Updated 1w+ ago · Politics
Jack Smith Hearing Exposes GOP Senator's On-Air Gaffe.
Jack Smith appeared Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee as the sole witness, defending his criminal investigations of President Donald Trump against Republican accusations of partisan abuse.
- 44 members of Congress had texts reviewed by Smith's investigators, per Grassley and Johnson.
- Both Trump indictments were dismissed before trial after his 2024 reelection.
- Rep. Jim Jordan referred Smith to the Justice Department in July over alleged congressional testimony inconsistencies.
- No court has found wrongdoing by Smith or his prosecutors in the probes themselves.
Why it matters: The hearing centers on whether Smith's team violated the Constitution's Speech or Debate Clause by obtaining lawmakers' phone records and text messages without first using a filter team.
- Smith's planned opening statement says he would prosecute a former president on the same facts again, regardless of party.
- Smith's statement also warns that "predetermined outcomes" are displacing Justice Department norms under the current administration.
How 63 sources split on this story
Source landscape
Factuality
High
Mixed
Low
Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right
Political Bias
Coverage by lean
63 sources · 166 articles · 43% Left coverage
Where they split: The core dispute is whether Smith's collection of lawmakers' records was lawful investigative work or an unconstitutional targeting of political opponents.
Center coverage, 19 sources: The center frames the hearing as a high-stakes confrontation between Smith's prosecutorial record and Republican allegations of overreach, with both sides using it to advance their midterm narratives.
Roll Call1w+Jack Smith pressed on DOJ probes — and basketballThe National Desk1w+Missouri GOP senator gets backlash over false Jack Smith basketball narrativeThe Hill1w+Schmitt on mix-up at Jack Smith hearing: ‘My job is to ask questions’PBS NewsHour1w+WATCH: Schmitt suggests Jack Smith perjured himself about a basketball game, but mixes up 2 teamsYahoo News1w+Republican fumbles Jack Smith conspiracy theory and calls Trump prosecutor 'dirtbag' in testy hearingNewsweek1w+The implosion of Eric SchmittNOTUS1w+Sen. Eric Schmitt Downplays Viral Jack Smith Hearing Gaffe - The Washington Sunabc27 (WHTM)1w+Smith fields GOP insults, questions on lawmaker subpoenas at fiery Senate hearing: 5 takeawaysAssociated Press1w+Ex-Trump prosecutor Smith will tell senators he won’t ‘be silenced’ by threats of prosecutionBloomberg1w+Ex-Trump Prosecutor Spars With GOP Senators, Defends Probe StaffCTV News1w+Ex-Trump prosecutor Smith will tell senators he won't 'be silenced' by threats of prosecutionForbes1w+GOP Senator’s Jack Smith Accusation Falls Apart Over Confusing Atlanta Hawks And Iowa HawkeyesLaw and Crime1w+DOJ lawyer shocks appellate judges by using Kristi Noem as 'sacrificial lamb' to stop judge's contempt inquiry once and for allPennLive1w+Ex-Trump prosecutor forcefully defends investigations as Republicans assail his team’s tacticsReuters1w+Former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith faces Senate hearing over 'abuse of authority' accusationsTMZ1w+Sen. Eric Schmitt Says Botched 'Gotcha' Moment in Jack Smith Hearing Wasn't EmbarassingUSA Today1w+Republican's apparent basketball mixup derails Jack Smith hearingWPLG Local 101w+Ex-Trump prosecutor Smith forcefully defends investigations as Republicans assail his team's tacticsWSB-TV Atlanta1w+U.S. Senator mixes up Atlanta Hawks, Iowa Hawkeyes during Jack Smith hearing
Left coverage, 27 sources: The left frames the hearing as Republicans using congressional power to retaliate against a nonpartisan prosecutor who lawfully pursued evidence of serious crimes.
ABC News1w+Former special counsel Jack Smith to testify before Senate on Trump investigationsPolitico1w+Republicans wanted Jack Smith to give them a smoking gun. They got a gaffe instead.Raw Story1w+This scumbag's shame shows how low the GOP has plungedAlterNet1w+'Clown-show' theory eviscerated by Republicans’ own local news programMediaite1w+Republican Senator Stunned as Colleague’s Attack on Trump Prosecutor Disintegrates in Real TimeThe Independent1w+Senator reveals the moment she knew viral Jack Smith gotcha was a slow-mo train wreckCNN1w+Jack Smith testifies, coaster shut down, world’s noisiest birds: Catch up on the day’s storiesMSNBC1w+Republicans failed to even try to challenge the substance of Smith’s case against TrumpNBC News1w+GOP senator airballs perjury claim against Jack Smith over apparent Hawks/Hawkeyes mixupRolling Stone1w+MAGA Media Is Trying to Spin Senator’s Brutal Gaffe Into a WinTalking Points Memo1w+5 Points About a Senator’s Disastrous But Hilarious Attempt to Accuse Jack Smith of PerjuryThe Boston Globe1w+Jack Smith hearing: Eric Schmitt mixes up basketball teamsThe New Republic1w+GOP Senator Tries to Trap Jack Smith—and Gets Every Detail WrongAl Jazeera1w+Jack Smith defends investigations into Trump during tense US Senate hearingCBS News1w+Jack Smith, ex-special counsel, to testify about Trump probes before Senate Judiciary CommitteeDaily Kos1w+Jack Smith testifies, GOP continues to freak out … and more!Esquire1w+After an Obnoxious Tirade at the Jack Smith Hearing, This GOP Congressman Should Trade His Senate Seat for Clown SchoolFlorida Phoenix1w+GOP senator bungles accusation against former special counsel Jack Smith in heated hearingGeorgia Recorder1w+GOP senator bungles accusation against former special counsel Jack Smith in heated hearingLos Angeles Times1w+Ex-special counsel Smith tells senators he won't 'be silenced' by Trump's threats of prosecutionNew York Magazine1w+Eric Schmitt’s Failed Jack Smith Takedown Is Instant ClassicPolitical Wire1w+Jack Smith Hearing Flops for RepublicansSlate1w+This Mortifying Attempt to Trap Jack Smith in Perjury Was Like Something Out of The OfficeThe Daily Beast1w+Jimmy Kimmel Exposes MAGA’s Biggest ‘Schmitt-Head’The Guardian1w+‘You make me want to throw up’: Republicans attack ex-special counsel Jack Smith at Senate hearingThe New York Times1w+As Jack Smith Testifies, a Senator’s Accusation of Perjury FaltersThe Washington Post1w+Jack Smith clashes with senators over Trump probes, says he will not be silenced
Right coverage, 17 sources: The right frames the hearing as necessary accountability for what Republicans call a politically motivated abuse of investigative authority targeting the GOP.
Washington Examiner1w+Eric Schmitt defends perjury trap airball at Jack Smith hearing: ‘Not a mistake’Just the News1w+GOP senator files bar complaint against Jack SmithNewsBusters1w+The Network Evening News Mostly OMITS Explosive Jack Smith HearingThe Washington Times1w+GOP's Schmitt calls Jack Smith 'dirtbag'; former special counsel says Trump should've been convictedCitizen Free Press1w+Watch Live | Jack Smith senate hearing, happening now.New York Post1w+Sen. Katie Britt’s ‘look of utter horror’ as GOP colleague’s perjury accusation unravels during Jack Smith hearing goes viralPJ Media1w+The Morning Briefing: Still Impatiently Waiting to See Jack Smith in an Orange JumpsuitRedState1w+'Do You Believe in The Tooth Fairy?' Sen. Kennedy Nails Jack Smith to the Wall in Stunning ExchangeThe Gateway Pundit1w+Corrupt Jack Smith Who Tried to Indict an Innocent President Trump Outs Himself In Front of US Senate - Joe HoftTownhall1w+Sen. Ted Cruz Just Went Off on Special Counsel Jack Smith in Fiery Senate HearingTwitchy1w+Had Him DEAD to Rights: John Kennedy SO Owned Jack Smith That Dick Durbin Tried SAVING Him and WOOFBreitbart News1w+Watch Live: Jack Smith Testifies Before Senate Judiciary CommitteeDaily Mail1w+Jack Smith fires back at Trump as explosive Senate hearing beginsNewsmax1w+Ex-Trump Prosecutor Smith Will Tell Senators He Won't 'Be Silenced' by Threats of ProsecutionOne America News1w+Fmr Special Counsel Jack Smith faces scrutiny from GOP lawmakers, defends his prosecutions of TrumpThe Daily Wire1w+WATCH LIVE: Disgraced Jack Smith Faces Lion’s Den Over Trump ‘Witch Hunt’ ProbeThe Right Scoop1w+AWESOME VIDEO – John Kennedy grills Biden hack Jack Smith over targeting Republican phone records
What’s next: The DOJ has not indicated any status update on the Jordan criminal referral against Smith.
- An appeals court is weighing a lawsuit seeking to lift Judge Aileen Cannon's order blocking Smith's classified documents report.
- Will the Justice Department act on the criminal referral against Smith, and on what timeline?
- How much did then-Attorney General Merrick Garland approve each step of Smith's investigative decisions?
- Will the appeals court order Smith's classified documents report released before or after the midterm elections?
View all