Senate Judiciary Democrats demand Grassley apologise to Jack Smith and release withheld records
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Dick Durbin, wrote to Chairman Chuck Grassley demanding records they say were withheld before a hearing at which Sen. Eric Schmitt wrongly suggested Jack Smith had perjured himself, and an apology to Smith.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats, led by ranking member Dick Durbin (D-IL), sent a letter to Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), dated Wednesday and obtained by Politico, demanding that he apologise to former special counsel Jack Smith on the committee's behalf and hand over withheld records. Washington ExaminerR “in a letter dated Wednesday, obtained by Politico, ranking member Dick Durbin (D-IL) led the committee’s Democrats in demanding Grassley apologize and provide records related to the gaffe.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Raw StoryL ““We ask that you immediately provide all committee records that you have withheld, commit to fully complying with Senate Rules … going forward, and apologize to Mr. Smith on behalf of the Committee,” the Democrats wrote.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Mixed · 2The letter stems from a hearing on Sept. 29, at which Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) displayed text messages from Smith's team placing him at a 'Hawks' game on Feb. 3, 2024, and suggested Smith had secretly attended an NBA game in Atlanta to meet prosecutors on the Georgia election case against Donald Trump. Raw StoryL “Schmitt, who at a hearing last month suggested Smith secretly attended an NBA game in Atlanta on Feb. 3, 2024, to meet with prosecutors working on the Georgia election case against President Donald Trump.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Washington ExaminerR “During the Sept. 29 hearing, Schmitt displayed text messages from Smith's team, putting him at a “Hawks” game on Feb. 3, 2024” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Mixed · 2Smith denied it and said he had been at the University of Maryland that day, at a women's basketball game between the Terrapins and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes, according to the Washington Examiner. Washington ExaminerR “Smith revealed he was actually at the University of Maryland on that day, attending a women’s basketball game between the Terrapins and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Raw StoryL “Smith denied it and Democrats say the texts “established only that Senator Schmitt had not done the basic due diligence of verifying a document before relying on it.”” Read at Raw Story ↗
Right · 1Schmitt told Smith, 'I think you've already perjured yourself,' and called him 'a dirtbag', which the Democrats' letter says was 'beneath the dignity of this Committee and the Senate'. Washington ExaminerR “Senator Schmitt incorrectly asserted to Mr. Smith, ‘I think you’ve already perjured yourself,’ and inexcusably branded him ‘a dirtbag,’ language which is beneath the dignity of this Committee and the Senate,”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Left · 1The Democrats say the episode caused 'needless confusion', slowed the committee's business and risked false information entering the record uncontested; they also say they did not receive Schmitt's materials in advance, so had to respond in real time. Raw StoryL “caused needless confusion, slowed down the business of the Committee, introduced the possibility that false information would be entered uncontested into the record”“Democrats say they didn’t get the materials Schmitt used ahead of the hearing, so they were “forced to synthesize these baseless accusations and respond in real time,”” Read at Raw Story ↗ Mixed · 2They accuse Grassley of violating Senate rules by not providing relevant records before the hearing, including a readout of an Aug. 17, 2024 call between Smith and the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section that Schmitt and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) both cited; the letter says they still have not received these records. Washington ExaminerR ““As of the date of this letter, we still have not received these records.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Raw StoryL “a readout of an Aug. 17, 2024, call between Smith and the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section, which Schmitt and fellow Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley both cited at the hearing.” Read at Raw Story ↗
Mixed · 2Grassley spokesperson Clare Slattery replied that 'it's Jack Smith who owes an apology to the thousands of Americans he and his staff ran roughshod over'; the Washington Examiner says Schmitt has maintained that no error was made. Raw StoryL ““it’s Jack Smith who owes an apology to the thousands of Americans he and his staff ran roughshod over.”” Read at Raw Story ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Schmitt has maintained that no error was made.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Frames Grassley as 'under fire' for 'hiding' documents, focusing on the withheld records and Schmitt's embarrassment.
- Emphasis
- Withheld committee records, the Aug. 17, 2024 call readout, and Grassley's spokesperson's response.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention that Schmitt maintains no error was made, nor the Maryland-Iowa game explanation.
- Charged language
- “under the gun”“hidden docs”“botched attack”“embarrassing himself”
- For example
-
“is under fire from Democrats for hiding documents related to former special counsel Jack Smith” — Raw Story
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Treats it as a continuing embarrassment for Schmitt, centred on the sports-team mix-up, while reporting the Democrats' demands in detail.
- Emphasis
- The Hawks/Hawkeyes confusion, the 'dirtbag' remark and Schmitt's refusal to concede a mistake.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not include Grassley's spokesperson's rebuttal.
- Charged language
- “perjury flub”“gaffe”“embarrassing gaffe”
- For example
-
“Schmitt was caught in the embarrassing gaffe last month during the congressional questioning of Smith” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- Durbin led a Democratic letter to Grassley, obtained by Politico, demanding records and an apology to Smith.
- Schmitt used text messages at a hearing to suggest Smith attended a game on Feb. 3, 2024.
- The Democrats say the texts showed only that Schmitt failed to verify the document.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Schmitt made an error at the hearing
- Left
- Describes Schmitt as 'embarrassing himself' and the attack as 'botched'.
- Right
- Calls it a 'gaffe' and 'flub' based on a mix-up of two sports teams, while noting Schmitt maintains no error was made.
-
Who owes an apology
- Left
- Democrats say Grassley should apologise to Smith; Grassley's spokesperson says Smith owes Americans an apology.
- Right
- Reports the Democrats' demand for an apology and Schmitt's insistence that there was no mistake.
Chuck Grassley person
Through spokesperson Clare Slattery, rejects the demand and says Smith owes Americans an apology.
““it’s Jack Smith who owes an apology to the thousands of Americans he and his staff ran roughshod over.”” — Raw Story
Eric Schmitt person
Has maintained that no error was made in the hearing exchange.
“Schmitt has maintained that no error was made.” — Washington Examiner
Jack Smith person
Denied attending the Atlanta game, saying he was at a University of Maryland women's basketball game.
“Smith revealed he was actually at the University of Maryland on that day” — Washington Examiner
Left1 article
-
Grassley under the gun over hidden docs behind botched attack on Jack Smith
Critical Presents Grassley as hiding documents and Schmitt's attack on Smith as botched.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
Mixed Reports the Democrats' letter in detail while casting Schmitt's perjury claim as a gaffe, noting his denial of error.
- 8 Oct 12:51 First Raw StoryL Grassley under the gun over hidden docs behind botched attack on Jack Smith
- 8 Oct 14:25 +1h 33m Washington ExaminerR Committee Democrats push Grassley for apology and records related to Schmitt’s Jack Smith perjury flub
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.