Jim Jordan calls for investigation into alleged DOJ spying on Congress members and staff.
House Judiciary Committee Investigating Alleged DOJ Spying on Congress Members and Staff
The House Judiciary Committee, led by Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, is launching an investigation into whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) spied on members of Congress and their staff. Jordan has sent letters to Alphabet, Apple, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, demanding information about any activities carried out by these companies on behalf of the DOJ from January 1, 2016, to the present.
In a news release on the committee’s website, it was revealed that Google had informed a former Chief Investigative Counsel to then-Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Republican Charles Grassley of Iowa that the company had been subpoenaed by the DOJ in 2017 for the individual’s personal phone records and emails. This revelation came during Grassley’s investigation into the Steele dossier, which contained discredited allegations about former President Donald Trump.
#BREAKING: @Jim_Jordan Launches Inquiry into the DOJ’s Attempts to Spy on Congress
Letter to DOJ: https://t.co/PERRBUsznC
Letter to Alphabet: https://t.co/5hsFVj0Y0i
Letter to Apple: https://t.co/jmXa9sIVGa
Letter to AT&T: https://t.co/0lY08vHhnQ
Letter to… pic.twitter.com/t2M2o1251a
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) October 31, 2023
The committee’s news release stated that Google’s notification indicated that the DOJ may have also sought the personal records and communications of other congressional staffers, both Republicans and Democrats, who were involved in overseeing the Department during the same period. The committee aims to determine the extent of the DOJ’s surveillance.
Expressing concerns about the Justice Department’s actions, Jordan emphasized the need to uncover the full scope of the spying. He questioned whether members of Congress and their staff were targeted and stressed the importance of maintaining the separation of powers and the constitutional duty of oversight.
The committee has sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, requesting all information related to any attempts to access the phone records of legislative branch members. The letter also raised the possibility that the DOJ may have requested official records or communications from government devices used by congressional staffers.
The committee’s letter strongly condemned the Justice Department’s actions, stating that they were unacceptable and violated the principles of separation of powers and Congress’s constitutional authority. It also highlighted previous instances where the DOJ had issued subpoenas to obtain private emails and records of congressional staffers involved in oversight of the Justice Department’s Crossfire Hurricane investigation.
The committee’s investigation aims to determine if the Justice Department abused its law enforcement authority to spy on those seeking to hold it accountable. The full extent of the alleged spying and its implications for the legislative branch remain to be seen.
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The post Jim Jordan Declares Probe Into Alleged DOJ Spying on Congress Members, Staff appeared first on The Western Journal.
What concerns have been raised regarding the timing of these inquiries and their potential political motivations
The alleged spying on Congress members and staff undermines the principles of democracy and infringes on the rights of elected officials to carry out their duties without interference. The Judiciary Committee is determined to hold the DOJ accountable and ensure that such actions are not repeated in the future.
In addition to Google, the committee has also requested information from other major tech companies, including Apple, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon. This indicates the committee’s intention to thoroughly investigate whether these companies participated in any activities on behalf of the DOJ that may have infringed on the privacy of Congress members and their staff.
The timing of these inquiries is significant, as it aligns with the recent revelations surrounding the DOJ’s subpoena of phone records and emails of a former Chief Investigative Counsel. This specific case came to light during Senator Grassley’s investigation into the controversial Steele dossier, adding to concerns that the spying may have been politically motivated.
The House Judiciary Committee’s investigation aims to uncover the extent to which the DOJ spied on Congress members and staff, including whether additional individuals were targeted during the same period. This will be crucial in determining the scope of the surveillance and establishing the accountability of the Justice Department.
Representative Jim Jordan, who is leading the investigation, has expressed serious concerns about the actions of the DOJ and stressed the importance of maintaining the separation of powers. He has highlighted the constitutional duty of oversight that Congress holds and emphasized the need to protect the privacy and rights of elected officials.
The committee’s letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland also raises the possibility that the DOJ may have requested official records or communications from government devices used by congressional staffers. This expands the scope of the investigation and underscores the concern that the alleged spying may extend beyond personal records and communications.
In conclusion, the House Judiciary Committee’s investigation into the alleged DOJ spying on Congress members and staff is a significant step in holding the Department accountable for potential infringements on the rights and privacy of elected officials. The committee’s efforts to obtain information from major tech companies and the request for complete transparency from the Attorney General indicate a commitment to uncovering the full extent of the surveillance and ensuring that appropriate actions are taken to prevent such breaches in the future.
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