House Republicans are threatening to subpoena the Democrats’ anti-Trump Special Counsel Jack Smith, according to reports.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) are demanding records from Smith related to his “politically motivated” prosecutions of President Donald Trump.
On Thursday, Jordan and Biggs wrote a letter to Smith requesting various documents and communications concerning the prosecution of Trump and Smith’s staffing.
“Accordingly, the Committee is conducting oversight in order to inform potential legislative reforms, including possible reforms regarding politically motivated prosecutions of current and former Presidents by federal prosecutors and disclosure requirements for Special Counsels and their staff,” the letter reads.
Jordan and Biggs cite the expansive search warrant Smith obtained for Trump’s Twitter/X account.
They also noted the allegations of prosecutorial misconduct by top aide Jay Bratt.
The Republican lawmakers are demanding Smith turn over communications documents.
Specifically, Jordan and Biggs want files showing communications among Smith’s office, the attorney general’s office, and the deputy attorney general’s office.
In addition, Jordan and Biggs seek documents and communications needed to identify Smith’s staff and evaluate his office’s hiring practices.
“If you do not produce documents responsive to these requests, the Committee may resort to compulsory process,” Jordan and Biggs added.
Jordan and Biggs are giving Smith until January 4, 2024, to produce the documents listed in the Thursday letter and previous letters to Garland.
Smith is prosecuting Trump in Florida on 40 counts for allegedly mishandling classified documents after his presidency concluded.
Trump’s Florida trial is scheduled to begin in May.
The case is timed perfectly for Democrats hoping to disrupt Trump’s 2024 campaign.
However, Judge Aileen Cannon appears to be willing to delay his trial until after the 2024 presidential election.
Smith’s case against Trump in Washington, D.C. is connected to his conduct surrounding the 2020 presidential election and Jan. 6.
The special counsel is asking the Supreme Court to rule on Trump’s presidential immunity claims in the 2020 election case before the D.C. Court of Appeals can hear Trump’s appeal.
Obama-appointed District Judge Tanya Chutkan agreed to pause legal proceedings pending Trump’s appeal when she denied Trump’s effort to dismiss the case based on presidential immunity claims.
Trump’s legal team has accused Smith of “unlawfully” attempting to speed up the case and urged the Supreme Court to deny Smith’s “partisan” request.
Smith responded to Trump in a Thursday court filing.
The special counsel argues that his request is in the public interest.
