Croucher proposed such a path for the “lame duck president” in an analysis of the Republican Party’s midterm defeat, noting that there was “precedent” for Trump working with the other side and that he could use the situation to “buy back some affection from the voting public.”
“Trump can choose to be a lame duck fighting against the blue tide—or a lame Democrat that floats on it,” Croucher said.
Democrats Could Bide Their Time Until 2028 With Mountain of Dirt to Launch at GOP
Of course, with just two years left of Trump in the Oval Office, the Democratic Party could reject such an arrangement, preferring to keep the president at arm’s length as he experiences some of the lowest approval ratings of any president in history.
With the Republican Party in disarray, experiencing a messy civil war to determine the future of the conservative movement post-Trump, Democrats would then be well-primed to take the White House in 2028 — the majority of the GOP’s likely presidential contenders sullied by their history with Trump and his various scandals.
If House and Senate Democrats can dig up enough dirt on the Trump administration, especially regarding its handling of the Epstein files and allegations of corruption, the Republican Party would be even more likely to experience a significant blow in the next election.
About the Author: Charlie Nash
Charlie Nash is a journalist and author whose work has appeared in The Spectator, Mediaite, New Statesman, and the American Conservative, among other major publications. His reporting has been featured by The Washington Post, Fox News, the Daily Beast, MS NOW, NewsNation, Hannity, and more. You can follow Charlie on X at @CharlieNash and on LinkedIn.
