Jordan to Holder: ‘troubled’ by DOJ efforts to hinder Strelka inquiry

Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Urbana), chairman of the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Job Creation and Regulatory Affairs, has sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder demanding the contact information for former Department of Justice attorney Andrew Strelka. The Justice Department has refused to divulge the whereabouts of Strelka, hiding the former government official from Congress.

While working at DOJ, Strelka represented the IRS in Z Street v. Koskinen, a civil suit related to the IRS targeting of conservative groups. Prior to joining DOJ however, Strelka worked for former IRS executive Lois Lerner, and was the recipient of an email that directed him to "[b]e on the look out for a tea party case." Strelka maintained a relationship with Lerner following his departure from the IRS.

In his letter to Attorney General Holder, Rep. Jordan wrote:

"Despite notifying [Oversight and Government Reform] Committee staff that the [Justice] Department no longer employs Mr. Strelka, the Department has refused to assist the Committee in speaking to Mr. Strelka directly. The Department's efforts to prevent the Committee from learning Mr. Strelka's whereabouts suggest the Department has cause for keeping him from speaking with the Committee."

Rep. Jordan concluded his letter with a demand for Strelka's contact information so the Oversight Committee can conduct a transcribed interview. The letter gives Friday, September 5, as the deadline for this information.

To read the letter from Rep. Jordan to Attorney General Holder, click here: http://goo.gl/GZsMdy

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