Jack Smith says Trump ‘willfully’ broke law in heated House testimony

Former special counsel prosecutor Jack Smith fiercely defended his decisions during the President’s investigation Donald Trump After his first term in office He told members of the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday that his team of prosecutors had uncovered “evidence beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump had engaged in criminal activity.

“Our investigation uncovered evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in criminal activity,” Smith said. “If I were asked today whether to indict a former president based on the same facts, I would do so regardless of whether that president is a Republican or a Democrat,” Smith said.

Smith testified publicly for the first time on Thursday about Trump’s allegations of trying to overturn the 2020 election and a dual special counsel investigation investigating allegations that Trump withheld some classified documents.

JACK SMITH WITHDRAWED TO TESTIMONY WITH THE HOUSE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE

Smith Accusations brought against Trump In both cases, however, after Trump’s re-election, those orders were ultimately reversed, in line with long-standing guidance from the Justice Department.

Smith resigned shortly after Trump was elected to a second term in 2024.

But Smith said Thursday that he had no second thoughts about his actions as special counsel, emphasizing that the decisions were consistent with the Justice Department’s longstanding policies regarding political parties.

The hearing turned bitter at times, as House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and other Republicans criticized Smith over certain decisions he made.

FBI HAS DISMISSED THE FORMER DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND AGENT WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE J6 PROSECUTIONS, THERE ARE MORE EXPECTATIONS

Special Prosecutor Jack Smith arrives in Washington, D.C. to make remarks about a recently unsealed indictment against former President Donald Trump that includes four felonies (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

One area he focused on was the decision to access so-called “pass records” of some Republican lawmakers during the investigation. Unlike wiretaps, toll records are phone records that reveal the phone numbers of incoming and outgoing callers, as well as the time and duration of the calls.

Republicans focused on that detail Thursday, calling the actions “political weaponization.” Smith argued that wage records are “common practice” in such investigations.

Smith had previously said the Public Integrity Division had signed the subpoenas; This is confirmed by previously disclosed public records.

Other Republicans criticized Smith’s actions as “overly aggressive” and beyond the scope of his authority.

Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., meanwhile criticized Smith for “trying to gain maximum litigation advantage at every turn and repeatedly overstepping constitutional limitations to the point of requiring you to be restrained again and again throughout the process.”

Trump, who was in Davos, also weighed in before the hearing.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, listens as Attorney General Merrick Garland appears for a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Trump said “everyone knows now” that the 2020 election was “rigged” and promised that “people will soon be judged for their actions.” He did not immediately go into detail.

Still, Smith tried to convey to the panel his belief that special counsel prosecutors have built a strong case against Trump.

“we observed legal requirements Smith stated that the decisions were made “regardless of President Trump’s political affiliation” and that they took action based on facts and laws.

He also lamented the firing of FBI agents. Ministry of Justice Officials, including members of the special counsel who Trump said were fired or unfairly targeted in his first year back in office.

FBI AGENTS SUED TRUMP DOJ TO PREVENT ANY PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF EMPLOYEES WHO WORKED ON JANUARY 1. 6 INVESTIGATION

President Donald Trump delivers a special speech at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on January 21, 2026. The World Economic Forum will take place in Davos from January 19 to January 23, 2026. (Mandel Mgan/AFP Getty Images)

Trump “tried to take revenge on career prosecutors, FBI agents, and support staff simply for working on these cases,” he said.

“It is wrong to smear these people and take revenge against them,” Smith said. “These dedicated public servants are the best among us, and it has been a privilege to serve with them.”

In February, thousands of FBI personnel had to fill out a broad survey that asked employees detailed questions about any role they may have played in the investigation into the U.S. Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021, from whether they testified in any criminal cases to when they last participated in investigative activities.

In the months since, a handful of staff members involved in the Jan. 6 investigations have been abruptly fired as part of an effort that people familiar with the action described as an act of “retaliation” against Fox News.

The Justice Department also fired people who worked with Smith on special counsel investigations, Smith noted Thursday.

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“In my view, these people are the best public servants, our country owes them a debt of gratitude, and we are all less safe because so many of these experienced and dedicated law enforcement professionals have been laid off,” he said.