Jack Smith hit with criminal referral as GOP moves testimony fight toward prosecution

By Fox News · Fox News

FIRST ON FOX: Former Biden special counsel Jack Smith could face potential criminal prosecution after Republicans accused the ex-prosecutor of misleading Congress about the scope of his investigation into President Donald Trump. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, issued a criminal referral of Smith on Wednesday, arguing newly released records contradict Smith's testimony to his committee that he did not obtain or review lawmakers' text messages during his multiple probes into President Donald Trump. "All individuals have an obligation to comply with a duly authorized congressional inquiry. Mr. Smith, a former public servant, is no different," Jordan wrote in a letter to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday. "Yet his testimony included intentionally false statements designed to obstruct the Committee’s oversight." "His conduct can only be understood as an effort to thwart the Committee’s inquiry by intentionally making false statements and representations before Congress," Jordan continued, adding that the Justice Department should examine whether Smith's actions warrant criminal charges. VETERAN DEM BREAKS PARTY LINE AS JACK SMITH SPYING SCANDAL GRIPS CAPITOL HILL Jordan’s letter accused Smith of making false statements during a December deposition before the House Judiciary Committee. Specifically, Jordan argued that "responses provided by Mr. Smith gave the impression that neither Mr. Smith nor his team had access to the content of members’ privileged text messages." "We now know this to be false," the letter said. The referral comes after Smith faced mounting scrutiny from Republicans over allegedly weaponizing the Justice Department and violating constitutional privacy protections during his investigations into alleged interference during the 2020 election and Trump’s handling of classified documents. He has denied any wrongdoing. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, released documents last week showing Sm…