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Former particular counsel Jack Smith testified throughout a listening to Thursday on Capitol Hill, the place he confronted searing criticism from Republicans and reward from Democrats over his two prosecutions of President Donald Trump.
The listening to gave Smith, a profession prosecutor of practically three a long time, a uncommon likelihood to talk publicly about his work. He defended his indictments in opposition to Trump associated to the 2020 election and categorized paperwork as by-the-book and apolitical.
“If requested whether or not to prosecute a former president primarily based on the identical information right this moment, I’d achieve this, no matter whether or not that president was a Republican or a Democrat,” Smith stated.
JACK SMITH SUBPOENAED FOR DEPOSITION WITH HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Former particular counsel Jack Smith testifies throughout a listening to earlier than the Home Judiciary Committee within the Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 22, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Al Drago/Getty Pictures)
Republicans made clear they felt the circumstances, introduced whereas Trump was a number one presidential candidate, have been pushed by politics and designed to intrude with the 2024 election.
“It was at all times about politics,” Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, stated in his opening assertion.
1. Smith collected ‘months’ price of cellphone information on the Republican speaker of the Home
Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, grilled Smith over the controversial subpoenas of cellphone information belonging to a number of Republicans. Gill zeroed in on a subpoena that sought about three months of knowledge belonging to former Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023.
“Sixteen days after turning into the very best rating Republican within the Home of Representatives, you subpoenaed his toll information,” Gill stated, asking if Smith felt that would have violated the Structure.
“I don’t,” Smith replied.
“You have been gathering months’ price of cellphone information on the Republican speaker of the Home, the chief of the opposition, proper after he obtained sworn in as speaker. … That seems like a flagrant violation of the speech or debate clause,” GIll stated.
Smith has repeatedly defended the subpoenas as correct, noting that his workforce sought a slender set of knowledge as a part of his 2020 election probe and that the cellphone information didn’t comprise contents of messages or calls.
“If Donald Trump had chosen to name quite a few Democratic senators, we might have gotten toll information for Democratic senators,” Smith stated in a closed-door deposition final month.
2. Issa accuses Smith of ‘spying’
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., accused Smith of “spying” on the lawmakers whose information have been subpoenaed. These focused by Smith’s workforce included McCarthy, Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Invoice Hagerty of Tennessee, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and a number of other others.
Smith additionally obtained court-authorized gag orders that briefly blocked cellphone carriers from notifying the lawmakers of the subpoenas, which means they’d no speedy recourse to problem them.
It’s common apply for prosecutors to hunt gag orders, however Issa demanded to know why Smith didn’t inform the D.C. federal courtroom that the subpoenas pertained to members of Congress, who’ve added layers of immunity underneath the Structure.
“Why did Congress, a separate department that you just, underneath the Structure, must respect — why is it that nobody must be knowledgeable — together with the judges?” Issa pressed. “As you went in to spy on these folks, did you point out that you just have been spying on, [that you were] searching for information so you would discover out about when conversations occurred between the U.S. speaker of the Home and the president?”
Smith has stated he adopted the DOJ’s coverage on the time, which didn’t require him to offer such discover to the courtroom. That coverage has since modified.
3. Former D.C. police officer will get escorted out of listening to after fiery conflict
Former Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone was briefly escorted out of the listening to after a tense trade with Ivan Raiklin, a one-time Military reservist and right-wing operative.
Raiklin known as out to Fanone and launched himself amid a packed listening to room, prompting Fanone to show round and say, “Go f— your self. … Do not faux like we’re not mortal enemies.”
The confrontation, which occurred throughout a listening to recess, escalated to a near-physical altercation, as Fanone repeatedly lobbed obscenities at Raiklin and Raiklin informed Fanone to “management his Tourette syndrome.”
A fellow former officer restrained Fanone, and a police officer guided him out of the listening to room whereas Democrats applauded him. Fanone was violently assaulted through the Jan. 6 assault, in response to video footage and courtroom papers, and has since been outspoken in opposition to those that breached the Capitol and attacked officers.
4. Smith predicts DOJ will attempt to indict him
Trump posted on social media through the listening to that Smith was “being DECIMATED” by Republican lawmakers and was a “deranged animal.”
“Hopefully the Lawyer Basic is what he is finished,” Trump wrote.
JACK SMITH DEFENDS SUBPOENAING REPUBLICANS’ PHONE RECORDS: ‘ENTIRELY PROPER’
Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi speaks alongside President Donald Trump at a White Home press briefing on this 2025 picture. (Getty Pictures)
In response to a query about Trump’s submit from Rep. Rebecca Balint, D-Vt., Smith stated he anticipated the DOJ would try and cost him.
“I consider they’ll do every part of their energy to do this, as a result of they’ve been ordered to by the president,” Smith stated.
Trump later wrote on social media: “Primarily based on his testimony right this moment, there is no such thing as a query that Deranged Jack Smith must be prosecuted for his actions. … At a minimal, he dedicated giant scale perjury!”
5. Smith reveals his one remorse about his work
Smith was requested if the extreme scrutiny and public threats in opposition to him have made him want he didn’t prosecute Trump.
“I do not remorse it,” Smith stated.
Nonetheless, when Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., pressed Smith on the matter, Smith vouched for his workers, who all left or have been fired when Trump took workplace.
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“If I’ve any remorse, it might be not expressing sufficient appreciation for my workers, who labored so laborious on these investigations,” Smith stated, including they “sacrificed endlessly and endured manner an excessive amount of simply doing their jobs.”
Fox Information’ Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report.
