Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) appeared to suggest on Sunday that he will not voluntarily cooperate with the Jan. 6 select committee investigating the U.S. Capitol breach, calling the request “unprecedented and inappropriate.”
The nine-member committee investigating the origins of the breach, which is almost entirely comprised of Democrats, has subpoenaed a number of people as part of its investigation, including former President Donald Trump national security adviser Mike Flynn, his former adviser Stephen Bannon, and his former White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows.
In a letter to committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) dated Jan. 9, Jordan cited several reasons as to why he feels that he does not need to cooperate with the panel’s request, including that he has “no relevant information” that would assist them in their investigation or in “advancing any legitimate legislative purpose.”
“The American people are tired of Democrats’ nonstop investigations and partisan witch hunts,” Jordan began his letter. “Your letter of December 22, 2021, unfortunately, continues this Democrat obsession. It amounts to an unprecedented and inappropriate demand to examine the basis for a colleague’s decision on a particular matter pending before the House of Representatives.”
“This request is far outside the bounds of any legitimate inquiry, violates core Constitutional principles, and would serve to further erode legislative norms,” Jordan continued.
The Ohio Republican then went on to cite a number of reasons as to why he feels he does not need to cooperate with the investigation, which has so far appeared to focus on individuals who previously served in the Trump administration, including those who were no longer in the White House during the Jan. 6 breach.
Jordan wrote that he “cannot speak to Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s failure” to ensure the Capitol building had adequate security in advance of the breach and that he has nothing to add to the “bipartisan, comprehensive findings of the Senate investigative committees or to those issued by federal inspectors general.”
The congressman said he was performing “official duties” as a lawmaker at the time the Capitol building was breached.
