Senior Democrats call for Trump tariffs investigationpublished at 18:59 British Summer Time 11 April
Six senior Democrats have written to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) , externalcalling for the body to look into “potential violations of federal securities laws” by US President Donald Trump.
“We urge the SEC to investigate whether the tariff announcements, which caused the market crash and subsequent partial recovery, enriched administration insiders and friends,” said the letter, signed by former presidential candidate and sitting senator, Elizabeth Warren.
The letter describes the recent tariffs imposed by Trump as “erratic” and “reckless” but adds that it is the president’s pausing of his so-called “reciprocal” tariffs plan that is the source of their concern.
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren led the letter-writing charge
“Our nation has strict laws to prevent insider trading and market manipulation”, it continues by saying.
“Yet before pausing the tariffs that threw markets into disarray, President Trump appears to have previewed his plans to do so on Truth Social”.
The group of senators urged the SEC to conduct an investigation into the tariff announcements and whether they benefited Trump or his affiliates.
The letter was also signed by Chuck Schumer, Ron Wyden, Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego and Adam Schiff, who additionally requested a response from the SEC by 25 April on whether there are plans to investigate the US president’s tariff actions.
