The House Judiciary Committee has made public the full transcript and video deposition of former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s congressional testimony, delivering a significant development in the ongoing political saga surrounding investigations into former President Donald Trump.
The 255-page document, released on December 31st, reveals Smith’s detailed justification for pursuing two criminal cases against Trump during his tenure as special counsel. The testimony, which occurred on December 17th behind closed doors, spanned nearly eight hours of rigorous questioning from lawmakers.
Smith articulated a forceful defense of his investigations, stating unequivocally that while the decision to bring charges rested with him, the foundation for those charges ‘rests entirely with President Trump and his actions.’ The former special counsel presented what he characterized as compelling evidence demonstrating Trump’s alleged engagement in ‘a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power.’
Regarding the classified documents investigation, Smith testified that his team had gathered ‘powerful evidence’ showing Trump ‘willfully retained highly classified documents after he left office in January of 2021,’ storing them at his Mar-a-Lago social club in various locations including a ballroom and bathroom. Smith further asserted that Trump had ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice to conceal his continued retention of those documents.’
The cases referenced in the testimony—concerning election interference and mishandling of classified materials—effectively concluded following Trump’s re-election, during which he had pleaded not guilty to all charges. Since returning to office, Trump has called for investigations into officials who brought criminal charges against him.
This release provides unprecedented insight into the internal deliberations and evidentiary foundations of the investigations that dominated American political discourse throughout much of 2023 and 2024.