Columbia News

U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and is a former Missouri Attorney General, appeared on Fox News’ Sunday Briefing to address what he described as an unprecedented use of the Department of Justice (DOJ) against former President Donald Trump, Republican lawmakers, and conservative organizations.

During the interview, Schmitt claimed that actions taken by the DOJ following Trump’s announcement of his presidential campaign were "100x worse than Watergate," arguing that federal authorities aimed to bankrupt Trump and his family and imprison him for life. He referenced state-level prosecutions in Atlanta and New York targeting Trump, noting personnel movements between the DOJ and local prosecutors’ offices. Schmitt said, “This is another symptom of Trump Derangement Syndrome. I think that — for the viewers at home to really understand the scope of this — it really is breathtaking. As I mentioned —100x worse than Watergate — that may be an understatement. What happened was, three days after President Trump announced he was running for president, the entirety of government in the Justice Department was weaponized against him to bankrupt him and his family and put him in jail for the rest of his life.”

Schmitt also alleged that investigative efforts extended beyond Trump himself: “But it wasn’t just a war against a man, Peter, this was against a movement. So Arctic Frost was going after — not just President Trump — but sitting United States Senators with subpoenas. The Republican Attorneys General Association, which I happened to be the chairman of at the time. Charlie Kirk’s organization. This was a massive dragnet to sweep up people just because they were Republicans. That was their crime.”

He attributed recent revelations about these investigations to whistleblowers and called for comprehensive congressional hearings: “We’re just getting this information right now because of whistleblowers. If President Trump wouldn’t have won, all this stuff would be buried […] We need ‘Watergate-style’ hearings for months on this to continue that investigation. There ought to be charges brought. Eventually, resignations.”

Schmitt criticized Judge Boasberg’s handling of related cases in Washington D.C., suggesting impropriety in case assignments and accusing Boasberg of overreach: “[Judge Boasberg] actually wrote in the attachment to these subpoenas to the telecommunications companies that you are not you can’t tell Senator Cruz, you can’t tell these other senators that the subpoena was out there, because they would destroy evidence. That’s just beyond the pale. I think impeachment proceedings [for Judge Boasberg] should begin in the House of Representatives.”

Discussing special prosecutor Jack Smith’s role in investigations into January 6th-related matters and other cases involving conservatives supporting Trump, Schmitt said: “The subpoena power for a special prosecutor is enormous, and it can be abused… But the reason why Jack Smith was appointed here is because he doesn’t have [restraint]. He’s notorious for that… So, the reality is — this is a guy who was set out to go get President Trump…”

Schmitt expressed support for public testimony from Smith but emphasized first holding extensive hearings: “I hope [Jack Smith testifies]. I do think… we need ‘Watergate style hearings.’ We need to get all of the information... We need to be able to see all of this stuff.” He also questioned coordination between federal and state prosecutors involved in cases against Trump.

On calls for accountability regarding Judge Boasberg's conduct during key case assignments while allegedly not being scheduled as assignment judge at those times or present locally when assigned cases arrived overnight, Schmitt stated: “Well, I think we’ve seen enough for Judge Boasberg because of abuse through judicial fiat—saying that sitting U.S. Senators would destroy evidence… There’s a lot more there... But I do think there’s accountability that should come.”

He concluded by framing current events within what he characterized as a broader conspiracy beginning years ago with figures such as Clapper, Comey, and Brennan: “I think this conspiracy that began with Clapper and Comey and Brennan 10 years ago needs to play out in court…”