All posts tagged "jim jordan"

GOP brutally mocked for claiming Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 'definitely a Republican'

The official X account for the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee posted a Christmas Eve message declaring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is “definitely a Republican.”

The account for the committee, led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) then proceeded to tick down a list of qualities that it deemed specific to the Republican brand, including “Doubted by the elites,” “pulled himself up by his bootstraps,” “faced adversity” and “carried the team when others couldn’t.”

Social media quickly flushed the claim, with one X user pointing out that, “He wasn’t on Epstein’s island, [though].”

Philadelphia attorney Adam Bonin said on Bluesky that the GOP totally pegged the story wrong.

“‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ is a story about the need for inclusive hiring practices which recognize everyone's unique talents and refuse to see ‘difference’ as an automatic negative,” Bonin posted. “The Republicans in that story were the other reindeer who laughed at Rudolph and called him names.”

“Also, super gay, though nobody recognizes it. So, yeah, Republican,” added astrophysicist Robert Rutledge on X.

“When did he sell out to mega corporations and foreign governments?” demanded another X user.

“I thought the GOP was like the other reindeer because they all have brown noses,” quipped another Bluesky user.

'That's going to be a problem': Jim Jordan menaces Jack Smith before secretive hearing

Former special counsel Jack Smith is scheduled to testify in a closed-door session before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) signaled his antagonistic approach when speaking with reporters ahead of the hearing.

Smith had requested a public hearing, which Jordan declined. The closed-door session will focus on Smith's investigations into Donald Trump, which were discontinued following the president's re-election.

According to Politico, Smith faces significant constraints regarding what he can disclose to the committee. Reporters Hailey Fuchs and Kyle Cheney note that these limitations could provoke confrontations with Republicans seeking to place Smith in legal jeopardy. "Smith must navigate Byzantine secrecy laws and rules that limit what he can disclose to lawmakers. All the while, Republicans are looking to trip him up and incriminate him, to portray him as a tool of a weaponized Justice Department — an allegation they've brandished amid recent revelations that Smith obtained phone records of at least eight GOP senators as part of his probe into Trump's efforts to subvert the 2020 election results."

Jordan indicated he intends to pressure Smith regardless of legal restrictions. He told reporters, "What they did all along, everything was wrong … a lot of things that were just not normal course of investigation or prosecution. If he comes in and doesn't answer questions, that's going to be a problem."

As a former DOJ prosecutor, Smith is limited in what he can reveal. While the department issued a waiver, uncertainty remains about its scope.

Additional complications arise from a Florida federal judge's 11-month prohibition on releasing details from Smith's classified documents investigation report. Trump has urged the judge to maintain this restriction indefinitely, further constraining what Smith can legally discuss about that probe.

House Judiciary Committee Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) countered Jordan's approach, stating, "They are trying to get him on the fast road to one of their ridiculous prosecutions."

You can read more here.

'Ears perk up in the room' as Jim Jordan makes 'very interesting' admission: report

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) reportedly warned Republicans that they better "have a health care plan" that addresses subsidies for the Affordable Care Act and reforms.

According to a report provided by Punchbowl's Jake Sherman, Jordan seemed to admit that Republicans have not yet settled on a health care plan during a meeting with his caucus.

"IN THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE MEETING -- JIM JORDAN said that Republicans should have a health care plan to marry real reforms with subsidies. If not, mods will succeed on a discharge and there will be no reforms," Sherman noted on Wednesday.

"VERY interesting. Made a lot of ears perk up in the room."

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said that there will be at least one vote on health care legislation by the end of the year.

'Not so fast': Ex-prosecutor blows up Jim Jordan's 'not-too-veiled' threat on Jack Smith

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) recently sent a "not-too-veiled" threat to ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith, and one former federal prosecutor has a message for him: "Not so fast."

Ex-prosecutor Joyce Vance wrote on Substack about Jordan and other Republicans, who are accusing Smith of operating the prosecution of Trump in an inappropriate manner. Specifically, GOP lawmakers have protested against reports that Smith had sought their call information in connection with an investigation into Jan. 6.

"ABC reported today that the House Judiciary Committee wants to have former special counsel Jack Smith testify—behind closed doors—about investigating the Mar-a-Lago, January 6, and Donald Trump. Jim Jordan, the Ohio Republican who chairs the Committee, wants an interview by October 28. He is calling for Smith to turn over documents and communications too," Vance wrote. "Why now? Last week, there was reporting (very unsurprising to anyone who has ever investigated a federal case) that Smith’s probe obtained phone records regarding a number of Republican lawmakers as part of the January 6 case investigation. Jordan wrote to Smith, 'As the Committee continues its oversight, your testimony is necessary to understand the full extent to which the Biden-Harris Justice Department weaponized federal law enforcement.'"

But Vance had a message for Jordan and others: "Not so fast."

"Not so fast, though. Obtaining phone records means getting call information—that can mean which phone number called which other phone number, when, and possibly, how long the call lasted. It’s easy to understand why prosecutors would want that information in virtually any case they’re investigating," according to Vance. "Here, given reports that Trump had numerous calls leading up to and on January 6 (for instance, one with brand new Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville), it would be surprising if they hadn’t done so."

Vance went on to say that Jordan’s allegation that this is the weaponization of the DOJ "should fall on deaf ears."

"Jack Smith was investigating one of the most serious situations our country has ever faced—an effort to interfere with the smooth transfer of power between two American administrations, with involvement by the outgoing president who had lost the election—using routine investigative techniques," the ex-prosecutor wrote. "Jordan and other Republicans should be able to differentiate between that and wiretaps, since these are statutory creatures and Congress sets the requirements for when they can be used."

She added, "Jordan admonished Smith that he was 'ultimately responsible for the prosecutorial misconduct and constitutional abuses of your office,' a comment that is a not-too-veiled threat in the era of revenge prosecutions."

Read the full post here.

'On the table': Jim Jordan opens the door to impeaching judges who restrain Trump

House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) is making noises that he is open to the idea of impeaching judges who use the law to restrain Donald Trump’s policies that do not pass constitutional muster.

In an interview with the Washington Times, the blustery Ohio Republican claimed he feels there are also criminal cases that can be made against former high-ranking government officials who have become critics of Trump's policies.

Singling out former CIA director John Brennan he stated, “It looks to me like he may have misled Congress. We are looking at that.”

As for the balking judges, the Times report notes Jordan explained, “The history of our great country has been you don’t impeach judges for stupid decisions, or bad decisions, what we, and common sense, would say is a poor decision. But I don’t think you should rule out impeachment.”

Admitting the way to combat a disputed ruling is through the appeals process, he was quick to point out the high success rate Trump has had with the Supreme Court as a reason not to waste time.

Addressing several judges who have drawn the ire of the president’s MAGA supporters in Congress, Jordan added, “You use every avenue you can, and then if you have to go to impeachment, that’s something that should be on the table.”

Jordan also gave a thumbs up to the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, calling it “appropriate.”

You can read more here.

'I don’t think he's the only one!' Jim Jordan name drops next target for DOJ after Comey

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) dropped a bombshell live on Newsmax Wednesday after naming a former top intelligence official that he suspected might be next in line for criminal prosecution following the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey.

“This whole lawfare, this weaponization of government, this attack on President [Donald] Trump all started with Comey ten years ago, so I think it's entirely appropriate that he's being held to account, particularly for false statements it looks like he made to the United States Congress,” Jordan said, appearing on Newsmax’s “The National Report.”

Comey pleaded not guilty during a hearing in federal court Wednesday to charges of obstruction and perjury, with critics having characterized his indictment as a political prosecution, and just the latest attempt by the Trump administration to persecute its political adversaries.

For Jordan, however, Comey’s indictment was not only appropriate, but perhaps just one of many future criminal prosecutions into former government officials.

“It all began with Comey, and frankly, I don't think he's the only one!” Jordan said. “I think [former CIA Director] John Brennan looks like he misled Congress as well and maybe said false things to Congress, I think we're going to look into that issue and the Justice Department is looking into that also. But Jim Comey is the start of all this.”

While Brennan has yet to be directly threatened with criminal prosecution by the Trump administration, he said recently, following Comey’s indictment in late September, that he was not afraid of being targeted.

“I’m not going to be intimidated by the likes of Donald Trump,” Brennan told MSNBC recently. “I have always tried to speak my mind and do what I thought was right. And clearly there is a corruption and a perversion of the justice system right now within the executive branch.”

'Very disappointed': Trump's trade adviser turns against Jim Jordan for being 'all talk'

Congressman Jim Jordan is under fire from an unlikely source.

The Republican congressman has been labeled by some political analysts as an attack dog for Donald Trump, but he doesn't live up to his MAGA talk, according to fellow Trump ally and top Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro.

Navarro said he saw Jordan on the Fox News' The Big Weekend Show, and was "very disappointed."

"Brother [Jordan]. Watched [The Big Weekend Show] & very disappointed you failed to mention role of FBI thug Walter Giardina in Get Trump conspiracy -- and putting me in prison," Navarro wrote. He added, "Read THIS now for the whole story," and linked to a Breitbart article on the subject.

On Sunday, Navarro additionally attacked James Comer.

"BTW [Jordan, Comer and the Judiciary GOP], never did squat to stop me or Steve Bannon from going to prison."

"All talk, no walk on weaponized justice front," the Trump trade adviser added.

'Reprehensible': Internet roasts 'sketchy wrestling coach' Jim Jordan over abuse comment

Congressman Jim Jordan went on TV over the weekend to declare President Donald Trump's innocence in connection with Jeffrey Epstein's child sex abuse conspiracy, but onlookers had a lot to say about the lawmaker's own past.

Jordan, a Republican lawmaker from Ohio and a staunch ally to Trump, used the government's release of edited transcripts of conversations with Epstein's partner as evidence that Trump is innocent.

In part, Jordan said, "This confirms what we all knew: President Trump didn’t do anything wrong. This transcript confirms that. There’s nothing there based on this interview with [Ghislaine] Maxwell."

The brutal takedowns came quickly.

MeidasTouch wrote, "It’s not the first time Jim Jordan has covered for sexual abusers. The Republican Party is no longer functioning as a political party. It’s a child sex trafficking and sexual abuse ring. Reprehensible."

Navy veteran Jared Ryan Sears said, "So the guy who looked the other way while the players he was coaching were sexually abused is commenting on the statements of an incarcerated, convicted sex trafficker about her friend, another sexual predator, who happens to also be the only person who can give her a pardon? What world are we living in?"

Colorado Moderate said, "So we’re just going to trust the proven liar over the victims and their families? I want Chairman Trump to release the full list so we can see all the Dems and GOP members who touched children."

Liberal commentator Brian Tyler Cohen said, "If you can trust anyone when it comes to exposing pedophilia, it’s Jim Jordan."

Ex-prosecutor Ron Filipkowski said, "This man is an expert on looking the other way on sex abuse incidents. I absolutely cannot believe they brought this guy on to talk about this subject."

PatriotTakes, which tracks right-wing extremism online, noted, "Sketchy wrestling coach clears Trump."

'Like a giant manbaby': UK right-winger gets into screaming match with Dem Jamie Raskin

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) got into a screaming match with controversial UK right-winger Nigel Farage during a presentation about free speech, Politico reported.

Raskin was in London as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation led by House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) to discuss the free speech implications of the UK's new Online Safety Act. Republican lawmakers argue the law "violates free speech and unfairly targets U.S. tech companies," according to the report.

In an interview with Politico, Raskin said he had begun talking about the history of free speech in the United States when he brought up "current threats posed by President Donald Trump."

That's when Farage, a Trump supporter, interrupted, exclaiming, "We’re not here to talk about Donald Trump,” Raskin said, adding, “[Farage] said that I am a guest here, and I should act like a guest. And I told him that he was a host, and he should act like a host.”

The leader of the right-wing Reform UK Party then accused Raskin of being “the most pig-headed person he’d ever met,” causing Raskin to retort, “This is why we had a revolution against you guys.”

Politico said the story was confirmed by Democratic reps Lou Correa (CA), Jasmine Crockett (TX) and Eric Swalwell (CA). "All called Farage’s eruption ironic for happening at the tail end of what had been a respectful discussion on free speech," the report stated.

Swalwell remarked, "Farage just looked unhinged and like a giant manbaby."

"Raskin said the outburst was the 'explosive reaction of one British politician who obviously didn’t want any challenge to his view that he’s a free speech victim,' a reference to Farage saying he’d been locked out of banking services and threatened online over his political speech," according to the report.

Read the Politico story here.

‘All kinds of questions’: Gabbard's Obama attack may give Dems Epstein opening

WASHINGTON — Republican House Judiciary chair Jim Jordan expects Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to appear in front of his committee when the House returns in September, even though their appearance will allow Democrats to grill the pair about the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his close links to Donald Trump.

“‘They're going to get asked all kinds of questions,” Jordan said.

Jordan, from Ohio, wants to ask Bondi and Patel about documents released on Wednesday by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, as part of attempts to portray President Barack Obama and other top officials acting to undermine Trump after his victory in the 2016 election.

The newly released documents concern investigations of Russian election interference on Trump’s behalf and were drafted by House Republicans in 2017, when Trump was first in office.

Gabbard’s gambit was widely seen as an attempt to shift the spotlight from the swirling Epstein scandal.

Earlier this week, House Speaker Mike Johnson brought forward the August recess, as a way to block bipartisan calls for the release of files on Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019.

At the Capitol on Wednesday, Raw Story asked Jordan: “Had you been in talks with ODNI about [the document release], or did you just learn of this today?”

Jordan said: “No, no, no … I did not know Tulsi was going to release this and what she did on Friday.”

Then, Gabbard released a report on investigations of how Russia interfered in the 2016 election in support of Trump, and their handling by Obama, former FBI Director James Comey, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, and other top officials.

That prompted Trump to call for the arrest of Obama, which would be an act without precedent, and Obama to issue a rebuke in turn.

Jordan said: “We knew, based on the intelligence committee chairman … that he thought something was coming, that product they had worked on years ago, which is released today.

“We're going to see, I do know we're going to have Attorney General Bondi and Director Patel in front of our committee real soon.”

Raw Story asked: “On Epstein or on this?”

“On everything,” Jordan replied. “They're coming in for their normal visit. So they're going to get asked all kinds of questions.”

Raw Story said: “You know, Dems are going to want to just focus on Epstein.”

Jordan said: “Democrats, they ask whatever question they want, and Republicans ask whatever question they want. That's what happens when they come in.

“We’ve been working on getting Pam and Kash … in front of the committee weeks ago.”

‘I don’t think it’s gonna work’

Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Intelligence Subcommittee, branded the Republican moves as “ridiculous.”

“Well, again, it's their MO, which is they know they're hiding stuff on the Epstein files, and they're afraid of it, so they want to change the story,” Bera said.

“I don't think it's gonna work.”

Raw Story asked: “How good have [the GOP] become at normalizing the use of government to spread misinformation?”

Bera said: “That's important, right? Because you want people to pressure the federal government when they give you information … that's the sad part of what this place is becoming.”

Bera also had harsh words for Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. Before leaving Congress, she drifted right and eventually entered Trump’s cabinet.

“Tulsi and I came into Congress together,” Bera said. “To see what she's become, it’s just ridiculous … at this juncture, there’s no backbone or spine.”