Senator Elizabeth Warren has launched a scathing attack on the private funding behind a lavish new ballroom at the White House, labelling the project a 'golden crime scene' and demanding a future Department of Justice investigation.
'Follow the Money': Calls for a Federal Probe
The top Democrat on the Senate banking committee issued a stark warning, stating that the next independent Department of Justice 'should investigate' the private donations that financed the construction. The project, which necessitated the demolition of the entire East Wing, now carries a staggering price tag of $300 million.
In a statement to the Guardian, Warren emphasised the need to 'follow the money' to determine if any laws were broken. She pointedly noted that the statute of limitations for federal bribery charges is five years, leaving a potential window for a future administration to launch a probe.
The Donors and the 'Pay-to-Play' Concerns
The administration recently disclosed a list of corporate donors to the project, revealing a who's who of influential industries. Major tech firms including Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Google were named. The list also featured defence contractors like Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, and Palantir, alongside telecommunications giants T-Mobile and Comcast.
Ethics experts have raised alarm bells, as many of these companies currently hold or seek significant government contracts and could benefit from favourable treatment. The situation was further highlighted last month when President Trump hosted a dinner for representatives and billionaire individuals who made substantial contributions.
Virginia Canter, chief counsel at Democracy Defenders Action, stated, "The highest office in the land should never be for sale, nor should it ever appear to be."
Legislative Action and Political Hurdles
In response, Senator Warren co-sponsored a new bill with Representative Robert Garcia called the Stop Ballroom Bribery Act. This bicameral legislation aims to impose strict donation restrictions on the project.
The proposed act includes several key measures:
- A ban on donations that present a conflict of interest.
- A two-year 'cooling off' period before a project donor can lobby the federal government.
- Forced disclosure of any meetings with the federal government within a year of a contribution.
- A requirement for Congressional approval of any foreign government donations.
Representative Garcia called it "outrageous" that the "people's house could be funded by shady figures, corrupt money, and bad actors." However, the bill faces a difficult path to becoming law, as it must pass through both Republican-controlled chambers of Congress.
This legislative effort is the latest attempt by Democrats to gain transparency. Last month, Warren sent a letter to the Trust for the National Mall, the non-profit managing donations, accusing it of being a vehicle for "politicised fundraising, influence peddling, and donor access." The Trust's president, Catherine Townsend, responded that her organisation merely manages donations and is not involved in solicitation or construction, adding that federal law prevents her from disclosing donor details to lawmakers.
