House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has referred Thomas Windom, former Senior Assistant Special Counsel to Jack Smith, to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution. The referral follows Windom's refusal to answer most questions during a deposition with the committee.
According to Jordan, Windom cited "various and shifting justifications" for not responding to questions. As a senior assistant to Special Counsel Jack Smith, Windom is said to have firsthand knowledge about the office's work. Despite receiving explicit authorization from the Department of Justice on two occasions, he declined to address subjects that Jordan described as necessary and relevant for the committee’s investigation.
The committee sought information from Windom on several topics: a February 2021 proposal by J.P. Cooney brought to the FBI regarding an investigation into President Trump and his associates; interactions with and materials obtained from the January 6th Select Committee; details about surveillance of Representative Scott Perry and seizure of his cell phone; information about how many other Members of Congress were investigated in connection with both the Arctic Frost investigation and Jack Smith’s broader inquiry; and communications with FBI officials concerning possible evidence at the Willard Hotel.
Jordan stated that “Windom's improper refusal to answer nearly all questions during his deposition obstructed the Committee's fact-finding, and his conduct can only be understood as an intentional, corrupt effort to thwart the Committee's inquiry.”
A letter detailing these concerns was sent by Jordan to Attorney General Bondi.
