Jordan Refers Jack Smith For Failing To Answer Questions Congress Never Asked

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has referred former special counsel Jack Smith to the Justice Department, defending Congress’s constitutional right to receive answers to questions it did not ask. Jordan alleges Smith misled lawmakers during December testimony about records obtained in his investigation of President Donald Trump. Smith said subpoenas for congressional telephone toll records did not include message content, an answer that was literally true. Separate material obtained from the National Archives contained lawmakers’ texts, however, which Smith recklessly failed to mention while answering a different question about different records.

“The Founders were absolutely clear that when Congress asks one narrow question, every witness must also answer all related questions, unrelated questions and questions we think of after seeing the documents,” Jordan said. “Otherwise, you have chaos, deception and the grave danger that members of Congress might be expected to conduct a competent interview.” Smith’s attorneys called the referral “spurious,” embracing the radical legal doctrine that a truthful answer does not become perjury merely because Jim Jordan later wishes he had phrased the question better. Former prosecutors also noted that the referral identifies no false statement, revealing the legal establishment’s stubborn obsession with locating crimes before prosecuting them.

The Justice Department under Attorney General Pam Bondi is reviewing Jordan’s request, an encouraging indication that federal law enforcement may soon replace the cumbersome burden of proving offenses with the simpler test of determining whether Trump remains annoyed. Rep. Jamie Raskin predicted the referral would be laughed out of court, but Jordan’s allies said judicial laughter is a familiar response to constitutional theories too advanced for written law. Under the new standard, congressional witnesses must answer the question asked, every question left unasked and any improved question Republicans devise after unfavorable reporting appears. Accuracy, silence and insufficient clairvoyance are therefore federal crimes, finally restoring the rule of law to its original meaning of keeping Donald Trump pleased.

* None of the quotes in this article were spoken by an actual person. More info.