Jack Smith Defends Trump Prosecutions at Senate Hearing

Former special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, forcefully defending his federal indictments of Donald Trump. He stated he would not be silenced by continued threats of prosecution from the Trump administration and warned the rule of law faces an unprecedented threat.

Smith affirmed he would bring the same charges again regardless of the defendant's political party. He insisted his decisions were made without regard to Trump's candidacy or political affiliation and that his team developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt of criminal conduct.

“I would not let politics play a role. And I would just add that if you knew the people I worked with, they would not either.”

Republican senators pressed Smith on his team's secret subpoenas for phone records of GOP lawmakers during the Jan. 6 investigation. Smith maintained the subpoenas were standard practice necessary to understand the scope of the conspiracy.

Republicans, including House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, have referred Smith to the Justice Department for potential prosecution. During the hearing, GOP lawmakers called Smith a "villain" and "dirtbag," while Democrats rallied to his defense, decrying the firing of prosecutors involved in the cases.