At a Glance
- Jack Smith will testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
- The hearing focuses on Trump’s 2024 election-interference case and a classified-documents probe.
- Republicans plan to challenge Smith’s motives; Democrats seek new testimony.
- Why it matters: The testimony could influence public opinion and future legal actions against Trump.
Jack Smith’s upcoming testimony is poised to become a centerpiece of the 2024 political arena. The House Judiciary Committee will hear from the former Justice Department special counsel on two high-profile investigations that shadowed Donald Trump during his presidential campaign.
The Hearing’s Stakes
The public hearing is expected to split along partisan lines. Republican lawmakers, led by Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, aim to undermine Smith’s credibility. Democrats, meanwhile, hope to extract fresh, damaging testimony about Trump’s conduct.
Jordan has described Smith’s investigations as the “culmination of that whole effort to stop President Trump from getting to the White House.” He said, “Tomorrow he’ll be there in a public setting so the country can see that this was no different than all the other lawfare weaponization of government going after President Trump.”
Smith’s Record
Smith was appointed in 2022 by President Biden’s Justice Department to oversee investigations into Trump. Both investigations produced indictments, but the cases were abandoned after Trump won the White House because longstanding Justice Department legal opinions say sitting presidents cannot be indicted.
In a private deposition last month, Smith rejected Republican suggestions that his work was politically motivated. He stated, “The evidence here made clear that President Trump was by a large measure the most culpable and most responsible person in this conspiracy.” Smith added that the crimes were committed for Trump’s benefit.
Political Backdrop
The hearing unfolds against a backdrop of a Trump-era retribution campaign targeting investigators. The Justice Department has fired lawyers and other employees who worked with Smith. An independent watchdog agency responsible for enforcing a law against partisan political activity by federal employees opened an investigation into him last summer.
Smith said of the terminated members of his team, “In my opinion, these people are the best of public servants, our country owes them a debt of gratitude, and we are all less safe because many of these experienced and dedicated law enforcement professionals have been fired.”
Key Questions
Smith will face questions about his team’s analysis of phone records belonging to more than half a dozen Republican members of Congress who were in touch with the president on January 6, 2021. The records contain data about participants and call durations but not contents.
He is also expected to address the sealed report on the classified-documents investigation. The report remains sealed by order of a Trump-appointed judge in Florida, Aileen Cannon, and Trump’s lawyers have asked the court to permanently block its release.
Potential Outcomes
If Smith’s testimony confirms his prior statements, it could reinforce the narrative that Trump engaged in criminal activity. The hearing may also influence how future investigations are conducted and how the public perceives the impartiality of the Justice Department.
Republican lawmakers have warned that the hearing could be a “weaponization” of government. Conversely, Democrats view it as an opportunity to hold a former president accountable.
Takeaways
- Jack Smith will testify on Thursday about Trump’s 2024 election-interference and classified-documents cases.
- The hearing is expected to be highly partisan, with Republicans challenging Smith’s motives and Democrats seeking new testimony.
- Smith’s past indictments were abandoned due to legal opinions on indicting sitting presidents.
- The hearing also covers phone-record analysis and a sealed classified-documents report.
- The outcome could shape public perception and future legal actions against Trump.
The testimony will be closely watched as it may reshape the political landscape and influence future investigations into former presidents.
