DOJ briefs House GOP on internal inquiry into Jack Smith misconduct allegations
The Justice Department briefed the House Judiciary Committee about an investigation it opened into Special Counsel Jack Smith and his prosecutors over misconduct allegations, according to a letter obtained by The Washington Examiner.
Details about the misconduct were not immediately clear.
The DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) told Chairman Jim Jordan’s committee last month about a misconduct allegation that took place in June 2023.
The OPR did not take any action against Jack Smith’s office due to the ongoing lawfare investigations into Trump.
Both of Jack Smith’s cases against President Trump have been terminated since Trump won the 2024 presidential election.
The Washington Examiner reported:
The Department of Justice recently briefed the House Judiciary Committee about an internal investigation it had opened into special counsel Jack Smith’s office, according to committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH).
Jordan wrote Wednesday in a letter obtained by the Washington Examiner to Jeffrey Ragsdale, the DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility official who gave the briefing, that Jordan was unsatisfied with the information Ragsdale provided during it.
Ragsdale had said during the briefing, which took place last month, that he opened the inquiry into possible misconduct by Smith’s office in June 2023 but that he had not been able to take any further investigative steps while Smith’s prosecutions of President-elect Donald Trump remained pending, per Jordan. Ragsdale had said any action he took would have interfered with Smith’s cases, both of which have been terminated since Trump’s election win.
“While we appreciate you confirming an open investigation into Jack Smith’s prosecutors, we are concerned that your refusal to take prompt investigative steps will allow these attorneys to evade internal accountability by leaving the Department,” Jordan wrote.
Ragsdale had said he opened the inquiry into Smith’s office after someone working under Smith “self-reported” the possible misconduct to Ragsdale’s office, according to Jordan.
DOJ briefs House GOP on internal inquiry into Jack Smith misconduct allegationshttps://t.co/d3CP7JIPeV
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) December 5, 2024
#BREAKING: DOJ briefed the Committee on prosecutorial misconduct by Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team.
Chairman @Jim_Jordan demands the DOJ produce the requested documents and information. pic.twitter.com/FIpwnZVARg
— House Judiciary GOP 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryGOP) December 5, 2024
