Democrats Demand Watchdog Investigation Into Push To Get Trump’s Face On $250 Bill

A group of Senate Democrats is asking nan Treasury Department’s soul watchdog to analyse whether nan agency dedicated resources to creating a $250 featuring President Donald Trump’s face contempt ineligible hurdles preventing nan Treasury Department from doing so.

In a letter to nan Treasury’s Office of Inspector General sent Tuesday, nan group of 4 Democrats are demanding to cognize if, really and why section officials allegedly pushed nan $250 measure task guardant contempt national rule indicating only deceased presidents whitethorn look connected rate and Congress has yet to walk authorities permitting so.

Citing recent Washington Post and New York Times reports, nan lawmakers inquire whether officials progressive successful nan investigation utilized resources successful a mode that “constitutes waste, fraud, and abuse.”

“Given nan costs of surviving situation crossed nan United States, it is disturbing that nan Treasury Secretary sees nary problem focusing nan Treasury’s attraction connected processing an forbidden $250 measure alternatively of addressing the existent economical challenges facing nan country,” nan Democrats, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren, nan ranking personnel of nan Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, wrote.

Among a bid of questions nan Democrats are asking nan Treasury Department’s Inspector General to investigate, they want to cognize really overmuch clip and money were spent, arsenic good arsenic which unit were dedicated to nan project.

When reached for comment, nan Treasury Inspector General agency told The Independent: “We person received nan taxable missive but person nary further remark regarding nan matter."

Last year, Republican Rep. Joe Wilson introduced legislation that would permit nan Treasury to people $250 bills featuring Trump’s portrait to commemorate nan United States’s 250th anniversary.

Months later, successful May, Bessent told reporters successful nan White House Briefing Room that nan section had begun moving connected renderings of a $250 measure featuring Trump. However, Bessent besides acknowledged that nary surviving personification was allowed to beryllium featured connected U.S. rate without Congressional approval.

“I don’t deliberation that there’s thing untoward astir having nan personification who is president of nan United States connected nan 250th day bill,” Bessent said astatine nan time.

A Treasury Department spokesperson told nan Washington Post at nan clip that nan Bureau of Engraving and Printing was “conducting due readying and owed diligence” successful mocking up a $250 bill.

“Should this legislative instruction beryllium signed into law, nan [Bureau of Engraving and Printing] is moving proactively to nutrient a $250 commemorative statement which will appropriately admit nan 250th Anniversary of our awesome nation,” nan Treasury spokesperson said.

Democrats had condemned nan projected $250 bill, pinch House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declaring it “Monopoly money.”

“This is nan astir ridiculous point successful nan world. How sycophantic are Republicans erstwhile this is what they're focused on, arsenic opposed to really doing nan type of things to reside nan harm that they've done to nan American people?” Jeffries said successful May connected “The Julie Mason Show.”

Now, Democrats are asking for a much general enquiry into nan push for it.

Tuesday’s missive was co-signed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer; Senator Jeff Merkley, nan apical Democrat connected nan Budget Committee; Senator Ron Wyden, nan apical Democrat connected nan Finance Committee; and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, nan apical Democrat connected nan Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection subcommittee.

Trump has utilized nan upcoming semiquincentennial to big events and push for products that seemingly observe himself arsenic well. Earlier this month, connected his birthday, Trump hosted nan first Ultimate Fighting Championship cage lucifer connected nan White House lawn, billing it arsenic a ceremony of America.

The president has reportedly pushed for nan creation of a $1 golden coin base his likeness, nan State Department will rumor constricted version passports featuring Trump’s face, and the management has created Freedom 250, a private-public collaborated organization, to big events – including a rally featuring Trump.