Rep. Jordan subpoenas prosecutor from former special counsel Jack Smith's team for deposition
WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) this week subpoenaed Thomas Windom for a deposition before the Committee regarding his role as a prosecutor on former Special Counsel Jack Smith's team after Windom refused to answer several questions during a voluntary transcribed interview.
During Windom's transcribed interview with the Committee, he relied on an unreasonably narrow interpretation of the Justice Department's testimonial authorization to decline to answer questions about topics including the partisan January 6th Select Committee and Fulton County District Attorney employees.
Windom also refused to provide certain details about the other prosecutors he worked with during his investigation into President Trump citing lack of specific Department authorization. These positions are in direct conflict with the Department's clear direction to provide "unrestricted testimony" about the topics under inquiry.
Additionally, Windom relied on an overbroad interpretation of Rule 6(e) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure in refusing to answer questions about his interactions with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to obtain billing records from the Willard Hotel, his knowledge of a potential FBI investigative matter into President Trump and individuals within his orbit, and communications with the partisan January 6th Select Committee. This position is unsupported by federal court rulings on Rule 6(e) and thus does not create a legitimate basis to refuse to testify.
The Committee has jurisdiction to conduct oversight of the Department to inform potential legislative reforms, including changes to the Special Counsel regulations and codifying language that would prevent the Department from selectively prosecuting current and former elected officials. The Committee believes Thomas Windom possess information that is vital to its oversight on this matter, and Windom's refusal to answer several questions in his transcribed interview impedes the Committee’s oversight, making compulsory process necessary.
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