Josh Hawley on Law Enforcement

Disputes over the policies, conduct, and oversight of law enforcement agencies.

How we classify topics

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

Statement history

3 statements on this page. Dates: September 29, 2026 to September 30, 2026

3 matching statements. Dates: September 29, 2026 to September 30, 2026

3 published statements. Dates: September 29, 2026 to September 30, 2026

Condemned

2 published statements. Dates: September 29, 2026

2 statements on this page. Dates: September 29, 2026

Josh Hawley

Role at the time: U.S. senator from Missouri, questioning Smith at the Senate Judiciary hearing

September 29, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

Questioning Smith at the hearing, Sen. Josh Hawley said the Constitution protects members' work product and phone records and that Smith knew it, and that Smith's office went to the phone companies and hid from the court that it was seeking the records of members of Congress. He said his own phone was one of those obtained.

“The only problem was the Constitution protects members of Congress' work product and their phone records. And you knew that was the case, didn't you? ... You went to the phone companies, and you hid the fact from the court that you were seeking the records of members of Congress, didn't you? You didn't tell the court you were seeking subpoenas from the phone companies for members of Congress, did you? You hid that from the court. Isn't that correct? ... My phone was one of them that you got.”

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 JudiciarySen. Josh Hawley's questions and Smith's answers, about 4:18:40 to 4:21:10, and Smith's closing response at about 4:26:06 to 4:26:25 on the archived video timeline

Senate Judiciary Committee's archived video of the September 29, 2026 hearing. Sen. Josh Hawley questioned Smith about the Speech or Debate Clause, the nondisclosure orders and the court, and Smith answered.

Archived copy

Why we used this label

Hawley said the Constitution protects members' phone records, that Smith knew it, that Smith hid from the court that the records were members', and that his own phone was among them. That rejects the collection and the way the nondisclosure orders were obtained as improper, so we labeled it Condemned.

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

Josh Hawley

Role at the time: U.S. senator from Missouri and Senate Judiciary Committee member, in an interview on Fox News's Hannity

September 29, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

Sen. Josh Hawley told Fox News's Sean Hannity that Jack Smith should be charged and lied to Congress, saying a House deposition had asked Smith whether he obtained members' text messages and he said no.

“He should be charged. He lied to Congress. He lied to the House.”

Read the original postHawley on Hannity: "He should be charged. He lied to Congress."0:00 to 0:34 clip of Sen. Josh Hawley answering Sean Hannity on Fox News, from "Can he be charged? Will he be charged?" to "trying to get his hands on everything related to Donald Trump."

Clip posted by aggregator Acyn at 9:46 PM ET on September 29, 2026, of Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) answering Fox News host Sean Hannity on the evening of Jack Smith's Senate Judiciary hearing. The Fox News chyron identifies Hawley and the program, Hannity. Hannity's question asks whether Smith can and will be charged. Hawley says Smith should be charged and that Smith lied to Congress, citing a House deposition and the hearing testimony. DI transcribed the clip from its audio.

Why we used this label

Relative to how members' phone records and texts were obtained, Hawley says Smith should be charged and lied to Congress about obtaining members' text messages. That rejects the conduct as improper and accuses Smith of dishonesty about it, so we labeled it Condemned.

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

Mixed or conditional

1 published statement. Dates: September 30, 2026

1 statement on this page. Dates: September 30, 2026

Josh Hawley

Role at the time: U.S. senator for Missouri.

September 30, 2026Mixed or conditional

Statement summary

Hawley announced a proposed federal framework for Flock and similar ALPR networks. His proposal would require written approval and audits of searches, delete most vehicle data after ten days, restrict sharing with private parties and prohibit facial recognition in these networks.

“Law-abiding Americans should not be treated like criminals.”

Read the official statementHawley announces proposed Stop Flock Abuse Act · Josh HawleySeptember 30 release, Hawley's second quoted paragraph and proposed safeguards

Hawley announces that he will introduce legislation requiring approval and audits of searches, limits on sharing and retention, U.S. data storage and restrictions on facial recognition and foreign technology.

Archived copy

Why we used this label

The case concerns continued use of networked license plate surveillance. Hawley calls it a threat to liberty unless Congress imposes rules and proposes regulated use with limits on searches, retention and sharing.

Read statement Full case: Should Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks exist?