Former special counsel Jack Smith will tell the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday that President Trump was charged because evidence showed he "willfully broke the very laws he swore to uphold." Why it matters: Smith's highly anticipated public testimony marks his first open defense of the Trump prosecutions, as Republicans intensify efforts to portray the investigations as politically motivated.
- Smith testified before the panel in an eight-hour closed-door session last month but sought — and was granted — an open forum to defend the investigation.
Zoom in: In his opening statement, Smith will say that the investigation "developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt" that Trump engaged in criminal activity after the 2020 election — and that declining to bring charges would have meant failing his duty as a prosecutor.
- "Grand juries in two separate districts reached this conclusion based on his actions, as alleged in the indictments they returned," he said.
- "After nearly 30 years of public service, including in international settings, 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."
Go deeper: 5 key takeaways from Jack Smith's deposition on the Trump probes
