House Committee Urges DOJ to Charge Jack Smith, Citing Alleged False Statements

The Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has called on the Justice Department to consider criminal charges against former special counsel Jack Smith. Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio alleges that Smith lied to Congress during testimony last year regarding the investigation into actions taken by former President Trump after the 2020 election.

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All individuals have an obligation to comply with a duly authorized congressional inquiry. Mr. Smith, a former public servant, is no different.

The referral stems from the revelation that investigators obtained phone records of Republican lawmakers. Smith had previously testified that his team only received "toll records," which exclude call content. However, the Justice Department recently informed lawmakers that Smith's team had also obtained text messages between Trump-era White House staff and members of Congress through a separate subpoena to the National Archives and Records Administration.

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Yet his testimony included intentionally false statements designed to obstruct the Committee's oversight.

Based on this new information, Jordan accused Smith of making "materially false statements" and failing to disclose the subpoena to the National Archives. Jordan stated, "All individuals have an obligation to comply with a duly authorized congressional inquiry. Mr. Smith, a former public servant, is no different." He urged Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to investigate Smith.

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The Republicans fault Mr. Smith for not reading the minds of congressional investigators and for not volunteering information they didn't ask for.

A Justice Department spokesperson confirmed receipt of the referral and stated it "will investigate all evidence of criminal conduct." However, the committee's top Democrat, Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, vehemently opposed the referral, labeling it "baseless and vindictive." Raskin argued that Smith was questioned about toll records, not the National Archives subpoena, and answered truthfully. He criticized the Republicans' position, stating, "The Republicans fault Mr. Smith for not reading the minds of congressional investigators and for not volunteering information they didn't ask for."

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This is absurd. Mr. Smith may be telegenic but he is not telepathic.