House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has launched an investigation into allegations that a member of special counsel Jack Smith’s team “improperly pressured” a lawyer representing a defendant indicted by a federal grand jury in an attempt to get his client to cooperate with the government.
Jordan (R-Ohio), in a letter sent to Smith on Thursday, demanded documents related to “abusive tactics” allegedly used by prosecutor Jay Bratt against lawyer Stanley Woodward, who is representing former President Donald Trump’s co-defendant Walt Nauta in the DOJ’s classified documents case.
“Last year, Jay Bratt — one of your senior prosecutors and top aides — allegedly improperly pressured Stanley Woodward, a lawyer representing a defendant indicted by you, by implying that the Administration would look more favorably on Mr. Woodward’s candidacy for a judgeship if Mr. Woodward’s client cooperated with the Office of the Special Counsel,” Jordan writes.
“This attempt to inappropriately coerce Mr. Woodward raises serious concerns about the abusive tactics of the Office of the Special Counsel and the Department’s commitment to its mission to uphold the rule of law and ensure impartial justice,” he added.
