Smith Told Congress Trump Probes Backed by Proof Beyond Doubt/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Former special counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers his team developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Donald Trump conspired to overturn the 2020 election. Smith also said investigators found strong evidence Trump illegally retained classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. He defended the investigations as fact-driven and nonpartisan.
Quick Look:
- Jack Smith told Congress his team had “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump criminally conspired to overturn the 2020 election results.
- Smith also said the evidence showed Trump illegally retained and obstructed the return of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
- The former special counsel defended the independence of his work and denied any political motivation.
- Smith testified behind closed doors before the House Judiciary Committee, which is investigating his probes.
- He volunteered to testify publicly, but Republicans declined, opting instead for a private deposition.
- Trump has criticized Smith and called for a public hearing, claiming Smith “can’t answer the questions.”
- The testimony could intensify GOP efforts to discredit the Justice Department’s past investigations of Trump.
Smith Told Congress Trump Probes Backed by Proof Beyond Doubt
Deep Look:
WASHINGTON — Dec. 17, 2025 — Former special counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers on Capitol Hill Wednesday that his team gathered “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that former President Donald Trump illegally conspired to overturn the 2020 election and unlawfully retained classified government documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
According to portions of Smith’s opening remarks obtained by the Associated Press, the longtime federal prosecutor stood firmly behind his investigations and emphasized that politics played no role in his decision-making.
“I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 election,” Smith said in prepared remarks.
“We took actions based on what the facts and the law required — the very lesson I learned early in my career as a prosecutor.”
Smith: Charges Would’ve Been Filed Against Any President
Smith was clear that he would have pursued prosecution “regardless of whether the president was a Republican or Democrat,” saying the legal and evidentiary thresholds had been met in both the election interference and classified documents cases.
He added that the team’s investigation into Trump’s post-2020 election actions had uncovered “powerful evidence” of criminal conduct — a remark that could reignite debates over the Justice Department’s handling of the cases.
Smith’s testimony was delivered in a closed-door deposition before the House Judiciary Committee, marking the first time he’s answered questions from Congress since wrapping his investigations.
GOP Pushes Back, Smith Pushes Forward
Though Smith had previously volunteered to testify publicly, House Republicans declined the offer and instead subpoenaed him for a private appearance as part of their ongoing review of Justice Department investigations into Trump during the Biden administration.
Trump, when asked about the deposition, said he favored a public hearing:
“I’d rather see him testify publicly. There’s no way he can answer the questions.”
Smith’s attorney, Lanny Breuer, defended his client’s decision to testify despite intense political pressure.
“Jack is showing tremendous courage in light of the remarkable and unprecedented retribution campaign against him by this administration and this White House,” Breuer told reporters outside the hearing room.
Sensitive Topics Off Limits, But Mischaracterizations Will Be Addressed
Smith was expected to discuss both investigations — the January 6th-related probe and the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case — but would not answer questions that could reveal grand jury material, which is protected by law.
According to a person familiar with the interview, Smith also planned to correct what he believes are Republican mischaracterizations, including accusations that his team abused investigative powers by reviewing phone metadata of GOP lawmakers. The data in question included only call logs — not actual conversation content — and were obtained legally as part of the probe into the Capitol attack.
Legal, Political Fallout Continues
Smith was appointed special counsel in 2022 to oversee two key Trump investigations. His team eventually filed criminal charges related to both the election and the documents case — but dropped both indictments after Trump’s reelection in 2024, citing long-standing Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president.
Despite the case closures, House Republicans are ramping up oversight efforts, signaling further scrutiny of Smith’s team and possibly other current or former DOJ officials.
They’ve already demanded interviews with Smith’s prosecutors and are focusing on phone record analysis conducted around Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol.
What’s Next?
Although Smith’s testimony was private, Republicans are expected to release transcripts or excerpts to the public in the coming weeks. The hearing comes amid broader GOP efforts to undermine the credibility of federal prosecutions and paint Trump as the target of a politicized legal system.
Whether Smith’s testimony alters the political landscape remains to be seen, but it has already reinvigorated tensions in Congress — and could set the stage for further clashes over executive accountability in the lead-up to the 2026 midterms.
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