DOJ Signals to Rep. Jim Jordan It Won’t Hand Over Documents Related to Pending Investigations

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has informed House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) that information about ongoing investigations will not be shared, in a letter on Jan. 20. The DOJ stated that “any oversight request must be weighed against the department’s interests in protecting the integrity of its work.”
Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs Carlos Felipe Uriarte writes in the DOJ’s letter that according to department policy, certain details about ongoing investigations must be withheld, but claimed that the department was prepared to negotiate in “good faith” with Congress.
“With respect to oversight requests for information and documents, we share your belief that congressional oversight is vital to our functioning democracy and we are committed to cooperating with the committee’s legitimate efforts to seek information, consistent with our obligation to protect executive branch confidentiality interests,” Uriarte writes….}