The House Judiciary Committee has initiated its second probe into the criminal case against former President Donald Trump.
GOP Rep. Jim Jordan, the committee’s chair and staunch supporter of Trump, sent a letter to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in which he alleged there were “substantial federal interests” involved in her prosecution.
This was similar to what had been discussed between Jordan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg during tense deliberations involving Trump’s business dealings in New York City.
The two parties had clashed over Bragg’s claims that Jordan was inappropriately meddling with state affairs.
BREAKING: A federal judge has ordered a second evidentiary hearing for removal of the Fulton County case against former President Donald Trump.
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) August 26, 2023
In order to avoid another disagreement like this, Jordan explicitly outlined his reasons for requesting documents and communications from Willis regarding her investigation into Trump within his letter.
He described four “substantial federal interests:” firstly, that the indictment seemed to use state law in an attempt to control the conduct of federal officers; secondly, that Congress has authority over any expenditures implicating a former president; thirdly, Congress can investigate any activity which might involve national law enforcement agencies or officials; fourthly, questions about whether Willis’ office coordinated with Department of Justice (DOJ).
Finally, he also called attention to Willis’ prior fundraisers as well as those of a special grand jury she convened earlier this year specifically aimed at investigating Trump – noting that it could be seen as politically motivated.
Following several discussions between Jordan and Bragg resulting in a lawsuit against him by Bragg attempting to put an end to their investigation into one of his attorneys, a federal judge sided with Jordan claiming he had the right to look into Bragg’s case taking relevant legislation into account.
House Republicans have now argued they should be given oversight authority since news outlets have reported that much of the same evidence and witnesses were used by both Smith and Willis regarding their respective investigations – suggesting some level of coordination between them may exist.
