Former special prosecutor Jack Smith attended the Power To The People Festival in Columbia, MD wearing a black Springsteen shirt that reads "No Kings." Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl publicly dedicated a performance to him, while Bruce Springsteen used his set to criticize ICE and federal immigration enforcement. The festival pledged a portion of ticket sales and all net VIP proceeds to VoteRiders. Smith's appearance came less than a week after a contentious Senate hearing in which Sen. Ted Cruz accused him of politically motivated investigations.
Jack Smith Spotted Wearing 'No Kings' Shirt at Power To The People Festival Days After Contentious Senate Hearing
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Former special prosecutor Jack Smith was photographed this weekend at the Power To The People Festival in Columbia, Maryland, wearing a black Springsteen T-shirt that reads "No Kings." The music event, organized by Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, featured performances and political commentary from artists including Bruce Springsteen and the Foo Fighters.
Smith's appearance drew attention when Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl singled him out onstage as the band launched into "My Hero." Grohl shouted,
"This one goes out to my new friend Jack!"
Photos circulating on social media showed Smith in the crowd, seemingly relaxed and engaging with the festival atmosphere. Onstage, Bruce Springsteen used his set to criticize the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, saying it had brought "death and terror to the streets of Minneapolis," and earlier this year released a track condemning President Donald Trump and federal immigration enforcement after the shooting death of Alex Pretti.
The festival's website described the event as bringing together "artists, fans, activists, organizations and community leaders for an unforgettable day celebrating the power of music and collective action to inspire change." It also stated that a portion of ticket sales, plus 100% of net proceeds from VIP tickets, would be donated to VoteRiders, a group the site identifies as left-leaning.
Smith's public outing came less than a week after he testified before Congress about his investigations into former President Donald Trump. During that hearing, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) sharply criticized Smith's work, calling the probes "disgraceful" and accusing the Department of Justice of being weaponized for political purposes. Cruz said,
"Let me say congratulations, because you have succeeded where Richard Nixon failed, which is weaponizing the Department of Justice to go after your political opponents."
The images, stage shoutouts and political statements at the festival offered a striking contrast to the combative atmosphere of Smith's recent congressional testimony.
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