House Democrats are joining their Senate counterparts in pressuring the Treasury Department to hand over documents related to President Trump’s business ties to Russia, citing the possibility that Russian officials or mobsters might have “financial leverage” over the administration.
“The nearly constant stream of allegations about the president’s ties to Russian government officials, oligarchs and organized crime leaders raises serious questions as to whether such individuals may have financial leverage over the president and his administration,” Democrats on the House Financial Services Commitee said in a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Tuesday.
The Democrats requested that the Treasury provide available information relating to business relationships or transactions that Trump, the Trump Organization or Trump’s family might have had in Russia.
The letter was written by several top Democrats on the committee, including ranking member Rep. Maxine Waters of California, who has raised the topic of Trump’s impeachment several times.
In recent days, Democrats in the Senate have faulted the Treasury for not providing documents they have requested and have moved to slow Trump’s nominee for the top anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering position at the Treasury as a response.
Attorneys for Trump released a letter this month asserting that the president does not have business relationships with Russians beyond what has been disclosed.
The House Financial Services Democrats, however, noted that Eric Trump has said that Russians invest in Trump properties and claimed that there are other suggestions that Trump might have had more dealings with Russia than have been made public.
