{"id":2672723,"date":"2026-09-29T12:53:42","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T16:53:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kennedy-berates-smith-over-conversations-with-merrick-garland\/"},"modified":"2026-09-29T12:57:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T16:57:32","slug":"kennedy-berates-smith-over-conversations-with-merrick-garland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kennedy-berates-smith-over-conversations-with-merrick-garland\/","title":{"rendered":"Kennedy berates Smith over conversations with Merrick Garland"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fkennedy-berates-smith-over-conversations-with-merrick-garland%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2672723&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senator John Kennedy of louisiana questioned former special counsel Jack Smith during his Senate Judiciary Committee testimony regarding Smith&#8217;s relationship with higher-ups in the Biden governance and his decision to subpoena congressional phone records. Kennedy expressed skepticism about weather President Biden was consulted before Smith initiated investigations into Donald trump, implying potential interference or bias.Smith stated he made independent decisions based on strong evidence, without knowing if garland checked with Biden. kennedy also scrutinized Smith&#8217;s handling of subpoenas, especially concerning lawmakers&#8217; phone records, emphasizing that these records did not include content of conversations. Additionally, Kennedy brought up smith&#8217;s personal connections and opinions, including his wife&#8217;s support for Biden, and criticized Smith\u2019s actions, describing them as potentially biased and politically motivated. The hearing highlighted tensions over the impartiality of the Justice Department and Smith&#8217;s investigative decisions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-kennedy\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1442\">John Kennedy<\/a> (R-LA) grilled former special counsel <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jack-smith\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"869\">Jack Smith<\/a> during his testimony before the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate-judiciary-committee\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"872\">Senate Judiciary Committee<\/a> on his relationship to higher-ups in the Biden administration and his subpoenaing of congressional phone records on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kennedy pressed Smith multiple times on his personal feelings about former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"471\">Joe Biden<\/a> and his conversations with former Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/merrick-garland\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"682\">Merrick Garland<\/a> surrounding his investigations into President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>. When Smith told Kennedy he had \u201cabsolutely no idea\u201d if Garland checked in with Biden before Smith launched his investigations into Trump, Kennedy railed against the former special prosecutor.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<style>.explore-more-section { background: var(--wex-bg); border-top: 1px solid #ffffff; border-bottom: 1px solid #ffffff; margin: 24px 0; margin-top: -20px; }<\/style>\n<style id=\"mos-12f168ee-ab44-4cfe-8669-3520a45a55e8-style\">@scope (#mos-12f168ee-ab44-4cfe-8669-3520a45a55e8) { .we-meter {   --we-red: #DB3745;   --we-charcoal: #323E48;   --we-blue: #15BEF0;   --we-slate: #85A0AB;   --we-gold: #ECC270;   --we-text: #323E48;   --we-border: #85A0AB;    max-width: 800px;   margin: 0 auto;   padding: 1.5rem;   border: 1px solid rgba(33, 39, 42, 0.4);   border-radius: 12px;   background: #fff;   color: var(--we-text);   font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif !important; }  .we-grid {   display: grid;   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                 Join Washington Examiner for unlimited access to the news, analysis, and commentary that matter most.       <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"we-actions\">       <a class=\"we-cta\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/subscribe\/digital\/\">         <span>See Options<\/span>         <span class=\"we-arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u203a<\/span>       <\/a>       <\/p>\n<p class=\"we-member\">Already a member? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/sign-in\/\">Log in<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo you\u2019re telling me that you\u2019re about to prosecute a former president of the United States, first time in history,\u201d Kennedy said to Smith. \u201cNot only that, you\u2019re about to prosecute a former president of the United States, who\u2019s also the current opponent of Judge Garland\u2019s boss, and you told Judge Garland, \u2018Here\u2019s what I\u2019m about to do.\u2019 And, and you don\u2019t think he checked with President Biden to see if it was OK?\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI have no idea what he did,\u201d Smith responded. \u201cMy job as a prosecutor on the special counsel regulations was to make an independent decision, and Attorney General Garland could have countermanded that decision, but I made that decision on my own, consulting with my staff and reviewing the incredibly strong evidence that we had accumulated.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kennedy then pressed Smith on whether or not the Biden <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"8767\">White House<\/a> directed Garland to investigate Trump, to which Smith again responded, \u201cI have no idea about that.\u201d Kennedy then poked Smith, questioning whether he believed in the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI no longer believe in the Easter Bunny,\u201d Smith said during his testimony.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kennedy also questioned Smith over his subpoena of lawmakers\u2019 phone records, his wife\u2019s support for Biden, and the fact that Smith sought nondisclosure orders instead of telling Judge James Boasberg about the congressional phone records.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe sought the toll records, non-content records,\u201d Smith said of the phone records he subpoenaed during the Arctic Frost investigation, noting several times throughout the testimony that the records did not detail the content of the lawmakers\u2019 conversations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4746372\/jack-smith-deputy-advocated-repealing-congressional-protections-prior-january-6\/\">JACK SMITH DEPUTY ADVOCATED \u2018REPEALING\u2019 CONGRESSIONAL PROTECTIONS PRIOR TO JAN. 6<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The investigation, directed by Smith, targeted the phone records of multiple Republican lawmakers, including Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marsha-blackburn\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2094\">Marsha Blackburn<\/a> (R-TN), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/josh-hawley\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"914\">Josh Hawley<\/a> (R-MO).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019re unbiased, you have no personal feelings,\u201d Kennedy said to Smith, sarcastically. \u201cYou make me want to throw up in my mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kennedy questions Smith on Biden ties and phone record subpoenas<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2672724,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AP26196633420836.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[50796,32465,7608],"class_list":["post-2672723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-kennedy-2","tag-merrick-garland","tag-smith"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AP26196633420836.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2672723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2672723"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2672723\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2672727,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2672723\/revisions\/2672727"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2672724"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2672723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2672723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2672723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}