Acting Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche faced pointed questions from Sen. John Kennedy on Wednesday regarding former special counsel Jack Smith's investigation, specifically concerning allegations that Smith's team accessed text messages from dozens of lawmakers. Kennedy pressed Blanche on whether Smith had reviewed his emails and how such access was obtained.
During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Kennedy asked Blanche if he would investigate whether Smith read his emails, how the messages were acquired, and what information was obtained. He specifically inquired if emails from Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, were reviewed and if they contained personal information such as details about his corn harvest. Kennedy also questioned whether Smith shared any obtained emails with Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Kennedy's inquiries stemmed from recent revelations by Grassley, who announced that records indicated Smith's team obtained and reviewed text messages from 44 current and former members of Congress as part of the investigation into former President Donald Trump. Grassley's office stated that Smith's investigative team bypassed an internal filter review process designed to protect privileged materials, raising concerns about potential abuses of power and the weaponization of federal law enforcement.
Blanche confirmed that the Department of Justice is investigating the matter. He stated that checks and balances are in place to make it difficult for prosecutors to collect and review emails from senators, congressmen, lawyers, or others with privileged communications, and that these safeguards should always be used.
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., also voiced criticism, claiming that Trump's Justice Department was the "most troubled" in history due to the alleged weaponization of investigations by the Biden administration's DOJ. Schmitt asserted that Smith should be prosecuted for allegedly lying under oath to Congress about whether he had accessed phone logs, stating that Smith testified they only had phone logs when "we know that's not true."