June 4, 2024, 10:34 AM
Committee leaders gave decidedly different opening statements.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan made opening statements in Washington, DC on Monday.
Pool
House Judiciary Committee Republican Chairman Jim Jordan and the committee’s top Democrat delivered strikingly different opening statements Tuesday.
The Ohio Republican took aim at Donald Trump as he sought to attack the Justice Department’s handling of matters relating to the former president as well as Joe Biden.
“President Trump is being indicted for mishandling documents,” he said in part. “Joe Biden has no problem mishandling documents.”
“Mr. Garland, I’m glad you’re here today,” Jordan said, later adding, “Questions abound. Many Americans believe there is a double standard in our justice system.”
Sen. Jerry Nadler pushed back against Jordan’s claims about the attorney general.
“This committee, once a driving force for moving the country forward, has become little more than a field office for the Trump campaign,” Nadler said.
He said the hearing was “not an attempt to exercise real, robust oversight over the Department of Justice.” Rather, the hearing was “an attempt to cast the Biden administration’s attorney general against President Trump” and promote “absurd conspiracy theories,” Nadler said.
“I take great comfort in knowing that no matter what your Republican colleagues say about you here, the thoughtfulness and civility that have characterized your leadership at the Department of Justice will remain unchanged,” Nadler said. “I urge you not to take this process too personally. This desperation has nothing to do with your record as attorney general,” he said.
