WASHINGTON — In a recent escalation of their investigation into President Donald Trump's potential interference with the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, House Democrats are seeking correspondence between billionaire bridge owner Matthew Moroun and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. This inquiry arises following Trump's assertion on social media that the U.S. should receive compensation before he allows the opening of the bridge, which has been in the works for years.
Rep. Robert Garcia, the leading Democrat on the House oversight committee, expressed concerns regarding the influence of wealthy donors on U.S. policy. "President Trump’s wealthy donors should not be holding secret meetings with administration officials to influence economic and foreign policies that have real impacts on the American people," Garcia stated in a press release Wednesday.
The investigation began last week after Trump's social media remarks, which reportedly came after a meeting between Lutnick and Moroun, whose family controls the competing Ambassador Bridge. House Democrats allege that Moroun may have leveraged his influence as a major donor to threaten American commerce for the benefit of his business interests.
In their correspondence to Moroun, Democrats specifically pointed out, “It appears that you may have used your influence as a donor to President Donald Trump to jeopardize American commerce to protect your company’s bottom line." The letter condemns the notion of a wealthy donor opportunistically steering U.S. foreign and economic policy for personal gain.
Democrats are demanding a variety of documents from Moroun, including all communications related to his meeting with Lutnick, as well as any messages with the White House or Trump administration officials. Additionally, they are requesting any records of donations or payments from the Moroun family to Trump’s campaign and associated political action committees.
Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan representative, echoed these sentiments and criticized the Moroun family's longstanding historical influence. "For decades, the Moroun family has used their money and influence to enrich themselves at the expense of our neighbors in working-class communities in Detroit," she noted in the release.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Ontario to Michigan, has faced significant opposition from the Moroun family, which has a financial stake in the Ambassador Bridge. To move forward with the Gordie Howe project, Canada signed a deal with then-Republican Governor Rick Snyder in 2012, agreeing to cover construction costs to be recuperated through tolls. Ownership of the bridge is jointly held by Michigan and the Canadian government.
Surprisingly, Trump endorsed the bridge project during his first presidential term. Following the recent uproar over his comments, Michigan political leaders have expressed their support for the project’s timely opening. A letter signed by eight Democratic senators highlighted the bridge's importance as a vital conduit for international commerce, urging Trump to address trade relationships with Canada separately and ensure the bridge opens as scheduled later this year.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated that he had conversations with Trump after the social media post and is optimistic about finding a resolution to the situation.
The growing political backlash surrounding the Gordie Howe bridge project has left many Michiganders in disbelief, as they anticipated the opening of the bridge shortly. If the political dynamics do not change, the future of this important infrastructure project and its impact on cross-border trade could be at risk.
