DOJ

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley is referring attorney Michael Avenatti and his client Julie Swetnick to the Justice Department for criminal investigation related to their accusations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation process.

Swetnick was among the women who came forward to accuse Kavanaugh of sexual assault. Specifically, she said she observed Kavanaugh and his friends drinking to excess at parties in high school and lining up outside bedrooms to gang rape females. 

The House could vote to hold Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in contempt of Congress if by September the Department of Justice has still not turned over outstanding documents Republican lawmakers requested. 

“I think the very first order of business would probably be moving the House to a contempt vote,” House Freedom Caucus Mark Meadows said of what would happen if the DOJ has still not turned over remaining documents by September. 

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Friday called for an investigation into any ties Donald Trump has with Russia and whether the Kremlin has any compromising information on the president elect. 

“We want our agencies of government to investigate what those connections are and hopefully resolve it in our favor,” the California Democrat told reporters at her weekly news briefing. 

Even before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in, the Senate will move forward with a hearing on Trump’s nomination of Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions to head the Justice Department, which has already inspired fierce opposition and support, say CQ Roll Call’s Legal Affairs writer Todd Ruger and Senior Political reporter Alex Roarty. Sessions’ hearing could also set the tone for Trump’s upcoming Supreme Court nomination.

Show Notes:

Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Wednesday accepted recommendations from the FBI and Justice Department prosecutors to not prosecute Hillary Clinton over the investigation of her personal email server while secretary of state.  

"I received and accepted their unanimous recommendation that the thorough, year-long investigation be closed and that no charges be brought against any individuals within the scope of the investigation,” Lynch said in a statement after meeting with FBI Director James Comey and agency prosecutors.  

Marijuana, accusations of perjury, election integrity and asparagus were the range of topics covered in Tuesday's House Judiciary Committee hearing.  Attorney General Eric Holder testified before the committee in a hearing designed for oversight on the Department of Justice. Holder and members of the committee had some tense exchanges as congressmen tried to nail down the attorney general on specific enforcement of laws. Check out Roll Call's top moments below:  

Things got heated Tuesday between Rep. Louie Gohmert and Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. Tuesday at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Justice Department.  

Gohmert, who was questioning the attorney general about releasing documents relating to the Holy Land Foundation's 2008 conviction of providing financial assistance to Hamas, then suggested contempt was "not a big deal" to Holder.