Democratic leaders are facing renewed criticism after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced plans to investigate private donors who contributed to President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project.

The move comes amid widening allegations of selective prosecution within the party, following years of legal efforts aimed at the former president and his associates.

Since President Trump left office in January 2021, Democrats have pursued multiple legal actions against him, a strategy critics have described as “lawfare.”

Among the most visible figures in those efforts has been New York Attorney General Letitia James, who campaigned on a pledge to “get” Trump and pursued civil cases attempting to seize his business assets.

James’ actions drew widespread attention during and after her high-profile case targeting Trump’s real estate holdings.

Pollster Frank Luntz warned that her legal offensive could boost Trump’s standing with voters — a prediction that proved accurate as the former president’s popularity surged during the proceedings.

Now, James herself is reportedly under investigation for mortgage fraud, a development that has raised questions about the consistency and fairness of the justice system.

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The same Democrats who once defended aggressive prosecutions against Trump have since labeled the case against James as a “weaponization” of law enforcement — a term frequently used to criticize political targeting.

While Democratic officials have dismissed the comparison, critics say the situation underscores a double standard. For years, party leaders emphasized that “no one is above the law,” yet opponents argue that enforcement often appears to fall along partisan lines.

Rather than scaling back politically charged investigations, Democrats are pressing forward.

On Thursday, Jeffries told MSNBC that he intends to examine donations linked to President Trump’s ongoing White House ballroom construction project — a privately funded initiative that does not use taxpayer dollars.

Jeffries claimed, without offering evidence, that the contributions may have been part of a broader effort to gain influence with the Trump administration.

“More likely, this is part of what Donald Trump has been doing since day one of his presidency: running the largest pay-to-play scheme in the history of the country. And probably soliciting donations from people who’ve got business before the United States government,” Jeffries said.

He continued, “And all of this is going to have to be investigated. It will. All of this will have to be uncovered. It will. And these people are going to be held accountable, no matter how long it takes. And that’s a warning to all of these people participating in this scheming to manipulate taxpayer dollars and, of course, to destroy the people’s house. The White House belongs to the American people. It doesn’t belong to Donald Trump.”

Hakeem Jeffries issues a “warning” to funders of the White House ballroom:

“These people are going to be held accountable, no matter how long it takes.”

They continue to threaten revenge on one hand, while hyperventilating about Trump’s “revenge tour” on the other. pic.twitter.com/lt0iGOBL7s

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) October 23, 2025

President Trump’s White House ballroom project was announced earlier this year as a privately financed addition to host official functions and events. The planned structure, located on the East Wing overhang, does not affect either the West Wing or the residential quarters.

Administration officials confirmed that the addition will remain part of the White House for future presidents.

Despite that, Jeffries’ remarks drew sharp backlash from conservatives who accused him of threatening private citizens for making lawful contributions.

Supporters of the project noted that similar upgrades and restorations have taken place under previous administrations from both parties.

The controversy over Jeffries’ comments adds to a growing list of disputes between Democratic leaders and Republican officials over the use of investigative power.

With multiple Democratic figures now facing scrutiny of their own — including Attorney General Letitia James — the party’s aggressive legal posture toward political opponents is once again under examination.

As investigations and counter-investigations continue, both parties are positioning for the next election cycle, where questions about the politicization of law enforcement are expected to remain a central issue.