Former special counsel Jack Smith told Republican lawmakers that his team gathered evidence sufficient to prove Donald Trump engaged in a criminal effort to overturn the 2020 election, according to portions of a closed-door deposition obtained by news outlets Wednesday.
Smith’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee underscored the sharp political divide surrounding his high-profile investigations into Trump, including allegations tied to the 2020 election and the handling of classified documents.
According to the Associated Press, Smith said investigators “developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump conspired to subvert the election results. He also told lawmakers the team uncovered “powerful evidence” that Trump willfully retained classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago residence and attempted to conceal them from authorities.
Smith emphasized that his prosecutorial decisions were made without consideration of Trump’s political affiliations or views, saying the legal conclusions were based solely on Trump’s alleged conduct.
The Republican-led committee subpoenaed Smith after he offered to testify publicly, but members ultimately heard his remarks in a private session—a decision that drew criticism from both parties.
“It’s not about politics — it’s about what the facts and the law required,” Smith told committee members, according to excerpts from his prepared statement.
The closed hearing marked the most detailed explanation Smith has provided lawmakers regarding his handling of the Trump prosecutions, as well as his defense of decisions that have fueled intense national debate.
Republicans continue to argue the investigations were politically driven, while Democrats contend Smith’s findings raise serious legal concerns that warrant broader public examination.
Both parties are expected to push for additional disclosures from Smith’s testimony and supporting evidence as disputes over the 2020 election and Trump’s legal exposure continue into 2026.
