Thomas Daniels
More than 30 members of the U.S. House of Representatives are urging the Department of Justice to investigate former President Donald Trump’s May 22 private dinner with top investors in the $TRUMP memecoin. Lawmakers allege that the event, held at Trump National Golf Club near Washington, D.C., may have violated the U.S. Constitution’s Emoluments Clause and federal anti-bribery laws.
In a formal letter to the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section, 35 lawmakers cited concerns that foreign nationals may have used cryptocurrency investments to gain privileged access to Trump. The Emoluments Clause prohibits U.S. officials from accepting gifts or payments from foreign states without Congressional approval. Lawmakers referenced reports indicating that a significant portion of the dinner’s attendees had connections to offshore crypto exchanges, raising red flags about undisclosed foreign influence.
Among the confirmed guests was Justin Sun, founder of the Tron blockchain, who has previously avoided U.S. jurisdiction due to investigations into alleged market manipulation. Sun is believed to have invested $18.5 million into the $TRUMP coin and was granted VIP access at the dinner.
The $TRUMP coin, introduced in January 2025 by Trump-affiliated entities CIC Digital and Fight Fight Fight LLC, has raised approximately $394 million. The coin’s top 25 holders were promised exclusive perks, including access to this high-profile event.
The dinner sparked protests and a press conference outside the venue, where demonstrators, joined by Senator Jeff Merkley, criticized the event as a “pay-to-play” scheme. Despite the outcry, the full list of attendees remains undisclosed, with several participants obscuring their identities.
In the wake of the event, Democratic lawmakers have proposed new legislation aimed at tightening regulations around cryptocurrency involvement by elected officials. Representative Maxine Waters introduced a bill to restrict crypto access for high-ranking government figures and their families. Simultaneously, the Senate is weighing amendments to the GENIUS Act—a bill focused on stablecoin regulation—to address ethical concerns stemming from Trump’s ties to World Liberty Financial, a crypto platform linked to his family.
Critics argue the dinner exemplifies a broader erosion of democratic safeguards, allowing personal business ventures to intersect with public office. While Trump’s camp maintains the event was a private gathering with no policy implications, scrutiny from federal lawmakers continues to intensify.
