Unflappable Jack Smith turns tables on Jim Jordan in hearing, again declaring Trump a criminal
What was intended as a public grilling of special prosecutor Jack Smith by Congressman Jim Jordan instead became a platform for Smith to repeatedly and calmly state that former President Donald Trump engaged in criminal activity.
Today in Ohio podcast hosts wonder when Jordan will give up trying to discredit Smith.
Friday’s episode covered how Jordan, as chair of the House Judiciary Committee, attempted to discredit Smith’s investigation into Trump’s retention of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. According to podcast co-host Lisa Garvin, Jordan opened by declaring, “This was always about politics.”
But Smith was unflappable.
“Smith stood strong,” Garvin said. “He stood by his decision to charge Trump for these things. He says, we develop proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump engaged in criminal activity. He caused the January 6 riot. It was foreseeable, and he sought to exploit the violence.”
The podcast hosts noted the contrast between Jordan’s agitated demeanor and Smith’s professional composure.
“I wish Jordan would bring back Smith every day. Because every time Smith is sitting there, he points out yet again that Donald Trump is a criminal,” said Chris Quinn. “I love the way he sits there time after time while Jordan has his eyeballs spinning like a crazy man saying his crazy stuff for the base, and Smith sits there very sanely saying, Donald Trump’s a criminal.”
Garvin noted Smith maintained his composure even as Trump took to social media to attack him. “The Trump tweet started immediately after the hearings. He called Smith a deranged animal. He was decimated by the committee, and he shouldn’t be allowed to practice law,” Garvin reported.
The podcast discussion suggested that Jordan’s attempt to discredit Smith may have backfired by giving the special prosecutor a high-profile platform to lay out the evidence against Trump again. Quinn argued that Smith has more credibility with the American public than Jordan does. “I think the middle of America believes Smith, not Jordan. You can see it in the polls,” Quinn stated.
The hosts also addressed Smith’s concerns about potential retribution should Trump return to office. When asked by a committee member if he thought Trump would indict him, Smith reportedly responded that Trump’s team would “do everything in their power to do that because they’ve been ordered to do so by Trump.”
Listen to the discussion here.
Listen to full “Today in Ohio” episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Editorial Board member Lisa Garvin, Impact Editor Leila Atassi and Content Director Laura Johnston.
