Trump had asked for $1 billion in campaign contributions when he met with the executives in April, The Hill reported last month.
The former president reportedly described the donations as a “deal” and said in a second term he would unwind Biden administration regulations on industry, according to The Washington Post, which first reported the request.
A person with knowledge of the meeting confirmed the request to The Hill but denied it involved a quid pro quo agreement.
The chairs of the Senate Budget and Finance committees have also announced a joint investigation into the meeting.
Budget Chair Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) called it the “definition of corruption.”
“We cannot have government officials making important policy as a result of corrupt exchanges that benefit them, rather than what is in the interest of the American people. That’s why the law is clear that a request for a benefit, including campaign contributions, in exchange for an official act is a bribe,” CREW President Noah Bookbinder said in a statement.
“Donald Trump’s actions here follow a pattern of Trump opening himself up to corrupt influence, courting conflicts of interest, and using official positions to enrich himself–and in this case may run afoul of the criminal law.”
The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.
The Hill’s Zack Budryk has more here.
