US Democratic lawmakers press inspectors general to probe Trump officials
( February 18, 2026, 17:43 GMT | Official Statement) -- MLex Summary: Democratic US Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim have asked the inspectors general of 16 key agencies to investigate senior Trump officials who they say were recently lobbyists or “shadow lobbyists” and may be using their roles to benefit their former employers and clients. In a letter, also signed by Democratic Representatives Pat Ryan and Deborah Ross, they expressed concerns that lobbyists-turned-officials in the Trump administration, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, could be using their government roles to benefit their former clients. "Many of her previous firm’s clients have business before DOJ, and almost all of the clients that have paid Ballard to lobby DOJ in 2025, hired the firm after AG Bondi entered office. And in 2025, Ballard saw 'the most lucrative quarter ever reported by a lobbying firm'," the letter said. Ballard Partners also works as a lobbyist for Netflix and Paramount as those companies seek to merge with Warner Bros Discovery — and Bondi’s DOJ will decide whether to approve that merger, the letter said.See attached document. Statement follows....
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