Cruz chastises Jack Smith over 'egregious abuse of power'

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Tuesday excoriated former special counsel Jack Smith, saying that his investigation into President Donald Trump had marked an unprecedented abuse of power.

Smith brought charges against Trump ahead of the 2024 election related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents and his efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. He appeared before the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday to answer questions from lawmakers. During his testimony, Smith stood by his decision to charge Trump and reiterated his belief that the president was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

"I believe you have no regrets. I believe you have convinced yourself that this witch hunt, targeting half the country for partisan ends, was justified," Cruz told Smith during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "Well, let me say, you have brought the Department of Justice into disrepute, and you have done enormous damage. And I believe your conduct represents the most egregious abuse of power in the history of the Department of Justice."

He then went on to invoke former President Richard Nixon and musical theater in his criticism.

"Well, let me say congratulations, because you have succeeded where Richard Nixon failed, which is weaponizing the Department of Justice and the federal government to go after your political opponents," he added. "Congratulations, you are stepping into the shoes of John Mitchell, and yet your abuse is far greater than John Mitchell ... You have brought the Department of Justice into disrepute because instead of being apolitical, instead of enforcing the law, you willingly were conscripted as a foot soldier for the DNC."

"And you know what you also did? You re-elected President Donald Trump because the American people were disgusted at your willingness to abuse power in partisan ends. Javert from Les Mis would look at you with astonishment," he concluded.

Javert is a fictional character and the primary villain of "Les Miserables." He is depicted as an overzealous law enforcement official. John Mitchell was Richard Nixon's attorney general.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.