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Jack Smith spars with GOP senators

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29.09.2026

Jack Smith spars with GOP senators

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Sen. Kennedy to Jack Smith: 'You make me want to throw up in my mouth'

Sen. Kennedy to Jack Smith: 'You make me want to throw up in my mouth'

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Programming note: We’re Joshua Feldstein and Claire Leibowitz, filling in for Cate today. Please send your tips, comments and story ideas to jfeldstein@thehill.com or cleibowitz@thehill.com.

Smith faces hostile crowd in Senate Republicans: 

Former special counsel Jack Smith testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday morning, diving into his past investigations into President Trump.

“I stand by my decisions as Special Counsel, including my decision to bring charges against President Trump,” Smith said in his opening statement.

Smith led a team of Justice Department investigators to determine if Trump would face charges in his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, and the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case. Both cases were wound down when Trump was re-elected.

“I made these decisions without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 presidential election,” Smith said.

Republicans made the counter case: Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) bashed Smith over his subpoenas issued as a part of his investigation into the president.

The subpoenas were used to track finances for conservative groups who sponsored and organized events surrounding the Jan. 6 events and election challenges.

“I can tell you why we issued subpoenas, and it was to conduct a criminal investigation of one of the most serious crimes that’s ever happened in our nation’s history.” Smith said to Grassley.  In return, Grassley stated that “Donations to Republican groups wasn’t necessary for your investigation, which is proved out by the fact that it was not mentioned in your public report.”

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) ripped into Smith for seeking phone records of some Republican senators as part of his probe, accusing the attorney of not disclosing the requests to the judge overseeing his investigation.

“You make me want to throw up in my mouth,” Kennedy said, after repeatedly cutting off Smith.

Partisan problem: Smith told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he didn’t understand why Republicans thought the investigation into Trump was a partisan effort.

“One of the reasons [Trump] was not able to take power, even though he was seeking to do these things, is because Republicans stood up,” he said.

Smith noted that Former Arizona House speaker Rusty Bowers and former Vice President Mike Pence, “did the right thing and put the interests of the country over the personal interests of Donald Trump” into the investigation.

Smith previously testified before the House Judiciary Committee in January on the matter.

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