Republicans block Democratic push for Trump Jr. subpoena

Republicans on the House Natural Resources subcommittee blocked a Democratic motion to subpoena President Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., over his support for critical mining companies.

President Trump’s administration is trying to rapidly increase production of critical minerals at U.S. Vulcan Elements, a rare earth magnet manufacturer that Trump Jr. supports. 1789 Capitalone received $620 million federal loan From the Ministry of Defense last year.

Democrats on the panel attempted to issue a subpoena to force the younger Trump to testify about the Vulcan agreement. The hearing, called by a majority of Republicans on the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee, was titled “Unlocking America’s Mineral Potential: The Critical Mineral Commodity Supply Chain.”

“We have given up on expecting Republicans to fulfill their responsibility to conduct oversight,” Rep. Maxine Dexter, the subcommittee’s top Democrat, said in introducing the subpoena motion. “Donald Trump Jr. has to answer whether the president’s son illegally profited from his father’s presidency.”

Dexter also includes Patrick Witt of the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital and Vulcan Materials Co. He called for CEO Ronnie Pruitt to be subpoenaed.

Trump’s family business ties expanded during his second administration, particularly with his sons Trump Jr. and Eric Trump’s investment activities were under intense scrutiny. Democrats have warned that companies they support could benefit financially from receiving lucrative contracts from the government their fathers run.

Republican subcommittee chairman Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., immediately adjourned the committee for about an hour after the motion. After returning, Gosar moved to table the subpoena request. The motion was tabled by a vote of 5-2. Republicans control the subcommittee 5-3.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., immediately moved to postpone the subcommittee hearing after the resolution was tabled.

Natural Resources Committee ranking member Jared Huffman, D-Calif., warned that the problem “will not go away.”

“You can make these moves, but you can’t hide, you can’t avoid responsibility,” Huffman said.

The subcommittee then adjourned by a vote of 5-2.