House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) is pushing back against critics who say his panel hasn’t gone far enough in investigating alleged weaponization of the federal government, insisting that “we have done everything we can.”
Appearing on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Jordan addressed remarks from White House adviser Peter Navarro, who has reportedly argued that the committee’s investigative efforts have fallen short. The exchange, moderated by FBN’s Jackie DeAngelis, centered on whether the Judiciary Committee’s work has fully exposed what Republicans describe as a coordinated campaign against former President Donald Trump.
Jordan’s defense centered on the criminal referrals the committee has made against several high-ranking officials, including a recent referral against former Special Counsel Jack Smith and a prior one against former CIA Director John Brennan. He also pointed to a referral against Thomas Windom, a deputy to Smith, for allegedly obstructing the committee’s investigation.
‘He lied to us’
Jordan’s most pointed remarks concerned Smith, whom he accused of misleading lawmakers during a deposition about the scope of records obtained in the classified documents probe.
“He said he only got the records, the phone records of members of Congress. He said he did not get contents of members’ communications,” Jordan said. “And then we find out, oh, he went to the National Archives and got text messages between members of Trump — President Trump’s administration and members of Congress, and he had that information and didn’t tell us that when we deposed him.”
“So he lied to us,” Jordan added, confirming that the committee had formally referred Smith for prosecution.
Jordan also noted that the committee had referred Brennan, who served as CIA director under President Barack Obama, “because we know he lied to us.” That referral was made eight months prior to Jordan’s appearance, according to his remarks.
Referrals and pushback
Criminal referrals are largely symbolic — they do not compel the Justice Department to act — but they have become a recurring tool for House Republicans seeking to highlight what they view as misconduct by federal officials. Jordan framed the referrals as evidence that the committee has been proactive, even as critics on the right demand more aggressive action.
Navarro’s criticism, aired on the same program, reflects a broader frustration among some Trump allies that congressional investigations have not produced the kind of accountability they seek. Jordan, however, rejected the notion that more could be done.
“We have done everything we can,” he said. “We have referred people for prosecution.”
Jordan’s comments come amid ongoing Republican scrutiny of federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies, a central theme of the party’s messaging heading into the midterm elections. The Judiciary Committee, under Jordan’s leadership, has held a series of hearings and issued multiple reports alleging politicization within the FBI and DOJ.
Windom referral
In addition to Smith and Brennan, Jordan said the committee had referred Thomas Windom, a deputy to Smith, for prosecution. Windom was accused of trying “to obstruct our investigation into — into this whole operation that they were running against President Trump as the special counsel.”
Jordan did not provide additional detail on Windom’s alleged obstruction, but the referral adds another layer to the committee’s broader clash with the special counsel’s office.
The special counsel’s investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents concluded without charges against the former president, though several co-defendants were indicted. Smith’s office has denied any wrongdoing and has described the referrals as politically motivated.
Jordan’s appearance on “Sunday Morning Futures” underscores the pivotal role the Judiciary Committee plays in the Republican effort to investigate what they call the “weaponization” of the federal government. Whether those efforts will satisfy critics like Navarro remains an open question, but Jordan made clear he believes the committee has reached its limit.
“We have done everything we can,” he repeated.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/08/16/jim-jordan-on-combatting-deep-state-weaponization-we-have-done-everything-we-can/