Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith told the Republican-controlled House Judiciary Committee that his investigative team had developed "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" that President Donald Trump had criminally conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, a claim rooted in the evidence his office gathered during a federal investigation.
Smith's statement was made during a closed-door session with lawmakers on Wednesday, after being pressed about the high-profile investigations he conducted during the Biden administration.
Multiple outlets were able to obtain parts of his opening statement to the committee, where he reportedly said that prosecutors amassed "powerful evidence" showing Trump unlawfully sought to prevent the lawful transfer of power after losing to Joe Biden in the 2020 election. According to The Associated Press, Smith said his team's work met the standard of proof required to show a criminal scheme.
Smith also added that the charges he brought to President Trump in 2023 were justified by the evidence he had obtained. Those indictments accused the president of attempting to overturn the election results and obstruct the certification of electoral votes, consistent with another federal investigation into the events of January 6, 2021.
Although Smith described the strength of the evidence he and his team gathered, he did not disclose specific details of that proof during the closed hearing, in part because grand jury materials and other sensitive investigatory sources remain legally protected. Smith, an independent, added that he would have pursued the same course "without regard to President Trump's political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 election."
Smith originally offered to testify in an open, public hearing, but Republican lawmakers instead subpoenaed him to appear in a closed session. Smith complied with the subpoena to provide both testimony and documents.
Trump, who returned to the White House in 2025 after winning the 2024 election, has denied wrongdoing and characterized Smith's investigations as politically driven. He publicly accused Smith of misconduct and called for public testimony before the private deposition was scheduled.
The prosecutions Smith brought were dropped after Trump's reelection due to longstanding Justice Department policy barring the indictment of a sitting president, leaving key questions about the evidence unresolved in open court. The policy meant that although Smith's team had secured indictments in 2023, those cases could not be tried while Trump once again held the presidency.
In turn, the Trump administration opened an investigation into Smith in August, alleging violations of the Hatch Act, which prohibits government workers from engaging in political activities. Senate Intelligence Committee chair Sen. Tom Cotton told the Huffington Post that "Jack Smith's actions were clearly driven to hurt President Trump's election, and Smith should be held fully accountable."
