Former Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith testified publicly before Republican lawmakers on Thursday, reigniting scrutiny over the two criminal investigations that shadowed Donald Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign.
Smith forcefully defended his work as special counsel, stating he stands by his decision to bring criminal charges against Trump. He said he has “no partisan loyalties” and would have brought charges regardless of the president’s politics. “No one, no one should be above the law in this country,” Smith asserted.
Republican lawmakers, however, grilled Smith in a starkly partisan hearing, attempting to undermine the former Justice Department official and elicit new and damaging testimony about Trump’s conduct. Committee Chairman Jim Jordan accused Smith of considering using the disputed account of former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson “because you had to get President Trump.”
Smith defended his decision to obtain and analyse phone records of GOP lawmakers who were in contact with Trump on January 6th, stating it was “common practice” in a complex criminal investigation. He told lawmakers the records were “relevant to get the full record to understand the scope of that conspiracy, who they were seeking to coerce, who they were seeking to influence.”
The hearing comes as U.S. allies are navigating the fallout from Trump’s recent appearance in Switzerland, where he insulted European leaders before backing down on his threat to take over Greenland with military force. Many allies are opting out of Trump’s “Board of Peace,” which he envisions as a rival to the United Nations.
Elsewhere, federal immigration officers are asserting sweeping powers to forcibly enter people’s homes without a judge’s warrant, marking a sharp reversal of long-standing guidance meant to respect constitutional limits on government searches. This has led to the detention of several children in Minnesota, sparking outrage from local officials.
As Smith’s testimony continues, the investigation into Trump’s actions remains a divisive and politically charged issue in the United States.
