As we reported, Special Counsel Jack Smith filed a superseding indictment in his election interference against Donald Trump, “slimming down the allegations against the 2024 presidential nominee in light of the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling.”
On Friday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding answers and accusing the Department of Justice of violating” longstanding” DOJ policy concerning legal actions during the height of a presidential contest.
Jordan wants information, documents, and communications between the DOJ and Smith’s office regarding the new indictment. In a social media post, he flat-out accused the Special Counsel of meddling: “Jack Smith. Election interference.”
Smith’s case took a big hit when the Supreme Court ruled in July that a president enjoys substantial immunity from prosecution regarding acts he took in an “official capacity.” But Smith, in his never-ending quest to “get” the former president, appears to be trying to slither his way around that ruling with his latest move.
Jordan thinks it’s unscrupulous:
Smith’s new indictment includes the original four charges he brought against Trump in July but leaves out allegations related to Trump’s “attempt to leverage” the DOJ. Language has also been changed pertaining to claims that Trump acted outside his official duties.
“On July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States issued an opinion in Trump v. United States, explaining the parameters of presidential immunity and rebuking Special Counsel Jack Smith for violating this Constitutional principle in his political prosecution of President Donald J. Trump. On August 27, 2024, Special Counsel Smith obtained a superseding indictment against President Trump in an attempt to fix the constitutional defects inherent in his initial indictment,” Jordan wrote in the letter.
“In doing so, however, Special Counsel Smith appears to have violated longstanding Department policy intended to protect our democratic processes. The Committee must therefore understand whether you approved Special Counsel Smith’s indictment in advance or whether Special Counsel Smith continues to exercise prosecutorial authority without your ‘meaningful direction or supervision,’ he continued.
Jordan requested the information be provided to the committee no later than 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 13.
DISMISSED!' Trump Responds to Jack Smith's Superseding Indictment
Jack Smith Files Superseding Indictment Against Donald Trump in 2020 Election Case
As we’ve discussed in previous similar stories, there’s only so much strongly worded letters can do, and it can be frustrating to watch these House GOP committees issue statement after statement condemning the DOJ but being unable to stop their tyrannical ways. However, I appreciate Jordan’s investigations, as well as those of his colleague, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY). At least they’re calling out the malfeasance of the Biden Harris administration and keeping receipts.
There will be no true accountability, of course, while those folks still hold the reins of power.