Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) has urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to probe whether presidential family ties produced private financial benefits or special access, requesting testimony from Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden. Curtis pointed to Trump Jr.'s advisory roles with Kalshi and Polymarket — two major prediction-market firms potentially affected by CFTC decisions. The request has backing from Sen. Dick Durbin, while Chairman Chuck Grassley says he will review the matter; no hearing or formal investigation has yet been scheduled.
Sen. John Curtis Seeks Subpoena for Donald Trump Jr. Over Kalshi and Polymarket Ties
Sen. John Curtis has urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate Donald Trump Jr.'s prediction-market business ties.
Utah Republican Sen. John Curtis has asked the Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate whether presidential family relationships have produced private financial benefits, preferential treatment, or special access — and he has requested testimony from both Donald Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden.
In a letter dated Sept. 21, 2025, Curtis asked the committee to examine possible conflicts tied to family business connections, highlighting Trump Jr.’s advisory and financial links to two leading prediction-market firms: Kalshi and Polymarket. Curtis says those companies’ fortunes could be affected by federal regulatory decisions, including rulings by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
What Curtis Asked For
Curtis requested formal testimony from both Trump Jr. and Hunter Biden as part of a broader review into whether presidential family ties created real or perceived expectations of favorable government treatment. In his letter, Curtis wrote that Trump Jr. has "significant financial and advisory ties" to firms whose business interests intersect with federal regulators.
Trump Jr.'s Business Connections
Kalshi named Donald Trump Jr. a strategic adviser in January 2025, saying he would advise on growth, market strategy and partnerships. Trump Jr. later joined Polymarket's advisory board after 1789 Capital — the investment firm where he is a partner — invested in the platform. Those moves formally link the president’s eldest son to the two largest competitors in the U.S. prediction-market sector.
Regulatory Context
The prediction-market industry is engaged in legal and regulatory disputes. Kalshi and Polymarket face state-level challenges over sports-related contracts while arguing that their products should be regulated as federally overseen commodities rather than state-level gambling. Curtis told the Judiciary Committee Congress should determine whether family connections create either actual or perceived expectations of favorable government treatment.
Responses and Next Steps
Trump Jr.'s spokesman, Andrew Surabian, has said Trump Jr. does not trade on prediction markets and has not lobbied federal officials on behalf of Kalshi or Polymarket. The request has drawn support from the committee's ranking Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who said the committee should hear from Trump Jr., noting Hunter Biden has already given sworn congressional testimony about alleged corrupt activity.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has said he will review Curtis's request and gather additional information before deciding whether to act. As of this report, the committee has not scheduled a hearing and no formal investigation has been approved.
Related Developments
The broader Trump business network has also moved closer to prediction markets: in October 2025, Trump Media announced plans for a Truth Social product called Truth Predict in partnership with Crypto.com. After pushback, Trump Media scaled back those plans and said its initial role would focus on marketing and promotions while the product remained under development. That initiative is separate from Trump Jr.'s ties to Kalshi and Polymarket but places another Trump-linked entity in the same politically sensitive sector.
Key players: Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Donald Trump Jr., Hunter Biden, Kalshi, Polymarket, 1789 Capital, CFTC.
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