“This Is a Grave Constitutional Violation”: Rep. Mike Turner Slams DOJ Leak Investigation

Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, condemned the Department of Justice on Tuesday over revelations that it obtained phone and email records of lawmakers, staffers, and journalists during an investigation into leaks. Turner described the DOJ’s actions as “outrageous” and a severe breach of constitutional protections.

The Justice Department’s inspector general released a report outlining how the DOJ targeted two lawmakers and 43 staffers as part of a leak probe. Records of Trump’s pick for FBI director, Kash Patel, were also obtained while he served as a House staffer.

“This report lays out outrageous behavior by the Department of Justice, where members of Congress and staff of the Intelligence Committee, the committee that I chair, had phone records and email records that were accessed by the Department of Justice without court review,” Turner said during an interview with CNN.

Turner emphasized that the current protections implemented by Attorney General Merrick Garland are inadequate. “We need to pass statutes that can require a court review and authorization,” he insisted. “The courts didn’t even know that the Department of Justice was accessing emails and phone records of members of Congress and their staff, merely because they had access to classified information.”

Calling the findings deeply troubling, Turner argued that this overreach represents a “grave constitutional violation.” The report further highlighted concerns that such actions could “chill Congress’s ability to conduct oversight of the executive branch,” undermining its critical role in checks and balances.

Turner’s criticism also signals growing concern over surveillance practices and their potential to infringe on the constitutional separation of powers. He urged legislative action to ensure the DOJ cannot unilaterally access sensitive communications without judicial oversight.

“These protections are critical to upholding the integrity of Congress and its ability to perform its duties,” Turner added. “What happened here is unacceptable.”

The inspector general’s findings have sparked renewed debate over balancing national security investigations with the constitutional rights of lawmakers and their staff. Turner’s remarks underscore the need for reforms to safeguard the communications of Congress and protect its independence.

With scrutiny mounting over the DOJ’s handling of leak probes, Turner’s call for legislative action could gain traction as lawmakers demand greater accountability and transparency in future investigations.