U.S. Senator John Curtis on Monday sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Dick Durbin, urging them to open an investigation into Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden over their connections to the crypto industry. Curtis also requested that subpoenas be issued to both individuals.

Curtis Cites Gift from Umar Kremlev and Family Crypto Projects

The lawmaker noted that Trump Jr. had accepted gifts from Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev on the occasion of his wedding, "actively promoted family-backed cryptocurrency initiatives," and advised prediction platforms overseen by the CFTC. President Donald Trump stated last week that his son had returned the money to Kremlev for the "generous wedding gift."

Hunter Biden: Foreign Deals and 2024 Pardon

The senator also called for an inquiry into Hunter Biden due to "substantial business with foreign entities" and instances where proximity to the presidency "may have added value." He noted that Biden denied his father's involvement in his business affairs. President Joe Biden issued a pardon for his son in December 2024 for crimes he "committed or may have committed" over the previous decade.

Context: CLARITY Act Fails and Concerns Over Digital Asset Income

Curtis's call came a week after Senate Republicans failed to secure enough Democratic support to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. Some Democrats linked their refusal to support the bill to claims that Trump "uses crypto to profit from the presidency." The president disclosed $1.4 billion in income from digital asset-related holdings in 2025. Republicans said the president agreed to strengthen ethics rules in the bill, but Democrats considered the measures insufficient.

Earlier Democratic Calls for Meme Coin and $500M Deal Probes

In the current Congress session, calls to investigate the Trump family's crypto industry ties have mainly come from Democrats: they requested reviews of potential conflicts of interest around Trump's meme coin, the family business World Liberty Financial, and a $500 million deal involving the Abu Dhabi royal family.