Cory Booker defends Jack Smith at Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington

Sen. Cory Booker defended former special counsel Jack Smith at Tuesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, pressing back against Republican criticism as Smith testified about his investigations into former President Donald Trump.

Booker, D‑N.J., told colleagues the committee was “persecuting the prosecutors,” arguing Republican attacks were politically motivated and warning that the proceedings risked undermining the Justice Department, according to video of the hearing and committee coverage.

anonymous crowd of people in a congressional hearing room, raised hands and blurred faces, a solitary empty chair at the witness table

The hearing featured Jack Smith answering sharp questions from Republican senators about his charging decisions and handling of evidence, with multiple outlets reporting heated exchanges and intense GOP questioning during Smith’s testimony.

Booker used his allotted time to rebut what he called misleading claims from GOP members and to defend prosecutorial independence, saying the attacks were a way to “relitigate” the 2020 election rather than address legal issues, according to committee video and reporting.

a lone empty witness chair at the front of a committee room with microphone and papers, no people visible

The appearance came as Smith faced allegations from Republicans about possible procedural errors and text-message evidence; news organizations covering the hearing described back-and-forth exchanges between Smith and senators as tense and at times testy.

Observers and live coverage framed Booker’s remarks as part of the Democrats’ effort to defend the Justice Department’s work while Republicans pressed for answers ahead of an election, a dynamic detailed in contemporaneous live updates and committee clips.

Sources

C-SPAN — video clips of Sen. Cory Booker defending Jack Smith and criticizing Republican questioning.
NBC News — reporting that Booker accused Republicans of “gaslighting” the public during the hearing.
CNN — live updates noting Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee and faced intense questioning from GOP senators.
The Hill — coverage of the hearing’s takeaways and the exchanges between Smith and senators.
Central Jersey — local reporting that Booker pushed back on Republican attacks during Smith’s testimony.
Internal link — Jack Smith testifies in Washington, defends Trump indictments — earlier coverage of Smith’s testimony on the same hearing.
Internal link — Jack Smith testifies before Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington — background on Smith’s appearance before the committee.