Justice Department tells GOP-led House it will not share info about ongoing investigations


The U.S. Department of Justice said in a letter Friday that it was unlikely to share information with any House committees about ongoing investigations.
In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by Politico, the DOJ said, "Longstanding Department policy prevents us from confirming or denying the existence of pending investigations in response to congressional requests or providing non-public information about our investigations."
"Consistent with longstanding policy and practice, any oversight requests must be weighed against the Department's interests in protecting the integrity of its work," the DOJ added, though the department said it was looking forward to a "productive relationship" with the new Congress.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The DOJ's letter was in response to a request from the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee and Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for information regarding a number of investigations. The request, officially filed by the committee last week, sought information on issues ranging from the DOJ's probe into Hunter Biden to the investigation into classified documents handled by both President Biden and former President Donald Trump.
The House also voted along party lines to form a Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, with Republicans claiming that government agencies are actively working to undermine conservatives.
In addition to requesting information from the Justice Department, the Judiciary Committee also sought information from the FBI, DEA, and ATF.
The letter from the DOJ is likely to frustrate and embroil Republicans. However, their unwillingness to be a completely open book is in line with department policy. As ABC News noted, "DOJ's reply is a relatively standard response that the department would send at the beginning of a new Congress."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Will Republicans kill the filibuster to end the shutdown?
Talking Points GOP officials contemplate the ‘nuclear option’
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leak
Speed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
‘France may well be in store for a less than rocambolesque future’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leak
Speed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroom
speed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deployment
Speed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies
Speed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth