House Democrats are reportedly investigating allegations that groups, including a foreign government, booked rooms at President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE’s hotels without intending to use them but instead to gain the president’s favor.

Politico reports that the House Oversight and Reform Committee’s probe, which is part of the chamber’s formal impeachment inquiry against the president, aims to see whether Trump violated the law by taking money from U.S. or foreign governments at his properties.

The newspaper reported Wednesday that the panel received information that a trade association and a foreign government had each booked a large chunk of rooms at Trump hotels but only used a small portion of them, prompting the probe.

“Now we’re looking at raw bribery. That was the risk from Day One: foreign governments and others trying to seek favor because we know Trump pays attention to this … It’s an obvious attempt to curry favor with him,” Rep. Gerry Connolly Gerald (Gerry) Edward ConnollyJudge issues nationwide injunction against Postal Service changes House panel advances bill to ban Postal Service leaders from holding political positions Shakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' MORE (D-Va.), who sits on the panel, told Politico.

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“At minimum, this suggests there is a culture of corruption that the administration has created,” House Oversight member Rep. Ro Khanna Rohit (Ro) KhannaOvernight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds On The Money: Half of states deplete funds for Trump's 0 unemployment expansion | EU appealing ruling in Apple tax case | House Democrats include more aid for airlines in coronavirus package The movement to reform animal agriculture has reached a tipping point MORE (D-Calif.) told the newspaper. “There’s a sense that to curry favor you have to engage in pay to play. That’s exactly what the American people hate about Washington.”

It's unclear what groups or foreign entity may have been involved in the allegation, or what properties may be at the center of the congressional scrutiny.

Politico reported that Connelly confirmed that staff on the committee were investigating but he did not have details about the allegation.

The Oversight Committee, the White House and the Trump Organization did not respond to Politico's requests for comment. The Hill has also reached out to each for comment.

The Constitution bars a president from being able to profit from foreign governments as well as the U.S. government, other than through their salary, though Trump has denied any wrongdoing associated with his hotels.

After Vice President Pence became engulfed in controversy last month after staying at Trump’s Doonberg property in Ireland, Trump said: “I have a lot of hotels all over the place, and people use them because they’re the best.”

The news of the investigation comes after Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiDemocratic senator to party: 'A little message discipline wouldn't kill us' Overnight Health Care: New wave of COVID-19 cases builds in US | Florida to lift all coronavirus restrictions on restaurants, bars | Trump stirs questions with 0 drug coupon plan Overnight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds MORE (D-Calif.) last week directed six committees, including Oversight, to investigate Trump as part of the chamber’s impeachment inquiry.

House Democrats are still debating whether to focus their impeachment inquiry almost exclusively on Trump pressuring Ukraine’s president to try to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE — or expanding the scope to include Trump, his administration and his businesses.