Jack Smith’s lawyers say he never wiretapped or surveilled lawmakers.
Jack Smith’s lawyers say he never wiretapped or surveilled lawmakers.
Lawyers for the special counsel, who investigated Donald J. Trump, denied accusations by Republican lawmakers that he had surveilled or spied on senators as part of his inquiry.
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Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article reports on a denial by Jack Smith's lawyers regarding surveillance accusations. While the article itself presents the denial, the underlying claims of surveillance are disputed and require careful examination. The bias leans slightly towards presenting Smith's defense without thoroughly investigating the initial accusations.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim: Jack Smith's lawyers deny he wiretapped or surveilled lawmakers.
- Verification Source #1: PBS.org reports that a press release did not use the word 'wiretap' but stated the FBI targeted Republican lawmakers' cell phones for 'tolling data.'
- Verification Source #2: A Facebook post from Senator Kennedy claims Jack Smith's surveillance of Republican lawmakers is appalling.
- Assessment: The claim that Smith's lawyers deny wiretapping is likely accurate based on the article's premise. However, the underlying accusation of 'surveillance' is more complex, as 'tolling data' collection, as mentioned in source 1, could be considered a form of surveillance. The denial may be a matter of semantics.
- Claim: Republican lawmakers accused Jack Smith of surveilling or spying on senators.
- Verification Source #2: Senator Kennedy's Facebook post explicitly accuses Jack Smith of 'surveillance of Republican lawmakers.'
- Assessment: This claim is supported by Senator Kennedy's statement, indicating that at least some Republican lawmakers made such accusations. However, the extent and specific nature of these accusations require further investigation.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Source 1 indicates that the FBI targeted Republican lawmakers' cell phones for 'tolling data,' which, while not explicitly 'wiretapping,' could be interpreted as a form of surveillance.
- Source 2 provides direct evidence of a Republican lawmaker (Senator Kennedy) accusing Jack Smith of surveillance.