WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday urged: jack smithformer Justice Department special counsel appears in interview, part of growing effort within the Republican Party to go after people considered enemies of the president. donald trump.
In a letter to Smith, the committee’s chairman, Rep. Jim Jordan, called the prosecution of Trump “partisan and politically motivated.” Mr. Smith has been under special scrutiny on Capitol Hill, especially after the Senate Judiciary Committee said last week: His research included: FBI analyzes call records of more than 6 Republican members of Congress for the week of January 6, 2021
Mr. Smith filed two lawsuits against Mr. Trump, one of which accused Mr. Trump. Conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and Other confidential documents are kept in the Mar-a-Lago mansion. In Florida. Both were filed in 2023, more than a year before the 2024 presidential election, and in both indictments, Smith and his team cite clear violations of established federal law. Former Attorney General Merrick Garland, who appointed Smith as special prosecutor in November 2022, has repeatedly said politics played no role in the handling of the case.
Smith dropped his criminal case against Trump after Trump won last year’s presidential election. Trump’s return to the White House has blocked federal prosecution and cleared the way for Republicans to pursue his political and legal opponents.
“Your testimony is needed to fully understand the extent to which the Biden-Harris Department of Justice has weaponized federal law enforcement,” Jordan wrote to Smith.
In just the past few weeks, the Trump administration has moved forward with criminal charges against both men. james comeyformer FBI Director, New York State Attorney General letitia jameswhich spent years investigating and suing Trump.
The House Judiciary Committee has been investigating Smith’s actions as special counsel since the beginning of the year. Jordan said he questioned two other members of Smith’s prosecution team, but they declined to answer many questions, citing the Fifth Amendment.
Smith’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the House Judiciary Committee’s request for an interview.
