Trump Touted The Deal to Bring Russian Diesel. Democrats Are Getting Ready To Investigate it.
Democrats are laying the groundwork for a potential congressional investigation into President Donald Trump‘s agreement to bring Russian diesel to global markets, asking major banks and port authorities to preserve records related to possible transactions.
The request signals that any inquiry could extend beyond the White House to financial institutions and ports that might help move Russian fuel. Democrats say investigating the arrangement would be a priority if they regain control of either chamber of Congress in the November midterm elections.
In a letter obtained by Axios, seven lawmakers warned that importing Russian diesel into the United States raises legal questions and could lead to lawsuits and congressional investigations. They also urged the recipients not to facilitate transactions involving Russian diesel under the administration’s recent sanctions waiver.
The lawmakers sent the letter to JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citi, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, as well as the port authorities for Houston, Beaumont and Corpus Christi in Texas, and New York and New Jersey.
They asked the recipients to retain contracts, purchase orders, invoices, shipping documents, vessel records, customs paperwork and payment records involving proposed or actual Russian diesel transactions. They also sought communications with suppliers, shipping companies, intermediaries and U.S. government officials.
Trump announced the agreement with Moscow earlier this month as the administration sought to address a global diesel shortage and rising fuel prices. The Treasury Department issued a sanctions waiver to help enable Russian diesel sales. Trump has said the arrangement will bring prices down.
The lawmakers contend that U.S. imports would conflict with a bipartisan 2022 law that generally prohibits Russian oil, gas and petroleum products from entering the country. Their letter says the law permits imports only after a congressional consultation period and presidential certifications concerning Russia’s conduct toward Ukraine and NATO.
They also argued that purchases of Russian diesel could help finance Moscow’s war against Ukraine. The Treasury Department has maintained that the agreement is legal. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers dismissed the proposed scrutiny, saying Democrats had “no agenda to improve the lives of Americans” and would continue investigating Trump, according to Axios.
For now, it remains unclear how much Russian diesel, if any, will arrive in the United States. Shipping reports have identified tankers that signaled U.S. destinations, but a vessel’s declared destination can change before it reaches port.
