Former Biden special counsel Jack Smith might face criminal charges. Republicans have accused him of misleading Congress during his investigation into President Donald Trump.
Accusations Against Jack Smith
Jim Jordan, House Judiciary Committee Chairman, sent a criminal referral for Smith. Jordan claims Smith lied about not obtaining lawmakers’ text messages during his probes into Trump.
“All individuals have an obligation to comply with a duly authorized congressional inquiry. Mr. Smith, a former public servant, is no different,” wrote Jordan.
Jordan further stated that Smith’s actions were meant to obstruct the Committee’s oversight. He urged the Justice Department to consider criminal charges.
Claims of False Statements
Jordan accused Smith of falsifying statements during a House Judiciary Committee deposition. He argued that Smith’s responses suggested he or his team had no access to lawmakers’ private text messages.
Documents released last week show Smith’s team accessed messages of 44 Congress members and White House staff during his investigation.
- Lawmakers implicated include Jim Jordan, Chuck Grassley, Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins, Steve Scalise, and Cory Booker.
- Trump officials affected include Mike Pence, Stephen Miller, Kash Patel, and Ivanka Trump.
Inquiry into Investigation Protocols
Grassley’s office found Smith’s team bypassed protocols by accessing messages without review by a “filter team.” This safeguard typically prevents access to privileged information.
When Congressional investigators asked Smith if he accessed lawmakers’ messages, he denied it. He stated his team had pursued only telephone toll records, which exclude call content, providing only call duration and routing information.
The Justice Department has not commented on the allegations.
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