Former special counsel Jack Smith was discussed during acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing on July 15, 2026. Senator John Kennedy questioned the Justice Department regarding allegations that Smith reviewed text messages from lawmakers as part of his investigation into President Donald Trump. Kennedy specifically asked about the nature of the messages obtained, including whether they included personal communications from Senator Chuck Grassley regarding his corn harvest.
Grassley announced that records showed Smith’s team had accessed text messages from 44 current and former lawmakers. The investigation, known as Operation Arctic Frost, initially focused on allegations following the 2020 election, with some Republicans alleging it represented an improper use of federal law enforcement against Trump and his associates.
Blanche confirmed that the DOJ is investigating the matter and addressed concerns about how messages were accessed without probable cause. He stated that there are safeguards in place to protect privileged communications. Grassley’s office indicated that Smith’s team had bypassed a review process designed to filter out privileged materials, raising concerns about attorney-client privilege.
Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri criticized the DOJ, claiming it has been weaponized against political opponents and suggested that Smith should face consequences for allegedly misleading Congress about the nature of his investigation.