Jim Jordan sends criminal referral to DOJ against Jack Smith

• House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan sent a criminal referral to the DOJ accusing former Special Counsel Jack Smith of perjury.
• The referral alleges that Mr. Smith made false statements under oath during his testimony before the committee.
• The Committee provided new documents obtained from the DOJ that contradict Mr. Smith's previous testimony, prompting the referral.
• The DOJ will review the evidence to determine whether to pursue an investigation or prosecution for violating 18 U.S.C. § 1001.

According to the referral, Mr. Smith allegedly made false statements under oath during his testimony before the committee.

House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan has sent a criminal referral to the Department of Justice (DOJ) accusing former Special Counsel Jack Smith of perjury. According to the referral, Mr. Smith allegedly made false statements under oath during his testimony before the committee. The referral specifically cites new documents obtained by the Committee from the DOJ that contradict Mr. Smith's previous testimony. These discrepancies have prompted the Committee to provide this information for the DOJ to investigate a potential violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001.

A criminal referral is a formal request from Congress to the Department of Justice to investigate and potentially prosecute an individual for alleged wrongdoing. In this case, the referral accuses Mr. Smith of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1001, which prohibits knowingly making false statements under oath. This statute has been used in various high-profile cases involving public officials and their testimony before Congress. The DOJ will now review the evidence presented by the Committee to determine whether to pursue an investigation or prosecution.

This referral highlights the consequences of allegedly false statements under oath, particularly for high-ranking officials like former Special Counsels. Lawyers should take note of this development as it underscores the importance of truthful testimony and the potential repercussions for those who fail to comply with this standard. The implications of this case will likely be closely watched by lawyers and legal professionals, who may see it as a precedent-setting example of how Congress can hold public officials accountable for their actions.

Lawyers should watch for potential precedent and implications on witness testimony, as this referral highlights the consequences of allegedly false statements under oath.

Source: Original reporting via [Source]