Democrats Plan Trump Investigations After Midterm Wins

Democrats won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the U.S. midterm elections held on Tuesday, November 4, 2026. With President Donald Trump still in the White House, the party does not expect major legislation to be signed into law. Instead, Democrats intend to use their new majorities to conduct extensive congressional oversight.

The party has been preparing for this possibility for two years. Staff members have already begun drafting lists of potential investigations and witnesses. Control of both chambers gives Democrats the power to issue subpoenas for testimony and documents, as well as additional funding to launch inquiries early next year.

“LAWYER UP.”

One major focus will be the administration's handling of and connections to the scandals involving Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender. Bipartisan congressional action previously forced the Trump administration to release extensive documents tied to federal investigations of Epstein's crimes, though Democrats say many records were improperly redacted or withheld. Lawmakers are expected to probe ties between Epstein and other powerful figures, including the president.

Democrats are also evaluating investigations into senior Trump administration officials and possibly the president himself. In 2018, when Democrats controlled only the House, committees quickly opened dozens of investigations into Trump's business dealings, his management of Russia-related inquiries, and possible conflicts of interest. The House later voted to impeach Trump in December 2019, but the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted him in February 2020.

This time, the Senate will also be under Democratic control. Representative Robert Garcia of California, expected to chair the House Oversight Committee, issued a statement saying "LAWYER UP." Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, referenced an October report in connection with the planned oversight work.