UPDATE: In a stunning revelation, Special Counsel Jack Smith testified before the House Judiciary Committee that his team has established proof beyond a reasonable doubt of Donald Trump‘s criminal conspiracy to overturn the 2020 Presidential Election. This urgent development raises the stakes in ongoing legal battles surrounding the former president.
During a closed-door hearing held earlier today, Smith detailed the findings of his investigation, emphasizing that investigators have gathered powerful evidence showing Trump illegally hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructed efforts to recover those records.
“I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 election,” Smith stated, underscoring the impartiality of his inquiry. He added, “If asked whether I would prosecute a former president based on the same facts today, I would do so regardless of whether the president was a Republican or Democrat.”
This testimony marks a critical moment as Smith answers questions about investigations that had previously resulted in abandoned charges against Trump. His appearance follows a subpoena issued earlier this month as part of a Republican-led inquiry into the Trump probes during the Biden administration.
Smith’s legal team has emphasized the courage it takes to testify in light of what they describe as unprecedented retaliatory actions from the current administration. “Let’s be clear: Jack Smith is a career prosecutor who conducted this investigation based on the facts and based on the law and nothing more,” remarked Smith’s attorney, Lanny Breuer.
Trump, while speaking to reporters at the White House, expressed his preference for a public hearing, stating, “I’d rather see him testify publicly. There’s no way he can answer the questions.”
While the closed-door session allows Smith to discuss his investigations, he will be limited in responding to inquiries that could expose grand jury materials, which are protected by law. Smith is also expected to clarify what he sees as mischaracterizations by Republicans regarding his use of cellphone records belonging to certain GOP lawmakers around the time of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots.
As the situation unfolds, Smith, appointed in 2022 to oversee the Justice Department’s investigations into Trump’s actions, previously filed charges in both the election overturning and the classified documents cases. However, those cases were abandoned after Trump won the presidency again in 2024, citing legal opinions that prevent indicting a sitting president.
This testimony is crucial as Congressional Republicans continue to press for interviews with members of Smith’s investigative team, particularly in light of recent revelations regarding the analysis of phone records of select GOP lawmakers.
As this story develops, the implications for Trump’s candidacy and legal standing grow increasingly significant. Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates on this high-stakes legal battle.
