Corporate America prepares for post-midterm Democratic backlash - Semafor

The witness-prep business is about to take off for Washington law firms. As Democrats appear poised to take the gavel, at least in the hearing-happy House of Representatives, the task of helping corporate executives prepare for their turn in the chair — a DC practice known as “murder-boarding” — will be in high demand. Democrats have been plotting for months about how to go after corporations that have courted Trump’s approval, Semafor’s Nicholas Wu reported earlier this year, citing missives sent to companies over things like ballroom funds, antitrust suits, and business deals involving the Trump family and one-time “first buddy” Elon Musk.

“Companies that made investments or commitments at the president’s urging should prepare for scrutiny,” said J. Peter Donald, a former spokesman for the FBI’s New York field office and assistant NYPD commissioner who now advises companies in tight spots. “Everything will be on the table. CEOs should be ready to explain their decisions under oath.” It’s a good time for companies to prepay any outstanding law firm bills and book some time on CEOs’ calendars for mock grilling.