Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, tore into former special counsel Jack Smith on Tuesday morning, grilling him over his investigations into President Donald Trump and other Republicans during a heated round of congressional testimony in Washington, D.C.
The Texas conservative did not hold back as Smith sat across from him, blasting the former prosecutor’s “disgraceful” probes and his conduct throughout them. Cruz declared that Smith’s investigations would be remembered as the “most egregious abuse of power in the history of the Department of Justice.”
Cruz charged that Smith’s “witch hunt” against Trump and other Republicans was fueled by an obsession with taking down his political enemies.
Near the end of his allotted time, Cruz delivered a scathing verdict on Smith’s legacy.
“Let me say congratulations, because you have succeeded where Richard Nixon failed, which is weaponizing the Department of Justice to go after your political opponents,” Cruz said. “Congratulations.”
The senator went on to mock the reception he expected Smith to receive from the left.
“I understand for the rest of your life you are going to be hailed as a hero in the Resistance Movement,” Cruz said. “I assume you have a pink hat somewhere at home, and people will be proud of you for resisting.”
Cruz then laid out what he said was the real damage Smith had done, telling him he had “brought the Department of Justice into disrepute.” Rather than remaining apolitical and enforcing the law, Cruz argued, Smith had willingly signed on as a “foot soldier for the DNC.”
Smith sat in silence as Cruz landed his final blows.
The exchange had already grown tense at the outset of Cruz’s 10 minutes of questioning. The senator pressed Smith on the organizations he subpoenaed during his investigations, a list Cruz said ranged from the RNC to Turning Point USA to Fox News.
When Smith curtly responded that he did not remember the specifics of the subpoenas, Cruz fired back.
“You can sigh all you like; it’s a very simple question,” Cruz said. “You know damn well you did! You’ve been questioned about the checks you guys got; you know the answer! So why don’t you answer the question?”
Cruz then turned to a large cardboard graphic displayed behind him. The poster showed that Smith had issued 197 subpoenas to “spy on” 430 Republican organizations.
The senator said it was shocking that Smith never appeared to go after any Democrats, highlighting what he portrayed as a one-sided pursuit aimed squarely at the right.
Cruz then put a pointed question directly to the former special counsel.
“In your view, is it a crime to be a Republican?” Cruz asked.
“Absolutely not, sir,” Smith replied.
The confrontation capped a combative session in which Cruz repeatedly accused Smith of turning the Justice Department into a political weapon. From the Nixon comparison to the pink hat jab to the poster tallying hundreds of Republican targets, the Texas senator made clear he views Smith’s investigations as a partisan crusade that damaged the credibility of the department he once served.
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