Jim Jordan threatens to hold FBI Director Wray in contempt of Congress

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan warned FBI Director Christopher Wray on Monday that the committee may hold him in contempt of Congress over the agency's noncompliance with subpoenas related to its investigations into the weaponization of law enforcement.

Jordan, in the letter, highlighted the committee's prior subpoenas related to the bureau's assessments of Catholics as extremists and its involvement in a memo warning against parents expressing dissent at school board meetings.

"To date, the FBI’s compliance with these subpoenas has been wholly inadequate and has materially impeded the Committee’s oversight efforts," Jordan wrote. "After several accommodations, months of persistent outreach by the Committee, and attempts to negotiate and work with the FBI in good faith, we write to notify you that if the FBI does not improve its compliance substantially, the Committee will take action—such as the initiation of contempt of Congress proceedings—to obtain compliance with these subpoenas."

"The Committee’s subpoenas impose legal obligations on you to comply and produce responsive materials," he continued. "Thus, your refusal to produce documents responsive to the Committee’s subpoenas—months after the return dates—is unacceptable."

"Accordingly, the Committee expects the FBI to substantially improve its compliance with the subpoenas by no later than July 25, 2023, at 12:00 p.m.," Jordan went on. "If the FBI fails to do so, the Committee will take action, such as the invocation of contempt of Congress proceedings, to obtain compliance with these subpoenas."

Wray and the bureau have increasingly engendered frustrations among House Republicans due to their noncompliance with subpoenas for records.

The director narrowly avoided a contempt of Congress vote in relation to the House Oversight Committee's pursuit of a FD-1023 form detailing bribery allegations involving the Bidens. Wray successfully negotiated a compromise with Chairman James Comer at the last minute in that instance.

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