House Judiciary Committee Chair Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) warned the Biden White House on Tuesday that Republicans will not tolerate continued refusal to comply with oversight requests made by the panel.
Jordan wrote to several top Biden administration officials, warning them the new GOP House majority is prepared to use the subpoena powers Congress possesses to compel compliance in the search for truth on behalf of the American people.
The notices were sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Director Steven Dettlebach, Drug Enforcement Administrator Anne Milgram, and Joe Biden’s White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) January 17, 2023
Jordan pointed out how officials have frustrated oversight efforts by GOP members under Pelosi’s guidance. He wrote: “For two years, the Biden administration has stonewalled Congress, refused to comply with basic document requests and avoided transparency and accountability for its failures.”
“House Judiciary Republicans are committed to holding each agency accountable under the new majority and will use compulsory process, if necessary, to get answers for the American people,” he added.
As the Judiciary Committee has been preparing to begin formal investigations since the new Congress was sworn in on January 6, GOP members have been sending Biden administration officials demanding notices regarding documents and testimony that will be expected.
Among the known issues the committee has slated to investigate are the Department of Justice (DOJ) policies regarding monitoring American parents at school board meetings, the FBI raid of President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, and misuse of surveillance and warrant powers granted by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Jordan also expressed his intention to probe Joe Biden’s involvement in Hunter Biden’s business affairs in places like China and Ukraine.
The House Oversight Committee is expected to conduct parallel investigations with the Judiciary Committee over the next two years. The oversight panel is chaired by Rep. James Comer (R-KY).
The White House has thrown out obstacles to Jordan and Comer, telling both that they would have to refile their previous demands for legitimate oversight materials. White House attorney Richard Sauber has said previously that the two GOP representatives lacked legal authority to demand anything from the administration until the new Congress began work.
Sauber wrote to them previously: “Congress has not delegated oversight authority to individual members of Congress who are not committee chairmen, and the House has not done so under its current rules.”
Jordan pointed out on Tuesday that the days of that sort of legal posturing are done.
He wrote, “Setting aside the constitutional and legal fallacies inherent in the White House’s argument, nothing in federal law prevented the White House from voluntarily complying with our requests.”
Now, “the administration’s stonewalling must stop,” Jordan wrote.
