Utterly Deplorable:
Republicans who have leaped to former president Donald Trump’s defense over his handling of classified documents are using his indictment to escalate attacks against what they say is a politicized and “weaponized” Department of Justice and a corrupt FBI.
They are discussing a wide range of ideas, from funding cuts to investigating the DOJ’s investigation. And in the Senate, one is blocking votes on most DOJ nominees because of Trump's indictment.
“We’re looking at all things,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told us of Republicans’ plans. Jordan is one of Trump’s biggest defenders and, as head of the Judiciary Committee, has jurisdiction over the FBI.
Jordan is in the process of creating a list of directives to restrict FBI funding, also known as policy riders.
He spoke with the chair of the appropriations subcommittee that oversees FBI funding, Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), and senior appropriator Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) on Tuesday on the House floor about funding restrictions.
The House Democrats’ campaign committee has already run billboards in 12 vulnerable Republican districts for threatening cuts to law enforcement after Trump pushed the idea in April when the DOJ’s investigation was nearing conclusion.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), chair of the Senate appropriations subcommittee that oversees FBI funding, said that most of the FBI budget is personnel and that “there's not a lot there that can be cut.”
“Those kinds of responses are not what the public is looking for,” she added.
Jordan, in a letter to Garland last week, asked for the memo that launched the special counsel investigation. He gave Garland until June 20 to comply. (We doubt he will.)
There are discussions about calling or subpoenaing Smith and Garland to testify before Congress, but the chance of them complying is pretty much zero during a criminal proceeding.
Freshman Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) announced that he would hold up Justice Department nominees because of the indictment.
Vance said he wants an acknowledgment that a lot of the investigations Garland has led — as well as decisions not to investigate — “are fundamentally political in nature,” and he said he wants “a commitment to change that policy.”
“I leave it to him what exactly that looks like, but it's not going to be a public statement. It needs to be some administrative directive that he's going to change how they do enforcement,” Vance said.
There are currently two Justice Department nominees under consideration in the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said “There should be no political or ideological interference. The case should move forward on the merits. And President Trump is not above the law.”
Republicans who have leaped to former president Donald Trump’s defense over his handling of classified documents are using his indictment to escalate attacks against what they say is a politicized and “weaponized” Department of Justice and a corrupt FBI.
They are discussing a wide range of ideas, from funding cuts to investigating the DOJ’s investigation. And in the Senate, one is blocking votes on most DOJ nominees because of Trump's indictment.
“We’re looking at all things,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told us of Republicans’ plans. Jordan is one of Trump’s biggest defenders and, as head of the Judiciary Committee, has jurisdiction over the FBI.
Funding cuts
Tightening the purse strings is one of the most effective ways Congress can exert its power. And Republicans plan to use it against the FBI and the DOJ.Jordan is in the process of creating a list of directives to restrict FBI funding, also known as policy riders.
He spoke with the chair of the appropriations subcommittee that oversees FBI funding, Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), and senior appropriator Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) on Tuesday on the House floor about funding restrictions.
- At the top of the list is restricting money for the new FBI headquarters that has been in the works for years in the D.C. suburbs.
The House Democrats’ campaign committee has already run billboards in 12 vulnerable Republican districts for threatening cuts to law enforcement after Trump pushed the idea in April when the DOJ’s investigation was nearing conclusion.
- Another policy rider, Jordan said, would restrict funding to prevent “retaliation” against whistleblowers.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), chair of the Senate appropriations subcommittee that oversees FBI funding, said that most of the FBI budget is personnel and that “there's not a lot there that can be cut.”
“Those kinds of responses are not what the public is looking for,” she added.
Defunding the special counsel
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) says she’ll introduce a policy rider to defund the special counsel’s office. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Jack Smith as special counsel to investigate Trump’s handling of classified documents and other cases.- Our colleagues at CNN reported this detail: Greene, who spent time with Trump in Georgia over the weekend, told CNN she brought the idea up with the former president, who she said is “very supportive.” Greene, who asked the House Freedom Caucus to take an official position on the proposal, also raised the issue during a meeting in McCarthy’s office on Tuesday afternoon about the upcoming appropriations process.
Investigating the investigation
“Congress has a certain role, and it’s almost an oversight role,” McCarthy said when we asked him how Congress should respond to the Trump indictment.Jordan, in a letter to Garland last week, asked for the memo that launched the special counsel investigation. He gave Garland until June 20 to comply. (We doubt he will.)
There are discussions about calling or subpoenaing Smith and Garland to testify before Congress, but the chance of them complying is pretty much zero during a criminal proceeding.
Crippling the DOJ
It’s not just Republicans in the House that are trying to hobble the FBI.Freshman Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) announced that he would hold up Justice Department nominees because of the indictment.
- “We have to grind this department to a halt until Merrick Garland promises to do his job and stop going after his political opponents,” Vance said in a video posted to Twitter.
Vance said he wants an acknowledgment that a lot of the investigations Garland has led — as well as decisions not to investigate — “are fundamentally political in nature,” and he said he wants “a commitment to change that policy.”
“I leave it to him what exactly that looks like, but it's not going to be a public statement. It needs to be some administrative directive that he's going to change how they do enforcement,” Vance said.
There are currently two Justice Department nominees under consideration in the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said “There should be no political or ideological interference. The case should move forward on the merits. And President Trump is not above the law.”
