Overview

• Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to the DOJ demanding records and explanations regarding a stalled investigation into misconduct allegations against Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team.
• The allegations include claims of evidence manipulation during the FBI’s Mar-a-Lago raid and attempts to impose excessive prison sentences on defendants.
• The DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) delayed investigating the claims, citing concerns about interfering with Smith’s prosecutions of Donald Trump, which have since concluded.
• Jordan criticized the OPR for only beginning its inquiry after receiving permission from Smith, raising doubts about the independence and impartiality of the investigation.
• The Judiciary Committee has issued a preservation notice, requesting all related records be safeguarded and produced by December 18, as part of its ongoing oversight efforts.