Democrats plan probes into Musk, Miller and major firms after Congress win

Two senior US lawmakers said on Sunday that billionaire Elon Musk, Stephen Miller—recently appointed White House chief of staff by President Donald Trump—and several major companies are likely to be targets of congressional investigations as Democrats take control of Congress in January.

Representative Jimmy Gomez of California and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who will chair the House Oversight and Senate Banking Committees respectively, pledged strict oversight in television interviews following the Democratic Party’s victory in the midterm elections.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated that Democrats would support efforts to hold Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accountable.

Gomez, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said investigations would focus on Musk’s involvement in federal workforce management last year and Miller’s role in Trump’s hardline immigration campaign.

He told CNN there is significant interest from congressional committees in hearing from Musk.

Warren said some companies should prepare for congressional scrutiny, without naming them. She told CBS: “If you’re making your profits by deceiving American families and defrauding investors, you’d better get ready for some serious investigations.”

Miller, whom Gomez described as the architect of a “horrific and unjust” immigration policy, has risen to White House chief of staff. Gomez argued that Miller is at the heart of key administration policy decisions, making him subject to oversight and investigation.

Officials and experts told Reuters that voters delivered a historic rebuke to Republicans in Tuesday’s midterms, but with Miller as White House chief of staff, the Trump administration is expected to maintain its tough stance on immigration and escalate cultural clashes without making concessions to a Democrat-controlled Congress.

The immigration crackdown, which included incidents where two federal officers killed individuals in Minnesota, has proven unpopular.

An October Reuters/Ipsos poll showed only 37% approved of Trump’s handling of immigration, down from 50% when he took office.

Jeffries, who will become House Speaker in January, said Democrats would support efforts to hold Hegseth accountable, a process that could lead to his removal.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who will leave Congress in January after losing a Trump-backed primary, said he would soon reintroduce articles of impeachment against Hegseth.

Jeffries voiced strong support for the move, telling ABC: “Pete Hegseth has to go,” citing the defense secretary’s oversight of Trump’s war on Iran launched in February, which led to higher gasoline prices. He added there is very strong backing for this decision.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Trump administration is ready to confront Democrats in Congress, calling some Democrats’ threats to target administration officials and allies “something we cannot tolerate.”

Blanche said: “If that’s what the incoming leadership wants, we’re ready... If you work in this administration, you have a lawyer. And that’s me.”