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Democrats Demand Grassley Apologize Over Jack Smith Hearing Records

By Drooid · Oct 9, 2026, 4:33 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Democrats Demand Apology

Senate Judiciary Democrats asked Chair Chuck Grassley to apologize to special counsel Jack Smith.
Ranking Member Dick Durbin led the Democrats’ apology request.
Democrats also demanded Grassley produce the records Senator Eric Schmitt used in his hearing.
Grassley replied that Democrats embarrassed the committee and were withholding records.
Democrats said Schmitt’s false claim that Smith attended an Atlanta NBA game confused the committee and slowed work.

Summary

Jack Smith Attends Game

The committee held a hearing titled “Oversight of Jack Smith’s Abuse of Authority and Targeting Republicans.”
Jack Smith said he attended the University of Maryland women’s basketball game against Iowa to watch Caitlin Clark.
Senator Amy Klobuchar corrected Schmitt’s Iowa Hawkeyes-Atlanta Hawks mix-up, and the correction spread widely on social media.

History

Historical Context

In May 1973 the Senate Watergate Committee, chaired by Sam Ervin, began televised hearings that reached 85% of U.S. households and issued a 1,250-page report in June 1974. The revelations forced President Nixon’s resignation in August 1974 after “Saturday Night Massacre.” Today, Judiciary leaders Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin cite that precedent while demanding records from Senator Eric Schmitt’s hearing on counsel Jack Smith.

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Democrats Demand Apology

Senate Judiciary Democrats asked Chair Chuck Grassley to apologize to special counsel Jack Smith.
Ranking Member Dick Durbin led the Democrats’ apology request.
Democrats also demanded Grassley produce the records Senator Eric Schmitt used in his hearing.
Grassley replied that Democrats embarrassed the committee and were withholding records.
Democrats said Schmitt’s false claim that Smith attended an Atlanta NBA game confused the committee and slowed work.

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