We have been discussing the deepening scandal over former Special Counsel Jack Smith securing the phone records of members of Congress, including former Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy. Now, Fox News is reporting that the Justice Department subpoenaed the personal phone records of House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan in 2022 for a two-year period. The report may be the most serious disclosure in the controversy, given the direct oversight exercised by Jordan’s committee over Smith and the Justice Department.
Jordan has long been one of the most dogged investigators of abuse at the Justice Department and an outspoken critic of Smith.
The subpoena ordered Verizon to hand over the phone data reaching back to Jan. 1, 2020. Notably, Smith did not begin work as special counsel for another seven months after the subpoena was issued. However, the prosecutor would later work with Smith on the investigation.
The subpoena appears part of the Arctic Frost probe, which swept up the records of top Republican members in a move that many of us have criticized as an unwarranted and dangerous intrusion into the communications of the legislative branch.
Despite the efforts of members like Rep. Dan Goldman (D, NY) to downplay the gravity of such demands, they represent a serious intrusion into the confidentiality of legislators’ communications, including the potential disclosure of journalists, whistleblowers, and others. The records show who Jordan communicated with and when those calls were made. Since this was a personal number, it could also reveal embarrassing information on a member who has directed oversight functions over the Justice Department.
Other members have shown the institutional integrity and identification that others, such as Goldman, lack. Both Republican and Democratic members raised alarm over the disclosures.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) stated, “On the surface of it, it would strike me as a significant invasion of the right of Senators to conduct their jobs, so this is something that needs urgent follow-up.”
The subpoena sought records for multiple phone numbers and included a one-year gag order signed by a D.C. magistrate judge.
As someone who has worked closely with Congress for decades and represented the House in court, I regularly receive calls from both Democratic and Republican members. I keep these calls strictly confidential, and I am sure these members believe that they are not subject to such searches. Smith and the Justice Department shattered that belief.
The demand for these records shows a reckless disregard for long-standing rules of engagement between the branches. It shows a sense of dangerous impunity at the Justice Department that should be thoroughly and aggressively investigated by Congress.
Jonathan Turley, I URGE YOU to do a much better job in your reporting. Hire an actual investigative journalist would be a good start. Someone who can do the heavy lifting, provide references, citations, dates, names and places and then write those into your articles. otherwise, your “work” is half assed.
let me show you exactly what I mean by this.
you write:
“Justice Department subpoenaed the personal phone records of House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan in 2022 for a two-year period.”
lets start with that. Now before I begin, what you have done is made an assertion with zero falsifiable facts to support it. You allege something without developing the evidence that can be used to verify it. This fails the first rule of journalism. Now, if you want to continue to write this way, fine, but understand you will have lost all respect as a so called scholar. Is this how you teach? with assumptions, empty allegations, gossip and echo chambered boring slop? we already have access to the numbing failures of AI….BE DIFFERENT.
In order to raise YOUR BAR…and develop a NEW STANDARD in your articles, let me give you some advice on how to improve:
a. someone, a judge presumably, authorized the subpoena…a warrant was approved. WHO IS THAT JUDGE? why is this so hard for you to investigate and make part of this story? Don’t you think this would be important to know before you hit the enter button. You have this pattern of not going one step more when it comes to actually naming names about how “justice” actually operates…how it HAS performed. We don’t need a lesson in academic law. We need to know which people are responsible for issuing warrants that are obviously extremely controversial. which leads to my next suggestion:
b. After you name this judge, I challenge you to do a test and determine how unusual (or common) it would be for a non Senate confirmed DOJ “prosecutor” to have the constitutional authority to ask for a warrant to spy on congressional members. Remember, these are senior officials…Jack Smith IS NOT. You actually wrote about this and at least mentioned this constitutional standing issue some time ago, when related to the MAL classmat issue. I believe it was a heritage foundation product that provided a very important critique examination about the limits of a prosecutor to gain any kind of legal action, even investigative efforts on congressional members. You can read that here: https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-624/293864/20231220140217967_US%20v.%20Trump%20amicus%20final.pdf
It would be highly relevant that you include this part of the story within this one as well. The key question should be, and you should at least provide your own opinion, why a judge allow this to happen? how did it happen that a judge would permit a non Senate approved DOJ prosecutor to get a warrant for a member of congress? you see the problem.? but you don’t write about this in this article. This is WHY it’s important to name the judge and also to compare why this case is so unusual…perhaps even CRIMINAL…which it most likely very well WAS AND IS.
c. I am not going to accuse you of ignoring radicalization of judges and courts, but simply to point out that because you are in fact a law and constitutional scholar, and a very competent one at that, your audience and this nation as well depends on your solid best work. Sometimes, and lately often, yes it would seem the problems are too insurmountable, but I will remind you that paradigm changes happen when we become aware of the problem…and only when we know the truth, all of it, including holding those (NAMES) accountable, are we on a path that can be corrected.
BE BETTER.
God Bless America
regitiger
It appears that the request was from the grand jury investigating those who had direct connection to the Jan 6th event. Jim Jordan said he had talked to the President that day, but simply could not recall what it was about; plausible deniability. I recall where I was sitting and what I was doing when I was first told of 9/11, 24 years ago. Jim could not talk about his recall during the sacking of his workplace shortly afterwards.
Consider the number of Republicans who met with Russian officials in Moscow on the 4th of July, 2018, while Putin was building up to the invasion of Ukraine: Sen. Richard Shelby (Ala.), Steve Daines (Mont.), John Thune (S.D.), John Kennedy (La.), Jerry Moran (Kan.) and John Hoeven (N.D.), and Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas).
The meetings were supposedly to discuss Putin’s meddling in the midterm elections, a strange trip to make if there’s no way that Putin was meddling in US elections, as Trump has suggested. Also very odd because Putin supports Republicans, such as Trump.
“let me show you exactly what I mean by this.”
The only thing you’ve shown is the meaning of “presumptuous fool.”
Not another investigation, please. Bring the former AG and Smith up on charges and let the court impose sentencing.
What we perceived as a govt of and for the people we actually now see the shadow of the monster – the bureaucratic borg cancer that is really pulling the stings of government. It is all working behind the scenes slowly and disgustingly to stymie change and any light thrown upon it. It protects criminals like the D brand cultists that abuse the system for their political ends because as we all see the D brand political cult not only protects this shadowy bureaucratic cancer it feeds it every chance it gets with our money and blood. The saturation of courts with leftist activist judges slowing and stopping changes and orders of Trump and his administration are becoming legion as this cancerous big brother lashes out afraid for itself and demanding fealty of the D brand cult yet even more.
How corrupt do you have to be to spy on the agency overseeing you? Very corrupt. No surprise from the Democrats though.
history sometimes repeats itself, but it almost always rhymes when encountering corruption.
rewind the clock..Congress is investigating torture and specifically water boarding and rendition to understand how and who authorized and carried out the CIA program.
meanwhile the very same agency, the CIA is setting up “secure” computer terminals for congress to access “secure files” to inspect data PROVIDED BY THE CIA…(yeah, you can stop chuckling)…and then it is discovered that the CIA is actually using those “secure, SKIF-LIKE” servers to hoover up who in that committee is searching for specific data, names, places and locations.
the takeaway is important here. Congress then never bothered to charge a single person with a crime. Not a single person went to court nor was exposed to any kind of legal exposure. Congress cried about it, but at the end of the day, they didn’t do squat.
If you were surprised by that turn of events, then the expected turn of events in this current saga will not surprise you again…
congress uses the intelligence agencies like an ATM machine. Congress operates as the victim and wails at the suggestion and even limited hangouts (directed to you and me), about how unlawful the secret police spy state operates.
but imagine if the same congress acted normally, rationally, and legally made it illegal to spy upon us citizen on US soil.
if your answer to this not really imagined question is hard to answer, then you are not inititiated in the ways of the truly deep state of the US government.
tldr: Congress will make no law forbidding the CIA from collecting and even manufacturing false allegations of criminal conduct…because that power is the ring of Mordor…it is both a get out of jail card that will perpetually absolve you of any crime that you WILL commit.. Only you must comply with jazz hands and doing the potomac two step when asked to provide the latest limited hangout.
last: some people are educated, informed by academia. Other are creatures of the world that is real and curb stomps scholars daily.
turley..you are on notice….go not too much further in your inquires..enjoin with no real investigative journalist worth his salt. so far, you are compliant and thus, safe…we know you know that we know that you know.
it’s okay to be a weak embecile….just stop pretending SO MUCH..that will eventually get you in trouble of the grave danger classification.
nunce.
God Bless America
I followed the watergate investigation intensely when it was occurring. The bad actors (then) within the Whitehouse went to prison. Nixon got the pardon.
Watergate pales in comparison, yet there is no moral fiber in these evil people. Their actions are despicable.
Derangement is one word to describe them. Evil is a better word.
If this investigation plays out in court how it seems now, someone needs to go to prison.
EM
Remember in Trumps first year. All the dems talked about was (WATERGATE part2)
Are you suggesting that the Watergate break in and the subsequent coverup were OK and no one should have been imprisoned or are you saying that those who tried to sneak in false bills of electors should during an attack on the Capitol building should have been imprisoned? Certainly you aren’t saying that those who investigated Nixon and his staff over Watergate should have gone to prison.
I get that some are sad that Jim Jordan is being “picked on” after being accused of ignoring complaints of students sexually molested by the doctor in the sports department Jordan was a part of and had a locker next to. The guy literally doesn’t recall what is going on around him.
“reckless disregard for long-standing rules of engagement”.
While I truly do stand in admiration of Professor Turley’s ideas and analysis, expectation of justice is, well frankly, hallucinogenic. Propagating false hope is even worse.
The Legislature (US House of Representatives) has overridden the Judicial course of Justice through the establishment of “special” investigations and prosecutions that have no boundaries or compliance monitoring – not to mention abrogated anything closely resembling “procedural law” which governs how rights and defense are enforced and methods by which legal proceedings are ethically and legally conducted.
In other words, creation of kangaroo courts that promote summary judgement, defamation, enslavement, and punishment without defense — performed by the “star chambers” empowered to do so. And use the same process to withhold any possibility of addressing or resolving blatant judicial process misconduct – because, this process is literally above the law – and castrates the constitutional execution of the Judicial system.
To frame this more concisely, JUST LOOK AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks
Yep
Like say the Jan6th panel. Picked by Nancy P
When have these judgments happened? I don’t recall a recent Congressional enslavement of anyone.
What sort of sick people are rogue congressmen and senators who attempt to nullify the Constitution, destabilize the government of the United States, and usurp the power of the president and commander-in-chief?
And trump calls for Senators and Congressman to be hung.
What sort of sick person is DJT? And JT? Silence.
Shame.
Cry harder, Gigi. We can’t hear you.
Now that the Epstein kerfuffle is gone, look – a new shiny object to distract from the Dems’ miserable failures!
Precisely!
The Epstein “kerfuffle” is not gone.
Right, the drain has to hit banks, too. The woovs…
Lots of AI out there. Madmani is patted on the arm, jets to Saudis, MTG resigns?
Get off the net. Elon can live on Mars if he wants.
ATS – correct,
it is just nailing Democrats.
You have been caught lying about epstain,
And you have been caught with YOUR hands in Epstains cookie jar.
Sorry, when your party adopts assassination culture, engages in incendiary rhetoric 24/7 to promote violence against the GOP, and then actually assassinates and conservative commentators and attempts to assassinate the president (twice), you don’t get to complain about Trump telling the truth about insurrectionist Dem senators.
Anonymous is right. I wonder what sort of person you are to support Neverending lawlessness bt your party. Maybe you should think for at least one second before showing the world what an idiot you are.
Maybe you should recognize the evil of your idiot Senators and Repa and the words they say, before you criticize the President.
DJT was just lovey-dovey with Mamdani in the Oval. Aww..brotherly love. A person could get whiplash keeping up with Dementia Don’s moods and viewpoints.
Not mood swings, it is called politics.
YOU constantly accuse Trump of being vindictive – yet it is Hillary that actually sought and to a small extent got some vengence.
It is Biden who sought and got some vengence.
It is Democrats accross the country who sought and got some vengance.
All through hoaxes and lies, and misrepresentations.
Trump did NOT go after Hillary after he was elected.
He STILL has not gone after Hillary.
But Hillary’s hoax came after him after he was elected.
Further President Obama came after him after he was elected – T%hat has never happened before.
Trump has not gone after Biden – who inarguably is a corrupt – though at this point he is not competent to stand trial.
Trump is going after people who committed crimes. CLEARLY committed crimes.
There are plenty of political enemies that he has left alone.
Hillary still walks the streets free.
Absolutely Trump will malign you and insult you when you oppose him,
and he will fatter you when you work with him.
And if you want to talk about political whiplash.
Mamdani is walking back campaign promises as fast as possible, while cozying up to Trump.
We will have to see what actually happens but it appears that Mamdani is not the fool that myriads of other democratic mayors and governors are. That he realizes that a hostile relationship with the Federal govenrment is not going to result in a successful term as mayor.
It is even possible that Mamdani could end up being a good Mayor – if he continues to renege on all his campaign promises.
But we will see. I am not betting on that.
Regardless his attempt to mend fences with Trump was actually a shrewd move.
We will have to see if he keeps it up.
“Hillary that actually sought and to a small extent got some vengence.”
What vengeance was that? +
Also, use a spelling checker. You are creeping me out.
“he will fatter you when you work with him”
What I noticed is that Commie Mamdani looked like he was going to drop to his knees and offer Trump was of those BJ Clinton specials in the White House. Trump for his part showed that he can be civil with American as well as foreign communists – if they thinks Trump won’t then b**ch slap them back into place if they get out of line, they’re beyond demented.
Meanwhile the New York commies and online trolls are enraged that Commie Mamdani is furiously backpedaling on his promises before he’s ever assumed office.
More Commie Clown Car entertainment to follow when Mamdani is sworn into office.
SG – people can criticise the president all they want.
What they can not do is lie. That is the problem.
Lets not understate the misconduct of the left.
They LIE when they open their mouths.
John
Has the left “ever” told the truth.
ATS
You do understand you are the little boy who cried wolf – You are the BBC’s misrepresentation fo the remarks of Trump and others on steroids
I do not even bother to google your claims anymore.
You NEVER tell the truth.
If you say something – it must be a lie.
What sort of sick person lies all the time ?
What sort of hateful person lies about the people they disagree with politically ?
Takes their remarks out of context, splices unrelated remarks together or just makes things up.
No one should beleive you.
Unfortunately some do.
Fortunately very few.
Trump called for a violent attack on the Capitol and many in the crowd went to the Capitol and did violence at his direction.
LOL… I would easy off the drugs.
“And trump calls for Senators and Congressman to be hung.” I remember you gloating and cheering when sick people like Biden said he’d like to take Trump out back and beat him (as if). while actors and other entertainers mused about blowing up the White House or another actor assassinating an American president.
Shame that Democrat Marxist Useless Idiots don’t recognize the person looking back at them from the mirror when they brush their teeth once a year is sick.
OT
Were the American Founders socialists?
Did the Founders and Framers put even a scintilla of socialism in their Constitution?
Why would any socialist think he might purvey socialism anywhere in the United States of America?
The absolute 5th Amendment right to private property, the limitations and restrictions on taxation, and the “enumerated powers” in Article 1, Section 8, preclude all facets, aspects, and degrees of socialism in America.
____________________________________
“The goal of Socialism is Communism.”
– Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
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