Democrats are zeroing in on Treasury's Mnuchin

https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/427942-democrats-are-zeroing-in-on-treasurys-mnuchin

Democrats are zeroing in on Treasury’s Mnuchin

By Morgan Chalfant and Olivia Beavers - 02/01/19 06:00 AM EST

The leaders of three powerful House committees are requesting a trove of documents related to the Treasury Department’s decision to lift sanctions on companies tied to Oleg Deripaska, a prominent Russian oligarch linked with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Treasury lifted the sanctions on Deripaska’s United Co. Rusal and two other firms after he agreed to reduce his ownership below 50 percent and relinquish control of the firms, according to details of the deal released by the Treasury Department. But Democrats have raised concerns about the agreement, suggesting it could still afford Deripaska influence and even “defacto control” over the companies.

Others have raised ethical concerns about Mnuchin’s reported business ties to billionaire Republican donor Len Blavatnik, who is an investor in Rusal and reportedly stands to benefit from the deal. The Treasury Department has publicly pushed back on those assertions, saying Mnuchin had no “direct business relationship” with Blavatnik and calling suggestions of a conflict of interest “baseless.”

The inquiries underline the fervency among Democrats to use their newfound oversight powers in order to investigate the Trump administration — including any links between people in Trump’s orbit and the Kremlin.
(snip)
(much more at link)