Source: Fox News
Summary
Former special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into President Donald Trump obtained text messages from nearly 50 members of Congress, bypassing a required review process. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley and Senate Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Ron Johnson released findings from their probe, stating that Smith’s team circumvented its own filter review process, potentially violating the Constitution’s speech and debate clause. Rep. Elise Stefanik, one of the lawmakers whose texts were swept up, alleged that the reviews were “unlawfully and unconstitutionally” accessed.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Lawmakers’ text messages are obtained and reviewed by Jack Smith’s team, bypassing protocol. A “filter team” should have reviewed the messages first. Rep. Elise Stefanik says this is a clear violation of the Constitution’s speech and debate clause. Internal communications have been historically included in this clause. Stefanik suspected “unconstitutional spy[ing] on members of Congress.” The records were provided by the Trump Justice Department, indicating Smith’s team “circumvented its own filter review process.”
It’s just another day in the ongoing investigation.
Author: Evan Null
