At a Glance
- Jack Smith will testify publicly before the House Judiciary Committee on Jan. 22
- Republicans rejected his earlier request for an open hearing, making him testify privately in December
- The special counsel says he can prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump ran a “criminal scheme” to overturn the 2020 election
- Why it matters: The televised session could expose fresh evidence against the former president as GOP allies try to discredit the investigations
Former special counsel Jack Smith will appear in an open hearing before the House Judiciary Committee next week, ending months of Republican resistance to a public session. Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, announced the Jan. 22 date Monday night, weeks after Smith’s closed-door deposition that spanned more than eight hours.
Smith had asked for a public forum last year, but Republicans insisted on a private deposition first. They released a 255-page transcript and eight hours of video from that Dec. session on New Year’s Eve.
Lanny Breuer, Smith’s attorney, said his client welcomes the chance to defend his probes in daylight.
“Jack has been clear for months he is ready and willing to answer questions in a public hearing about his investigations into President Trump’s alleged unlawful efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his mishandling of classified documents,” Breuer said.
What Smith Already Told Lawmakers
In the December deposition, Smith told lawmakers that Trump was “the most culpable” actor in the election interference case and had “repeatedly tried to obstruct justice” in the classified-documents matter. He said prosecutors could prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump engaged in a “criminal scheme” to overturn the 2020 results.
Committee Democrats, who had demanded the public hearing, praised the reversal.
“Even with many hours of private testimony, Republicans could not lay a glove on Jack Smith, his evidence, or his case,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the panel’s ranking member. “This upcoming hearing is a win for truth-seeking Americans and yet another looming humiliation for Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans, who depend on a daily diet of lies to keep their Administration afloat.”
Two Indictments, Two Dismissals
Smith led two federal probes that produced indictments against Trump:
- Classified-documents case: Accused Trump of hoarding sensitive papers at Mar-a-Lago and obstructing retrieval efforts
- Election-interference case: Charged Trump with conspiring to overturn the 2020 vote
Both cases have since collapsed. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, dismissed the documents case, ruling Smith’s appointment violated the appointments clause. Smith voluntarily dropped the election case after Trump won the 2024 race, citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
Trump has denied wrongdoing, branding the probes “witch hunts.” Since returning to office he has repeatedly called for Smith to be prosecuted.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec. 2024 | Smith testifies privately for 8+ hours |
| Dec. 31, 2024 | GOP releases transcript and video |
| Jan. 13, 2025 | Jordan announces Jan. 22 public hearing |
News Of Losangeles reported last week that Jordan planned to invite Smith to a public session once the deposition was complete. The committee has not yet released a witness list or detailed agenda for the upcoming hearing.
Key Takeaways
- The Jan. 22 hearing gives Smith a televised platform to lay out evidence Republicans tried to keep behind closed doors
- GOP lawmakers have spent months attacking the legitimacy of Smith’s appointment and the resulting indictments
- Democrats hope the open setting will spotlight the strength of the evidence against Trump
- The session comes as Trump allies in Congress push to curtail federal probes of the former president
