Democrats question legality of Trump, TotalEnergies offshore wind deal

April 7 (Reuters) - House Democrats questioned the legality of the Trump administration's deal to return nearly $1 billion to TotalEnergies TTEF.PA to stop the development of two U.S. offshore wind farms, according to letters sent to administration officials and the French energy company.

• U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman and Jamie Raskin, both Democrats, sent a letter on Monday to Interior Department and Department of Justice leadership alleging the agreement with TotalEnergies was against the law.

• The letter seeks an explanation of the statutory authority for the reimbursement and questions the source of the funding.

• "If DOI is funding this deal without a valid appropriation or settlement authority every dollar it spends is unlawful," the lawmakers wrote.

• A second letter to TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne requests a briefing with the company and asks for documents and communications related to the reimbursement.

• Both letters requested responses by April 20.

• Interior Department, DOJ and TotalEnergies officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.