# Republicans refer former special counsel Jack Smith for possible prosecution

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/jack-smith-hit-with-criminal-referral-as-gop-moves-testimony-fight-toward-prosecution/
- Published: 2026-07-23T04:32:04+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-23T10:47:14+00:00
- Original publisher: Fox News (publisher lean: Far right)
- Original article: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/jack-smith-hit-criminal-referral-gop-moves-testimony-fight-toward-prosecution
- Topics: Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- GOP's Jim Jordan refers Jack Smith to DOJ for possible prosecution
- Republicans say Smith misled Congress and misused lawmakers' texts
- Escalates Republican push to hold Trump prosecutors accountable

## Summary

The House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Republican Jim Jordan, has referred former special counsel Jack Smith to the Department of Justice for possible criminal prosecution, accusing him of making false statements to Congress about the scope of his investigation into President Donald Trump. Republicans allege Smith's team also improperly collected and read private text messages belonging to members of Congress, which Jordan has characterised as a violation of constitutional rights. The move marks a significant escalation, shifting the long-running Republican effort to hold Trump-era prosecutors accountable from congressional scrutiny into a formal push for criminal action.

Jordan cited findings, including material presented to the Senate, that he says show Smith was not truthful with Congress about his team's investigative methods, particularly the alleged surveillance of lawmakers' communications. Smith, who led the federal cases against Trump before they were dropped following his 2024 election win, has not been reported as issuing a detailed response within the article. The referral now places the matter with the Justice Department, which will decide whether to pursue charges against Smith.

## Coverage

- [Fox News: Republicans refer former special counsel Jack Smith for possible prosecution](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/jack-smith-hit-criminal-referral-gop-moves-testimony-fight-toward-prosecution)
- [The Hill: Jordan accuses Smith of lying to Congress in criminal referral to DOJ](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5984841-jordan-recommends-jack-smith-charges/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.