WASHINGTON — Former Special Counsel Jack Smith has made it clear that he stands firmly by his investigations into US President Donald Trump. In his first public appearance before Congress, Smith said that if the law allowed, he would again file criminal charges against Trump based on the same evidence.
Smith strongly denied claims that his actions were political and said his decisions were guided only by facts and law.
First Public Testimony Before Congress
Jack Smith appeared before the House Judiciary Committee, facing tough questions from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. This was his first time speaking openly in public about the Trump investigations.
Republicans tried to question his intentions, while Democrats defended his role and praised his work.
Why Jack Smith Investigated Trump
Smith led the US Justice Department’s special counsel office from 2022 to 2025. During this time, he handled two major investigations related to Donald Trump.
One case focused on the handling of classified government documents. The second case looked at Trump’s actions after the 2020 presidential election, including efforts to challenge the election result.
Cases Dropped Due to Legal Policy
Smith explained that both cases were withdrawn only because Trump returned to office. According to long-standing Justice Department rules, a sitting president cannot be criminally prosecuted.
He made it clear that the cases were not dropped due to lack of evidence.
Smith Says Evidence Was Strong
During the hearing, Smith said his team collected strong proof showing that Trump broke the law. He stated that the evidence showed Trump tried to influence election results and pressured officials.
Smith also said Trump privately accepted that he had lost the 2020 election but still encouraged others to fight the result.
‘No One Is Above the Law,’ Says Smith
Smith told lawmakers that his actions would have been the same no matter which political party the president belonged to.
In his view, allowing powerful leaders to escape accountability can seriously damage public trust in the legal system.
Republicans Question Investigation Methods
Republican members of the committee raised concerns about the use of subpoenas, including requests for phone records of lawmakers.
Smith responded by saying these steps were taken only to track call patterns and did not include listening to conversations or spying on anyone.
Trump Attacks Smith on Social Media
While the hearing was ongoing, President Trump posted strong criticism against Smith on social media. He accused Smith of targeting innocent people and called the investigations a political conspiracy.
Smith chose not to directly respond but warned that ignoring wrongdoing by leaders could have dangerous consequences for democracy.
Limits on What Smith Could Say
Smith explained that court orders stopped him from sharing some details, especially in the classified documents case. Certain information remains sealed by court direction.
He also said he could not discuss confidential sources or grand jury materials.
Hearing Ends Without Major New Claims
The long hearing ended without any new proof against Smith. Most arguments repeated older political disputes linked to Trump’s past cases.
Smith stayed calm throughout the session and clearly denied acting as a political agent.
Conclusion
Jack Smith’s testimony showed that he remains confident in his past decisions. He believes the evidence against Donald Trump was strong and that legal rules — not politics — stopped the cases from moving forward. The hearing highlighted deep political divisions in the US, but Smith’s message was simple: the law should apply equally to everyone, including the most powerful.
FAQs
Who is Jack Smith?
Jack Smith is a former US Special Counsel who led investigations into President Donald Trump between 2022 and 2025.
Why were the cases against Trump dropped?
The cases were withdrawn because US law does not allow prosecution of a sitting president.
Did Smith say he would charge Trump again?
Yes, Smith said that based on the same evidence, he would charge Trump again if the law permitted.
Were the investigations political?
Smith strongly denied this and said his decisions were based only on facts and law.
What was Trump’s reaction?
Trump criticised Smith on social media, calling the investigations unfair and politically motivated.