Video from a statement by Sheldon Whitehouse
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse's questions to former special counsel Jack Smith on toll records, at the Senate Judiciary Committee's Sept. 29, 2026 hearing.
Excerpt from 4:04:04 to 4:09:22 of the committee's archived hearing video. DI added its logo in the corner.
Video: U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Public domain (U.S. government work) (opens in a new tab)
Watch the full original video (opens in a new tab) (relevant passage: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse's questions to Smith on toll records, about 4:04:07 to 4:09:20 on the archived video timeline)
In his questioning of Smith, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said some of what had taken place at the hearing reflected a lack of familiarity with standard Justice Department procedures, and said the Justice Department in the first Trump administration also obtained toll records of members of Congress before Smith did. Smith agreed that his office obtained nondisclosure orders and said he understood the earlier investigation had done the same.
“reflects a lack of familiarity with standard Department of Justice procedures. ... Because before you obtained toll records of members of Congress, the Department of Justice under President Trump, in his first administration, obtained toll records of members of Congress.”