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THIS IS ELDER ABUSE!!!

Nothing @ChuckGrassley is saying resembles basic reality. When will someone stop the abuse of Schumer's staffers of the very old man???

— EU says Elon should not lie abt my blue check (@emptywheel) September 29, 2026

Grassley's opening statement said:

This hearing will highlight the committee's investigation into the special counsel's political work and weaponized conduct," Grassley said after thanking Smith for appearing. "Today, the special counsel's own record and those of his staff will tell the tale."

He proceeded to question Smith without reference to any of those documents, only introducing records into the record between the question time of Senators on the committee. Such records probably as valuable as the text messages Schmitt misread and tried to hide (maybe some staffer read them as the poster went up).

Grassley did introduce the record of checks Smith subpoenaed.

BREAKING: @chuckgrassley is SCREAMING that Jack Smith caught Trump defrauding these Americans.

Why is Chuck SCREAMING bc Trump's fraud and money laundering was investigated? WHY is Chuck complicit in ripping off MAGAts? https://t.co/nVWFK8fiZH

— EU says Elon should not lie abt my blue check (@emptywheel) September 29, 2026

But criminal investigations always involve the principal: “Follow the money.” And making a political donation is not a private act which cannot become evidence in a criminal proceeding. Anyone who watches murder mysteries, or reads them, knows that serious crime turns over all the rocks.

Grassley was just throwing rocks. It’s what people do in congressional hearings. But it doesn’t constitute evidence of anything. Even Trump’s DOJ has so far tacitly declined to investigate a perjury charge against Smith for his prior House committee testimony. Schmitt tried to crank that up by literally accusing Smith of perjury for denying he went to Atlanta while he was investigating Trump. An allegation Schmitt couldn’t sustain.

This hearing is the nothing burger everyone expected it to be.