'Weaponization' subcommittee holds hearing on alleged FBI politicization, attacks on civil liberties

Rachel Looker, USA TODAY
·1 min read
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 25: Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) leaves a GOP caucus meeting on Capitol Hill on January 25, 2023 in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 25: Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) leaves a GOP caucus meeting on Capitol Hill on January 25, 2023 in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – A select subcommittee launched by Republicans to examine the "weaponization" of the federal government is holding its first hearing Thursday afternoon, focusing on the FBI, the DOJ and attacks on American civil liberties.

The subcommittee, which falls under the House Judiciary Committee and chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, will feature testimony from Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii will also testify.

Investigating the investigators: GOP creates panels to probe DOJ, China

Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter

What will the hearing focus on?

Republicans have previously said the subcommittee will focus on the Department of Justice's search of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, and investigate the executive branch's role in "collecting information on . . . . citizens of the United States."

Johnson plans to speak about “roadblocks” he says he faced during the investigation into President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. He faced such obstacles when he chaired the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Johnson's office told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The committee also plans to investigate the executive branch and how information is obtained from the private sector.

Who else is testifying?

The second panel of the hearing will include testimony from:

  • Former FBI agents Thomas Baker and Nicole Parker

  • George Washington University Law Center Professor Jonathan Turley

  • Public Policy Forum the Raben Group Principal Elliot Williams

Contributing: Lawrence Andrea contributed to this reporting.  

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Republican-led House subcommittee on 'weaponization' holds hearing

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Indigenous group detains 12 alleged gold miners in Amazon and hands them over to Brazilian police

    An Indigenous group in Brazil said Wednesday its members detained 12 people for allegedly mining illegally in the Amazon and handed them over to police. The non-profit Urihi Associação Yanomami said in a statement that the incident took place Tuesday in the northern state of Roraima, which borders Venezuela. Brazil's Indigenous Peoples Ministry confirmed that a dozen alleged miners, including 10 men and two women, were in police custody.

  • Markets wary of intervention as yen struggles at 155 level

    The yen was pinned on the weaker side of 155 per dollar on Thursday as the Bank of Japan (BOJ) kicks off its two-day rate-setting meeting, leaving traders nervous as to whether Tokyo will intervene while policy deliberations are still underway. Having traded in a tight range over the past few days, a buoyant dollar finally broke above the 155 yen level for the first time since 1990 in the previous session, and was last steady at 155.34 yen in early Asia trade. Intense speculation of intervention from Japanese authorities to shore up the yen had hampered the dollar's ascent towards the psychologically key level, seen by some market participants as a line in the sand that would prompt Tokyo to take action.

  • Sparring continuing among members of Renfrew council

    Renfrew’s Reeve calls for removal of councilor from committee, group and board assignments By R. Bruce McIntyre Local Initiatives Reporter Renfrew – Reeve Peter Emon, who along with Mayor Tom Sidney was removed from all committee, group and board assignments after Renfrew council passed a motion in March calling for these sanctions, tabled his own Notice of Motion at last night’s meeting (April 23) calling for the removal of Councillor John McDonald from all committees, groups and board appointm

  • FOREX-Markets wary of intervention as yen struggles at 155 level

    The yen was pinned on the weaker side of 155 per dollar on Thursday as the Bank of Japan (BOJ) kicks off its two-day rate-setting meeting, leaving traders nervous as to whether Tokyo will intervene while policy deliberations are still underway. Having traded in a tight range over the past few days, a buoyant dollar finally broke above the 155 yen level for the first time since 1990 in the previous session, and was last steady at 155.34 yen in early Asia trade. Intense speculation of intervention from Japanese authorities to shore up the yen had hampered the dollar's ascent towards the psychologically key level, seen by some market participants as a line in the sand that would prompt Tokyo to take action.

  • Town hall renos two years late with a $2 million price tag

    Renfrew – Renfrew’s CAO was again the bearer of bad news when he presented a report to council on the history on the five-year renovation of Renfrew Town Hall. Similar to the Ma-te-Way recreation centre expansion project, this project was also filled with several problems resulting in a two-year delay and a ten-fold increase in the original budget from $200,000 to $2 million. During the April 9 regular council meeting, Robert Tremblay’s report, Town Hall Renovation Project Close-Out Report, high

  • The 1975 star Matty Healy responds to Taylor Swift album

    Swift’s album became Spotify’s most-streamed album in a single week surpassing one billion streams.

  • Cleveland Browns take over gym class at Elmwood Elementary School

    As a part of the Cleveland Browns' Gym Class Takeovers, the team attended Elmwood Elementary School's gym class and gave students a fun-filled day of instruction focused on football.

  • Trump to campaign in Michigan next week amid NYC hush money criminal trial

    While waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on presidential immunity, Trump will return to the campaign trail in Saginaw on May 1.

  • California launches online tool to help fuel small businesses

    The state launched the California Small Business Loan Match on Wednesday. The free tool connects small business owners with trusted lenders.

  • Amanda Seales reflects on relationship with 'Insecure' co-star Issa Rae, talks rumored feud

    Amanda Seales opened up about her rumored feud with "Insecure" co-star Issa Rae in an interview on the "Club Shay Shay" podcast Wednesday.

  • Families of Ethiopia 737 Max crash victims urge US to prosecute Boeing

    Government officials in Washington met with about a dozen family members of people killed when a Boeing 737 Max crashed in Ethiopia in 2019. The families want the Justice Department to revive a criminal charge against the company.

  • Matty Healy speaks out after apparently being sung about by Taylor Swift on new album

    Taylor Swift’s British former lover has become the first of her ex-boyfriends to speak out after apparently being referenced on her latest album.

  • Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows and more than a dozen Trump allies indicted in Arizona for fake elector plot

    Indictment comes as Supreme Court set to consider whether Trump immune from federal 2020 election conspiracy case

  • Pickup truck hits and kills longtime Texas deputy helping at crash site

    Harris County Deputy Investigator John H. Coddou, 50, was hit by a truck while he responded to a minor crash site.

  • INSIGHT-How US allies are preparing for a possible second Trump term

    Japan is lining up its own Trump whisperer. Mexican government officials are talking to Camp Trump. Everywhere, U.S. allies are taking steps to defend or advance their interests in the event former President Donald Trump returns to power in November elections, an even chance based on recent opinion polls in swing states.

  • Are Investors Undervaluing Regis Healthcare Limited (ASX:REG) By 34%?

    Key Insights The projected fair value for Regis Healthcare is AU$6.08 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Regis...

  • Figs Are The Cocktail Ingredient You Didn't Know You Needed

    Everyone knows that fruit and alcohol pair well together, but some fruits are more popular than others. Try a fig cocktail for a special burst of fruity flavor.

  • Pitch-In Week in Gananoque, TLTI

    With this week being Pitch-In Week, staff with the Town of Gananoque and Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands are planning their own Pitch-In events. The Gananoque event will happen on April 25 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. A Pitch-In event is a community-wide cleanup where residents and community groups get together to help clean the environment. Residents are invited to email pwinfo@gananoque.ca, or call 613-382-2149, ext. 1613, if they would like to get involved. Staff says that free pitch-in

  • 3 Baby Carrot Myths We Need to Debunk Right Now

    Go ahead, eat those baby carrots.

  • Francisco Lindor homers twice as Mets salvage series finale with 8-2 win against Giants

    SAN FRANCISCO — The Mets were thrown a curveball of sorts Wednesday morning when San Francisco Giants left-hander Blake Snell was scratched from his start and placed on the injured list with a left adductor strain. With little time to alter their game plan, the Mets approach was simple: Control the strike zone and be aggressive against San Francisco’s young relievers. It worked. The Mets ...