Story by Rachel Schilke •1h
Jordan responds to Fulton County's Fani Willis regarding Trump prosecution: 'Your position is wrong'© Provided by Washington Examiner
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) hit back at Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis's response to the committee's investigation into her criminal case against former President Donald Trump, saying her "position is wrong."
Willis blasted Jordan in a letter at the beginning of September, arguing that he was interfering with her prosecution through his records requests. However, Jordan's latest response sent on Wednesday argued that her judgment on congressional authority was incorrect.
"Your letter contends that the Committee, by conducting oversight into apparently politicized local prosecutions, is 'obstruct[ing] a Georgia criminal proceeding' and 'advanc[ing] outrageous partisan misrepresentations.' Your position is wrong," Jordan wrote in the letter obtained by the Washington Examiner.
He said the committee can "only conclude" from her response to the committee's records requests to investigate whether her case against Trump is politically motivated that she is "actively and aggressively engaged in such a scheme."
Willis had argued that her case was a local and state matter and, therefore, Congress did not have grounds to investigate. However, Jordan argued that the prosecution of a former president "implicates substantial federal interests."
"If state or local prosecutors can engage in politically motivated prosecutions of senior federal officers for acts they performed while in federal office, this could have a profound impact on how federal officers choose to exercise their powers," Jordan wrote.
He added that the special grand jury report showed she "contemplated an even more extensive intrusion into federal interests" after jurors recommended charges against senators — including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
Wednesday's letter is the latest step in the House Judiciary Committee's investigation into Willis's office and the case against Trump, which was launched on Aug. 24. A grand jury indicted Trump and 18 co-defendants on Aug. 14 for racketeering charges related to efforts to overturn Georgia's 2020 election, marking the fifth indictment and fourth criminal case for the former president.
Jordan and House Republicans on the committee have accused Willis of using the 41-count indictment to interfere with the 2024 presidential election, of which Trump is the GOP front-runner. The Ohio congressman's first request for records came hours before Trump turned himself in to Fulton County officials to be arraigned and have his mug shot taken.
The committee has raised concerns about the indictment's legitimacy, with records requests aiming at discovering whether Willis had "coordinated" with the Justice Department — particularly special counsel Jack Smith, who delivered an indictment against Trump for similar reasons to the Georgia case.
"The information that we seek will allow us to assess the extent to which your indictment is politically motivated and whether Congress should therefore draft legislative reforms to, among other things, protect former and current Presidents from politically motivated prosecutions," Jordan added in Wednesday's letter.
Jordan said Willis's decision to indict Trump also raises conflict of interest concerns between federal and local law enforcement.
"Federal law requires the United States Secret Service to protect a former President," Jordan wrote. "Therefore, your indictment raises the potential for conflict between the federal law-enforcement officials required to protect President Trump and local law-enforcement officials required to enforce your indictment and exercise control of him throughout his presence in the local criminal justice system."
A judge ruled in mid-September that Willis could not try all 19 defendants together, meaning Trump will not be tried on Oct. 23 and defendants Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro are the only two heading to trial next month.
Trump is also facing several legal cases at the state and federal level across the country. A New York judge ruled on Tuesday that the former president committed fraud for several years while growing the Trump Organization empire.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) hit back at Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis's response to the committee's investigation into her criminal case against former President Donald Trump, saying her "position is wrong."
Willis blasted Jordan in a letter at the beginning of September, arguing that he was interfering with her prosecution through his records requests. However, Jordan's latest response sent on Wednesday argued that her judgment on congressional authority was incorrect.
"Your letter contends that the Committee, by conducting oversight into apparently politicized local prosecutions, is 'obstruct[ing] a Georgia criminal proceeding' and 'advanc[ing] outrageous partisan misrepresentations.' Your position is wrong," Jordan wrote in the letter obtained by the Washington Examiner.
He said the committee can "only conclude" from her response to the committee's records requests to investigate whether her case against Trump is politically motivated that she is "actively and aggressively engaged in such a scheme."
Willis had argued that her case was a local and state matter and, therefore, Congress did not have grounds to investigate. However, Jordan argued that the prosecution of a former president "implicates substantial federal interests."
"If state or local prosecutors can engage in politically motivated prosecutions of senior federal officers for acts they performed while in federal office, this could have a profound impact on how federal officers choose to exercise their powers," Jordan wrote.
He added that the special grand jury report showed she "contemplated an even more extensive intrusion into federal interests" after jurors recommended charges against senators — including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
Wednesday's letter is the latest step in the House Judiciary Committee's investigation into Willis's office and the case against Trump, which was launched on Aug. 24. A grand jury indicted Trump and 18 co-defendants on Aug. 14 for racketeering charges related to efforts to overturn Georgia's 2020 election, marking the fifth indictment and fourth criminal case for the former president.
Jordan and House Republicans on the committee have accused Willis of using the 41-count indictment to interfere with the 2024 presidential election, of which Trump is the GOP front-runner. The Ohio congressman's first request for records came hours before Trump turned himself in to Fulton County officials to be arraigned and have his mug shot taken.
The committee has raised concerns about the indictment's legitimacy, with records requests aiming at discovering whether Willis had "coordinated" with the Justice Department — particularly special counsel Jack Smith, who delivered an indictment against Trump for similar reasons to the Georgia case.
"The information that we seek will allow us to assess the extent to which your indictment is politically motivated and whether Congress should therefore draft legislative reforms to, among other things, protect former and current Presidents from politically motivated prosecutions," Jordan added in Wednesday's letter.
Jordan said Willis's decision to indict Trump also raises conflict of interest concerns between federal and local law enforcement.
"Federal law requires the United States Secret Service to protect a former President," Jordan wrote. "Therefore, your indictment raises the potential for conflict between the federal law-enforcement officials required to protect President Trump and local law-enforcement officials required to enforce your indictment and exercise control of him throughout his presence in the local criminal justice system."
A judge ruled in mid-September that Willis could not try all 19 defendants together, meaning Trump will not be tried on Oct. 23 and defendants Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro are the only two heading to trial next month.
Trump is also facing several legal cases at the state and federal level across the country. A New York judge ruled on Tuesday that the former president committed fraud for several years while growing the Trump Organization empire.
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