Peter Navarro, a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, publicly criticized House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan for failing to adequately investigate the alleged “weaponization” of the Justice Department against the former president. Speaking at the White House, Navarro accused Jordan of not pursuing critical inquiries into the origins of the Russia probe, which he described as a politically motivated effort targeting Trump. Navarro praised Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, for his efforts to examine the probe’s origins, noting that Grassley had issued subpoenas and was making progress. Navarro emphasized that Jordan, despite being a long-time ally of Trump, had not taken sufficient steps to address the issue, calling him out for not focusing on election security and the supposed misuse of federal law enforcement resources. Navarro argued that the FBI’s Russia collusion probe, initiated in May 2017, marking the first time the agency investigated a sitting president, was based on flawed premises. He pointed to newly declassified documents released by the White House, which outlined the probe’s focus on whether Trump had been directed by or coordinated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, or had obstructed the investigation. Navarro claimed that key aspects of the probe remain shrouded in secrecy, including the identity of the person who drafted the initial investigative memo and those who reviewed or provided reliable lead information. He called for the release of unredacted documents and demanded accountability, asserting that the probe represented an attempt to undermine the presidency through what he termed a “coup d’état.” In response, a spokesperson for the House Judiciary Committee defended Jordan’s actions, stating that he had consistently stood up for Trump against what the spokesperson called “left-wing lawfare campaigns.” The statement referenced past figures such as Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, former FBI employees linked to the probe, as well as former special counsel Robert Mueller and current prosecutors like Alvin Bragg, Fani Willis, and Judge Amy Coney Barrett. The spokesperson highlighted Jordan’s role in opposing what they characterized as politically driven investigations aimed at discrediting the Trump administration. Meanwhile, the Justice Department announced a legal opinion expanding the military’s ability to detain illegal immigrants near the U.S.-Mexico border. The ruling, issued by Deputy Assistant Attorney General William D. Hyde Jr., clarified that military personnel could arrest individuals who trespass on National Defense Areas (NDAs), designated regions under the Trump administration, as long as the actions were justified by national security concerns. The decision came amid ongoing efforts to secure the border and reduce illegal migration, with the military playing an increasingly active role in policing the region. The expansion of military authority follows the establishment of NDAs in all four southern border states. These zones, often marked with signs in both English and Spanish, restrict civilian access and allow the military to enforce trespassing laws. The Justice Department has already filed numerous charges against individuals apprehended in these areas, typically citing violations of military regulations. While the Posse Comitatus Act generally prohibits the military from engaging in domestic law enforcement, the administration argues that national security interests justify the expanded powers. The legal opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel, the executive branch’s internal legal advisory body, provides further backing for the administration’s approach. It asserts that military personnel can legally apprehend trespassers just outside NDAs, emphasizing that such actions fall within the commander’s traditional protective powers. This interpretation allows the military to operate more independently in border security matters, reinforcing the Trump administration’s strategy of leveraging federal resources to control immigration flows. The administration has also implemented sweeping changes to the asylum system, effectively closing it to many undocumented arrivals. These measures have contributed to a sharp decline in border crossings, with Border Patrol reporting fewer than 240,000 apprehensions along the southern border in fiscal year 2025, a drastic reduction compared to previous years. As the military continues to play a central role in border enforcement, the legal framework supporting its involvement is likely to evolve, shaping the landscape of immigration policy in the coming months.
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