Three top Senate Democrats are asking the White House to answer questions and turn over documents about President Donald Trump’s proposed ballroom project, which involved demolition of the mansion’s East Wing.
Environment and Public Works ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs ranking member Gary Peters (D-Mich.) are leading the probe, saying the panels share jurisdiction over the White House structure and its grounds.
A primary concern for the lawmakers is Trump relying on donations for the project, including Florida-based NextEra Energy and Continental Resources Chair Harold Hamm.
“By substituting transparent, appropriated federal funds with opaque private donations, you permit wealthy special interests to buy access to the President and influence over official decisions,” the Democrats wrote in a letter.
