Key Takeaways:
- Former special counsel Jack Smith believes that the January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol would not have occurred without Donald Trump’s involvement.
- Smith characterized Trump as the "most culpable and most responsible person" in the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results.
- The evidence against Trump was strong enough to sustain a conviction, according to Smith, and relied heavily on testimony from Trump allies and supporters who cooperated with the investigation.
- Smith defended his team’s investigation as lawful and rejected Republican suggestions that it was politically motivated.
- The investigation found that Trump caused and exploited the Capitol riot, and that he refused to stop it despite being aware of the violence.
Introduction to the Investigation
The House Judiciary Committee has released a transcript and video of a closed-door interview with former special counsel Jack Smith, who led the investigation into Donald Trump’s involvement in the January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol. The interview, which took place on December 17, 2025, provides insight into the decision-making behind the investigation and the evidence gathered against Trump. Smith’s testimony reveals that he believes Trump was the driving force behind the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results and that the evidence against him was strong enough to sustain a conviction.
The Role of Trump in the Conspiracy
According to Smith, the evidence gathered during the investigation showed that Trump was the "most culpable and most responsible person" in the conspiracy to overturn the election results. Smith stated that the attack on the Capitol "does not happen" without Trump’s involvement and that the other co-conspirators were acting on his behalf. The investigation found that Trump caused and exploited the riot, and that he refused to stop it despite being aware of the violence. Smith also noted that Trump’s actions in the weeks leading up to the insurrection, including making false statements to state legislatures and his supporters, contributed to the violence that occurred on January 6.
The Strength of the Evidence
Smith emphasized that the evidence against Trump was strong and relied heavily on testimony from Trump allies and supporters who cooperated with the investigation. He noted that the case was built on the testimony of Republicans who put their allegiance to the country before their party, including a former congressman who was going to be an elector for Trump. The investigation also found that Trump’s actions were foreseeable and that he was aware of the potential for violence on January 6. Smith stated that the evidence showed that Trump "caused it and that he exploited it and that it was foreseeable to him."
The Investigation’s Findings
The investigation found that Trump’s communications with Republican supporters in Congress were an important component of the case. Smith cited an interview with Mark Meadows, Trump’s former chief of staff, in which Meadows referenced a conversation with Rep. Jim Jordan, the current chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. The investigation also evaluated the claim made by former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson that Trump grabbed at the steering wheel of the presidential SUV when the Secret Service refused to let him go to the Capitol on January 6, 2021. However, the officer who was in the car at the time of the incident provided a different account of events.
Defending the Investigation
Smith defended his team’s investigation as lawful and rejected Republican suggestions that it was politically motivated. He noted that the investigation was conducted in accordance with Justice Department policy and that the evidence gathered was sufficient to sustain a conviction. Smith also defended the team’s decision to obtain and analyze phone records of GOP lawmakers who were in contact with Trump on January 6, stating that the maneuver was lawful and necessary to the investigation. He suggested that outrage over the tactic should be directed at Trump, who chose to contact the lawmakers and involve them in his efforts to delay the certification of the election results.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the investigation led by Jack Smith found that Donald Trump was the driving force behind the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results and that the evidence against him was strong enough to sustain a conviction. The investigation’s findings, as revealed in Smith’s testimony, provide a detailed account of Trump’s involvement in the January 6, 2021 riot and the events leading up to it. The evidence gathered during the investigation, including testimony from Trump allies and supporters, demonstrates that Trump caused and exploited the riot and that he refused to stop it despite being aware of the violence. The investigation’s findings and Smith’s testimony provide a comprehensive understanding of the events surrounding the January 6, 2021 riot and the role that Trump played in it.