Special Counsel Jack Smith has suffered a series of legal blows in recent months, and the latest news is yet another example.
According to The Hill, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio confirmed that he has launched an investigation into one of Smith's prosecutors.
Over the weekend, Jordan asked "the Justice Department (DOJ) to turn over all its files related to any internal review of J.P. Cooney."
News of the probe came not long after it was announced that Jordan and his powerful House committee are launching a similar investigation into the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan over her previous anti-Trump activism work in the legal profession.
Jordan and other top Republicans have been at the forefront of investigating those who worked to prosecute President Trump. He recently sent a letter demanding the files to the DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
The investigation into Cooney is reportedly related to the previous sentencing of Trump ally Roger Stone.
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan is launching an investigation into special counsel Jack Smith’s deputy on the Jan. 6 prosecution, asking the Justice Department to turn over all its files related to any internal review of J.P. Cooney. https://t.co/WeUbbh8qPR
— The Hill (@thehill) August 2, 2024
The Hill noted:
The launch of a new investigative angle from Jordan comes after the Justice Department’s office of inspector general released a report reviewing the sentencing of Trump ally Roger Stone after a whistleblower alleged potential improper political influence in reining back their suggested sentence. Stone was later pardoned by Trump.
Cooney, who at the time of Stone's sentencing was part of the fraud and public corruption section (FPC) chief, was mentioned in a review published by a watchdog group regarding political influence in certain cases.
The Hill added:
But Cooney and other prosecutors also feature in the review, with the report stressing their concerns about politicization were "not unreasonable," even as it determines Cooney’s sharing of those feelings with subordinates was "not well considered."
Jordan, in his letter, made it clear what the job of a prosecutor is -- and isn't.
"It is imperative that the Department operates with a high level of professionalism and integrity in all its prosecutions. The role of a prosecutor is to seek justice, not to advance unsupported and politically motivated conspiracy theories," Jordan wrote.
He added, "In light of serious allegations of professional misconduct levied against another one of Mr. Smith’s team of attorneys, we again write to ask what steps the Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is taking to examine these facts and uphold the Department’s commitment to fair and impartial justice."
Only time will tell where the investigation leads.
