Key Takeaways
- The House Judiciary Committee released a full transcript and video of former special counsel Jack Smith’s closed-door deposition.
- Smith testified that he had enough evidence to convict President Donald Trump of conspiracy to obstruct the certification of electoral votes and other criminal charges.
- Smith stated that Trump engaged in a "criminal scheme" to overturn the results of the 2020 election and repeatedly tried to obstruct justice in the classified documents case.
- The Judiciary Committee, led by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, is investigating Smith and his former office over federal indictments of the president.
- Trump has called for Smith to be prosecuted and has pleaded not guilty to the indictments, denying any wrongdoing.
Introduction to the Deposition
The House Judiciary Committee recently released a 255-page transcript and over eight hours of video from former special counsel Jack Smith’s closed-door deposition earlier this month. Smith had requested to testify publicly, but this request was denied by Republicans on the Judiciary Committee. During the deposition, Smith provided detailed information on why he believed he had enough evidence to try and convict President Donald Trump of various criminal charges, including conspiracy to obstruct the certification of electoral votes on January 6, 2021.
Testimony on Election Interference
In his testimony, Smith described Trump’s actions as a "criminal scheme" to overturn the results of the 2020 election. He stated that Trump was the "most culpable and most responsible person" in this conspiracy and that there was strong evidence that Trump continued to spread false claims about voter fraud despite being informed that they were false. Smith emphasized that Trump’s actions were not protected by the First Amendment, as he was using knowingly false statements to target a lawful government function. Smith also reiterated that he could prove Trump knew the claims he was making about election fraud were false and that he continued to make these claims even after being told they were untrue.
Investigation by the Judiciary Committee
The Judiciary Committee, led by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, is investigating Smith and his former office over the federal indictments of President Trump. The indictments alleged that Trump improperly stored classified documents after leaving office and that he interfered in the 2020 presidential election by spreading false claims about voter fraud. Both cases have since been dismissed, and Trump has pleaded not guilty, denying any wrongdoing. Trump has also called for Smith to be prosecuted, and Smith has stated that he would not be surprised if he himself was indicted by the Justice Department.
Attacks on Career Civil Servants
During his testimony, Smith addressed Trump’s attacks on him and other career civil servants in the Justice Department. Smith expressed his sadness and anger that Trump has sought revenge against these individuals simply for doing their jobs and working on the cases against him. Smith emphasized that these dedicated public servants are the best of the country and have been wrongly vilified and improperly dismissed from their jobs. He also described an incident where an FBI agent was dismissed from the case due to their disclosure of emails arguing with family members about the January 6 riot at the Capitol, highlighting his commitment to a nonpartisan investigation.
Commitment to a Nonpartisan Investigation
Smith stressed that he made it clear from the beginning of his tenure as special counsel that the investigation would be nonpartisan and that politics would play no role in it. He stated that everyone in his office agreed to this approach, and he took steps to ensure that the investigation remained impartial. Smith’s testimony highlighted his commitment to upholding the law and ensuring that justice is served, regardless of political affiliations or pressures. The release of the transcript and video of Smith’s deposition provides valuable insights into the investigation and the evidence gathered against President Trump, and it will likely be closely scrutinized by lawmakers, legal experts, and the public.
