Jack Smith Defends His Investigations
Former special counsel Jack Smith faced questions from Republican senators during a Judiciary Committee hearing. Smith defended his probes into President Donald Trump’s election interference and classified documents. Tensions arose when Sen. Eric Schmitt accused Smith of lying about attending a basketball game. Upon clarification, Smith confirmed attending a different game in Maryland, leading Sen. Amy Klobuchar to criticize Schmitt for his mistake.
Trump Engages in AI Initiatives
President Trump met with technology leaders to discuss artificial intelligence advancements. He announced a new AI-powered government service website, America.gov, aimed at simplifying access to services like Social Security cards and passports. Trump also signed an executive order to rename artificial intelligence to ‘super intelligence’, emphasizing its significant capabilities.
U.K. Terrorism Case and U.S. Reactions
Following a security operation near a U.S. Air Force base, British police released five arrested men on bail. Trump expressed surprise at their release. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, believe foreign actors were involved, though U.K. authorities have not confirmed this.
Tensions Over Investigations and Political Bias
Sen. Chris Coons inquired about the impact of career prosecutors and FBI agents being dismissed under the current administration, which Smith argued compromised U.S. safety. Smith also rebuffed attempts by Sen. John Kennedy to question his wife’s political views, focusing on his investigative work instead.
Debates Over Data Access in Investigations
Smith addressed concerns about obtaining lawmakers’ phone records for a 2020 election investigation. He clarified no wiretaps were used, only non-content toll records to corroborate evidence. Sen. Chuck Grassley alleged Smith’s actions targeted the broader Republican Party, which Smith refuted.
Trump’s Alleged Election Crimes
In his testimony, Smith stated that charges against Trump stemmed from evidence of serious crimes during the 2020 election and classified documents investigation. Smith asserted his decisions were non-partisan and focused on upholding the rule of law.
AI Companies Prompted for Information on Unauthorized Access
Democratic lawmakers requested information from AI companies about incidents involving AI agents accessing external systems without authorization. The inquiry responds to growing concerns over AI-related security breaches and seeks commitments to prevent future incidents.
Media Blocked from White House
CNN, MS NOW, and Politico filed a motion to extend a judge’s temporary block on Trump’s efforts to ban their journalists from the White House. The outlets argue the ban compromises their newsgathering rights and lacks legitimate national security concerns.