Jack Smith’s Lawyers Deny Claims of Wiretapping GOP in January 6 Probe

Attorneys for Jack Smith, the former Special Counsel at the Justice Department, have denied accusations of wiretapping directed at GOP members of Congress. Republican lawmakers have raised concerns following the FBI’s release of court orders related to phone toll records.

Background on the Accusations

Recently, Senate Republicans contended that Smith and the FBI engaged in “political weaponization.” The claims arose after the FBI revealed that it had obtained phone toll records from eight Senate members and one House member. These records pertained to calls made over four days surrounding the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Details of the Toll Records

• The records cover January 4 to January 7, 2021.
• No content of calls is included; the data details call times, durations, and phone numbers.
• Obtaining such records is standard procedure in Justice Department investigations.

Response from Smith’s Legal Team

In a letter sent to Senator Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Dick Durbin, Smith’s attorneys refuted claims of any wrongdoing. They maintained that the data collection was targeted and limited to the critical days surrounding the January 6 riots.

Justifications for Data Collection

Smith’s legal representatives highlighted that these records were necessary to confirm reports suggesting that then-President Trump and his allies attempted to persuade Senators to postpone the certification of the 2020 election results. They emphasized that the toll record collection was consistent with standard investigative procedures.

Precedents in Investigations

The letter also pointed out that similar measures had been taken in past investigations. For instance, toll records for then-President Joe Biden were obtained by Special Counsel Robert Hur regarding his classified documents probe. Additionally, toll records were collected in the bribery investigation of Senator Bob Menendez from New Jersey.

Reactions from Congress

During a recent Senate hearing involving Attorney General Pam Bondi, the issue of the disclosed toll records was raised by Republican senators. Democrats, meanwhile, questioned the motivations behind the recent indictments directed at Trump’s political adversaries, including former FBI Director James Comey.

Smith’s attorneys reiterated that their approach was lawful, transparent, and aligned with typical investigative practices.