Jack Smith defends Trump investigations at Senate hearing

Summarised from 6 outlets · 11 reports · Updated 2 Oct, 15:08 · Archive

Former special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday about the federal investigations he led into President Trump after the president left office.

Republican senators on the committee accused Smith and his team of illegally targeting Trump and GOP lawmakers. They alleged that the investigations cast an 'unjustifiably' broad net. Smith vehemently denied the accusations, defending his investigations as properly conducted.

Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri raised perjury allegations against Smith during the hearing. According to CBS News, the allegation apparently stemmed from confusion during Smith's testimony about a basketball team reference, suggesting the accusation related to factual inaccuracy rather than intentional falsehood.

The Guardian reports that the hearing was tense and wide-ranging, with Republican senators making attacks on Smith that included inaccurate information. The outlet notes that the hearing featured unusual moments, including basketball-related mix-ups and references the outlet characterises as far from serious inquiry.

Smith rejected broader claims that his probes improperly targeted Republicans and conservative groups. The hearing reflected deep partisan divisions over the special counsel's investigations into the former president.

How it is being reported

• Sen. Schmitt accuses Jack Smith of perjury in basketball game fumbleThere was some confusion during former special counsel Jack Smith's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on his investigations into President Trump. CBS News' Nikole Killion explains.CBS News · 30 Sept, 15:10
• Jack Smith defends investigations into Trump during tense US Senate hearingFormer US special counsel rejects claims that his probes improperly targeted Republicans and conservative groups.Al Jazeera · 30 Sept, 00:28
• Breaking down Jack Smith's Senate testimony on Trump investigationsFormer special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate on Tuesday about the investigations he led into President Trump. Lee Holmes, former chief counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, joins "The Takeout" to discuss.CBS News · 29 Sept, 23:22
• ‘You make me want to throw up’: Republicans attack ex-special counsel Jack Smith at Senate hearingGOP senators lash out on Smith, who led criminal cases against Trump, with invective and inaccurate information Former special counsel Jack Smith, who led two criminal cases against Donald Trump in 2023, faced attacks from Republicans in a wide-ranging hearing on Tuesday that included a basketball mix-up, a reference to the tooth fairy and accusations of perjury. In the Senate judiciary committee hearing on Tuesday , the Republican senator Eric Schmitt, of Missouri, raised perjury allegations against Smith, seemingly over a mix-up about the Atlanta Hawks and University of Iowa Hawkeyes…Guardian World · 29 Sept, 20:11
• Early takeaways as Jack Smith wraps Senate testimony about federal Trump probesFormer special counsel Jack Smith testified Tuesday before the Senate about the federal investigations he led into President Trump. CBS News' Taurean Small reports.CBS News · 29 Sept, 18:33
• Jack Smith doubles down, testifies that Trump committed crimesFormer special counsel Jack Smith is testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee about his investigations into President Trump, including the classified documents case. Smith testified that he was not swayed by partisan interests during his investigations. CBS News' Taurean Small reports.CBS News · 29 Sept, 17:01
• Jack Smith speaks to Senate Judiciary Committe about prosecuting TrumpJack Smith, who prosecuted President Donald Trump after he left office, is testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday morning.UPI · 29 Sept, 16:39
• Jack Smith's opening statement: "Trump engaged in serious crimes against our nation"Former special counsel Jack Smith is testifying before the House Judiciary Committee about his investigations into President Trump. Here's his opening statement.CBS News · 29 Sept, 15:47
• Jack Smith fires back at Trump as explosive Senate hearing beginsRepublicans have accused Smith and his team of casting an 'unjustifiably' broad net in their investigation - though Smith has vehemently denied such accusations.Daily Mail · 29 Sept, 15:04
• Ex-special counsel Jack Smith accused of ‘corrupt’ probe of Trump and Republican lawmakersFormer special counsel Jack Smith squared off with Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee who accused him Tuesday of illegally targeting Trump and GOP lawmakers.New York Post · 29 Sept, 14:52
• Jack Smith to testify about Trump probes before Senate panel todayFormer special counsel Jack Smith will testify Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of its investigation into his probes of President Trump.CBS News · 29 Sept, 11:00

In this story: Jack Smith · Donald Trump · Senate Judiciary Committee · Eric Schmitt · Republican Party

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log