N環球 
Jack Smith defends prosecuting Trump at Senate hearing; Schmitt's perjury accusation collapses over Hawks-Hawkeyes mix-up
Former special counsel Jack Smith testified Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, defending his prosecutions of Donald Trump. Sen. Eric Schmitt's perjury accusation collapsed after Sen. Amy Klobuchar showed he confused the Atlanta Hawks with the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Why it matters
Smith told the Republican-led committee he had "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" that Trump engaged in criminal activity, and said he would make the same decision to prosecute today regardless of party. The hearing is part of a broader Republican push to re-examine the federal investigations of Trump, as the Justice Department has shown willingness to pursue the people who investigated him.
Full report
The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, titled "Oversight of Jack Smith's Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters," was led by Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). Republicans focused on "Arctic Frost" — the federal probe that preceded the election-related prosecution — and investigators' efforts to obtain lawmakers' phone and communication records. It follows House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan's referral of Smith to the Justice Department, alleging false statements in a closed-door deposition; Smith's legal team says he testified truthfully.
The most dramatic exchange came when Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) accused Smith of perjury over text messages about a Feb. 3, 2024 basketball game, insinuating Smith had secretly traveled to Atlanta to meet prosecutor Fani Willis. Smith replied that he had attended a University of Maryland women's game against the Iowa Hawkeyes — not the Atlanta Hawks. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) confirmed Iowa played Maryland in College Park that day, with Caitlin Clark scoring 38 points, and said a senator presenting false information and calling the witness a "dirtbag" owes Smith an apology. Schmitt stood by the insult and left the hearing, later telling HuffPost he was still unsure whether Smith was lying.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) called the Republican criticism "petty, personal and political," describing it as "nothing but a smokescreen." Smith also defended his former team, saying he was "extremely proud" to have worked with them and calling it an outrage that they had been "targeted illegally, lost their jobs illegally."
💬 Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!