Ranking Member Connolly Demands DOJ Provide Oversight Committee with Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Final Report on Trump’s Mishandling of Classified Documents

Washington, D.C. (January 9, 2025)—Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, requesting an in camera review of Volume Two of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report on President Trump’s and his associates’ willful mishandling of classified documents.  The request follows Ranking Member Connolly’s call for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make the report public after a judge temporarily blocked its release. 

“On January 8, 2025, in a filing before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, DOJ indicated that Volume Two of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report would not be made public so long as certain criminal proceedings remain pending.  As detailed in the filing, Volume Two of the final report relates to the Special Counsel’s investigation of the mishandling of classified documents by President Donald Trump and associates.  Instead of a public release, DOJ outlined its intent to provide a version of Volume Two ‘to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees for review in camera upon their request and agreement prohibiting any public release of the Final Report’s contents.’  Given the jurisdiction and role of this Committee, similar access to Volume Two must be afforded to the Committee,” wrote Ranking Member Connolly. 

In his letter, Ranking Member Connolly highlights House Rule X which assigns the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform with jurisdiction over the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).  In the 118th Congress, Chairman James Comer exercised this jurisdiction when he investigated then-Vice President Joe Biden’s retention of presidential records, demanding related documents, communications, and transcribed interviews with senior officials from NARA. 

“In light of the Committee’s legislative jurisdiction over presidential records, broad investigative jurisdiction, and vested interest in this matter, I urge DOJ to make available Volume Two of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s final report to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for review in camera immediately or no later than January 15, 2025,” concluded Ranking Member Connolly.

Click here to read the letter.