Rep. Gerald E. "Gerry" Connolly, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, urged Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday to grant him in-camera access to Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on former President Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents.

Connolly’s letter to Garland comes just days after a federal court temporarily blocked publication of the report, citing concerns about prejudicing ongoing criminal proceedings. Connolly argued that his role on the Oversight Committee, which oversees the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), provides grounds for his access to the second volume of Smith’s report, which details Trump’s alleged actions at Mar-a-Lago.

Report Blocked Amid Legal Challenges

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon issued an order preventing the release of Smith’s two-part report, pending the Eleventh Circuit’s review of an emergency motion filed by Trump’s legal team. Trump’s attorneys allege that publishing the report would constitute a "politically motivated attack" and could unfairly influence related legal proceedings.

Special Counsel Jack Smith had reportedly prepared to release the report in December, after dropping two federal prosecutions tied to the investigations in November, following Trump’s election victory. Smith defended the confidentiality of Volume Two, stating in a court brief Wednesday that publishing it could "prejudice remaining defendants" involved in related criminal trials, including a former Trump valet and a Mar-a-Lago property manager.

Smith added that Volume Two would only be made available to ranking members and chairs of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.

Oversight Committee's Role

Connolly’s letter highlights the Oversight Committee’s jurisdiction over NARA, which referred the matter to the DOJ in 2022 after discovering Trump’s retention of classified documents post-presidency.

"The committee has a vested interest in this matter," Connolly wrote, referencing the bipartisan investigations into classified documents retained by both Trump and President Joe Biden. Connolly pointed out that the committee’s chair, Rep. James Comer, had previously used the same authority to investigate Biden’s handling of classified records.

House rules grant the committee "broad authority to investigate ‘any matter’ at ‘any time,’" Connolly argued, adding that the DOJ should provide the requested report by Jan. 15.

Broader Implications

The blocked report also includes a separate volume concerning alleged efforts by Trump to overturn the 2020 election. Smith told the Eleventh Circuit that the DOJ would withhold publication of the Washington, D.C., volume while criminal proceedings against related defendants are ongoing.

The DOJ and Trump’s legal team have not commented on Connolly’s request or the broader implications of the blocked report. However, the dispute underscores the legal and political complexities surrounding Trump’s post-presidency conduct and its ongoing investigations.