Jack Smith defends Trump prosecutions in testimony to Congress

December 17, 2025

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith testified behind closed doors before Congress regarding his criminal investigations into President Trump, which examined alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and mishandling of classified documents. Smith stated his team found proof beyond reasonable doubt of Trump's involvement in a criminal scheme, though both prosecutions ended following Trump's re-election after Trump pleaded not guilty. Republican lawmakers, led by House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, have characterized Smith's investigations as politically motivated and raised concerns about his investigative tactics, including subpoenaing phone records of GOP legislators.

Who is affected

President Donald Trump
Former Special Counsel Jack Smith
Republican lawmakers whose phone records were subpoenaed
House Judiciary Committee members (including Chairman Jim Jordan and Congressman Jamie Raskin)
Department of Justice officials involved in the 2020 election inquiry
Former FBI Director James Comey
The American public (denied access to open testimony)

What action is being taken

Jack Smith is testifying in a closed-door hearing on Capitol Hill
Republicans are expressing alarm at investigative tactics used
Democrats are seeking to learn more about Smith's investigation results

Why it matters

This testimony represents a critical moment of accountability and transparency regarding two major criminal investigations into a sitting U.S. president. The closed-door nature of the hearing prevents public access to information about serious allegations involving election interference and mishandling of classified documents. The controversy highlights deep partisan divisions over the legitimacy of the investigations, with Trump now calling for criminal prosecution of those who investigated him, raising concerns about potential politicization of the justice system and retribution against law enforcement officials.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC