Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, and Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, has launched an investigation into whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) illegally spied on members of Congress and their staff. Jordan sent letters to Alphabet, Apple, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, seeking information on any activities requested by the DOJ between Jan. 1, 2016, and the present.
The news release on the panel’s website stated that Google had notified the former Chief Investigative Counsel to then-Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Republican Charles Grassley of Iowa, that in 2017, the DOJ had subpoenaed the individual’s personal phone records and emails. This occurred while Grassley was investigating the controversial and discredited Steele dossier, which made damaging claims about former President Donald Trump.
Jordan expressed concerns that the DOJ overstepped its limits, saying, “We now know that they spied on congressional staffers. We want to know, how far does it go? Were they spying on members? Were they spying on other staffers?” He also highlighted the chilling effect this could have on the separation of powers, and the duty of Congress to conduct oversight of the executive branch.
The House Judiciary Committee has since sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, seeking all information relating to any effort to access the phone records of legislative branch members. The letter stated, “Google’s notification further raises the question of whether the Justice Department also requested any official records or communications on these staffers’ government devices.” The committee emphasized that such actions by the DOJ are unacceptable and a violation of the separation of powers.
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The letter also addressed the recent news that the DOJ had subpoenaed the emails and records of congressional staffers on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, who were conducting oversight on the DOJ’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation. This investigation was based on baseless claims of collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia.
The committee expressed deep concern that these actions suggest the DOJ has “weaponized” its authority and used it to spy on those attempting to hold it accountable. This goes against fundamental separation of powers principles and Congress’ constitutional mandate to oversee the DOJ.
Jordan and the House Judiciary Committee are speaking out against the political weaponization of the DOJ, which can have far-reaching and damaging consequences. The violation of privacy and breach of trust in the separation of powers are serious issues that must be addressed. The committee’s investigation will seek to uncover the full extent of the DOJ’s actions and hold those responsible accountable. Such actions must not go unchecked, and efforts must be made to prevent similar abuses of power in the future.