House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting information on the status of a special counsel investigation into President Joe Biden’s potential mishandling of classified documents.
Jordan, an Ohio Republican, specifically wants Garland to provide him with an “unredacted copy of the memorandum outlining the scope of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s probes regarding President Biden and any supporting documents relating to his appointment.”
“The Committee on the Judiciary has jurisdiction to oversee the activities of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation pursuant to Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives,” he wrote, adding that he’s also requesting “any other document describing, listing, or delineating the authority and jurisdiction” outlining the scope “of the special counsel” probe.
Hur was appointed after classified documents were discovered at the Biden Penn Center, which dated back to when Biden served as vice president. Additional classified materials were also found at one of Biden’s residences in Delaware.
Jordan’s letters to Garland came as former President Donald Trump appeared in court this week.
U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon issued her first big decision on Thursday afternoon in the case brought against him by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who Biden’s Department of Justice appointed.
Cannon declared in a brief order that all attorneys in the case — as well as Trump’s longtime valet, Walt Nauta, who is charged alongside him as an alleged co-conspirator — are required to contact the DOJ about obtaining security clearances.
“Cannon ordered the attorneys to file a ‘notice of compliance’ by June 20, a relatively rapid pace. Both Trump and Nauta are looking to fill out their legal teams in the coming days. Trump, in particular, has suffered setbacks as several of his veteran lawyers quit the case in the leadup to his indictment, the result of internal turmoil that has spilled into public view,” Politico reported.
“There are no additional dates set yet in the case against Trump, whose historic arraignment was completed on Tuesday in Miami. Nauta’s arraignment was postponed until June 27 because he did not yet have a lawyer who is a member of the bar in the federal court in south Florida,” the outlet added.
Guardian reporter Hugo Lowell tweeted: “New on Trump Mar-a-Lago docket: US judge Aileen Cannon orders defense counsel to contact DOJ to expedite security clearance process on or before June 16 and file compliance notice by June 20. Cannon does not appear to be recusing this case.”
Earlier this week, a former Trump criminal defense attorney is arguing that the investigation into Trump over alleged mishandling of classified documents may not even go to trial.
During an interview on Fox News, Timothy Parlatore — who served as a criminal defense attorney for Trump until last month — spoke with host Laura Ingraham about Trump appearing in Miami on Tuesday for his arraignment in the case brought against him by Smith, who Biden’s Department of Justice appointed.
Trump pleaded “not guilty” in federal court. If he is found guilty on all counts, Trump — who is President Joe Biden’s chief rival in next year’s presidential election — could face decades in prison.
Parlatore argued he believes there are fundamental flaws with the case, particularly over the grand jury process and breaches of attorney-client privilege. Parlatore said he believes this could result in the entire case being thrown out.
During an interview on Fox News, Timothy Parlatore — who served as a criminal defense attorney for Trump until last month — spoke with host Laura Ingraham about Trump appearing in Miami on Tuesday for his arraignment in the case brought against him by Smith, who Biden’s Department of Justice appointed.
Trump pleaded “not guilty” in federal court. If he is found guilty on all counts, Trump — who is President Joe Biden’s chief rival in next year’s presidential election — could face decades in prison.
Parlatore argued he believes there are fundamental flaws with the case, particularly over the grand jury process and breaches of attorney-client privilege. Parlatore said he believes this could result in the entire case being thrown out.