Former Special Counsel Jack Smith’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.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said the situation is more proof Smith’s probe was a «runaway train» of abuses of power, as the elder statesman and Senate Investigations Subcommittee chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., jointly released their filings Tuesday evening.

Grassley and Johnson’s findings come amid a full-scale probe of Operation Arctic Frost – the codename for Smith’s endeavor to investigate Trump for alleged corruption and election malfeasance – an operation top Senate Republicans call «worse than Watergate.»

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Forty-four members of Congress had the contents of their text messages obtained and reviewed by the Smith’s team, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden  in a way that bypassed protocol. A «filter team» was tasked with reviewing millions of documents in the case and should have had first crack at determining whether such messages were relevant or potentially violated statute or ethics.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., one of the lawmakers whose texts were swept up in this way, said Tuesday such texts being reviewed amounted to clear violations of the Constitution’s Speech & Debate Clause – which protects lawmakers from being questioned in «any other place» than the Capitol for legislative acts.

Internal communications have been historically included in that clause in the courts, as technology has advanced.

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Stefanik said in a statement that the new records prove Smith’s team «unlawfully and unconstitutionally accessed my private text messages, along with 43 other Members of Congress, in clear violation of the Constitution.»

She said she long-suspected there had been «unconstitutional spy[ing] on members of Congress.»

The records were provided by the Trump Justice Department to Grassley and Johnson, which the chairmen said indicated Smith’s team had «circumvented its own filter review process.» The process is additionally meant to protect attorney-client privilege, they said in a statement.

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Former Special Counsel Jack Smith says the Pledge of Allegiance before he prepares to testify during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on January 22, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

The news also complicated some of Smith’s prior depositions under oath, including an excerpt in which he answered «no» to a question from a congressional counsel as to whether records he requested from congresspeople included text messages.

Johnson called the situation a «grotesque example» of Biden-era «weaponization» of the executive branch.

«Jack Smith’s criminal investigation of President Trump was a runaway train that had no brakes,» Grassley added Tuesday.

«Based on the information that’s been produced to me and Senator Johnson, Biden DOJ and FBI investigators apparently ignored their own routine investigative protocols to obtain and review work-related messages from me and dozens of my Republican and Democrat colleagues who were outside the scope of the government’s investigation.»

Grassley added that he hopes Democrats caught up in the otherwise bipartisan text tranche will finally discard their partisanship and recognize the severity of the alleged violations by Smith.

He also indicated he planned to recall Smith before Congress to «hold him accountable.»

Of the 44 members swept up in the text reviews, several were Democrats, including now-Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, as well as Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee – Rep. Adam Smith of Washington.

Grassley, Johnson and Stefanik were also swept up in the situation, along with top figures like Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Rand Paul, R-Ky., former Senate Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and the late Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

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Former House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., was one of the victims, along with current House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as well as House Freedom Caucus member Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, now-EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin of New York, now-Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins of Georgia, and prominent Trump critic Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

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Several lawmakers sounded off on the news soon after Grassley announced his findings, including Hawley – who called for «everyone involved [to] be prosecuted.»

«Joe Biden’s DOJ not only tapped my phone; I just learned they illegally obtained my texts with members of President Trump’s administration,» the Missourian fumed.

Paul called the allegations a «blatant abuse of power and exactly what our Founders warned about,» while citing Smith’s past denial under oath.

Fox News Digital reached out to a representative for Smith for comment.

Aumento de los casos

Soldados de infantería ucranianos del Batallón Alcatraz, perteneciente a la 93.ª Brigada Mecanizada «Kholodnyi Yar» del Ejército, durante su período de entrenamiento militar intensivo. Foto EFE

JERUSALEM, Israel: U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, on Tuesday accused Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., of lying about consulting the American Embassy regarding his visit to the Biblical heartland of Israel.

Khanna visited the West Bank last week when he said his group was aggressively detained by Israeli settlers. Critics slammed his tour as political showmanship to advance a potential presidential campaign.

Huckabee took to X to reject the account of Khanna and his delegation, writing: «The left-wing activist who set up this stunt says ‘The embassy is involved.’ That is NOT TRUE. We did NOT know a member of Congress was coming. We would have said don’t go to restricted zone. As FACTS come out, it’s not helping the desired narrative. Not ‘held at gunpoint.»’ 

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Speaking to Fox News Digital on Tuesday, the California lawmaker said that he was detained by Israeli settlers for seventy-five minutes on Wednesday while visiting the West Bank (also known by its Biblical names Judea and Samaria). Khanna claimed, «We had informed the Israeli embassy.»

When asked about Ambassador Huckabee’s X post asserting the embassy did not know about his visit, he said «That is just false. He was misinformed.»

Khanna responded to Huckabee on X, stating «Ambassador, we have always had a relationship of mutual respect despite political differences. The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] has now clarified it was not a restricted zone and Israeli papers have confirmed this. Deputy Chief of Mission David Brownstein in our embassy did a superb job in getting us out. We are safe because of him. Please thank him. We obviously notified our Embassy and Israel’s embassy about the trip given we were in constant touch with David.»

Khanna said the «violent settlers who detained us need to be prosecuted and the IDF officers who furthered that detention need to be investigated. There were these extremist settlers who parked their car in front of our van denying us exit — there was only one road — they brandished an M4 gun and kicked our tires.»

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., speaks with a Palestinian resident of Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah, during a visit in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, July 9, 2026. (REUTERS/Ammar Awad)

Eitan Fischberger, an Israeli Mideast analyst, posted footage on X that he said debunked Khanna’s claims that he was violently detained. Fischberger wrote:» I encourage everyone to watch footage of Ro Khanna’s supposedly violent ‘detainment,’ which was released by the crazed activists on his own team. What a glorious self-own.»

Fox News Digital sent a follow-up press query to Khanna about the video footage. He said the post by Fischberger is «false» and provided his X post with video footage. He wrote:» When the IDF arrived, they sided with the settlers & continued our detention. They made a huge mistake.» https://x.com/rokhanna/status/2075934812334915801?s=46

Khanna told Fox News that, «I told the Israeli government that I wanted to go on a Palestinian-led trip to the West Bank because I’d been [on] three trips to Israel. I had gotten Israel’s perspective, and that this trip I was going to go to the West Bank for a Palestinian-led look for three days. They knew that. And the point is that just because an American politician wants to get the side of Palestinians that does not give Israel the right to have violent settlers detain Americans with a passport that gives Israel the right to have IDF detain us. It’s not just me.»

Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, told Fox News Digital Khanna’s visit «appeared to be a publicity stunt in advance of his expected run for president in 2028. Let’s be honest, this was a publicity stunt.»

The Mideast expert Diker added that «Khanna’s 72-hour visit to several PLO- PA [Palestine Liberation Organization-Palestinian Authority] villages in Judea and Samaria was carried out without any security or diplomatic coordination with Israel either of these is the embassy in Washington or the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, or security forces in a particularly dangerous visit: his history of pro-Palestinian activism, and anti-Israel activism is well known.»

Diker claimed that, «Khanna had publicly endorsed a Palestinian state following the Oct. 7 Iran-backed Palestinian Hamas massacre aligning with pro-Hamas, pro BDS [Boycott, Divestment, Sanction campaign against Israel] groups such as American Muslims for Palestine.»

Hamas’ invasion of Israel on 10/7 resulted in the terrorist organization’s mass murder of over 1,200 people, including more than 40 Americans.

Khanna is also under fire from a fellow Democrat.

U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) speaks with a Palestinian resident of Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah, during a visit in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, July 9, 2026. (REUTERS/Ammar Awad)

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-NJ., wrote on X that «What’s appalling is that Ro ignored requests to meet 10/7 survivors and hostages, or to visit sites of the 10/7 terrorist attacks. Instead, riding the anti-Zionist wave, he used the trip as a presidential campaign cameo.»

When Fox News Digital asked about Gottheimer’s criticism, including not meeting with 10/7 survivors, he said, «The purpose of this trip was a Palestinian-led tour through the West Bank.»

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He noted that «I have been to Israel three times and met with hostage families.»

In response to Gottheimer’s accusation that he used the visit as a «presidential campaign cameo,» Khanna said «I do not know what he was talking about.»

Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, posted a lengthy response on X with respect to Khanna’s allegations that he was detained and his reported defamations of the Jewish state.

Leiter wrote, «Congressman Khanna was offered to coordinate his visit with the State of Israel — this goes beyond notifying of his presence in the country. He was offered in-depth coordination of his schedule to avoid misunderstandings, and he chose to ignore that offer. He also chose not to coordinate his visit with the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.»

Leiter added «To add insult to injury – the Congressman used this instance as an opportunity to tout ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid’ libels to the press, propelling himself to the center of yet another anti-Israel media frenzy. The facts don’t lie — this was a cheap, anticipated provocation, that could, and should have been avoided….I’d be happy to host Congressman Khanna at our embassy for an in-depth conversation on his grievances regarding Israel.»

Khanna told Fox News Digital that his office contacted Ambassador Leiter’s office after he offered to meet with the him. The congressman referred to his X post to Leiter. «…I am happy to take you up on your offer to meet because I want to turn this incident into something constructive for ordinary people in Palestine,» he wrote.

When asked about Leiter accusation that Khanna is defaming the Jewish state, Khanna said, «That’s what I believe happened and that’s what the U.N. believed happened.»

A handout image allegedly shows Israeli settlers blocking the convoy of U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), his press team says, in Khirbet Zanuta, during a visit in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, July 8, 2026. (U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna’s Press Team/Handout via REUTERS )

Khanna said: «I want to be clear that I unequivocally reject Hamas terrorism and believe Israel has a right to exist. Hamas charter that calls for the destruction of Israel is appalling and why they are a terrorist group.» When pressed if Hamas’ invasion on 10/7 was genocidal and if the Hamas Charter is a genocidal document because it calls for the extermination of Jews and Israel, Khanna said it is «violent antisemitism,» and he repeatedly termed Hamas a terrorist organization but declined to call it a genocidal group.

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Khanna also told Fox News Digital that he believes the Islamic Republic of Iran, which finances Hamas, is a state-sponsor of terrorism.

An IDF spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that «The initial inquiry indicates that IDF soldiers were dispatched to the Khirbet Zanuta area in the Judea Brigade following reports that foreign nationals had entered an area that was believed to be a closed military zone. At the same time, an additional report was received regarding a road being blocked by Israeli civilians.»

The IDF spokesperson continued that «Upon arriving at the scene, the soldiers distanced the Israeli civilians away from the area and waited for confirmation that there was no security concern regarding the foreign nationals present at the location, and awaited confirmation that the area was not, in fact, a closed military zone. The convoy was then allowed to continue on its way. This process lasted several minutes. It should be emphasized that, throughout the incident, there was no physical confrontation or violence between those involved, and no such allegations were reported.»

According to the IDF spokesperson, «The armed individual present at the scene was an IDF soldier who was on leave. The matter is under review, and the soldier will be addressed accordingly. It should also be noted that the visit had not been coordinated with the IDF in advance. We emphasize that prior coordination of diplomatic visits is intended to prevent incidents of this nature. Such coordination is particularly important in areas where there is a risk of security-related incidents. The required conduct when interacting with diplomats will be further clarified and reinforced.»

Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter (Getty Images)

The Press Service of Israel(TPS-IL) conducted an investigation of the public row. An Israeli security official told TPS-IL that Khanna’s delegation did not coordinate its arrival in advance. «They did not coordinate the visit,» the official said. «Usually, advance notice is received.» According to the official, visits by foreign lawmakers and other prominent delegations to sensitive areas of Judea and Samaria are generally coordinated with Israeli authorities. Such coordination allows authorities to assess access restrictions, security conditions and logistical arrangements. The official said Israeli civilian security personnel arrived and blocked the delegation before troops intervened. «Settlers arrived, blocked them, the army dispersed them and that was basically the end of the incident,» the official said.

The source added that security forces sought to resolve the obstruction quickly after learning that the vehicles had been blocked.

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Diker sees the 2028 Presidential election cycle as the magnet for attracting some candidates to Israel with their alleged anti-Israel personal agendas.

Diker said «The point here is that U.S. presidential politics, on the left flank of the Democratic party, now exploits what can be called Israel- cancellation, or the inversion of legitimacy between Hamas – PLO and Israel as part of the unresolved Palestinian question as a major national issue for the American people, not the Islamic Republic of Iran and its global terror proxies, and it’s interruption of global oil shipping, kidnapping the global economy, nor is the issue the ongoing Russia, Ukraine situation, the Chinese communist parties infiltration of technology and other assets in the West or the Islamic infiltration of America.»