WASHINGTON – A new House subcommittee dedicated to investigating. The so-called weaponization of the federal government will hold its first hearing Thursday.
The event is at 12:30 PM. EST will testify to Republican sens.
Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. As well as former Republican Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who left the Democratic. Party to become an independent and appears on Fox News.
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who served as manager of former. President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. And the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6 attack. Is the only Democratic member invited to speak as a witness Thursday.
The Select Subcommittee on Arming the Federal Government. Chaired by new Republican House Majority Representative Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. Was created to investigate alleged discrimination by the federal government against conservatives. The panel is part of the House Judiciary Committee.
Also chaired by Jordan, and has subpoena power.
The subcommittee is charged with investigating how the executive branch collects. And investigates information on US citizens “including ongoing criminal investigations.” Republicans say they will investigate how the Justice Department. FBI and other law enforcement agencies investigated conservatives. Including former President Donald Trump. The panel may look into the FBI’s search of his Mar-a-Lago home in August.
In a statement Thursday, White House. Counsel’s office spokesman Ian Sams called the panel. “A political stunt called a reboot of the House Un-American Activities. Committee that arms Congress to put in place. The priorities of extreme MAGA Republicans in Congress.” the morning
“These extreme MAGA Republicans in Congress are choosing to make it their top priority to go down.
The rabbit hole of conspiracy theories about the ‘deep state’ instead of taking a deep breath. And deciding to work with the President. And Democrats in Congress to improve the everyday lives of Americans,” he added.
Also to Jordan, the panel’s 21 members include some high-profile. GOP critics of President Joe Biden’s administration, including Reps. Thomas Massey of Kentucky, Elise Stefanik of New York. And Matt Gaetz of Florida, who joined the committee last week. .
Democrats appointed nine members to serve on the panel. Including the committee’s vice chairman, Del. of the Virgin Islands. Stacey Plaskett, who also served as Trump’s impeachment manager.
The committee will hear Thursday from a second panel of witnesses.
Including two former FBI agents, Thomas Baker. And Nicole Parker, who have criticized the bureau in recent years. George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, a Fox News contributor. Who has also criticized the FBI and conservatives’ social media censorship. And Elliott Williams, a CNN legal analyst and former deputy. Assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice during the Obama administration.
Before the first subcommittee hearing, the Justice. Department also deferred to some of Jordan’s Judiciary Committee claims. On Thursday, Carlos Uriarte, the assistant attorney general for legal. Affairs, wrote a letter to Jordan saying the agency requested a meeting to follow. The committee’s request and hoped he would work more with officials.
“The Department responded on January 20, 2023, offering to meet. With the Committee to discuss your requests and identify. Ways to meet the Committee’s needs. You have yet to respond to our offer,” Euryart wrote in the letter obtained by todaystrend News.
On February 3, Jordan sent subpoenas to Attorney General Merrick.
Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Education Secretary. Miguel Cardona requesting extensive information related to the Justice. Department’s efforts to surround heated school board meetings across the country. The subpoenas came after Jordan and his committee sent more than 100. Other letters to various Biden administration officials as part of their investigation.
According to Uriarte, the Judiciary Committee did not take. Them up on their offer of staff-level negotiations on their request.
“We have offered to engage with the committee.
And provide information, so a subpoena is premature,” he wrote.
Russell Dye, a spokesman for Jordan, called the Justice. Department’s response “inadequate” and “flawed”. And said it “ignores our committee’s requests over the past two years.”
“We expect full compliance with subpoenas,” he added.
The subcommittee must submit a final report to the House on its findings by January 2, 2025.
