Jay Bratt, a former special counsel prosecutor, is set to testify before the House judiciary committee in its quest to uncover potential politicization in federal criminal cases involving Donald Trump. Bratt, who oversaw a case regarding Trump’s handling of classified documents, is scheduled to appear next Wednesday. This marks the first time a special counsel prosecutor has been summoned before the committee since Trump’s presidency, during which he orchestrated the dismissals of numerous prosecutors working under the former special counsel, Jack Smith.

The specific focus of Bratt’s deposition and the duration of the testimony remain uncertain, as does the possibility of him invoking any privileges to avoid speaking. The judiciary committee, led by Republican Jim Jordan, has long suspected political bias within the Justice Department against Trump, particularly in the special counsel cases initiated by Smith. House investigators have previously sought information on interactions between the Biden White House and the Justice Department regarding these cases, including Bratt’s visit to the White House.

Of particular interest is a contentious meeting between Trump’s legal team attorney and Bratt at the Justice Department, where allegations of misconduct were raised. Bratt reportedly suggested that the attorney’s judgeship application could be viewed more favorably if his client provided testimony against Trump in the classified documents case. While these allegations were referred to the Justice Department’s office of professional responsibility, no visible action was taken, and any potential impact on the case remains unclear.

Overall, Bratt’s upcoming testimony before the House judiciary committee underscores ongoing scrutiny of the handling of criminal cases involving Trump and raises questions about potential political influence in the justice system.