In the wake of former President Donald Trump's guilty verdict in Manhattan court last Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee filed a legislative proposal to cut funding and prohibit politicized prosecutions.
The Monday proposal, penned by Ohio Rep. and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, announced the intention to conduct "vigorous oversight" into President Joe Biden's administration in an effort to protect Americans' "fundamental freedoms."
The committee referenced last year's proposal to implement reforms through the appropriations process, including prohibiting the funding of "politically sensitive investigations," providing protection for whistleblowers against retaliation, preventing taxpayer funds from being allocated toward "radical regulations," prohibiting the funding of immigration policies proposed by the Biden administration, and an end to funds for government censorship.
"We have conducted oversight of the troubling rise in politicized prosecutions and the use of abusive 'lawfare' tactics to target political opponents," Jordan wrote on behalf of the committee. "We have seen rogue prosecutors abuse the rules of professional conduct and their duty to do justice in service of politicized ends."
"We recommend that the Appropriations Committee, with appropriate consultation from leadership, include language to eliminate federal funding for state prosecutors or state attorneys general involved in lawfare and to zero out federal funding for federal prosecutors engaged in such abuse," the proposal continued, noting the Judiciary Committee had previously passed bills to assist in addressing politicized prosecutions.
"In addition, the Judiciary Committee has passed specific bills that would help to address politicized prosecutions and we encourage the Appropriations," the letter stated, citing last year's No More Political Prosecutions Act, and the Forfeiture Funds Expenditure Transparency Act. 🚨 #BREAKING: @Jim_Jordan submits legislative proposals to DEFUND lawfare by Jack Smith, Fani Willis, Alvin Bragg, and Letitia James.
Also, no money for new FBI headquarters.
Read the full appropriations package here: https://t.co/YnofN174Xb pic.twitter.com/cmFOvXzRTL
— House Judiciary GOP 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryGOP) June 3, 2024
"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.
Provisions recommended by the Judiciary committee include prohibitions on funds for any grant program carried out by the Department of Justice to be used to "fund a criminal prosecution against a former or current President or Vice President."
"This prohibition on the use of funds shall also apply to the use of funds to consult, advise, or direct state prosecutors and state attorneys general engaged in a civil action or a criminal prosecution of a former or current President or Vice President," the proposal states. "This prohibition on the use of funds shall also apply to funds received and reallocated by any state or local jurisdiction."
Funds may also not be used or transferred to another federal agency, board, or commission to consult, advise, or direct state prosecutors and state attorneys general in the civil action or criminal prosecution of a former or current President or Vice President brought against them in state court. Funds are also prohibited from being used to "appoint or fund the office of a Special Counsel, who has not been confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as a U.S. Attorney, to bring a criminal prosecution of a former or current President or Vice President."
The proposal also denies funds from being used for a new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, Maryland, and further rescinds $200 million made available for the new facility.
