House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan proposed on Monday that Congress defund the “lawfare activities” of state and federal prosecutors targeting President Trump.
Jordan’s proposal aims to cut funding for investigations by Special Counsel Jack Smith, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The move follows Trump's recent conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to former porn star Stormy Daniels, whom Trump never even had an affair with. Trump was found guilty of all charges in a Manhattan court on Thursday.
Jordan sent his recommendation to defund state and federal prosecutors targeting President Trump to House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole on Monday, according to Fox News. This recommendation follows the House Judiciary's passage of bills aimed at ending political prosecutions, such as the “No More Political Prosecutions Act” and the “Forfeiture Funds Expenditure Transparency Act.”
“Never forget these key facts,” Jordan told Fox News. “Alvin Bragg campaigned on how he’s going to ‘get Trump.’ Once he gets in and sees how ridiculous this case is, he says he cannot envision a world where he would indict President Trump and call Michael Cohen as a prosecution witness, but he does just that—after, and this is key, President Trump announces he’s running for president.”
Jordan explained that Fani Willis started her investigation in February of 2021, but did not take any action until after President Trump announced he is running for president, noting that perhaps the most significant instance is Jack Smith, who was appointed as special counsel by Merrick Garland just three days after Trump declared his candidacy.
Jordan also proposed that the committee restrict FBI funding to essential activities necessary to “execute its mission” and suggested prohibiting taxpayer funding for the Department of Homeland Security's “open-border immigration policies,” among other recommendations.
“On behalf of the Committee and the Select Subcommittee, enclosed please find an initial list of suggested priorities to be included in the fiscal year 2025 appropriations bills. Like last year, these proposals stem from our robust oversight and legislative efforts, which will continue throughout the remainder of the 118th Congress. By working together, we can ensure that the appropriations process will continue to be a powerful check against the weaponization of the federal government,” Jordan wrote in his letter to Cole.
