LAS VEGAS — Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said that he’s hoping to take action in the committee on antisemitism in the remaining months of the congressional term, and also previewed plans for a hearing on the International Criminal Court.

Several major pending bills on combating antisemitism, including the Right to Worship Act, Jewish American Security Act and the Antisemitism Awareness Act, fall at least in part under the jurisdiction of Jordan’s committee, which could help move them forward to the full House.

“We want to try to be helpful in that,” Jordan told Jewish Insider, acknowledging that there are several pending bills on the subject. “We’ve been supportive of all of those in the past, so we’ll see what we can get done here in the last few weeks of September, or maybe even in the lame duck session” after the midterm elections.

Jordan said he hadn’t paid much attention to a whistleblower investigation opened by his Democratic counterpart, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), into allegations that the administration had mishandled its investigations of antisemitism on college campuses.

“We know what happened. You know, it’s like, what are we supposed to do? Not believe our lying eyes, as the old line goes?” Jordan said. “The vast majority of Americans have common sense, and they saw what took place on these campuses.”

He praised the work being done on the issue by the Justice Department, and said his own committee is also examining funding from Middle Eastern nations flowing to universities.

Jordan also defended the U.S. war in Iran, calling it consistent with President Donald Trump’s pledge not to allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, even as he acknowledged that it is contributing to cost of living concerns.

“I know that things cost too much, but we’re working on that,” he said. “But we’ve got to also understand this regime … 47 years, largest state sponsor of terrorism, killed Americans, killed Israelis, killed others, killed thousands of their own people — they are bad, and you cannot let that regime get a nuclear weapon.”

He expressed full support for the supplemental funding request for the war submitted by the administration.

“I understand we’ve got running huge deficits, got a big debt, and we’ve got to address that problem too. But this is national security, and you have to do that,” he said.

Jordan also argued strongly for maintaining the “special relationship” between the U.S. and Israel, explaining that the two countries’ shared Judeo-Christian heritage is important to him, especially as an evangelical. 

“There are 190-some countries in the world, and the left focuses on attacking two. The radical left focuses on attacking the United States and Israel,” he said. “They’re two countries with shared values and principles, but they’re also two countries with a special purpose, and started in such similar ways.”

The House Freedom Caucus co-founder, who made a brief run for the House speakership in 2023 that was blocked by fellow Republicans, said he would be supporting House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to remain in his role if Republicans maintain control of the House.

Asked if he would make a bid for minority leader if Republicans lose the House, Jordan insisted that would not happen.

“We’re going to keep the majority. I’m focused on that,” he said, noting that he’s traveled to more than a dozen states in the past month to rally with GOP candidates. “We’ve got to win. … They will ruin this amazing thing called America — the left will ruin it if they get power.”