35 Congress Members Urge DOJ to Probe Trump Dinner for Foreign Influence

More than 30 members of the US Congress have called for the Department of Justice to investigate a controversial dinner hosted by Donald Trump. The event, which took place at Trump National Golf Club in Washington, DC, was attended by key investors in the $TRUMP memecoin. The lawmakers have raised concerns about potential foreign influence and violations of the US Constitution's emoluments clause, which prohibits US presidents from receiving foreign state gifts without Congressional approval.

On May 22, 35 members of Congress signed a letter to the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section, urging an investigation into whether the dinner violates federal bribery laws or the Constitution’s emoluments clause. The lawmakers cited that several attendees were likely foreign nationals connected with crypto exchanges, raising questions about possible covert foreign influence in US politics. The letter warned that the $TRUMP memecoin invites foreign governments to buy their way in with the President.

The event was met with protests led by Senator Jeff Merkley, with protesters holding signs like “illegal crypto party.” Some guests wore masks over their faces, but notable attendees included Tron creator Justin Sun and other Trump allies. Calls for Trump to release the guest list before the event were made, but no list was released at the time of the news.

The controversy surrounding the dinner comes at a time when Congress is debating significant crypto legislation, such as the GENIUS Act, which regulates stablecoins. Democratic lawmakers have advanced new crypto legislation to restrict political crypto ties, with Rep. Maxine Waters suggesting bans on crypto access for top US officials and their relatives. Senators also plan to amend the GENIUS Act to encompass Trump’s connection with World Liberty Financial—a family-funded crypto platform and issuer of the USD1 stablecoin.

The dinner has been criticized for inviting foreign influence over US policy decisions and raising potential corruption and emoluments clause violations. Senators have expressed concerns that the event could open a channel for bribery, allowing anonymous investors to influence US policy without public scrutiny. One senator described the event as "the Mount Everest of American corruption," highlighting the severity of the concerns.

The event has also been criticized for its potential to undermine the integrity of US policy decisions. Critics have argued that the dinner could allow foreign investors to gain undue influence over US policy, potentially compromising national security and the integrity of the democratic process. The event has been described as an "orgy of corruption," with some attendees admitting that they were trying to buy influence.

The call for a Department of Justice investigation comes as lawmakers continue to express concerns about the potential for corruption in the cryptocurrency industry. The industry has been criticized for its lack of regulation and transparency, which has made it a target for fraud and corruption. The dinner hosted by Trump has only added to these concerns, with lawmakers calling for greater oversight and regulation of the industry.