Jeffries leaves door open to probing Musk as Democrats near power

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declined to commit to investigating Elon Musk, one of the most prominent allies of President Donald Trump, even as Democrats weigh broader corruption probes of the Trump administration after their midterm gains. Jeffries left the question open and said oversight decisions would rest with the lawmakers who are expected to lead the relevant committees.

Jeffries instead deferred to Rep. Jamie Raskin and Rep. Robert Garcia, who are positioned to chair the House Judiciary and Oversight committees if Democrats take control of the chamber. Raskin has said the Department of Government Efficiency, the initiative associated with Musk, warrants congressional investigation, though he has not laid out a specific plan. Garcia's committee would be central to any such inquiry, giving Democrats a direct path to subpoena power and document requests if they win the majority.

The oversight question comes as Jeffries prepares to seek the speakership. He is running for Speaker after the Democrats' midterm victory, but the caucus is divided over whether to back him. Democratic leaders have scheduled a House leadership vote for Nov. 18, to be held by secret ballot. Jeffries needs a simple majority of the caucus to be nominated, and the full House must then elect a Speaker with at least 218 floor votes, a threshold that will test whether the party can hold together once the ballot is cast in public.

The intra-party tensions extend beyond the House. Progressive senators-elect have called for replacing Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, and the senators-elect named in that push include Hamilton, Jackson and El-Sayed. Commentary on the fight has framed it as a contest between moderates and socialists within the party. Political analyst Matt Schoen argued that moderates, not progressives, drove the Democratic wins, while others, including Democratic voices urging an end to infighting, have pressed the party to concentrate on the first 100 days of the new Congress rather than on internal grievances.

Discipline is also under scrutiny. Several Democrats were absent during the vote on the impeachment resolution targeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a development that has raised questions about the party's ability to keep its members in line on high-stakes votes. The absences matter because Democrats will need near-unified attendance and support to advance their own agenda and to resist the Republican majority's priorities.

Money and messaging also shaped the campaign. Democrats spent heavily online to offset a cash disadvantage, a strategy that helped them compete in races where they were outspent. In Alaska, Mary Peltola was leading the Senate count, but the race had not yet been called, leaving one contest unresolved as the party plans its next steps.

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Derek Weston

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Derek Weston covers public affairs, politics, business, culture and daily news for Core Memo. The role focuses on verification, context, and clear explanations for readers.

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