Jack Smith Asserts Strong Evidence Against Trump in Closed Hearing

Former Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith informed lawmakers during a closed-door interview on December 17, 2025, that his team has gathered substantial evidence indicating that President Donald Trump criminally conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Smith stated that they have developed “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” regarding these allegations, as well as “powerful evidence” suggesting Trump unlawfully retained classified documents at his estate in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, while obstructing government efforts to retrieve those records.

Smith emphasized his commitment to impartiality, stating, “I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 election.” He highlighted that decisions were based strictly on the facts and the law, a principle he learned early in his prosecutorial career.

In this private deposition before the House Judiciary Committee, Smith faced inquiries about two investigations into Trump that resulted in previously abandoned criminal charges during the former president’s time in office. Earlier this month, Smith was subpoenaed to provide testimony and documents linked to a Republican inquiry into the investigations conducted during the Biden administration.

Smith’s legal team indicated that he had previously offered to testify publicly before the committee but was met with resistance from Republican lawmakers. “Testifying before this committee, Jack is showing tremendous courage in light of the remarkable and unprecedented retribution campaign against him by this administration and this White House,” said Lanny Breuer, one of Smith’s attorneys. He underscored that Smith’s investigation was driven solely by the facts and the law.

Trump, meanwhile, expressed his preference for an open hearing, stating, “I’d rather see him testify publicly. There’s no way he can answer the questions.”

Smith is expected to elaborate on both investigations regarding Trump, though he will refrain from discussing grand jury materials, which are restricted by law. He aims to clarify what he perceives as mischaracterizations by Republican lawmakers about his team’s methods, particularly regarding the analysis of cellphone records from specific GOP members during the events of January 6, 2021.

Appointed in 2022, Smith oversaw investigations into Trump’s attempts to overturn his election loss to Joe Biden and the retention of classified materials at Mar-a-Lago. His team filed charges related to both matters but ultimately abandoned them after Trump was reelected, citing legal opinions that suggest a sitting president cannot be indicted.

Republican leaders in Congress have sought interviews with members of Smith’s team in recent weeks, focusing on the analysis of phone records from January 6, which involved only metadata—details about incoming and outgoing numbers and call duration—without accessing the content of the conversations.

As this story develops, Smith’s testimony could play a significant role in shaping the ongoing political landscape surrounding Trump and the investigations into his conduct.