House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has requested detailed information from Attorney General Merrick Garland regarding the superseding indictment filed against former President Donald Trump by Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Jordan's letter, obtained by The Daily Caller, seeks documents and communications related to the indictment, filed on August 27, 2024, and questions whether Garland had prior knowledge or approval of the charges.
The superseding indictment, which updates the initial charges from July, excludes allegations concerning Trump's attempts to influence the Department of Justice and modifies claims about the former president's actions being outside his official duties. This development follows a Supreme Court ruling on July 1, 2024, which established broader presidential immunity.
Jordan's letter alleges that Smith's revised indictment violates longstanding DOJ policies designed to protect democratic processes. He says that the timing of the indictment, coming just ten days before early voting begins in some states, has raised concerns about its potential impact on the upcoming election. Jordan argues that the indictment's proximity to the election suggests an attempt to influence the electoral outcome, particularly in light of the Supreme Court's recent ruling.
Jordan has specifically requested all relevant documents and communications between the DOJ and Smith's office, as well as any records of Garland's approval of the superseding indictment. He also seeks information on whether the indictment was evaluated against the Department's policy on prosecutorial actions near an election.
In addition to the Washington, D.C. case, Smith is prosecuting Trump in Florida on charges related to the alleged mishandling of classified documents after he left office. That trial, initially scheduled for May, has now been delayed indefinitely.
Jordan has set a deadline of September 13, 2024, for the requested documents and information to be provided to the committee.
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