In 2022, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) defied a lawful subpoena issued by the bipartisan U.S. House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol (January 6th Committee). Over the subsequent two years, Jordan has issued at least 91 subpoenas in his role as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and its Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government (Weaponization Subcommittee).
On May 12, 2022, the January 6th Committee subpoenaed Rep. Jordan for his involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The committee's Republican co-chair, Rep. Liz Cheney (WY), stated that “Jim Jordan knew more about what Donald Trump had planned for Jan. 6 than any other member of the House.” Despite this, Jordan refused to comply with the subpoena, labeling it unconstitutional and abusive.
In December 2022, when issuing its final report, the January 6th Committee referred Rep. Jordan to the House Committee on Ethics for punishment but no disciplinary action was taken. Instead, Jordan gained influence within the House Republican conference and assumed leadership roles in both committees.
When Republicans regained control of the House in January 2023, they launched the Weaponization Subcommittee under Jordan’s chairmanship. Since then, he has issued numerous subpoenas while conducting oversight investigations that critics argue are politically motivated rather than beneficial to American citizens.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, criticized Jordan's use of resources: “Chairman Jordan consistently opposes government spending on everything from feeding children to education to health care and has spent $20 million taxpayer dollars in this Congress to investigate his various conspiracy theories.”
Jordan’s investigations have extended into state and local law enforcement officials prosecuting former President Trump for election interference and alleged anticonservative bias at federal agencies like DOJ and FBI. These actions have been described as distracting entities from their core missions and incurring significant legal fees.
The lack of accountability for Rep. Jordan’s defiance of a lawful committee subpoena raises concerns about democratic principles and equal justice under law. Critics argue that elevating him to powerful positions sets a harmful precedent for future congressional conduct.