Senate Democrats probe Trump’s campaign cash request to oil industry

Senate Democrats have said they will investigate former President Trump’s solicitation of $1 billion in campaign contributions from the oil industry.

On Thursday, Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Ind.), the chairs of the Finance and Budget committees, announced they would investigate a request made by President Trump at a campaign event at Mar-a-Lago last month.

They called on the eight energy companies and industry lobbying groups to disclose materials distributed to event attendees, policy proposals discussed at the events, and donations made by the companies and their PACs.

Washington Post, The Journal, which first reported on the request, said Trump told oil executives it was a “deal” to get them to implement tax cuts and deregulation.

Sources who spoke to The Hill said the comments were not made with any quid pro quo in mind.

But in their letter, Whitehouse and Wyden accused the oil industry of “discussing ways to exchange campaign contributions for policy change.”

House Democrats recently announced a similar investigation, but because Democrats are in the minority in the House and the majority in the Senate, Wyden and the White House have more power to conduct an investigation.

The American Petroleum Institute (API), the oil and gas lobbying group to which the Democrats sent the letter, called the Democrats’ effort “an election-year ploy to distract from America’s growing energy needs.”

“API meets with candidates and policymakers to discuss the need for sound energy policy, and this meeting is no exception,” spokeswoman Andrea Woods said in a statement.

“Our policy priorities are clear on our website, in speeches, statements, public events, regulatory filings and court records, and we will continue to advocate for policies that strengthen American energy dominance.”