Washington Democrats are broadening their investigation into the circumstances surrounding President Donald Trump’s recent threat to impede the opening of the new Gordie Howe bridge linking Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit. California Representative Robert Garcia, the leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, and Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib penned a letter to Matthew Moroun on Wednesday, urging the owner of the nearby Ambassador Bridge to provide communications records with the Trump administration.
Moroun, whose family has controlled the Ambassador Bridge for many years, reportedly had a meeting with a member of Trump’s cabinet shortly before the president announced on social media his intention to halt the inauguration of the new bridge unless the U.S. received concessions from Canada, the sole financier of the over $6 billion project.
The Moroun family has consistently opposed the construction of the Gordie Howe bridge due to its potential impact on their toll revenue. Matthew Moroun has been a significant donor to the Republican party in recent times, and his company has allocated substantial funds to a prominent lobbying firm in Washington with close connections to Trump’s inner circle.
In their recent correspondence, Garcia and Tlaib highlighted Moroun’s political contributions, specifically requesting details on any financial dealings with the Trump campaign or the Republican party. The lawmakers expressed concerns that Moroun might have exploited his donor status to influence American commerce for the benefit of his company.
Despite their efforts, the Democrats on the committee lack the necessary Republican support to compel Moroun’s cooperation, given their minority status. Garcia has initiated an investigation and submitted a comparable records inquiry to the Trump administration. Additionally, Michigan’s congressional representatives urged the president to greenlight the opening of the Gordie Howe bridge this year as scheduled, emphasizing the potential economic advantages it would bring.
Moroun has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.