Jamie Raskin
Role at the time: U.S. representative from Maryland and Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee
Defended or excused
Statement summary
In his opening statement at the House Judiciary Committee's January 22, 2026 hearing with Smith, Rep. Jamie Raskin said Republicans had complained about the special counsel's review of toll records, which he described as phone records showing only the timing and duration of calls and no content. He said the records were lawfully subpoenaed because Donald Trump made those members of Congress relevant to the investigation by choosing to call them to advance what Raskin called a criminal scheme.
“My colleagues have complained about the Special Counsel’s review of toll records, which are phone records like a phone bill showing only the timing and duration of calls and containing no content, no substance whatsoever from the calls. But those records were lawfully subpoenaed because Donald Trump made those Members of Congress relevant to the investigation. It was Trump who chose to call them to advance his criminal scheme.”