Jordan demands DOJ investigate Trump, sets June 20 deadline.

“The Committee on the Judiciary is continuing to investigate the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) unprecedented raid of President Trump’s residence at Mar-a-Lago on August 8, 2022,”

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is demanding that the Department of Justice (DOJ) produce documents related to special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case. Jordan’s letter, addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland, states that the DOJ has not responded to previous requests about Smith’s probe. Smith was named as special counsel last year, coming months after the FBI raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago for allegedly classified documents.

What’s in the Letter?

Jordan’s letter demands that Garland and the DOJ produce relevant records to his committee by June 20. He also wants an unredacted copy of the memorandum outlining the scope of Mr. Smith’s probes regarding President Trump and any supporting documentation related to his appointment as special counsel. Jordan did not say what would happen if Garland fails to comply with the demands.

In a separate case, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) have said they would consider holding FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress for failing to produce a document that allegedly reveals a bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden.

Is the Investigation Tainted?

Jordan has sent Garland letters concerning whether the Smith investigation into the former president is tainted. It came in light of findings made by special counsel John Durham, who released a lengthy report that signaled that FBI officials acted irresponsibly when the bureau opened an investigation into whether Trump colluded with Russia after the 2016 election.

Last week, Jordan asked the DOJ to provide more information about the FBI personnel assigned to the Smith investigation, namely if those individuals were involved in previous Trump-related cases. Jordan also wants to know if Smith’s investigation uses any information that was gathered by the FBI before Durham’s appointment by then-Attorney General Bill Barr in late 2020. For that demand, Jordan gave Garland until June 20 to respond.

Conclusion

It remains to be seen whether Garland and the DOJ will comply with Jordan’s demands. Durham is scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in a hearing set for June 21.