I don’t watch Congressional hearings often. I find them of little value, a platform for members of Congress to interrupt and berate those they interview, while they create social content so they can go back to their constituents and claim how they are fighting for them.
But this week was fun. This was theatre (you’ll see in a moment). This was must-see-TV.
Senators love these hearings because the witnesses are usually intimidated, nervous, and tongue-tied. Senators can cut off testimony, scold witnesses, and cause nerves to fray even more.
Jack Smith is not your normal witness. He’s an experienced prosecutor, a polished speaker, calm under fire. Congress doesn’t exactly seem to be stocked full of folks with similar traits.
The stated purpose of the September 29 hearing was to examine Smith’s investigations of Donald Trump and whether Smith and his team had abused their authority. The obvious real goal of these Republican senators on the committee was to do their president’s bidding and attack the prosecutor who did the job he was assigned.
Congress has every right to investigate the Justice Department. They may answer important questions. This one raised a few. Mine were, “Oh my; these are our senators? Our elected leaders? The best of the best? We elected this bunch?
Smith served under both Republican and Democratic administrations and told the committee that prosecutorial decisions should be based on facts and law, not politics. That sounds reasonable unless you’re trying to please your president.
Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri certainly distinguished himself. Thinking he had a smoking gun for perjury, he asked if Smith had attended an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta on February 3, 2024? You may wonder what that has to do with Smith’s job, but that was the question.
The answer, “No.”
But Schmitt had pictures, texts, posters, and a smirk that said Gotcha!
After pulling his charts down before Smith could review, Smith asked for another look and then explained that he did recall attending a college basketball game around that time, when the Iowa Hawkeyes played the Maryland Terrapins and he recalled Caitlin Clark was playing for Iowa.
Oops. Atlanta Hawks – Iowa Hawkeyes, NBA – NCAA, men – women, Georgia – Maryland. Just what did Schmitt get right? Well, it was a basketball game.
Schmitt had already called Smith a “total dirtbag” and said Smith had weaponized the Justice Department against political enemies. Who is the kettle in that metaphor?
After the hearing, Schmitt, who never apologized for his epic screw-up, addressed the moment on X, saying, “Who knew Jack Smith was a Caitlin Clark fan?” Obviously not Schmitt.
Then came Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana. An orator of such skill, that when he speaks, you may be reminded of President John Kennedy – Ask not what your crawdad can do for you…”
He asked if Joe Biden had ordered a Trump investigation, to which Smith responded he had no idea. Kennedy pressed him and Smith explained that he was assigned to make an independent prosecutorial decision based on the evidence and law.
Kennedy moved on to the really important stuff. “Do you believe in the Tooth Fairy?” Smith: “I do not.” “How about the Easter Bunny?” Smith: “I no longer believe in the Easter Bunny.” Kennedy next asked whether Smith thought Jimmy Hoffa died of natural causes. Really? I’ll bet there was a crawdad in there somewhere.
And then Kennedy closed with, “You make me want to throw up in my mouth.” You gotta wonder about “want to” in that statement.
It was all professional, dignified, senatorial; exactly what one expects from a United States senator questioning a former federal prosecutor under oath.
Let’s not forget Senator Ted Cruz’s participation. Cruz decided that a Senate hearing could use some musical theater, comparing Smith to Javert, the obsessive police inspector who pursues Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. Cruz noted that “Javert from Les Mis would look at you with astonishment.” We all looked at Cruz with astonishment. You could almost visualize a flash mob appearing behind the witness stand to sing, “One Day More.”
Why was Jack Smith even there? It wasn’t like he had to be dragged into Congress kicking and screaming. He volunteered to answer questions. And when he got there, he did, under oath.
He answered questions he knew and admitted that he could not answer some. He corrected factual errors. And when, 93-year-old Senator Chuck Grassley asked his own Got-cha question, whether Smith had ever received counsel from former CIA Director John Brennan, Smith answered simply, “I’ve never met John Brennan.” Grassley followed with a couple of grunts and stammers before admitting that Smith answered his question.
No screaming. No insults. No Tooth Fairy. No musical theater. Just answers.
Maybe that’s the real lesson here. You don’t have to like Jack Smith or agree with his decisions. But when you bring a witness before the Senate, perhaps the goal should be to establish facts rather than produce viral video clips. Those clips can backfire. They did.
And one more point that I just have to mention here for the irony.
Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday directing the government to change the term Artificial Intelligence to a new official term of “Super Intelligence,” or “SI.” Obviously, Trump likes to rename stuff, and Sam Altman, the founder of Open-AI, can’t be happy with this one.
But that’s not the funny part (well, it’s kinda funny). But on the executive order to implement the change, the title printed beneath Trump’s signature reads:
“President of the Unites States.” Didn’t notice anything? Read that one more time.
So much for our use of S.I.
Curt MacRae is a resident of Coldwater, MI and publishes opinion columns regularly.
To be notified by email when a column is published, or to offer feedback: rantsbymac@gmail.com
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