Auctoritas

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) released statements on Jack Smith and the politicization of the Biden-Harris Justice Department.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH)referredformer Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John Brennan to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution after Brennan knowingly made false statements during his transcribed interview before the Committee in 2023.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, the House Judiciary Committee released an interim staff report titled, "Illegal Racial Discrimination in Faculty Hiring at George Mason University Under the Direction of President Gregory Washington." The report reveals that George Mason University (GMU), an institution of higher education that receives federal taxpayer funding, likely violated the Civil Rights A

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) sent aletterto Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, prosecutor for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church, demanding information about her ignoring threats to White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller and the intimidation of his family.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Rep.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– In a new preliminary

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Chairman Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), and Subcommittee on Oversight Chairman Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) sent letters toBlue Shield of California,

<p>Former special counsel Jack <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/14/jack-smith-subpoena-trump-january-6" target="_blank">Smith</a> requested to testify in "an open and public hearing" in a Thursday letter from his attorneys<strong> </strong>to House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).</p><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The open forum would give Smith — who is facing Congressional probes and the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/14/jack-smith-subpoena-trump-january-6" target="_blank">threat of prosecution</a> from President <a href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">Trump</a>'s Department of Justice — the opportunity to publicly defend his investigations into Trump's alleged criminal conduct.</p><hr /><ul><li>"During the investigation of President Trump, Mr. Smith steadfastly followed Justice Department policies, observed all legal requirements, and took actions based on the facts and the law," Smith's lawyers, Lanny Breuer and Peter Koski, wrote in the letter obtained by Axios. "He stands by his decisions."</li><li>Smith's attorneys did not respond to Axios' request for comment. Jordan's office did not provide comment. </li></ul><p><strong>Context: </strong>House Republicans subpoenaed Smith in October to testify over what Jordan called "prosecutorial misconduct and constitutional abuses" in the former special counsel's investigation of President Trump.</p><p><strong>Catch up quick: </strong>House Republicans previously accused Smith's team of silencing Trump, raiding his home unnecessarily and manipulating key evidence. </p><ul><li>After they subpoenaed him, Smith provided closed-door testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. </li><li>In the Thursday letter, Smith's attorneys said the former special counsel "welcomed" the opportunity to testify and "hopes that it will serve to correct the many mischaracterizations" about his work. </li><li>"The decision to bring charges against President Trump was mine, but the basis for those charges rests entirely with President Trump and his actions, as alleged in the indictments returned by grand juries in two different districts," Smith said to lawmakers in his opening statement, obtained <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jack-smith-special-prosecutor-trump-testimony/" target="_blank">by</a> <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/17/politics/jack-smith-house-judiciary-committee-testimony" target="_blank">multiple</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/12/17/g-s1-102630/jack-smith-congress" target="_blank">outlets</a>. </li></ul><p><strong>Flashback:</strong> Smith brought two criminal cases against Trump: one for mishandling classified documents and another for conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. </p><ul><li>Neither made it to trial, and Smith's team wound down its work after Trump won back the White House last November.</li></ul><p><strong>The intrigue: </strong>In addition to a public hearing, Smith's lawyer's asked for the recording of Smith's private testimony to be released in full so the public can hear it directly, "rather than through second-hand accounts."</p><ul><li>"We look forward to cooperating with you to provide the public with an opportunity to hear directly from Mr. Smith regarding his work," they wrote. </li></ul><p><strong>Go deeper: </strong><a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/17/jack-smith-arctic-frost-marsha-blackburn-letter-doj" target="_blank">Republican lawmakers suggest Jack Smith should lose law license</a></p>

The former special counsel’s attorneys also want the full videotape of Smith’s deposition to be released.