Former special counsel Jack Smith appeared publicly before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday for the first time, forcefully defending his investigations into Donald Trump and warning that the rule of law in the United States must not be taken for granted.
Smith oversaw two federal probes that led to more than 40 criminal charges against Trump — one focused on efforts to overturn the 2020 election and another centered on the alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving office. Both cases were dropped after Trump’s reelection in 2024, citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, calling the investigations politically motivated “witch hunts.”
During his testimony, Smith rejected claims that politics influenced his decisions and said the evidence justified bringing charges. He told lawmakers his team uncovered “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump engaged in a “criminal scheme” to overturn the election and knowingly violated federal law.
Smith testified: “Our investigation revealed that Donald Trump is the person who caused Jan. 6, that it was foreseeable to him and that he sought to exploit the violence. We followed the facts and we followed the law — where that led us was to an indictment of an unprecedented criminal scheme to block the peaceful transfer of power.”
Smith said Trump was not seeking honest answers about election fraud, but instead was “looking for ways to stay in power,” adding that when officials contradicted his claims, Trump ignored or dismissed them. He also detailed findings from the classified documents case, saying Trump illegally retained highly sensitive national security materials at his Mar-a-Lago property and attempted to obstruct justice by concealing them. Smith emphasized that the charges stemmed solely from the evidence and legal standards, not political pressure.
Throughout the hearing, Smith warned about growing threats to judicial independence and said he would not be intimidated by public attacks from the president. “The statements are meant to intimidate me. I will not be intimidated,” he said, adding that such rhetoric is also intended to deter others from standing up for the law.
During the hearing Trump continued criticizing Smith, posting on Truth Social and calling him “a deranged animal,” while urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate his conduct. Smith said he expects further attempts to target him, stating, “I believe they will do everything in their power to do that because they’ve been ordered to by the president.”
Smith also condemned Trump’s sweeping pardons of roughly 1,500 people convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, calling the decision deeply troubling. “I do not understand why you would mass pardon people who assaulted police officers. I don’t get it. I never will,” he said. He reminded lawmakers that 140 officers were injured during the attack and warned that some pardoned rioters pose an ongoing danger.
The hearing exposed sharp partisan divisions. Committee Chairman Jim Jordan criticized Smith’s work as politically driven, arguing voters rejected the investigations by reelecting Trump. In contrast, ranking Democrat Jamie Raskin praised Smith’s conduct, telling him, “You pursued the facts, you followed the law, you stuck with extreme caution, to every rule of professional responsibility. You had the audacity to do your job.”
Smith also defended investigative steps that drew GOP scrutiny, including subpoenaing phone records and relying on testimony from Republican officials and Trump allies. He said those witnesses were often the most credible because they were willing to tell uncomfortable truths despite personal and political costs.
Reflecting on the broader stakes, Smith urged Americans not to become complacent. “The rule of law is not self-executing,” he said. “It depends on our collective commitment to apply it.”
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