Former Special Counsel Jack Smith testified before Congress on Wednesday in a closed door session that focused on his now ended criminal investigations into President Donald Trump. The hearing was held on Capitol Hill and carried major political weight due to Trump’s return to office.
In his opening remarks, Smith told lawmakers that his team gathered evidence that met the legal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. He said investigators concluded Trump took part in a criminal effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Smith also defended the separate case involving Trump’s handling of classified government documents.
Trump pleaded not guilty in both matters. The prosecutions were dropped after he won re election and returned to the White House.
Republicans accuse Smith of political bias
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a strong Trump ally, sharply criticized Smith’s work. Jordan described the investigations as partisan and driven by politics rather than law.
In a letter sent to Smith in October, Jordan accused the former special counsel of using troubling investigative methods. Republican lawmakers also raised concerns over subpoenas that sought phone records from several GOP members of Congress during the election probe.
The hearing took place behind closed doors, meaning the public could not hear Smith’s testimony as it happened.
Smith says evidence points only to Trump’s actions
According to excerpts of Smith’s statement obtained by CBS News, he told lawmakers that the charges in both investigations were based entirely on Trump’s own conduct. Smith said investigators uncovered strong evidence that Trump kept classified documents and blocked efforts by the government to retrieve them.
Smith is expected to face pointed questioning from the Republican led committee. Jordan, who now chairs the panel, was a vocal defender of Trump during both impeachment proceedings.
Democrats seek clarity on findings
Democrats on the committee said their goal was to better understand the conclusions of Smith’s investigations. Congressman Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said lawmakers want a clear account of what Smith found and how the investigations were carried out.
Smith’s attorney, Peter Koski, said the former special counsel had offered to testify in a public hearing. Koski added that Smith was disappointed the request was denied, saying the decision prevents the public from hearing his account directly.
Political pressure and legal backdrop
Since returning to office, Trump has called for investigations into officials involved in the cases against him. He has labeled Smith a criminal and suggested he and other Justice Department officials should face prosecution.
The testimony comes amid broader scrutiny of Justice Department actions. In September, federal prosecutors charged former FBI Director James Comey over statements he made to Congress in 2019. A judge later dismissed the case after ruling that the prosecutor who filed it was improperly appointed.
