At a Glance
- Republican lawmakers will question Jack Smith about his investigations into former President Trump.
- The hearing focuses on two criminal cases: election interference and classified-document hoarding.
- Allegations of political retaliation against Smith’s team add a new layer to the proceedings.
Why it matters: The hearing could clarify the scope of the Justice Department’s actions and signal how far the political fallout will extend.
Republican lawmakers are poised to grill former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith on Thursday at a congressional hearing that will bring fresh scrutiny to the two criminal investigations that shadowed Donald Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign.
The Upcoming Hearing
The House Judiciary Committee will host a public session led by Republican chair Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. Jordan has characterized Smith’s work as the culmination of efforts to stop Trump from returning to the White House. The hearing is expected to split along partisan lines: Republicans seeking to undermine Smith and Democrats hoping to draw out new, damaging testimony about Trump’s conduct.
Smith previously testified behind closed doors last month. In that deposition, he rejected claims that his investigations were politically motivated and asserted that the evidence placed Trump squarely at the center of a criminal conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election and to orchestrate the Jan. 6, 2021 riot.
Smith’s Background and Statements
Smith was appointed in 2022 by the Biden administration to oversee investigations into Trump. Both cases produced indictments, but the charges were abandoned after Trump won the White House, citing long-standing Justice Department legal opinions that sitting presidents cannot be indicted.
During the private deposition, Smith stated:
> “Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in criminal activity.”
He added that he would prosecute a former president based on the same facts today, regardless of party affiliation. Smith also emphasized that no one should be above the law and that the Justice Department’s actions were required to hold Trump accountable.
Smith’s team included lawyers and other employees who were later fired by the Justice Department. An independent watchdog agency responsible for enforcing a law against partisan political activity by federal employees opened an investigation into the DOJ’s actions last summer.
> “In my opinion, these people are the best of public servants, our country owes them a debt of gratitude, and we are all less safe because many of these experienced and dedicated law enforcement professionals have been fired,” Smith said.
Political Retaliation Claims
The hearing unfolds amid an ongoing Trump administration retribution campaign targeting investigators who scrutinized the former president. The DOJ’s firing of Smith’s team members and the watchdog agency’s investigation have fueled claims of political retaliation.
Smith’s private deposition also addressed the analysis of phone records belonging to more than half a dozen Republican members of Congress who were in touch with the president on the afternoon of Jan. 6, 2021. The records contained data about participants and call durations but not the content of the conversations.
Smith is also expected to face questions about his team’s findings on the classified-documents investigation. A report his team prepared remains sealed by order of a Trump-appointed judge in Florida, Aileen Cannon. Trump’s lawyers have asked the court to permanently block its release.
Legal and Investigative Context
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Smith appointed as special counsel by the Biden administration. |
| 2020 | Presidential election that Trump allegedly tried to overturn. |
| Jan. 6, 2021 | Capitol riot linked to Trump’s campaign. |
| 2024 | Trump’s presidential campaign and the upcoming hearing. |
| Recent | DOJ fires Smith’s team; watchdog agency investigates; report sealed by Judge Aileen Cannon. |
The hearing will provide a platform for Smith to reaffirm his stance on the investigations and to address allegations of political interference. It also offers an opportunity for lawmakers to assess whether the Justice Department’s actions were consistent with established legal principles.
Key Takeaways
- Jack Smith will defend his decision to bring charges against Trump in two separate cases.
- Republicans view the hearings as a chance to challenge Smith’s credibility, while Democrats seek new evidence about Trump’s conduct.
- Allegations of political retaliation against Smith’s team add complexity to the proceedings.
- The sealed report on classified documents remains a point of contention, with Trump’s lawyers seeking a permanent block.
The outcome of this hearing could shape public perception of the Justice Department’s independence and influence future investigations involving former presidents.
