Jim Jordan Reportedly to Become Chairman of House Judiciary Committee under GOP House

In an attempt to reinforce his candidacy to become the next Speaker of the House, current Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy today shared a clip of U.S. House Rep Jim Jordan (R-OH) saying that McCarthy has promised to make him the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

McCarthy announced in a tweet, “It’s official. → In the Republican-led House, @Jim_Jordan will become the chairman of the @JudiciaryGOP Committee.

“I am confident he will pursue an aggressive oversight agenda to finally hold the Biden administration accountable,” McCarthy declared.

It's official. → In the Republican-led House, @Jim_Jordan will become the chairman of the @JudiciaryGOP Committee. I am confident he will pursue an aggressive oversight agenda to finally hold the Biden administration accountable. pic.twitter.com/t0iKzix5Ng

— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) December 8, 2022

It’s not a done deal, however, that McCarthy will become the speaker as U.S. House Rep Andy Biggs (R-AZ) announced Tuesday that he would challenge McCarthy for speaker on the House floor in January. 

Even in a Biggs-led Congress, it would seem likely that Jordan would become the Judiciary Committee chairman.

Jordan is currently the ranking member of the body and he has led the charge against the current chairman U.S. House Rep Jerry Nadler (D-NY) on many occasions.

Biggs said of his decision to challenge McCarthy, “We cannot let this all too rare opportunity to effectuate structural change pass us by because it is uncomfortable to challenge the Republican candidate who is a creature of the establishment status quo, or because the challenge is accompanied by some minimal risk.”

U.S. House Rep Darrell Issa (R-CA) has countered, however, that “There is no viable alternative to Kevin McCarthy. He has led us to the majority.”

“He has led from the legitimate center of our party, respecting people to his left and to his right. And that’s the definition of what we want in a speaker,” Issa insisted.