DOJ bashes 'premature' GOP subpoenas, offers to negotiate

The Department of Justice has offered to negotiate with House Republicans following the issuance of subpoenas to Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan subpoenaed the pair for documents pertaining to the FBI's investigations of school board meetings, highlighting an October 2021 memo from Garland warning of "violent threats" against school officials.

The DOJ, in response, has labelled the move as "premature" and instead proposed directly negotiating with the House Judiciary Committee on a voluntary basis.

"We remain ready to discuss next steps for the Department to address your informational needs while also respecting Executive Branch interests. We have offered to engage with the Committee and provide information voluntarily, so a subpoena is premature," DOJ Office of Legislative Affairs Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte wrote to Jordan this week, Fox News reported.

"The overwhelming majority of congressional requests for information are resolved through voluntary discussion and cooperation. This process of accommodation is also constitutionally mandated," Uriarte noted. "Both Congress and the Executive Branch are required to negotiate in good faith to meet the informational needs of Congress while protecting the institutional interests of the Executive Branch."

Jordan's office, speaking to Fox News, characterized the DOJ response as "wholly inadequate" and indicated that the committee expects compliance with the subpoenas.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.