Democrats in Washington are broadening their investigation into the circumstances surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat to obstruct the debut of the new Gordie Howe bridge linking Windsor, Ont., and Detroit. California Representative Robert Garcia and Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib penned a letter to Matthew Moroun on Wednesday, urging the owner of the nearby Ambassador Bridge to provide records of any interactions with the Trump administration.
Moroun, whose family has managed 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 impede the opening of the new bridge unless the U.S. received concessions from Canada, the bridge’s full financier.
The Moroun family has consistently opposed the construction of the Gordie Howe bridge due to potential toll revenue losses. Matthew Moroun has been a significant Republican donor recently, and the Ambassador Bridge company has invested millions in a prominent Washington lobbying firm with close ties to Trump’s inner circle.
In their correspondence on Wednesday, Garcia and Tlaib focused on Moroun’s political contributions, requesting information on any financial transactions with the Trump campaign or Republican party. The lawmakers accused Moroun of leveraging his donor status to jeopardize American commerce for his company’s benefit.
Despite their efforts, the Democrats on the committee lack Republican backing to compel Moroun’s cooperation as they are the minority. Garcia initiated the committee’s inquiry and submitted a similar records inquiry to the Trump administration on Friday. Michigan’s congressional representatives also urged the president to allow the opening of the Gordie Howe bridge this year, emphasizing its anticipated economic advantages.
Moroun did not respond immediately to a request for comment.