Chuck Grassley on U.S. Politics

Public disputes concerning political parties, public officials, institutions, political conduct, and governance in the United States.

How we classify topics

Counts show individual statements. They do not assign an overall position.

Statement history

3 statements on this page. Dates: June 23, 2026 to September 29, 2026

3 matching statements. Dates: June 23, 2026 to September 29, 2026

3 published statements. Dates: June 23, 2026 to September 29, 2026

Chuck Grassley
Role at the time: Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in his opening statement as prepared for the hearing
September 29, 2026Condemned
Response to this claim
Sen. Chuck Grassley said that Jack Smith sought the toll records of 16 members of Congress, that the government sought toll records from at least four members before Smith, and that Smith's team also obtained the content of member communications, breaching the Speech or Debate Clause.
“Before Jack Smith, the government sought toll records from at least four Members of Congress. Jack Smith sought the toll records of 16 Members of Congress and also obtained the content of Member communications, breaching Speech or Debate. ... Accordingly, Jack Smith’s secretive efforts obtained Member toll records and, ultimately, content. Then, he sought Non-Disclosure Orders to hide his effort from Members, while also apparently failing to apprise the court of the targets.”

Watch the original videoOversight of Jack Smith's Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters (hearing video) · Senate Committee on the JudiciaryChairman Grassley's opening remarks, about 0:31:39 to 0:37:05 on the archived video timeline (toll-record passages at 0:31:44-0:32:26 and 0:36:42-0:37:05)

Senate Judiciary Committee's archived video of the September 29, 2026 hearing. In his opening remarks Chairman Chuck Grassley gave the committee majority's account of the toll records, the text messages and the nondisclosure orders.

Archived copy

Why we used this label

The case asks whether the collection of members' phone records and messages was proper. Grassley said Smith sought the toll records of 16 members, obtained the content of member communications in breach of Speech or Debate, and sought nondisclosure orders to hide the effort from members. That rejects the collection as improper and unconstitutional, so we labeled it Condemned.

Read statement Were members of Congress's phone records and text messages properly obtained in the Arctic Frost and Jack Smith investigations?

Chuck Grassley

Role at the time: U.S. Senator, Iowa

September 24, 2026Defended or excused

Statement summary

Chuck Grassley voted nay on H.Con.Res. 89, a vote against directing the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran.

“On the Concurrent Resolution H.Con.Res. 89: A concurrent resolution directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”

Read the official statementU.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 244: H.Con.Res. 89, Iran War Powers Resolution (rejected, 49-50)

Official Senate roll call on H.Con.Res. 89, a concurrent resolution directing the President under section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran. Rejected 49-50 on September 24, 2026. Fetterman was the only Democratic nay; Republicans Collins, Murkowski, Paul and Tillis voted yea; Alsobrooks did not vote.

Archived copy

Why we used this label

Voted against directing the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran, a vote to let U.S. involvement continue without congressional authorization.

Read statement Do they support the war in Iran?

Chuck Grassley

Role at the time: U.S. Senator, Iowa

June 23, 2026Defended or excused

Statement summary

Chuck Grassley voted Nay on H.Con.Res. 86, the Senate resolution directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.

“On the Concurrent Resolution H.Con.Res. 86: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”

Read the official statementU.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 184: H.Con.Res. 86, Iran War Powers Resolution (agreed to, 50-48)

Official Senate roll call on H.Con.Res. 86, directing the President under section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran. Agreed to 50-48 on June 23, 2026 — the first Iran war powers resolution to pass both chambers. Republicans Cassidy, Collins, Murkowski and Paul voted yea; Fetterman was the only Democratic nay.

Archived copy

Why we used this label

A nay vote opposed the resolution directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, allowing U.S. military operations in the war to continue.

Read statement Do they support the war in Iran?