The House Judiciary Committee recently released a transcript and video of former special counsel Jack Smith's closed-door deposition from December, where he vigorously defended his prosecutions against President Donald Trump.[1] Smith, who led investigations into Trump's alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents, resigned in late 2024 after Trump's reelection led to the cases being dropped.[1]
In the nearly 300-page transcript and accompanying video, made public on New Year's Eve, Smith described Trump as "by a large measure, the most culpable and most responsible person in this conspiracy," insisting the January 6 Capitol attack would not have occurred without him.[1] He rejected accusations of political bias, stating, "I entirely disagree with any characterization that our work was in any way meant to hamper him in the presidential election."[1] Smith expressed confidence that his election interference case, built partly on testimony from Republicans who prioritized country over party, would have resulted in a conviction.[1]
The deposition, conducted by the Republican-led House Oversight and Judiciary Committees, probed Smith's tactics, including his team's collection of Senate phone records—limited to timestamps of calls between lawmakers and Trump aides around January 6, not contents.[1] Smith attributed the calls to Trump's directions, noting, "Donald Trump directed his co-conspirators to call these people to further delay the proceedings."[1] While phone toll records are a standard investigative tool, the move sparked debates over Justice Department overreach against members of Congress.[1]
Smith was more reserved on the classified documents probe, citing a federal judge's order barring further disclosure, though he indicated willingness to share more if allowed.[1] CNN covered the release on January 3, 2026, featuring analysis from former U.S. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Tom Dupree and justice correspondent Evan Perez, framing it as insights into the "failed prosecutions."[2]
This development reignites scrutiny of Smith's tenure amid Trump's return to the White House, highlighting enduring partisan divides over the investigations' legitimacy. Listeners tuning in will find Smith's unfiltered remarks a rare window into the behind-the-scenes battles that defined these high-stakes cases.[1][2]
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