DOJ tells Jim Jordan to go pound sand
As legal experts predicted, the DOJ has told Jim Jordan and his committee to pound sand. At least they did it politely and professionally, two words that are foreign to Jim Jordan. According to Politico, Jim Jordan wrote to the DOJ on January 17, 2023, requesting access to DOJ records, which the agency has declined to provide. The response said, among other things: “Consistent with longstanding policy and practice, any oversight requests must be weighed against the Department’s interests in protecting the integrity of its work.” Politico published the letter in it entirety, and it clearly outlines the steps that Congressional committees must follow to secure testimony at hearings. They directed Jordan to the Office of Legislative Affairs as the correct agency to begin communications with the DOJ. One would think that someone who has been in Washington as long as Jordan knows appropriate procedures, but Jordan is hateful and dumb.
The DOJ pointed Jordan to a 1982 directive from President Ronald Reagan, indicating that the agency will try to respond to the committee requests and “avoid invoking executive privilege.” That means Jordan isn’t going to get what he wants. The DOJ also advised Jordan that they would send staff to any meetings but that it will not make agents or attorneys involved in casework available for testimony. The DOJ has (hopefully) made clear to Jordan that the agency isn’t going to simply bend to his will, and it further made clear that it will not share any information on ongoing criminal investigations with any committees. What in the world was Jim Jordan thinking? Perhaps the better questions is who the hell he thinks he is. Criminal investigations remain closed for good reason. The agency is not going to “tip its hand” on any investigations to anyone, including Jim Jordan. From the DOJ’s perspective, to do otherwise compromises the integrity of its investigations because it gives the perception that those activities are being influenced by people who have nothing to do with those investigations.
Republicans took the response personally, tweeting: “Why’s DOJ scared to cooperate with our investigations?” Please. No one fears them. They should understand how the DOJ functions. Any agency or police department that handles criminal investigations have to keep information quiet until they build their cases. The DEA frequently files documents relating to criminal investigations under seal so that those investigations can continue unhampered or uncompromised. This confirms that Republicans will do nothing with their House control but create trouble.
Republicans are already getting off on the wrong foot. Jordan’s aggressive approach will get them nowhere. As CNN reported, Jordan’s letter requested documents relating to the Biden documents probe, including documents regarding the selection of U.S. Attorney John Lausch to lead the initial review. Lausch is a Trump appointee; you would think that would make them happy, but Jordan is too busy trying to flex his nonexistent muscles, writing: “The Administration’s stonewalling must stop.” Jordan claimed in his letter that they want “answers for the American people,” but most Americans have no interest in their wastes of time and taxpayer money on nonsense.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years