Wednesday, September 30, 2026 300 stories · 2227 outlet reports compared

Former special counsel Jack Smith testifies before Senate Judiciary Committee on Trump probes

Jack Smith, who led investigations into President Trump, appeared as the sole witness before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday amid Republican scrutiny of his conduct.

By The Lumen desk · Sept 29, 2026 · 1 min read
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What we know
1 Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
2 Smith was the sole witness at the hearing, according to the Washington Examiner and Independent Journal Review.
3 The hearing was titled 'Oversight of Jack Smith's Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters,' according to the Washington Examiner and the Daily Wire.
4 The hearing was chaired by Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), according to the Daily Wire.
5 Independent Journal Review reported the hearing date as Sept. 29, while other outlets described it only as Tuesday.

Former special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, appearing as the sole witness at a hearing focused on his investigations into President Donald Trump.

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According to the Washington Examiner and the Daily Wire, the hearing was titled 'Oversight of Jack Smith's Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters' and was chaired by Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

NBC News reported that the hearing came amid the Justice Department's pursuit of those involved in investigations into Trump. Independent Journal Review noted that lawmakers whose phone records were collected during Smith's probes were expected to question him.

Right-leaning outlets, including the Washington Examiner, reported that Senate Republicans were pressing for criminal charges against Smith, who had twice indicted Trump.

How each side covered it

Left

3 outlets
  • ABC News and NBC News reported that Smith was set to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
  • NBC News connected the hearing to the Justice Department's broader pursuit of individuals involved in investigations into President Trump.

“Senate GOP to press Jack Smith on Trump Jan. 6 probe as DOJ targets investigators” — NBC News

Right

3 outlets
  • The Washington Examiner and Daily Wire reported the hearing's title referencing 'Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans.'
  • The Daily Wire identified Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) as the hearing's chair.
  • The Washington Examiner reported that Republicans were pressing for criminal charges against Smith.
  • Independent Journal Review reported that lawmakers whose phone records were collected in Smith's probes planned to question him.

“Jack Smith faces Senate grilling as Republicans press for criminal charges against him” — Washington Examiner

Questions readers ask

What happened at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Jack Smith?

Former special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday as the sole witness, facing questions from Republican lawmakers about his investigations into President Donald Trump.

Why did Jack Smith testify before the Senate?

The hearing, titled 'Oversight of Jack Smith's Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters,' examined his conduct during investigations into President Trump, according to the Washington Examiner and the Daily Wire.

What did left- and right-leaning outlets focus on?

Left-leaning outlets like NBC News and ABC News framed the hearing around Smith's testimony and the Justice Department's pursuit of investigators, while right-leaning outlets emphasized Republican efforts to press for criminal charges against Smith.

Who chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing?

The hearing was chaired by Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), according to the Daily Wire.

Were lawmakers' phone records part of the hearing's focus?

Yes, according to Independent Journal Review, lawmakers whose phone records were collected during Jack Smith's investigations into Trump were expected to question him at the hearing.

Sources · 6 outlet reports

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