2023: Schweikert Voted To Establish A House Select Subcommittee On The Weaponization Of The Federal Government To Investigate Whether Executive Branch Authorities Investigate And Collect Information On American Citizens. In January 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for a resolution that would "establish a Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on the House Judiciary Committee and require the subcommittee to conduct an investigation of and submit a report on executive branch authorities and activities to investigate and collect information regarding U.S. citizens, including ongoing criminal investigations; how federal agencies work with private and public entities to share information to facilitate action against U.S. citizens, including any illegal or unethical activities by agencies; and any other issues related to violations of individual civil liberties. Among other provisions, the resolution would specify that the subcommittee would be composed of 15 members, including six from the minority party. It would require the subcommittee to issue a final report to the House on its findings no later than Jan. 2, 2025, and sunset the subcommittee 30 days after it files the report." The vote was on passage. The House adopted the resolution by a vote of 221 to 211, thus the committee was established. [House Vote 27, 1/10/23; Congressional Quarterly, 1/10/23; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 12]
The Committee Was Given Power To Investigate Executive Agencies And Their Ties To Private Entities And Was Given Oversight On Current Criminal Probes. According to Congressional Quarterly, "House Republicans on Tuesday established a select subcommittee to investigate the 'weaponization' of the federal government. It will have the power to investigate executive branch agencies and their ties to private sector entities and have oversight of ongoing criminal probes. The House voted 221-211, along party lines, to approve the resolution (H Res 12) to create the subcommittee, one of the first actions of an aggressive Republican approach to oversight since they took control of the chamber." [Congressional Quarterly, 1/10/23]
Democrats Argued The Committee Was A Way For Republicans To Interfere With Former President Trump's Ongoing Investigations. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Republicans likened the panel, which falls under the Judiciary Committee, to prior committees that investigated oversteps by the FBI and intelligence agencies. Democrats called it dangerous and a way for Republicans to interfere with ongoing investigations into former President Donald Trump." [Congressional Quarterly, 1/10/23]
Congressman Jim Jordan (R) Claimed That The Justice Department Had Investigated Parents Who Spoke At Local School Board Meetings And Investigated Communications With Social Media Platforms That Took Down Posts During The 2020 Election. According to Congressional Quarterly, "During floor debate, Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio pointed to a litany of alleged oversteps by the Justice Department in recent years, including investigations of parents who spoke at local school boards and communications with companies like Twitter about taking down posts during the 2020 election. 'We don't want to go after anyone, we want it to stop, and we want to respect the First Amendment to the Constitution that the greatest country in the world has,' Jordan said." [Congressional Quarterly, 1/10/23]