Republican committee staff had warned Schmitt’s office that the texts were “unvetted,” MS NOW reported. The Trump Justice Department supplied the messages to committee Chairman Chuck Grassley before the hearing, but he did not share them with Democratic senators, the outlet reported.
Schmitt defended his questioning Wednesday, saying, “My job is to ask questions.” His general counsel, Ethan Harper, had planned to join the White House staff secretary’s office the following week, but the transition is now in doubt after the hearing, Politico reported. Harper held up the board behind Schmitt during the questioning.