As one of its first acts, the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives created the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. The committee has extraordinary powers to investigate anything related to how the federal government collects or uses information about Americans, including in ongoing criminal investigations.

This committee is sure to make headlines as it carries out its investigative mission. But its novel power to probe ongoing criminal investigations is just as likely to generate conflicts with the executive branch. And for its targets, the committee is a reminder that navigating congressional investigations requires creativity and political savvy.

The Committee’s Origins