Former Special Counsel Jack Smith took the spotlight on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, appearing in a high-stakes, closed-door hearing regarding his two former criminal investigations into President Donald Trump. The sessions, shrouded from public view, brought intense scrutiny over the politically charged probes into the former president.
In his opening remarks, Smith asserted that his team had “developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt” showing that Trump had engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the 2020 election results. Additionally, he highlighted allegations that Trump mishandled classified documents, forming part of a broader legal case against him. Trump, for his part, had pleaded not guilty in both investigations, which ultimately concluded after his re-election.
The hearing comes at a tense time. Since returning to office, Trump has actively demanded investigations into officials who pursued legal action against him. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, a long-time Trump ally, described Smith’s investigations as “partisan and politically motivated,” alleging in an October letter that the special counsel used “disturbing tactics” during the course of the inquiries. Republicans also voiced concerns over subpoenas issued for the phone records of several GOP lawmakers as part of the election probe.
While the closed setting means the public cannot hear testimony in real time, sections of Smith’s opening statement obtained by CBS News reveal that the former prosecutor emphasized the evidence rests squarely on Trump’s own actions. He described discovering “powerful evidence” that the former president had retained classified documents and obstructed attempts to return them to the government.
The committee, controlled by Republicans and chaired by Jordan, is expected to challenge Smith vigorously. Meanwhile, Democrats, represented by Congressman Jamie Raskin, sought clarity on the outcomes of the investigations, stating they wanted to understand “exactly what he found, and what he did.” Smith’s attorney, Peter Koski, noted that the special counsel had volunteered to testify in an open hearing but was disappointed the offer was declined, leaving the public without direct insight into his findings.
The stakes for Smith remain high. Trump has labeled him a “criminal” and suggested he should face investigation and imprisonment alongside other Justice Department officials involved in the 2020 election inquiry. This tense backdrop underscores the ongoing political battles surrounding Trump’s presidency and the legacy of investigations into his actions while in office.
Adding to the charged atmosphere, recent legal developments such as the Department of Justice’s indictment of former FBI Director James Comey—later dismissed due to improper appointment of the prosecutor—illustrate the precarious intersection of law and politics in Washington, D.C.
Smith’s testimony, though closed to the public, is likely to reverberate across the political landscape, highlighting the ongoing tensions between partisan oversight and the pursuit of legal accountability.