Principled limited government constitutional conservative Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-4) on Sunday said he has refused to cooperate with the Democrats’ partisan “investigation” into the January 6, 2021 protest at the U.S. Capitol.
Rep. Jordan said he was asked to disclose conversations he had with the former president as 'Stop the Steal' protesters breached the Capitol in a bid to stop Congress from formally certifying the Democrat Joe Biden's election victory in the first days of 2021.
“This request is far outside the bounds of any legitimate inquiry, violates core constitutional principles and would serve to further erode legislative norms,” Jordan said in a letter to committee chairman, Democrat Bennie Thompson and reported by the UK’s Daily Mail.
“The American people are tired of Democrats' nonstop investigations and partisan witch hunts,” he added, joining a growing list of Trump allies who have refused to answer questions from the panel.
Rep. Jordan characterized the Committee’s inquiry as “an outrageous abuse of the Select Committee's authority” saying:
At the time of the security breach of the Capitol, I was present in the House chamber preforming my official duties pursuant to the U.S. Constitution and federal law. The other topics referenced in your letter likewise relate to the performance of official duties. Your attempt to pry into the deliberative process informing a Member about legislative matters before the House is an outrageous abuse of the Select Committee's authority. This unprecedented action serves no legitimate purpose and would set a dangerous precedent for future Congresses.
Jim Jordan went on to point out:
I am aware of no effort by the Select Committee to solicit testimony from Speaker Pelosi, House Administration Chair Zoe Lofgren, or any other Democrat Members with responsibility for or oversight of the security posture at the Capitol complex on January 6. This double standard confirms our suspicion that the Democrats are using the Select Committee as a partisan cudgel against their political adversaries and not to advance any legitimate legislative purpose.
Rep. Jordan becomes the second Republican Member of the House of Representatives to decline to testify before the J6 Committee after Republican Representative Scott Perry (PA-4) last month declined the select committee's request to speak with him.
“I stand with immense respect for our Constitution, the Rule of Law, and the Americans I represent who know that this entity is illegitimate, and not duly constituted under the rules of the US House of Representatives,” the newly elected Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus wrote in a statement posted to Twitter. “I decline this entity's request and will continue to fight the failures of the radical Left who desperately seek distraction from their abject failures of crushing inflation, a humiliating surrender in Afghanistan, and the horrendous crisis they created at our border.”
Rep. Jordan concluded his response saying, “I have no relevant information that would assist the Select Committee in advancing any legitimate purpose.”
Democrat Bennie Thompson
Jim Jordan
January 6 Committee
Nancy Pelosi
private communications
abuse of authority
Rep. Scott Perry
Liz Cheney
Select Committee
Jim Jordan is a true conservative and upholder of the Constitution. I only wish that Tre Goudy would have continued as a public servant. The two of them were the bulwark against liberal lunacy and genuine defenders of democratic principles.
Every Republican should denounce the 1/6 Commission to pound sand. Unfortunately, all of them are not doing so.