Mayorkas, Garland top list as House Judiciary Republicans announce potential witnesses

House Republicans soon to be in control of the chamber and its Judiciary Committee on Friday informed the Biden administration of its potential witness list including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for promised hearing on such matters as record immigration numbers at the southern U.S. border and the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Notices were sent to Mayorkas, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

Washington Republicans also vowed they would look into what they consider the recent politicalization and abuse of power within the FBI and Justice Department and the targeting of parents who went to school board meetings to challenge such issues as pandemic mandates and curriculum. 

"In addition, to advance our oversight of the Biden Administration's use of federal law enforcement with respect to school board-related threats, we require prompt testimony from employees of the Executive Office of the President," reads the letter to Klain. "We expect your unfettered cooperation in arranging for the committee to receive testimony from EOP employees."

The letter said GOP members of the new Judiciary Committee "anticipate requiring testimony" from:

• Mary C. Wall, senior adviser, COVID-19 Response Team
• Julie C. Rodriguez, director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
• Katherine Pantangco, policy adviser for Intergovernmental Affairs
• Nezly Silva, senior policy analyst for Intergovernmental Affairs

Committee Republicans say the Mayorkas request follows 21 months of apparently unfulfilled requests – including one as recently as Oct. 28 – for information and documents concerning the operations and actions of his department and its components.

"You have ignored these requests, or you have failed to respond sufficiently," the letter read.