Former Special Counsel Jack Smith is under scrutiny after accusations from Republicans claiming he misled Congress about the extent of his investigation into President Donald Trump. The accusations led to a potential criminal prosecution.
Jim Jordan, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, issued a criminal referral against Smith. He argued that recently revealed records contradict Smith’s testimony that he did not obtain lawmakers’ text messages during his probes into Trump.
All individuals have an obligation to comply with a duly authorized congressional inquiry. Mr. Smith, a former public servant, is no different,wrote Jordan in a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Jordan claimed Smith made false statements to obstruct the Committee’s oversight.
Smith, previously a U.S. special counsel, testified before the House Judiciary Committee in January 2026 about his investigations. Jordan accused Smith of falsehoods during a December deposition.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley released documents indicating Smith’s team accessed text messages of 44 members of Congress and White House staff. Targeted individuals included Jordan, Grassley, and other political figures like Mike Pence and Ivanka Trump.
The documents suggested Smith’s team violated protocols by reading text messages not reviewed by a “filter team,” meant to protect privileged information. When questioned about examining lawmakers’ texts, Smith denied doing so, claiming his team sought only telephone toll records.
Senator Grassley emphasized that Smith’s team improperly accessed sensitive information, labeling it an “abuse of power.” The Justice Department has not yet commented on these revelations.