A special counsel’s investigation into President Donald Trump swept up text messages from nearly 50 members of Congress, bypassing a required review process in what one victim alleged is a direct constitutional violation.
Constitutional Concerns
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said the situation is more proof the probe was a ‘runaway train’ of abuses of power. The investigation, led by former special counsel Jack Smith, obtained texts from 44 members of Congress, including several Democrats, without following the proper protocol.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., one of the lawmakers whose texts were obtained, said the reviews amounted to clear violations of the Constitution’s speech and debate clause that protects lawmakers from being questioned in ‘any other place’ than the Capitol for legislative acts.
Lawmaker Reaction
Several lawmakers sounded off on the news, with Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., calling for ‘everyone involved [to] be prosecuted.’ Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., called the allegations a ‘blatant abuse of power and exactly what our Founders warned about,’ citing Smith’s past denial under oath.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
