House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan has sent a criminal referral to the Justice Department urging an investigation into former special counsel Jack Smith. The move accuses Smith of making false statements during a December 2025 deposition about obtaining text messages from members of Congress.
Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, wrote to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday. He alleged that Smith lied under oath about the content of text messages gathered during investigations into President Donald Trump.
Documents released last week by Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley show that Smith's team accessed messages involving 44 lawmakers. Jordan said this appeared to conflict with Smith's testimony that his team sought only timing and routing data, not content.
Smith's lawyers responded that he gave truthful answers and accused Jordan of pursuing an unprecedented theory based on information not requested. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland called the referral a distortion that would be laughed out of court.
Trump posted on Truth Social questioning whether justice had arrived at last. The referral is part of broader efforts by House Republicans targeting officials who investigated the president.
