WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith is set to testify publicly next week about his investigations into President Donald Trump that resulted in two indictments. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, confirmed that Smith will appear before the panel on Jan. 22 during an interview on Fox News Channel Monday night. A spokesman for Smith later confirmed the committee hearing.
Smith previously testified behind closed doors to the committee, and a transcript from that session reveals he stated that the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol 'does not happen' without Trump. Smith led the investigations into Trump’s alleged hoarding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, as well as Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results after losing to Democrat Joe Biden. These investigations culminated in indictments that were ultimately abandoned following Trump’s win in November 2024, due to Justice Department legal opinions prohibiting the indictment of a sitting president.
One of Smith's attorneys, Lanny Breuer, expressed last week that Jack is prepared to address inquiries in a public forum about Trump's alleged unlawful attempts to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling of classified documents. Meanwhile, Trump has claimed that the Justice Department has been weaponized against him amid his campaign for a return to the White House.
Smith previously testified behind closed doors to the committee, and a transcript from that session reveals he stated that the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol 'does not happen' without Trump. Smith led the investigations into Trump’s alleged hoarding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, as well as Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results after losing to Democrat Joe Biden. These investigations culminated in indictments that were ultimately abandoned following Trump’s win in November 2024, due to Justice Department legal opinions prohibiting the indictment of a sitting president.
One of Smith's attorneys, Lanny Breuer, expressed last week that Jack is prepared to address inquiries in a public forum about Trump's alleged unlawful attempts to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling of classified documents. Meanwhile, Trump has claimed that the Justice Department has been weaponized against him amid his campaign for a return to the White House.
