Washington Democrats are broadening their inquiry into the circumstances surrounding President Donald Trump’s recent threat to impede the opening of the new Gordie Howe bridge linking Windsor, Ont., and Detroit. On Wednesday, California Rep. Robert Garcia and Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, key Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, penned a letter to Matthew Moroun, requesting that the owner of the nearby Ambassador Bridge furnish records of any interactions with the Trump administration.
Moroun, whose family has maintained the Ambassador Bridge for generations, reportedly had a meeting with a member of Trump’s cabinet shortly before the president announced on social media his intention to hinder the inauguration of the new span unless the U.S. secured concessions from Canada, the sole financier of the over $6 billion bridge.
The Moroun family has a history of opposing the Gordie Howe bridge’s construction, foreseeing a negative impact on their toll revenue. Matthew Moroun has been a significant donor to the Republican Party in recent years, and the Ambassador Bridge company has invested substantial sums in a prominent lobbying firm in Washington with strong connections to Trump’s inner circle.
In their recent correspondence, Garcia and Tlaib targeted Moroun’s political donations, seeking information on any financial transactions he has engaged in with the Trump campaign or the Republican Party. The lawmakers accused Moroun of potentially leveraging his status as a Trump donor to compromise American commerce in favor of his company’s financial interests.
Despite the Democrats’ efforts, they lack the necessary Republican backing on the committee to enforce compliance from Moroun, as they are the minority. Garcia also disclosed the initiation of an investigation by his panel and submitted a similar information request to the Trump administration on Friday. The congressional delegation from Michigan similarly beseeched the president to greenlight the opening of the Gordie Howe bridge this year, emphasizing the anticipated economic advantages.
Moroun has not provided an immediate response to the request for comment.