Rep. Jim Jordan formally asks DOJ to prosecute Jack Smith over congressional testimony
The top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee sent a letter to the Justice Department on Wednesday requesting a criminal investigation of former special counsel Jack Smith, alleging he made false statements during a congressional deposition last year.Subscribe to read this story ad-freeGet unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, wrote in a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that Smith “seemingly made willfully and intentionally false statements of material fact that contradict new documents” the Senate Judiciary Committee obtained this month.Jordan asked the Justice Department to investigate Smith for a criminal charge, writing that his committee found “strong evidence” against him.A spokesperson for the Justice Department confirmed receipt of the referral and said Wednesday that it “will investigate all evidence of criminal conduct.”Rep.Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, looks on as Smith testifies in January.
Al Drago / Getty ImagesSmith has long been a target of President Donald Trump, who has disparaged him over his prosecutions of Trump.Fox News first reported Jordan’s referral.In a letter to Jordan and Blanche, attorneys for Smith denied that he made any false statements during his deposition, writing that he “provided truthful, responsive answers and candidly discussed his work as Special Counsel.”“The referral is made not because Mr.Smith made a false statement — the letter concedes he did not — but because he did not proactively disclose information that was not responsive to a question asked,” lawyers Peter Koski and Lanny Breuer wrote.
The pair said the referral “reflects a chilling eagerness to weaponize the justice system by attacking a career, nonpartisan public servant who faithfully and fearlessly performed his duties by following the facts and the law.”As special counsel, Smith oversaw two investigations beginning in 2022.One focused on election interferenc...