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Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the newly elected leader of House Republicans, warned on Fox News' Hannity that Democrats are preparing a third impeachment effort against President Donald Trump and investigations of members of his cabinet once they take control of the House in January.
Jordan said Democrats would also scrutinise private companies and could turn their attention to potential 2028 Republican presidential contenders, naming Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as possible targets. He argued that Democrats are preparing to use congressional oversight as a political weapon rather than focus on legitimate legislative matters.
Jordan was elected House Republican leader on Tuesday, November 10, defeating Majority Leader Steve Scalise by 106 votes to 73 in a secret ballot of House Republicans, after Speaker Mike Johnson announced he would step aside. Democrats won the House and the Senate in the November 3 midterm elections and take control of Congress in January, when Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is in line to become Speaker. Jordan, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, told colleagues his job would be to defend the president against the investigations Democrats are preparing.
The warning follows what Democrats have already signalled. Incoming House Oversight Committee chairman Rep. Robert Garcia has vowed aggressive investigations of the Trump administration and told officials to "lawyer up"; Jeffries has not ruled a third impeachment in or out; and articles of impeachment against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have already been filed, with the House voting 211 to 204 to refer them to the Judiciary Committee.
Democrats say the planned investigations are necessary oversight and accountability. The dispute is over where legitimate congressional scrutiny ends and political retaliation begins.