Senator Chuck Grassley says former special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation of President Trump engaged in “government overreach” and collected financial information about Trump campaign donors, including 42 checks from Iowans.
During a Senate hearing yesterday, Grassley said those donation records weren’t necessary to the investigation. “That’s what you must do if your case is designed to map out and target the entire Republican Party,” Grassley said.
Smith was called to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I can tell you why we issued subpoenas, and it was to conduct a criminal investigation of one of the most serious crimes that’s ever happened in our nation’s history.”
Grassley’s office released copies of nearly 4800 checks with names and other personal details crossed out. Many of the checks were written after the 2020 election. Grassley said text messages and communications between about 50 journalists and government officials were also acquired during Smith’s investigation.
“Disgraceful government overreach,” Grassley said. “…This wasn’t a normal prosecution by any means.”
Grassley read a partial list of outlets involved, then his office issued a news release with the full list which included journalists for CNN, Fox News, 60 Minutes, Associated Press, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio and the Mark Levin Show.
The cases Smith filed against Trump were related to Trump’s actions surrounding the January 6th riot at the U-S Capitol as well as the classified documents Trump took to his home in Florida after leaving the White House. Both cases were dismissed after Trump won a second term in 2024.