Senate Democrats launch investigation into Trump's alleged 'quid pro quo' with oil executives

Senate Democrats have launched an investigation into recent reports that Donald Trump offered oil executives the chance to reverse some of President Joe Biden's climate policies during the former president's re-election in exchange for campaign contributions.

The chairmen of the Senate Finance and Budget committees announced in a joint statement Thursday that they had sent letters to nine oil companies, including ExxonMobile and Chevron, requesting additional information regarding a fundraiser at which Trump allegedly asked in exchange for $1 billion in campaign contributions. for promises of political changes to benefit their companies.

The committees are seeking “descriptions of policy proposals discussed” and “materials distributed to all participants” at the event. Last week, the House Oversight Committee made a similar request to these companies.

“Time and time again, Mr. Trump and the American oil and gas industry have proven that they are willing to shortchange Americans to line their own pockets,” said Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island. in a press release. “And now, emboldened by impunity, Mr. Trump and Big Oil are displaying for all to see their indifference to the economic well-being of American citizens, discussing how to trade money from campaign against political changes. Such potential abuses must be closely examined.

The congressional investigation follows an exclusive Washington Post report earlier this month that detailed an April fundraising event at the former president's Mar-a-Lago resort. There, sources familiar with the meeting told The Post, an executive expressed frustration with current environmental regulations and said he had spent $400 million lobbying the Biden administration.

In response, Trump reportedly promised that in exchange for a billion-dollar contribution to his re-election campaign, he would reverse certain climate policies, including ending the Biden administration's pause on approving several liquefied natural gas export projects underway “from day one,” according to the Post.

The committees are seeking information on any donations made by the company since January 2023 to the Trump 2024 campaign or any other political organization supporting his re-election efforts. The presidents also demanded copies of any “draft executive orders” or “other policy-related documents that were created for the purpose of potentially being used by a possible Trump.”

Trump's campaign criticized the investigation Thursday and sought to contrast the former president's climate agenda with that of Biden, whom it accuses of being “controlled by environmental extremists who are trying to implement the energy agenda the most radical in history.

“President Trump is supported by people who share his vision of American energy dominance aimed at protecting our national security and lowering the cost of living for all Americans,” the spokesperson told CNN. Trump campaign, Karoline Leavitt.

During his first term, Trump rolled back more than 100 environmental rules and measures put in place by the Obama administration. The Biden administration spent much of its term undoing Trump's actions and passed stricter regulations on global warming pollution from vehicles, power plants and the oil and gas industry.

Trump promised that if re-elected, he would reverse these actions and boost fossil fuels and oil and gas drilling.

CNN's Morgan Rimmer, Kate Sullivan, Ella Nilsen and Jeremy Herb contributed to this report.

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