The former special counsel says he wants any testimony he gives to be public. In an interview with The Bulwark, Rep. Jamie Raskin outlines why it matters.
Jack Smith has had all of his hard work go up in smoke, and seen a criminal insurrectionist become president. I think this has all become quite personal for him; he knows he's dealing with liars, and when you're dealing with liars, you testify publicly, not privately.
Plus, he was very close-mouthed about the investigations while they were underway - as he should have been. This would be an opportunity for him to tell the public his story. I’m surprised that flamethrower Jim Jordan didn’t jump at the chance to showboat. Could it be that he realizes that Jack Smith would show him up every time? Of corse, Republicans are only trying to please Dear Leader. They have no independent interest in questioning Smith.
Not ONLY his excellent and thorough “hard work”…We tax payers paid for that excellent and thorough hard work! I, for one, want a PUBLIC accounting of that investigation. What I don’t want is a republican led editorial commission providing its impressions and a Cliff’s Notes interpretation of what transpired behind a closed door. I am sick to death of the political division in this country AND the two sets of agendas that demean and abuse America everyday. GET A GRIP, CONGRESS ! You’re losing the patient
A couple of days ago I watched the recent interview Andrew Weissman did w/ Jack Smith. I kept trying to imagine what it would be like to be him and have your integrity questioned - when he literally drips with integrity. That heroes like him are being denigrated is just one more thing that makes me feel like I'm going to lose my mind over the endless and extreme unfairness.
Yeah, Mueller was appointed FBI Director by a Republican and was so respected he served past his ten year term per the request of a Democratic President, yet when he becomes Special Counsel investigating Russian interference in an election Trump won, he's suddenly the villainous embodiment of the Deep State. Jack Smith cut his teeth prosecuting war criminals, and he just oozes propriety, sobriety, and professionalism, but he became an enemy for investigating the wrong person's crimes.
Everyone is a patriot until they start scrutinizing the cult leader, because the cult leader is infallible, so the people investigating his crimes must be the criminals. Our world is topsy turvy, with Trump, a straight up organized criminal, the blameless perpetual victim and martyr.
I 'd love to seeJordan squirm , but thats unrelated to Jack Smith's investigations of t***p. I'd love to see surveillance video from Epstein's massage room but it's unrelated . I'd like to see , from Sen. Wyden , ranking member of Senate Finance committee , the Epstein / Trump money laundering / sex trafficking receipts but unrelated .
So far, all congressional hearings have been public. It’s in Smith’s favor to refuse a closed door session. And then leave the country until this mess is over.
Four points for reader consideration as we talk about who should do what with the shutdown.
First: SNAP cuts disproportionately hurt red, rural counties. The "welfare queen" has always been a Reagan-era lie. Many rural places and white people are on snap, indeed there are Trump+30% Counties in 2024 where more than 30% of the residents of the county receive SNAP (https://kypolicy.org/tracking-snap-in-kentucky). The Republicans I think might seriously be too used to the smell of their own farts if they think that cutting SNAP will disproportionately hurt democratic voters. Call this bluff, Shumer.
Second: USDA has contingency/emergency funds it is legally obligated to use for SNAP. Trump is illegally impounding this money currently. The Trump admin thinks they can pressure Dems by hurting their own Republican base voters. And they are breaking the law to do it. If they want folks to get SNAP, Trump needs to let USDA spend the billions of dollars they have available set aside for this purpose. Shumer also needs to call this bluff.
Third: Thune and Senate Republicans can invoke the so-called nuclear option at any time to skirt this and end the shutdown. Remember the Trumpists do not much honor tradition or norms or procedures, so if they are insisting on a tradition like the filibuster for only tradition's sake, they are **lying**. Indeed, Thune and Senate Republicans have already invoked the so-called nuclear option and overruled the parliamentarian when they voted to go after Electric Vehicles in California: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republicans-poke-holes-filibuster-vowing-protect-rcna231423.
Fourth: Polling continues to show Trump and Republicans are taking the L on this one. It does not strengthen their position that they are openly, publicly avoiding any effort at negotiation, with Johnson keeping the House out of session and Trump leaving the Country for Asia.
Shumer and Jefferies need to stay strong and keep their feet on the gas. The Republicans are engaged in pure might-makes-right power politics, and they will only respond to retaliatory exercises of power and leverage. Do not make a deal that does not achieve the stated goal. In this case, the ACA subsidies. Not when you have them over a barrel.
Perhaps the resurrection of miles-long lines of cars at food pantries around the country, as we watched during Trumps Covid response played out, will get the R’s attention as we approach Thanksgiving and people cannot afford to feed their children. Yet somehow, I am not hopeful. It’s just in the R’s DNA at this point to reflexively blame the D’s and walk away. Or in the case of when cameras are near by, Run away.
I agree. Everyone reading this, if you are represented by Democrat(s,) email or call them to tell them to stand firm, not to give in. They need to know their constituents are behind them. If you are represented by Republican(s), tell them they are not fooling anyone. Kotzsu summarizes beautifully exactly what they are doing and whom it will hurt. Voters are paying attention.
I really look forward to Smith doing this in public. Let s face it, he is not Robert Mueller. He would give a very good performance unlike the awful one Mueller handed to Republicans. Smith knows "what time it is" and knows yesterday's brand of politics won't suffice today.
True. But he was really showing his age. And when I use the term, "What time is it" it refers to someone who goes by the politics of say 30 years age. There is nothing wrong with that. But being civil quiet and proceeding with norms of that time doesn't cut now in this age. (We all wish it did)
Republicans want everything for show for their MAGA followers. They need to pretend that they are doing their job, even though we all know they aren't. It's all the Trump circus.
I have no doubt that Jack Smith was careful enough to make sure that all the "t"s were crossed and the "i's dotted. But that means nothing to Trump and his sycophant members of the Senate.
I want them public. I want to hear all the meandering questions. I want to hear Jack Smith tell the truth to all the members who "can't handle the truth".
As far as the shutdown is concerned. Keep it shut down. If Republicans don't want to come to the table to negotiate, that's on them. Someone should remind them that Trump promised a "beautiful health care plan, better than anything" when he was running in 2016. We're still waiting for it.
Republicans don't govern. They don't know how to govern. Some might remember how the government is supposed to work, but they have chosen to become an amoeba. They all know that this presidency is not a "normal" presidency ever in the history of our country. And yet they just nod their heads like bobbleheads.
“Return” to a more wholesome image? When did Hooters ever have a wholesome image? It always had that sort of leering, snickering “Three’s Company” vibe.
There’s a pile of ephemera on Reddit etc. from guys whose dads or uncles hauled them to Hooters in middle/early high school to get them interested in girls. Haven’t seen any reports of this ending in fondly remembered lusty “December 1963 (Oh What A Night)” type experiences. But evidently waitresses were used to this and sometimes whispered to the young guy he was going to be OK.
If Republicans refuse to allow Jack Smith to testify in public, are Democrats allowed to have their own public meeting, outside of regular committee formats? Why not have a public, televised town hall of their own with Smith as the guest of honor?
Jack Smith wants to show all of the evidence he has about Trump's ilegal misdeeds. I'm sure some of those who want to investigate him know that they are included in the plot to overthrow the election. But they are caught, once again, between the truth and Trump. It's a lose-lose situation. But that's the condition the entire country is in now, so why not them too.
It’s long past the time for Senator Grassley to announce his retirement. He’s 92 years old. Exactly how effective can he possibly be? At this point he’s resting on his laurels. I guess he’s planning to be carried out of the Senate feet first?
We know the 'clean resolution bill' is just to give more time to get to the real budget. We also know the Rs are not going to save ACA subsidies in the full budget even if they say it is open to the floor once the clean bill is passed. Why would anyone trust them? They won't swear in an elected Representative when it isn't in their interests to do so. They have lost all credibility.
Their unwillingness to seat a legally-elected Democratic Representative needs to be shouted to the rooftops to the general public, because I suspect most of them are completely unaware that this is happening.
A public meeting is the only way he should agree to testify. The real criminal has been indicted and convicted but he wants to wield his illegally gotten power and take down everyone involved in his convictions. No one should agree testify unless it's in public. And on TV.
Jim Jordan has some nerve complaining....he never responded to the subpoena issued to him from the Jan. 6 Committee.
Jack Smith's request for a public hearing is like tossing holy water on the GOP’s vampire coven; it’s not “gamesmanship,” it’s just sunlight. And naturally, the same Republicans who’ve spent years screeching about “transparency” are suddenly shy about the cameras. How convenient. These are the same folks who turned Benghazi into dinner theater and Hunter Biden’s laptop into a recurring Broadway act. But when it’s their corruption, their candidate, their cult? Suddenly, the curtains stay closed, and the mics are off.
Jamie Raskin’s right: this isn’t about politics, it’s about precedent. Every special counsel investigating a president has testified in public - until Trump rewired their spines into spaghetti. So yes, let Jack Smith testify. Let him do it live. Let the country see who flinches first when the truth walks in.
BUT ALSO: Watch MAGA reject everything they see and hear... You can lead a horse to information, but you can't make him learn.
Jack Smith is a brillliant lawyer who should have been DOJ's Attorney General instead of wishy-washy, late-to-the-date Merrick Garland. If I were Jack Smith I would return to the ICC or elsewhere, and leave this country.
Jack Smith has had all of his hard work go up in smoke, and seen a criminal insurrectionist become president. I think this has all become quite personal for him; he knows he's dealing with liars, and when you're dealing with liars, you testify publicly, not privately.
Plus, he was very close-mouthed about the investigations while they were underway - as he should have been. This would be an opportunity for him to tell the public his story. I’m surprised that flamethrower Jim Jordan didn’t jump at the chance to showboat. Could it be that he realizes that Jack Smith would show him up every time? Of corse, Republicans are only trying to please Dear Leader. They have no independent interest in questioning Smith.
Problem is if it's public the Republicans cannot control the narrative, if their goal to cherry pick and protect the President. Which of course it is
Not ONLY his excellent and thorough “hard work”…We tax payers paid for that excellent and thorough hard work! I, for one, want a PUBLIC accounting of that investigation. What I don’t want is a republican led editorial commission providing its impressions and a Cliff’s Notes interpretation of what transpired behind a closed door. I am sick to death of the political division in this country AND the two sets of agendas that demean and abuse America everyday. GET A GRIP, CONGRESS ! You’re losing the patient
A couple of days ago I watched the recent interview Andrew Weissman did w/ Jack Smith. I kept trying to imagine what it would be like to be him and have your integrity questioned - when he literally drips with integrity. That heroes like him are being denigrated is just one more thing that makes me feel like I'm going to lose my mind over the endless and extreme unfairness.
Yeah, Mueller was appointed FBI Director by a Republican and was so respected he served past his ten year term per the request of a Democratic President, yet when he becomes Special Counsel investigating Russian interference in an election Trump won, he's suddenly the villainous embodiment of the Deep State. Jack Smith cut his teeth prosecuting war criminals, and he just oozes propriety, sobriety, and professionalism, but he became an enemy for investigating the wrong person's crimes.
Everyone is a patriot until they start scrutinizing the cult leader, because the cult leader is infallible, so the people investigating his crimes must be the criminals. Our world is topsy turvy, with Trump, a straight up organized criminal, the blameless perpetual victim and martyr.
It’s pretty nervy for Jim Jordan to expect someone to show up for such a committee when he himself ignored a subpoena.
And never accounted for his part as an assistant coach in the Ohio State wrestling scandal.
Jordan’s one attribute is that he has a lot of nerve.
And not him alone. Pretty much all of MAGA can say with straight faces that white is black.
Their hypocrisy is breathtakingly astounding.
Your thought is absolutely correct, but other colors would be closer to their ideal.
He has another - a deadly suit-jacket allergy
I wouldn’t put it past Smith to bring that fact up. How could he be stopped?
I 'd love to seeJordan squirm , but thats unrelated to Jack Smith's investigations of t***p. I'd love to see surveillance video from Epstein's massage room but it's unrelated . I'd like to see , from Sen. Wyden , ranking member of Senate Finance committee , the Epstein / Trump money laundering / sex trafficking receipts but unrelated .
I’d love to see them all being convicted and sentenced with no hope for an appeal overturning them and no pardon. I’d even pay to see it.
No pardon will only happen when they are no longer in power in any of the three branches of government, meaning, not in my lifetime.
It'll only work if the hearing is public.
So far, all congressional hearings have been public. It’s in Smith’s favor to refuse a closed door session. And then leave the country until this mess is over.
I believe he was not alone. The MAGAsphere was bypassing subpoenas left and right.
‘Laws for thee, but not for me’
If you're expecting the GOP to display logical consistency, it seems we've been watching *very* different shows.
Four points for reader consideration as we talk about who should do what with the shutdown.
First: SNAP cuts disproportionately hurt red, rural counties. The "welfare queen" has always been a Reagan-era lie. Many rural places and white people are on snap, indeed there are Trump+30% Counties in 2024 where more than 30% of the residents of the county receive SNAP (https://kypolicy.org/tracking-snap-in-kentucky). The Republicans I think might seriously be too used to the smell of their own farts if they think that cutting SNAP will disproportionately hurt democratic voters. Call this bluff, Shumer.
Second: USDA has contingency/emergency funds it is legally obligated to use for SNAP. Trump is illegally impounding this money currently. The Trump admin thinks they can pressure Dems by hurting their own Republican base voters. And they are breaking the law to do it. If they want folks to get SNAP, Trump needs to let USDA spend the billions of dollars they have available set aside for this purpose. Shumer also needs to call this bluff.
Third: Thune and Senate Republicans can invoke the so-called nuclear option at any time to skirt this and end the shutdown. Remember the Trumpists do not much honor tradition or norms or procedures, so if they are insisting on a tradition like the filibuster for only tradition's sake, they are **lying**. Indeed, Thune and Senate Republicans have already invoked the so-called nuclear option and overruled the parliamentarian when they voted to go after Electric Vehicles in California: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-republicans-poke-holes-filibuster-vowing-protect-rcna231423.
Fourth: Polling continues to show Trump and Republicans are taking the L on this one. It does not strengthen their position that they are openly, publicly avoiding any effort at negotiation, with Johnson keeping the House out of session and Trump leaving the Country for Asia.
Shumer and Jefferies need to stay strong and keep their feet on the gas. The Republicans are engaged in pure might-makes-right power politics, and they will only respond to retaliatory exercises of power and leverage. Do not make a deal that does not achieve the stated goal. In this case, the ACA subsidies. Not when you have them over a barrel.
Thank you for laying this all out in one place.
ETA: Still surprised that any sentient being blames this horror on Democrats.
Answer: There are no sentient beings. The felon supporters. “They fool you. They walk upright!”
Perhaps the resurrection of miles-long lines of cars at food pantries around the country, as we watched during Trumps Covid response played out, will get the R’s attention as we approach Thanksgiving and people cannot afford to feed their children. Yet somehow, I am not hopeful. It’s just in the R’s DNA at this point to reflexively blame the D’s and walk away. Or in the case of when cameras are near by, Run away.
Love the last sentence.🍻
Or pretend to be on a cell phone call.
I agree. Everyone reading this, if you are represented by Democrat(s,) email or call them to tell them to stand firm, not to give in. They need to know their constituents are behind them. If you are represented by Republican(s), tell them they are not fooling anyone. Kotzsu summarizes beautifully exactly what they are doing and whom it will hurt. Voters are paying attention.
I really look forward to Smith doing this in public. Let s face it, he is not Robert Mueller. He would give a very good performance unlike the awful one Mueller handed to Republicans. Smith knows "what time it is" and knows yesterday's brand of politics won't suffice today.
Mueller was constrained because of the position he was in. Smith is not.
True. But he was really showing his age. And when I use the term, "What time is it" it refers to someone who goes by the politics of say 30 years age. There is nothing wrong with that. But being civil quiet and proceeding with norms of that time doesn't cut now in this age. (We all wish it did)
You are so correct Dave. Mueller is a gentleman and respects his colleagues and his party. For Republicans those are lost causes.
Jack Smith needs to stand his ground and NOT do a private meeting with these fools. This is how the GOP works when they know they are in trouble!
Republicans want everything for show for their MAGA followers. They need to pretend that they are doing their job, even though we all know they aren't. It's all the Trump circus.
I have no doubt that Jack Smith was careful enough to make sure that all the "t"s were crossed and the "i's dotted. But that means nothing to Trump and his sycophant members of the Senate.
I want them public. I want to hear all the meandering questions. I want to hear Jack Smith tell the truth to all the members who "can't handle the truth".
As far as the shutdown is concerned. Keep it shut down. If Republicans don't want to come to the table to negotiate, that's on them. Someone should remind them that Trump promised a "beautiful health care plan, better than anything" when he was running in 2016. We're still waiting for it.
Republicans don't govern. They don't know how to govern. Some might remember how the government is supposed to work, but they have chosen to become an amoeba. They all know that this presidency is not a "normal" presidency ever in the history of our country. And yet they just nod their heads like bobbleheads.
Actions have consequenses.
Died laughing at "we have a moral obligation" in the context of the Hooters rebrand 😂 I'm glad Joe is continuing to report on this important issue.
“Return” to a more wholesome image? When did Hooters ever have a wholesome image? It always had that sort of leering, snickering “Three’s Company” vibe.
On what planet would a parent take a child there?
Heck, my son is 23 and it'd be super awkward for dear old Dad to take him there.
There’s a pile of ephemera on Reddit etc. from guys whose dads or uncles hauled them to Hooters in middle/early high school to get them interested in girls. Haven’t seen any reports of this ending in fondly remembered lusty “December 1963 (Oh What A Night)” type experiences. But evidently waitresses were used to this and sometimes whispered to the young guy he was going to be OK.
Seriously? What a horrible thing to do.
However, that is a great song! 😀
When I lived in Jacksonville, the local Hooters advertised the children's Easter egg hunt they were hosting that year.
I can't imagine suggesting attendance to my wife.
My then-wife did a lot of eye-rolling in the three years we spent in Jacksonville. That one might have been the rolliest.
Moral obligation was an odd take. 😀
If Republicans refuse to allow Jack Smith to testify in public, are Democrats allowed to have their own public meeting, outside of regular committee formats? Why not have a public, televised town hall of their own with Smith as the guest of honor?
That is exactly what should happen!
That'd be great, but I'm sure Trump would have someone issue a "gag" order, so he couldn't do it.
Jack Smith is (in D&D terms) a Paladin all the way down - straight arrow lawful lawful and I'd love to see him testify in public.
They will not. I hope they can hold out for both this and the shutdown. Something has to give and I'm tired of it being Dems.
I say shadow hearings if the Rs refuse public hearings .I just read the JMP agrees !
President Biden did more for Unions than any president in my lifetime and he got knifed for it. Dems should hold the line.
Jack Smith wants to show all of the evidence he has about Trump's ilegal misdeeds. I'm sure some of those who want to investigate him know that they are included in the plot to overthrow the election. But they are caught, once again, between the truth and Trump. It's a lose-lose situation. But that's the condition the entire country is in now, so why not them too.
Thank you, Mr. Perticone. Having listened to Jack Smith speak, I can imagine gym jordan does not want to go one-on-one in public with Mr. Smith.
Senator Grassley probably doesn’t want to either!
It’s long past the time for Senator Grassley to announce his retirement. He’s 92 years old. Exactly how effective can he possibly be? At this point he’s resting on his laurels. I guess he’s planning to be carried out of the Senate feet first?
Absolutely agree with you. It's hard to believe that some of his Iowa constituents seem to think he's perfectly fine!
Grassley assumed his office the year I graduated from high school. Now I'm coming up on my own retirement, and he's STILL in office?! ENOUGH!
Iowans, throw him out! You deserve better!
I like that, “gym Jordan”. Have always wondered why the Dems don’t bring up his serious failures as a coach.
We know the 'clean resolution bill' is just to give more time to get to the real budget. We also know the Rs are not going to save ACA subsidies in the full budget even if they say it is open to the floor once the clean bill is passed. Why would anyone trust them? They won't swear in an elected Representative when it isn't in their interests to do so. They have lost all credibility.
Their unwillingness to seat a legally-elected Democratic Representative needs to be shouted to the rooftops to the general public, because I suspect most of them are completely unaware that this is happening.
A public meeting is the only way he should agree to testify. The real criminal has been indicted and convicted but he wants to wield his illegally gotten power and take down everyone involved in his convictions. No one should agree testify unless it's in public. And on TV.
Jim Jordan has some nerve complaining....he never responded to the subpoena issued to him from the Jan. 6 Committee.
Jack Smith's request for a public hearing is like tossing holy water on the GOP’s vampire coven; it’s not “gamesmanship,” it’s just sunlight. And naturally, the same Republicans who’ve spent years screeching about “transparency” are suddenly shy about the cameras. How convenient. These are the same folks who turned Benghazi into dinner theater and Hunter Biden’s laptop into a recurring Broadway act. But when it’s their corruption, their candidate, their cult? Suddenly, the curtains stay closed, and the mics are off.
Jamie Raskin’s right: this isn’t about politics, it’s about precedent. Every special counsel investigating a president has testified in public - until Trump rewired their spines into spaghetti. So yes, let Jack Smith testify. Let him do it live. Let the country see who flinches first when the truth walks in.
BUT ALSO: Watch MAGA reject everything they see and hear... You can lead a horse to information, but you can't make him learn.
https://twvme.substack.com/p/when-the-cupboard-is-bare-we-shut
Jack Smith is a brillliant lawyer who should have been DOJ's Attorney General instead of wishy-washy, late-to-the-date Merrick Garland. If I were Jack Smith I would return to the ICC or elsewhere, and leave this country.