The US Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed a request from a House Republican seeking information related to the FBI's search and raid of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property last August. The raid was conducted in search of allegedly secret documents. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) had written to the DOJ asking for details concerning the classified materials discovered during the operation.
This included information on the communications between the FBI office in Washington and the US Secret Service.
The DOJ rejected Jordan's request on Friday, claiming that it was unable to provide "non-public information about an ongoing criminal investigation and prosecution by a Special Counsel."
In a letter to Jordan, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte stated, "Protecting the confidentiality of non-public information regarding investigations and prosecutions preserves the American people's confidence in the evenhanded administration of justice by guarding against the appearance of political pressure or other improper attempts to influence Department decisions.
The House GOP chairman requested information about who is working on the Trump case in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland earlier this month. The request was made ahead of Trump's indictment on charges stemming from special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into possible classified document handling violations by the former president.
Jordan wrote to Garland in a letter (pdf) stating that the Judiciary Committee "previously requested information and documents related to the FBI's raid on President Trump's residence and its subsequent investigation." "We write to request an unredacted copy of the memo outlining the scope of Mr. Smith's investigations into President Trump and any supporting documentation related to his appointment as special counsel," the letter begins. "Because you have not provided this information and in light of your appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel."
Jordan requested in his letter "any other document describing, listing, or delineating the authority and jurisdiction of the special counsel" or "a memo setting forth the scope of Smith's investigation." He provided the DOJ with until June 20 to deliver the information.
According to Uriarte's Friday letter, "Special Counsel matters are subject to specific regulations regarding the appointment and independence of the Special Counsel." Further, the Special Counsel regulations "set forth procedures for disclosing to Congress certain information at the beginning and end of a Special Counsel investigation, including an explanation of any instances in which the Attorney General determined that a proposed action by the Special Counsel should not be pursued because it was so inappropriate or unwarranted under established Departmental practices."
Uriarte also mentioned the recent indictment of Trump, saying it contained comprehensive details about the probe and the accusations made against him. Trump entered a not guilty plea to numerous counts in the case involving the classified documents last week in a federal courthouse in Miami.
Following the publication of a report by special counsel John Durham, who looked into the FBI's opening of an inquiry into whether Trump colluded with the Russian government during the 2016 election, the GOP chairman requested documents. Durham said the investigation should not have even begun and criticized the FBI's decision-making process.
Jordan did not respond publicly to the DOJ's response. Jordan did not say in remarks to reporters on Friday whether he would subpoena Garland.
He told Straight Arrow News, "We'll see what happens on Friday. Other House Judiciary Committee members predicted that Jordan would issue a subpoena.
"Chairman Comer and Chairman Jordan have both made it a point to pursue voluntary compliance through negotiation. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) told the outlet that if he can't get it, he'll likely have to use subpoena power.
This included information on the communications between the FBI office in Washington and the US Secret Service.
The DOJ rejected Jordan's request on Friday, claiming that it was unable to provide "non-public information about an ongoing criminal investigation and prosecution by a Special Counsel."
In a letter to Jordan, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte stated, "Protecting the confidentiality of non-public information regarding investigations and prosecutions preserves the American people's confidence in the evenhanded administration of justice by guarding against the appearance of political pressure or other improper attempts to influence Department decisions.
The House GOP chairman requested information about who is working on the Trump case in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland earlier this month. The request was made ahead of Trump's indictment on charges stemming from special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into possible classified document handling violations by the former president.
Jordan wrote to Garland in a letter (pdf) stating that the Judiciary Committee "previously requested information and documents related to the FBI's raid on President Trump's residence and its subsequent investigation." "We write to request an unredacted copy of the memo outlining the scope of Mr. Smith's investigations into President Trump and any supporting documentation related to his appointment as special counsel," the letter begins. "Because you have not provided this information and in light of your appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel."
Jordan requested in his letter "any other document describing, listing, or delineating the authority and jurisdiction of the special counsel" or "a memo setting forth the scope of Smith's investigation." He provided the DOJ with until June 20 to deliver the information.
According to Uriarte's Friday letter, "Special Counsel matters are subject to specific regulations regarding the appointment and independence of the Special Counsel." Further, the Special Counsel regulations "set forth procedures for disclosing to Congress certain information at the beginning and end of a Special Counsel investigation, including an explanation of any instances in which the Attorney General determined that a proposed action by the Special Counsel should not be pursued because it was so inappropriate or unwarranted under established Departmental practices."
Uriarte also mentioned the recent indictment of Trump, saying it contained comprehensive details about the probe and the accusations made against him. Trump entered a not guilty plea to numerous counts in the case involving the classified documents last week in a federal courthouse in Miami.
Following the publication of a report by special counsel John Durham, who looked into the FBI's opening of an inquiry into whether Trump colluded with the Russian government during the 2016 election, the GOP chairman requested documents. Durham said the investigation should not have even begun and criticized the FBI's decision-making process.
Jordan did not respond publicly to the DOJ's response. Jordan did not say in remarks to reporters on Friday whether he would subpoena Garland.
He told Straight Arrow News, "We'll see what happens on Friday. Other House Judiciary Committee members predicted that Jordan would issue a subpoena.
"Chairman Comer and Chairman Jordan have both made it a point to pursue voluntary compliance through negotiation. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) told the outlet that if he can't get it, he'll likely have to use subpoena power.
