Do not investigate Trump’s corporate allies until he leaves office

What the report says

In an Al Jazeera opinion piece published on 7 November 2026, Howard University law professor Ziyad Motala argues that incoming Democratic majorities in Congress should be careful about publicly pursuing investigations into Donald Trump’s corporate allies while Trump remains president. His central claim is that the constitutional pardon power could allow Trump to shield people implicated in federal wrongdoing before they can be prosecuted.

The article says companies and executives tied to Trump, including firms in technology and defense, could face scrutiny over government contracts, political donations and links to the administration. It cites a Washington Post report that said several companies backed by Trump’s sons received billions of dollars in federal contracts, investments and loans. Motala says such matters would normally justify oversight, but public hearings could also reveal evidence that Trump might use to issue pardons.

To support the warning, the piece points to Trump’s past clemency decisions, including pardons for people convicted of financial crimes and for the corporate entity tied to BitMEX. It also notes broader use of the pardon power by Joe Biden, including preemptive pardons at the end of his term, as evidence that presidents can use clemency expansively for political protection. Motala concludes that Democrats should preserve evidence and stop ongoing misconduct, but delay highly public investigations until Trump leaves office in January 2029, to reduce the risk that alleged offenders could be pardoned before federal prosecution.