The Trump administration is facing growing questions over its decision to abandon a fraud and bribery case against the Indian billionaire Gautam Adani after he promised to invest $10bn in the US.
asserted
he → face → US
For the second time this year, two Democratic senators have demanded attorney general Todd Blanche answer questions about the US Department of Justice department’s handling of the case – and raised concerns over its judgment under Donald Trump.
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Blanche → demand → Trump
In August, a federal judge in New York agreed to drop the fraud case against Adani, one of the richest people in the world, at the request of prosecutors, despite having concerns about “irregularities” in the “highly unusual” decision.
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judge → agree → decision
It has become the latest example of judges raising eyebrows at Trump administration prosecutors for pushing to dismiss criminal cases.
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judges → become → cases
Now, more than a month later, senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal are asking Blanche to clarify whether people close to Donald Trump were involved in that decision.
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people → ask → decision
It comes aftera New York Times report revealed that Adani, represented by one of Trump’s personal lawyers, admitted to offering a $10bn investment in the US to resolve the criminal case.
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Adani → come → case
The federal judge overseeing the case determined the investment played no role in the DoJ’s decision to abandon the case.
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investment → oversee → case
“These fresh details continue to raise concerns about the judgment of the DoJ, and the extent to which the DoJ is willing and able to prosecute white-collar criminals under President Trump,” Warren and Blumenthal wrote in a letter sent on Wednesday, and seen by the Guardian.
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Warren → continue → Guardian
Adani was indicted in 2024 in New York for allegedly participating in a bribery and fraud scheme in which he paid Indian officials to secure a contract for one of his companies.
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he → indict → companies
He denied the allegations.
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He → deny → allegations
Prosecutors suddenly moved to dismiss the case against Adani in May after he hired a new legal team, led by Robert Giuffra Jr, and offered to invest $10bn into the US.
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he → move → US
Following the news, Warren and Blumenthal sent a letter to Blanche in June requesting information about the fraud case and raising concerns about whether the justice department dismissed the case in exchange for Adani’s investment.
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department → follow → investment
However, the senators did not receive a response.
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senators → receive → response
Since then, new details about the case have emerged, including allegations that Boris Epshteyn, a member of Trump’s personal legal team who also served as an informal adviser, helped Adani.
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who → emerge → Adani
Another report claimed Donald Trump Jr, the president’s son, met with Adani in November 2025, before the case was dropped.
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case → claim → November
A spokesperson for Trump Jr said earlier this year that the conversation “had zero to do with DoJ’s actions in this case”.
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conversation → say → case
A spokesperson for Epshteyn denied being involved in Adani’s “arguments, advocacy or efforts” to the Wall Street Journal in June.
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spokesperson → deny → June
Epshteyn was never hired by Adani or his company, the Adani Group, nor did he maintain a relationship with Adani
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he → hire → Adani
, the spokesperson added.
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spokesperson → add → ?
The Guardian has asked Epshteyn for comment.
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Guardian → ask → comment
The Democratic lawmakers are now asking the DoJ for more information about Adani’s alleged investment offer, including a list of employees who were present when the offer was made, the terms of the offer, when the offer was made and where.
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offer → ask → offer
They also want to know whether the DoJ employees knew Epshteyn was allegedly working on behalf of Adani, or if Epshteyn had any contact with DoJ employees regarding Adani, among other questions.
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Epshteyn → want → questions
“We are also concerned about the involvement of two of President Trump’s personal lawyers in this case, and the extent to which they reveal potential political influence and special treatment for well-connected insiders at the DoJ,” Warren and Blumenthal wrote in their letter.
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Warren → concern → letter
The Democrats also want to know if Trump Jr, or any person working on behalf of Trump Jr., had contact with a DoJ employee regarding Adani.
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Jr → want → Adani
Warren and Blumenthal requested responses no later than 5 October.
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Warren → request → October
The Guardian has asked Blanche’s office for comment.
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Guardian → ask → comment
The Aporia
