Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) filed a criminal referral with the Justice Department on Wednesday seeking charges against former special counsel Jack Smith [1].
The move marks a significant escalation in the conflict between House Republicans and the former prosecutor, who previously indicted Donald Trump two times [2].
Jordan, the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said that Smith provided false statements and representations to Congress during his testimony [1]. The referral asks the Department of Justice to pursue criminal charges based on these assertions [3].
Attorneys for Smith responded to the allegations, describing the referral as "a spurious claim" [4]. The dispute centers on the accuracy of Smith's interactions with lawmakers while serving as special counsel.
Jordan has led the House Judiciary Committee in several probes into the conduct of federal prosecutors and the Department of Justice [3]. This latest action focuses specifically on whether Smith's testimony met the legal threshold for criminal falsehoods before Congress [1].
The Department of Justice has not yet announced whether it will open a formal investigation into the claims made by the House Judiciary Committee [3]. Smith's legal team said that the accusations lack merit [4].
“"a spurious claim"”
This referral represents the ongoing political and legal friction between the House Judiciary Committee and the legal officials involved in the federal prosecutions of Donald Trump. While a criminal referral is a formal request for investigation, it does not guarantee that the Justice Department will bring charges, as the DOJ maintains independent prosecutorial discretion.
