# Smith defends Trump probes as GOP senators attack > Former special counsel Jack Smith told the Senate Judiciary Committee he stood by charging Trump, facing insults from Republican senators who accused him of political targeting. - Title: Smith defends Trump probes as GOP senators attack · NBC News - Summary: Former special counsel Jack Smith told the Senate Judiciary Committee he stood by charging Trump, facing insults from Republican senators who accused him of… - Keywords: jack smith, donald trump, senate judiciary committee, special counsel, january 6, classified documents, 2020 election, justice department, chuck grassley, cory booker, politics, news - Source: NBC News — https://nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/senate-gop-press-jack-smith-trump-jan-6-probe-doj-targets-investigator-rcna600306 - Author: Ryan J. Reilly - Published: 2026-09-29T16:30:13.273+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: jack smith, donald trump, senate judiciary committee, special counsel, january 6, classified documents, 2020 election, justice department, chuck grassley, cory booker, politics, news ## Smith testifies on Trump charges Former special counsel Jack Smith appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, September twenty-ninth, twenty twenty-six, defending his decision to charge Donald Trump. ## Two cases against Trump dismissed Smith brought two federal criminal cases against Trump: one over his efforts to overturn his twenty twenty election loss before the January sixth Capitol attack, and another over classified documents. ## Smith: investigation found serious crimes Smith said his investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in serious crimes against the nation. Trump has said he did nothing wrong. ## Smith: status must not affect prosecution Smith stated that the status, power, prominence or political affiliation of the subject of an investigation must play no role in the decision to investigate, prosecute or decline to prosecute. > The status, power, prominence or political affiliation of the subject of an investigation must play no role in the decision to investigate, prosecute or decline to prosecute. ## GOP senators attack Smith with insults Louisiana Republican John Kennedy asked Smith what arrogant means, then told him you make me want to throw up in my mouth. Missouri Republican Eric Schmitt called Smith a dirtbag. > You make me want to throw up in my mouth. ## Schmitt confuses basketball teams Schmitt tried to place Smith at an Atlanta Hawks game to suggest contact with prosecutor Fani Willis. Smith denied it. Schmitt had confused his teams: Smith was at an Iowa Hawkeyes game, Caitlin Clark's team. ## Grassley accuses Smith of abuse Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, Republican of Iowa, asserted that Smith misused his investigative powers and politically targeted Republicans. Grassley said Smith must answer for rampant abuse of authority and political targeting. ## Grassley: weaponization of Justice Department Grassley said his goal is to expose the weaponization of the Justice Department for actions taken during the Biden administration. He said Jack Smith's corrupt operation undermined the rule of law and threatened political institutions. > Jack Smith's corrupt operation undermined the rule of law and threatened our very political institutions. ## Smith: jury would have convicted Trump Smith said he believes a jury would have convicted Trump in the twenty twenty election case had it gone to trial. He called the notion that his decisions were influenced by the Biden administration laughable. > influenced or directed by the Biden administration or other political actors is, in a word, laughable. ## Smith's report: Trump inspired violence Smith's final report in the election interference case stated that Trump inspired his supporters to commit acts of physical violence at the Capitol on January sixth. > inspired his supporters to commit acts of physical violence ## Trump gave clemency to January sixth defendants Trump pleaded not guilty in Smith's January sixth case and denied inciting supporters, calling his rally remarks totally appropriate. Trump later described January sixth defendants as hostages and gave them mass clemency upon his return to office. ## Trump administration launches grand conspiracy probe The Trump administration launched a grand conspiracy investigation looking at federal law enforcement actions dating back to twenty sixteen, which falls outside the typical five year statute of limitations for most federal crimes. ## DOJ probing Mar-a-Lago search The Trump administration has purged FBI and Justice Department officials involved in past Trump investigations. DOJ officials appear interested in probing the August twenty twenty-two FBI search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. ## Booker: eight year attempt to lie Senator Cory Booker, Democrat of New Jersey, said law enforcement officers were fired for doing their jobs, then vilified by Trump and allies pushing false narratives. He called it an eight year attempt to lie to the American people. > This is an eight-year attempt to lie to the American people. ## Key takeaway Jack Smith defended his decision to charge Trump before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September twenty-ninth, twenty twenty-six, as Republican senators attacked his investigation.