House Republicans Demand Documents from Special Counsel Investigating Trump
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Chairman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) have escalated their battle with special counsel Jack Smith, demanding documents related to their investigation of former President Donald Trump.
In their letter to the special counsel, the House Republicans expressed concern about the perceived lack of evenhanded justice and threatened a subpoena if the Department of Justice (DOJ) continues to ignore their requests.
The requested documents include communications between the special counsel and the U.S. Attorney General’s office, staff salaries, and hiring criteria related to the investigation of President Trump. The deadline for the documents is Jan. 4.
Smith is prosecuting former President Donald Trump in two separate federal criminal investigations, one related to mishandling classified documents and the other related to interference in the 2020 elections. He was appointed special counsel last November to investigate matters related to Jan. 6, 2021.
The House Republicans argue that the prosecution of former President Trump by the Biden administration, “President Biden’s chief opponent in the upcoming presidential election,” raises concerns of partiality.
They also question Smith’s record of attempting to criminalize political discourse and raise doubts about his appointment as special counsel, pointing to reports of opposition within the DOJ and his pursuit of information from social media companies.
This isn’t the first time the House Judiciary Committee had sought information from the DOJ concerning political prosecutions. They had previously made three separate requests for information regarding the special counsel’s investigations, expressing concerns about overreach and potential bias.
In addition to the ongoing cases against President Trump in New York and Georgia, concerned House Republicans have also been investigating potential bias in the cases, including launching a probe into prosecutor Fani Willis in Fulton County, Georgia.
Smith’s office has not immediately responded to the latest demands for documents.
The ongoing legal battles involving former President Trump have continued to draw attention, with the New York case seeing closing arguments scheduled for Jan. 11, and potential appeals following the judge’s ruling.
Overall, House Republicans continue to express concerns about what they view as politically motivated prosecutions and are seeking to hold the DOJ accountable for these investigations and the potential partiality they believe is evident.
