Staff Reports
The House Judiciary Committee, under the astute leadership of Chairman Jim Jordan, is taking a stand against what many see as blatant government overreach and politicization that reached a head during the closing days of the Biden-Harris administration. On a day seemingly like any other, these letters emerged, marching orders sent to the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, demanding the preservation of crucial documents and transparency. This isn’t just bureaucratic red tape—it’s akin to pulling back the curtain on a puppet show that has gone wildly out of control.
Jordan has pointed his finger at these federal agencies, alleging they may have acted outside their intended authority, reminiscent of a misbehaving child caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Just as it looks like President-elect Donald Trump is gearing up to take the reins again in January, the clock is ticking for these agencies to fess up. The Antitrust Division doesn’t seem to understand that their role isn’t to play the enforcer of political aspirations, nor is it a playground for regulatory mischief.
Dear Biden officials:
Preserve your records.
More to come. pic.twitter.com/MjQBb4bra7
— House Judiciary GOP 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryGOP) November 14, 2024
In correspondence directed at the Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter, Jordan couldn’t hold back his criticism regarding the uptick in enforcement actions against American businesses post-2024 election. It seems the Antitrust Division had its hands busy right around the time Trump was back in the spotlight—perhaps a little too busy for comfort. Allegations point to a concerted effort to rattle the cages of various businesses just as the Biden-Harris administration closed its doors, highlighting a sophisticated chess game where only some players knew the rules.
Jordan’s demand to then-FTC Chair Lina Khan took a bite out of the agency’s apparent unwillingness to play nice during his previous oversight attempts. The notion that the Biden-Harris FTC appointed a new Inspector General mere days after the election raised more than just eyebrows—it ignited the kind of firestorm that suggests partisan agendas were at play. Jordan’s call for restoring balance and allowing the incoming Trump administration to have a say reflects a much-needed pushback against what has often felt like a frenetic, partisan love-fest within federal agencies.
Turning attention to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Jordan’s letter noted that court decisions had labeled the CFTC’s overreach as akin to an unwanted overprotective parent trying to control every aspect of their child’s life. Their dubious tactics against KalshiEX LLC seem to demonstrate a blatant disregard for statutory authority, as if the agency decided to throw caution to the wind, ignoring the rights of businesses in the name of political preference. The CFTC’s agenda resembles more of a nanny state than a regulatory body, attempting to snuff out competition because it wasn’t invited to the party.
The overarching theme in this showdown stems from a series of demands calling for thorough record preservation—everything from emails to encrypted messages. The trio of letters exemplifies a Republican resurgence in oversight, a concerned body seeking to unravel what appears to be a tangled web of abused power. Jim Jordan and his fellow committee members are determined to expose the extent of this politicization, eager to preserve any and all evidence that could uncover a systemic problem within these federal agencies. In a time when transparency should rule the day, it seems that the House Judiciary Committee is ready to ensure that these agencies know that enough is enough.
