Jim Jordan Warns Garland And Mayorkas To Preserve Documents Amid Purge Concerns
House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) has issued urgent warnings to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, demanding they preserve all records related to the Biden administration’s enforcement of federal immigration law. The letters, sent Friday, come amid growing concerns that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may be attempting to destroy documents linked to ongoing congressional investigations into the border crisis.
In the letters, Jordan instructed both Garland and Mayorkas to take immediate steps to prevent the destruction or alteration of any records, particularly those responsive to the committee’s inquiries. This includes electronic communications, messages from official and personal accounts, and metadata. The chairman specifically called attention to concerns following the appearance of a paper shredding truck outside the DOJ earlier this week, which he suggested could be a sign that relevant documents are being purged.
The warning comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of the Biden administration’s handling of the border and immigration laws. Jordan noted that, following President Trump’s significant victory in the recent election, there is an increased risk that DHS may be moving to remove critical records and communications that could be tied to ongoing investigations into its actions. “We are concerned that DHS may attempt to purge relevant records,” Jordan wrote.
The Justice Department responded to Jordan’s allegations, pushing back against the suggestion that it is engaging in any illegal activity. A spokesperson for the DOJ emphasized that the department adheres to all laws regarding record preservation and will continue to do so. However, Jordan’s letters also detailed numerous oversight requests that the DOJ and DHS have not responded to over the past two years, further fueling suspicions that the agencies are not fully cooperating with the committee’s investigations.
This latest development is part of Jordan’s broader efforts to hold the Biden administration accountable for its handling of immigration enforcement. The House Judiciary Committee has been actively investigating these issues, and Jordan’s latest letter indicates that the inquiry will continue to intensify. The committee is also focused on ensuring that all documents, including those related to special counsel Jack Smith’s prosecutions of President Trump, are preserved as part of the ongoing oversight.
Jordan’s warning to Garland and Mayorkas is clear: the time for accountability is coming, and any efforts to destroy or hide records will not be tolerated. The committee has promised to pursue full transparency as it investigates the Biden administration’s actions, with the preservation of key evidence central to the success of their inquiry.
