Former Special Counsel Jack Smith testified before the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee about his investigations into President Donald Trump and the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, asserting that his team had gathered enough evidence for indictments.
"Our investigation revealed that Donald Trump is the person who caused Jan. 6, that it was foreseeable to him and that he sought to exploit the violence," Smith testified. "We followed the facts and we followed the law -- where that led us was to an indictment of an unprecedented criminal scheme to block the peaceful transfer of power."
Smith had previously led investigations into President Trump’s alleged tampering in the 2020 election and alleged mishandling of classified material.
"I have seen how the rule of law can erode. My fear is that we have seen the rule of law function in this country for so long that many of us have come to take it for granted," Smith said during his testimony before the Committee.
Republican members of the Committee pushed back against Smith’s attempts to retrieve phone records of officials who were in contact with Trump’s associates around the time of the Jan. 6 riot.
"It was always about politics and to get President Trump. They were willing to do almost anything," said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the panel's chairman.
"I am not a politician, and I have no partisan loyalties," Smith responded. "My office didn't spy on anyone."
During the testimony, President Trump made statements against Smith via Truth Social.
“I will not be intimidated,” Smith affirmed, acknowledging President Trump’s statements. “I think these statements are also made as a warning to others what will happen if they stand up. And I am, as I say, I’m not going to be intimidated.”
President Trump has denied any wrongdoing across all investigations, deeming them politically driven “witch hunts.”
