Yelling erupts in Jack Smith's hearing as lawmakers clash: 'I yield in disgust'
Shouting broke out between lawmakers during former Special Counsel Jack Smith's first public testimony on Thursday.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) got into a yelling match during the House Judiciary Committee hearing over Smith's investigations into President Donald Trump. Issa was questioning Smith, who was attempting to answer the lawmaker's questions over seeking phone records following the Jan. 6, 2021 Insurrection probe, when the lawmakers started to interrupt each other — and Smith.
"My office didn't spy on anyone," Smith said.
"Wait a second. I, the question I asked you, Mr. Smith, was pretty straightforward," Issa said.
"We complied with the department," Smith responded, when Issa elevated his voice and interrupted him.
Raskin then interjected, calling Issa out for not letting Smith respond. Issa attempted to question Smith again.
"Mr. Smith, I asked you a question and you were not responsive to it and I want you to be responsive to it. Did you, whether you think it was legal or not, whether you think it was right or not, did you withhold the name of Kevin McCarthy, speaker of the House, when you were seeking records on Kevin McCarthy, the speaker of the House or Jim Jordan, the chairman of the committee."
Then Issa's time expired. He tried to argue that he wanted his time back.
"We did not provide that information to the judge when we requested a non-disclosure order, consistent with the law and consistent with the department policy," Smith said.
More shouting erupted among the committee.
"We have the evidence... with that I yield back in disgust of this witness," Issa said.
Smith was speaking on his decision to prosecute Trump on a series of federal crimes in 2023. He wasted no time declaring that Trump "broke the law" at a congressional hearing Thursday.
Smith, a career federal prosecutor, was appointed as a special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in November 2022 to investigate Trump's handling of classified documents and his role in the events surrounding the Insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.
Smith led high-profile criminal investigations and prosecutions against Trump on multiple counts, including obstruction of justice and violations of the Espionage Act related to classified materials at Mar-a-Lago, though the cases faced significant legal challenges and delays, with Trump ultimately avoiding trial on these charges following his 2024 election victory.