Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, on Thursday sent a letter to Special Counsel Jack Smith informing him that the panel has started an investigation into DOJ prosecutor Jay Bratt—a senior prosecutor in the special counsel’s office—over allegations of misconduct by a prosecutor on Smith’s team and accusing the office of using “abusive tactics.”
Jordan claimed that Bratt reportedly wrongfully exerted pressure on Stephen Woodward, a lawyer defending Trump valet and aide Waltine Nauta, in relation to allegations arising from the special counsel’s inquiry into the suspected improper retention of sensitive information at Mar-a-Lago. Nauta entered a not-guilty plea to the accusations.
Jordan stated, “The Committee on the Judiciary is continuing its scrutiny of the Biden Justice Department’s dedication to impartial justice and its conduct of a special counsel investigation into President Biden’s leading rival in the upcoming presidential race. “Last year, Stanley Woodward, a lawyer for a defendant you had indicted, allegedly gave in to improper pressure from Jay Bratt, one of your top prosecutors, by suggesting that the administration would be more receptive to Mr. Woodward’s application for a judgeship if Mr. Woodward’s client cooperated with the Office of the Special Counsel.
“This attempt to pressure Mr. Woodward in an unethical manner raises serious concerns about the Office of the Special Counsel’s abusive tactics and the Department’s dedication to its responsibility to maintain the rule of law and ensure impartial justice,” Jordan added.
In Jordan’s words, Bratt’s alleged “attempt to bully Mr. Nauta into cooperating, first by extorting his attorney and then by alleging a conflict of interest that precludes his attorney from the case, seriously calls into question your team and your ability to remain impartial and uphold the Department’s mission.”
Jordan insisted that Smith provide over all correspondence logs pertaining to any meetings with Woodward at the Justice Department as well as correspondence between Woodward and the Justice Department.
By September 21 at 5:00 p.m., Jordan commanded Smith to give the needed information to the House Judiciary Committee.
Smith’s office is the subject of an investigation by Jordan and his committee.
A request for comment from Fox News Digital was not immediately answered by the Justice Department.
Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith as special counsel in November to look into Trump’s alleged unlawful handling of confidential documents.
On all 37 criminal accusations stemming from that investigation, Trump entered a not guilty plea. Charges include making false statements and conspiring to impede justice as well as the purposeful retention of information related to national defence.