Senate Democrats Investigate Trump’s Campaign Money Request from Oil Industry

Senate Democrats say they will investigate former President Trump’s request for the oil industry to raise $1 billion in campaign money for him.

On Thursday, Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), chairmen of the Finance and Budget committees, respectively, announced that they would consider the request Trump made at a campaign event in Mar – a-Lago last month.

They asked eight energy companies and an industry lobby group for any materials that would be given to event attendees, any policy proposals discussed at the event, and donations made by the companies or their PACs.

The Washington Post, who first reported the request, said Trump told the companies it would be a “deal” for oil executives because of the tax cuts and relaxed regulations he would implement.

A source who spoke to The Hill said this comment was not framed as quid pro quo.

However, Whitehouse and Wyden, in their letter, accused the oil industry of “conferring on how to exchange campaign money for political change.”

A House Democrat recently announced a similar investigation, but with Democrats serving as the minority party in the House and the majority in the Senate, Wyden and Whitehouse will have more power to lead the investigation.

The American Petroleum Institute (API), the oil and gas lobbying group to which Democrats wrote, described the Democrats’ effort as an “election year stunt to divert attention from America’s need for more energy.”

“API meets with candidates and policymakers to discuss the need for sound energy policies, and this meeting was no different,” spokeswoman Andrea Woods said in a written statement.

“Our political priorities are clear – on our website; in speeches, statements and public events; in regulatory proceedings and litigation – and we will continue to advocate for policies that strengthen America’s energy advantage.”

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story