Rep. Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, has criticized former special counsel Jack Smith, insisting he should testify before the House Judiciary Committee. In a letter sent on Tuesday, Jordan expressed concerns about the alleged politicization of federal law enforcement under the Biden administration.
“As we continue our oversight efforts, your testimony is crucial to understand how the Justice Department, led by Biden and Harris, has potentially weaponized federal law enforcement,” Jordan stated in his correspondence.
Smith previously looked into President Trump’s involvement in the January 6 attack on the Capitol as well as the mishandling of classified documents.
Jordan accused Smith of engaging in “abusive surveillance” by accessing phone records of current members of Congress. He suggested that the investigations led by Smith were politically driven.
While some of Smith’s former team members, like Thomas Windham and Jay Blatt, were summoned to testify, Jordan claimed they did not cooperate, often citing the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions.
Jordan has also asked for all documents and communications Smith received during his time as special counsel, focusing on those involving political appointees and officials from the Biden administration.
“As special prosecutor, you carry the responsibility for any misconduct or constitutional violations in your office. Your actions raised such serious concerns that the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility confirmed it had started an investigation into your methods,” Jordan noted in his letter.
He mentioned that previous requests for documentation related to Smith’s inquiries received no response, leading the committee to seek a recorded interview with him.
Smith resigned from the Justice Department this year after Trump’s win in the 2024 election. Shortly after stepping down, he communicated with then-Attorney General Merrick Garland, justifying his decision to charge Trump.
“The decision to prosecute Mr. Trump was solely mine, and I stand by it,” Smith stated, adding that many in the Justice Department supported his choice.
Smith dismissed accusations that his prosecutorial decisions were influenced by the Biden administration or other political pressures, branding such claims as absurd.
He also countered assertions that his investigation was intended to sway the 2024 election, clarifying that his decision to drop charges does not equate to exoneration for Trump.
“After reviewing the facts, Mr. Trump has not contested any specifics in the report but only its disclosure,” Smith noted.
“Mr. Trump’s assertions that the dropping of the criminal charges signifies a ‘total exoneration’ are incorrect. The Justice Department maintains that the Constitution does not prevent indictment or prosecution while in office, regardless of the seriousness of the charges or the strength of the case, all of which the Department fully endorses,” he added.
