Fact-check analysisVerified as of September 29, 2026Curated by FactVerifyPrimary Source Verified
True

Special Counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the legality and use of subpoenas in the investigation into Donald Trump.

During a Senate Judiciary Committee session held on September 29, 2026, ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith answered inquiries concerning his prior probes into Donald Trump, specifically addressing the deployment of subpoenas.

Jack Smith Trump Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

Jack Smith Trump Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

Source: cbsnews.com

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified September 29, 2026
  • Jack Smith, in his capacity as former Special Counsel, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 29, 2026.

  • The session featured Smith explaining the application of subpoenas throughout his federal examinations of Donald Trump.

The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

On September 29, 2026, Jack Smith, the former Special Counsel, provided testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee to justify his oversight of two significant federal inquiries concerning Donald Trump. The proceedings centered on the management of sensitive government records and attempts to invalidate the 2020 presidential election, allowing Smith to address legislative concerns about his procedural methods.washingtonpost.comwashingtonpost.comJack Smith Clashes with Gop Senators Over Trump InvestigationsOn September 29, 2026, former Special Counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding his investigations into Donald Trump Purpose: The hearing provided a forum for Smith to defend his handling of two major...theguardian.comtheguardian.comJack Smith Senate HearingPurpose: The hearing provided a forum for Smith to defend his handling of two major federal investigations into Donald Trump: the case concerning the mishandling of classified documents and the case regarding efforts to overturn the 2020...

Throughout the session, Smith encountered scrutiny from GOP committee members regarding the legitimacy and execution of subpoenas issued during his tenure, particularly those targeting the acquisition of digital communications from legislative officials.cbsnews.comcbsnews.comJack Smith Trump Senate Judiciary Committee HearingOn September 29, 2026, former Special Counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding his investigations into Donald Trump Smith defended these actions, stating that the subpoenas were conducted in accordance...latimes.comlatimes.comEx Special Counsel Smith Tells Senators He Wont Be Silenced by Trumps Threats of...Addressing Subpoenas: During the hearing, Smith addressed Republican criticisms regarding his investigative methods, specifically the use of subpoenas to obtain phone and toll records of members of Congress Contentious Exchanges: The...

Primary trail

Verified Sources4

Jack Smith Clashes with Gop Senators Over Trump Investigations

washingtonpost.com
Open source

Jack Smith Senate HearingPrimary Source Extraction

theguardian.com
Open source
Verified Document Excerpt
"Heading: ‘You make me want to throw up’: Republicans attack ex-special counsel Jack Smith at Senate hearing 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 basketball teams."

Jack Smith Trump Senate Judiciary Committee HearingPrimary Source Extraction

cbsnews.com
Open source
Verified Document Excerpts
"Heading: Smith says his team had "strong reason" to think Trump would destroy evidence "We do not have to wait for someone to be injured for an investigation to be obstructed," he said. "We had strong reason to believe that Donald Trump would obstruct our investigation, given the obstruction alleged in the Florida indictment, given the attempts to intimidate witnesses in the election case, given the threats that were later made to witnesses in the election case.""
"Heading: What to know about the Jack Smith hearing today: Jack Smith, the former special counsel who led two prosecutions of President Trump, defended his handling of those probes during a Senate hearing that grew contentious at several points on Tuesday. Republican senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee expressed outrage at Smith over his investigative methods, including his team's efforts to obtain toll records from some GOP lawmakers as part of his probe into Mr. Trump's actions after the 2020 election. Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Judiciary Committee's chairman, accused Smith of taking "partisanship to a new level.""
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