House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) clashed with Democrats during a "weaponization" subcommittee hearing over whistleblower testimony and his use of subpoenas.
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY), a lead counsel in both of former President Donald Trump's impeachment proceedings, demanded notes or transcripts of the "dozens" of FBI and Justice Department whistleblowers Jordan said he had spoken to. Earlier, Jordan and ranking member Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) argued over Jordan's subpoenaing of witnesses without first asking for voluntary testimony as chairman.
EX-FBI AGENTS DETAIL 'POLITICIZATION' OF AGENCY AHEAD OF BOMBSHELL GOP HEARING
During the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government's first hearing on Thursday, Goldman asked Jordan, who leads the subcommittee, to turn over his interviews with whistleblowers to the minority. Jordan responded that there were no official interviews yet, save one with a former FBI official that took place on Tuesday. Goldman pointed out that this didn't account for Jordan's repeated references to evidence gained from dozens of whistleblowers.
Jordan didn't elaborate on how he had evidence from so many whistleblowers, saying he would work with Plaskett to get everyone the information they needed. He said that's how the sharing process is supposed to work but was "not how they worked in the impeachment that Mr. Goldman was a part of when Mr. [Adam] Schiff said he did have contact with that whistleblower but didn't actually."
"When they come and testify, you'll have access to the transcript like everyone on the committee will," Jordan added.
The accusation against former Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) was one of the reasons House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) banned Schiff from serving on the committee again.
Plaskett and Jordan also clashed over Jordan's decisions to issue subpoenas for witnesses he asked to testify voluntarily during the last Congress. She pointed out that the witnesses had little reason to heed the requests before January since the Republicans didn't have majority control.
"We tried the honey — 100 letters we sent in the last Congress. We tried the honey. It didn't work. That's why we sent the subpoenas," Jordan said.
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Plaskett responded, "The last Congress. You're now the chair. You're now in the majority. You should have tried that first as chair of this committee, not as ranking member."
The hearing sets the stage for the new committee's investigations into the alleged politicization of federal agencies.