Former special counsel Jack Smith has expressed his willingness to testify in open hearings before both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees regarding the federal investigations into former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents and alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. This offer comes through a letter sent by Smith’s legal team to lawmakers, highlighting his readiness to answer questions about the investigations he supervised and the prosecutions arising from those inquiries.
In the correspondence obtained by CBS News, Smith’s attorneys underscored the necessity of securing assurances from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to protect Smith from potential repercussions for his testimony. They urged the DOJ to provide clarification on federal grand jury secrecy requirements and to specify the topics he is permitted to discuss. Notably, his final report features two volumes; while the first, dealing with the election aftermath, has already been presented to Congress, the second volume, which addresses Trump’s management of sensitive documents post-presidency, remains private.
Former Attorney General Merrick Garland had previously refrained from releasing the second volume due to an ongoing criminal case involving Trump’s co-defendants, although that case was dismissed following Trump’s successful bid for the presidency in the subsequent November election. The criminal charges linked to Smith’s investigations included allegations against Trump for improperly retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate and his purported efforts to cling to power following his electoral defeat to President Biden.
Smith has faced accusations from Trump and his supporters, who claim his investigations were politically motivated. These assertions persist despite Smith’s dedication to following established legal standards throughout his career. His lawyers described the ethics investigation by the Office of Special Counsel, which operates independently of Smith’s former role, as unfounded and baseless.
Smith’s readiness to provide testimony aims to address the various mischaracterizations surrounding his investigations, presenting an opportunity for transparency in the oversight of the processes involved against the former president. This event, should it occur, may foster a clearer understanding of the proceedings and reassure the public about the judicial conduct in politically charged cases.