Newly Released Records Show Extent of Jack Smith's Probe Into Kash Patel

Special Counsel Jack Smith launched an extensive investigation into Kash Patel before his appointment to FBI director, according to records released on Tuesday. 

The Details: Smith's probes called for over two years of phone records, financial data, and personal information from October 1, 2020 to February 22, 2023, and January 1, 2021 to November 23, 2022. They were reportedly launched in 2022, amid the interference probe into President Donald Trump over his 2020 election. Smith's probe sought to obtain subpoenas for a dozen Republican congresspeople to "establish logical evidentiary inferences regarding Trump and his surrogates' actions and intent." 

An exclusive report by Reuters (Center bias) stated, "Reuters could not determine the nature of Smith's investigation of Patel and what allegations of wrongdoing, if any, were being probed at the time." Senate Judiciary Chair Charles Grassley (R) reportedly said the Judiciary Committee will invite Smith to address the panel. Grassley, along with Sen. Ron Johnson (R) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R), authorized the records' release.

From The Center: Reuters highlighted Democrats' defense of Smith and said, "It is not unusual for investigators to seek phone and other records, even of prominent people, while seeking facts about a case." The outlet emphasized that Patel was a "private [citizen] but involved in Trump's campaign to reclaim the presidency" during the probe. 

From The Left: Politico (Lean Left) led its article with the justification for Smith's investigation, pointing to Trump's so-called "election interference plot" and the "a vast web of contacts between [Trump's] most vocal Republican allies in Congress and key players in his bid to subvert the results of the 2020 election." The outlet exhibited viewpoint bias by more prominently placing Democrats' perspectives but did give voice to Republicans' "widely held position that Smith was politically motivated in his pursuit of criminal charges against Trump." 

From The Right: Daily Caller (Right) emphasized that the subpoenaed records "did not include their content" and noted their previous nondisclosure orders were authorized by an appointee of former President Barack Obama. The outlet did not give voice to Democrats' defense – a bias by omission.

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