House debates oversight of agency investigations

The House debated Tuesday whether to establish a subcommittee that would look into ongoing investigations by federal law enforcement. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is expected to lead the committee. He previously served on the House Select Committee on Benghazi, which investigated the government’s response to an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Libya in 2012.

Why are Republicans trying to establish this committee? Many have grown frustrated with government investigations into conservative figures, such as former President Donald Trump. They have also grown concerned that such investigations by agencies like the Department of Justice are becoming political weapons against their party. Democrats, meanwhile, call the new subcommittee a political stunt and argue its powers could be too expansive.

Dig deeper: Listen to Leo Briceno’s discussion with Mary Reichard on The World and Everything in It podcast about changes Republicans have made to the House rules.