Jim Jordan Accuses Jack Smith of Misleading Congress in Criminal Referral
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan has accused former Special Counsel Jack Smith of misleading Congress during the federal election investigation of President Donald Trump. Jordan asserts Smith denied obtaining lawmaker text messages under oath, despite evidence showing otherwise for 44 members.
Jordan emphasizes the Speech or Debate Clause, arguing Smith’s team failed to filter privileged legislative communications adequately. He calls for accountability regarding these actions.
According to whistleblower disclosures made to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, records show Smith’s investigators obtained communications between nearly 50 journalists and Trump administration officials. This was done after subpoenaing text-message records from dozens of White House phones. These communications appeared in records produced by the National Archives in response to the subpoena.
“What will the partisan media say about this disgraceful government overreach? This wasn’t a normal prosecution by any means,” Grassley questioned.
The investigation has involved major news organizations. Journalists from Fox News, CNN, CBS News, NBC News, CNBC, and others appeared in the records. The records came from a subpoena issued by Smith’s office to the National Archives seeking messages from phones of officials from Trump’s first administration.
Grassley and Sen. Ron Johnson previously pressed the DOJ and FBI for details on filtering privileged materials before investigators could review them. An email from assistant special counsel Thomas Windom instructed Smith’s team to download documents related to messages from the White House phones.
The disclosure broadens questions regarding how these records were handled, specifically concerning safeguards that governed access to communications of lawmakers, journalists, and third parties.
Further Details on Investigation Practices
The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to scrutinize Smith’s investigative practices and the broad scope of Arctic Frost. The committee has identified journalists involved in the records without revealing their names due to privacy concerns.
Fox News Digital is attempting to reach legal representatives for Smith and the DOJ for comment. The case has raised significant concerns about the integrity of investigative protocols and the protection of privileged communications.