Democratic Lawmakers Request Review of Howard Lutnick’s Possible Conflicts
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Democratic lawmakers are requesting an investigation into whether Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick promoted AI data center projects benefiting his family.
A group of Democratic legislators has formally requested that the Commerce Department's inspector general investigate potential conflicts of interest involving Secretary Howard Lutnick. The request centers on whether Lutnick improperly promoted artificial intelligence data center projects in a way that could financially benefit his family.
Twenty-five members of the House and Senate, spearheaded by Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Representative Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, signed a letter to acting inspector general Duane Townsend. The letter, delivered on Thursday, urges an examination of concerns highlighted in a recent New York Times report. That report explored the relationship between Lutnick's actions as Commerce Secretary and the business activities of his former companies.
Lutnick previously transferred his stake in a network of companies operating under Cantor Fitzgerald L.P. to his two eldest sons. These sons, along with their two younger siblings, now possess a controlling ownership stake in those companies.
The lawmakers' letter emphasizes the significant energy demands of AI data centers, which are driving up utility costs for households and businesses across the nation.
According to the letter, "There is a substantial public interest in ensuring that Secretary Lutnick, a billionaire, is not violating federal ethics law to propel data centers that will be profitable for his family while making life more expensive for working Americans."
In response to earlier inquiries about the matter, a Commerce Department representative pointed to previous statements from the agency and the White House. These statements asserted that Lutnick has consistently adhered to all ethics requirements and that no conflict of interest exists. Last month, White House spokesman Kush Desai stated, "The only special interest guiding Secretary Lutnick and the rest of the Trump administration’s decision-making is the best interest of the American people."
