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Jack Smith defends Trump prosecutions at heated Senate Judiciary hearing

Former special counsel Jack Smith told the Senate Judiciary Committee he stands by his decision to charge Trump. Republicans accused his team of targeting lawmakers and donors, Democrats defended him, and a basketball mix-up by Sen. Eric Schmitt drew wide coverage.

15 outlets · 7L · 2C · 6R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 10). New coverage since the last version from IJR, Raw Story.

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The story, neutrally told

Former special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday 29 September about his two criminal cases against President Trump, both since dismissed. In his opening statement Smith said he stood by his decisions and made them without regard to politics, adding that his investigation "developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in serious crimes". Trump has said he did nothing wrong. Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) called Smith's operation a "partisan weapon" and said investigators obtained at least 4,782 donor checks; Smith replied, "Yes, we acquired financial information". Ranking member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) called the attacks on Smith a "smokescreen".

Smith defended obtaining Republican lawmakers' phone records, saying the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section approved the subpoenas, but told Sen. Mike Lee he would have to look at the subpoena to say whether it sought location data. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) pressed Smith on whether Garland consulted Biden; Smith answered, "I have absolutely no idea", and Kennedy ended by saying Smith made him "want to throw up in my mouth". Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) cited text messages he said placed Smith at an Atlanta Hawks game on 3 February 2024, suggested perjury and called him a "total dirtbag"; Smith said the game was Iowa Hawkeyes v. Maryland, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Schmitt owed an apology.

Schmitt afterwards said "There's not a mistake", arguing the only NBA game at that tip-off time was in Atlanta. Smith called it an "outrage" that members of his team had been fired or targeted, and he did not discuss the classified documents case because of a standing order from Judge Aileen Cannon. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said he would seek a committee vote to subpoena Volume Two of Smith's report, though Democrats lack the votes; Grassley said his investigation "will continue".

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left7 outlets

Framing
Focuses on Smith defending his probes against a barrage of GOP insults, and on Schmitt's failed perjury accusation, which several outlets treat with mockery.
Emphasis
The insults, the Hawks/Hawkeyes mix-up, Smith's defence of fired staff, and the Justice Department's pursuit of investigators.
Leaves out or plays down
Give little space to Grassley's detail on donor checks, journalists' records and lawmaker subpoenas.
Charged language
“airballs”“a total dirtbag”“GOP insults”“buries MAGA senator”
For example
“The hearing quickly devolved into a battleground of insults.” — NBC News
“GOP senator airballs perjury claim against Jack Smith over apparent Hawks/Hawkeyes mixup” — NBC News
“Former US special counsel rejects claims that his probes improperly targeted Republicans and conservative groups.” — Al Jazeera

Centre2 outlets

Framing
Treats the hearing as a fiery partisan clash, with attention to Kennedy's sparring and Schmitt's mix-up and its aftermath.
Emphasis
Colourful exchanges and the political fallout, alongside Smith's answers on independence.
Leaves out or plays down
Less detail on Grassley's donor-check and lawmaker-records disclosures.
Charged language
“fiery Senate hearing”“Spars”
For example
“Kennedy's questioning reflected a broader Republican argument that the investigations were politically motivated and influenced by the Biden administration.” — Newsweek
“Former special counsel Jack Smith fielded insults from Republicans and questions about his prosecutorial decisions on Tuesday” — The Hill

Right6 outlets

Framing
Leads with Republican accusations of a corrupt, politicised probe and surveillance of donors, lawmakers and journalists; treats Schmitt's mix-up as a sideshow or with humour.
Emphasis
Grassley's 4,782 checks, phone records of lawmakers, Smith's memory lapses, and calls for disbarment.
Leaves out or plays down
Give less weight to Smith's evidence-based defence and to Democrats' rebuttals.
Charged language
“corrupt”“Jack Smith dodges questions about spying on Republican lawmakers”“Jack Smith Was Even Scummier Than We Thought Which Seems Impossible”“thuggish tactics”
For example
“accused Smith of running a “corrupt operation”” — New York Post
“Grassley closed the hearing by accusing Smith’s team of using “thuggish tactics to target the entire Republican political apparatus.”” — Washington Examiner