Jack Smith Testifies Privately Team Had ‘Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt’ on Trump

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith told members of Congress in a private interview Wednesday that his team gathered sufficient evidence to support criminal charges against Donald Trump in connection with efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the retention of classified documents, even though both cases were later dropped following Trump’s return to the presidency.

In a closed-door hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, former Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith defended his handling of two major federal investigations into President Donald Trump. According to excerpts from his opening remarks obtained by the Associated Press, Smith said his team developed “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump criminally conspired to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Smith also said prosecutors amassed “powerful evidence” that Trump unlawfully retained classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and obstructed government attempts to retrieve them.

“I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 presidential election,” Smith told the committee. He emphasized his actions were “based on what the facts and the law required.” He also reportedly told lawmakers that if presented with the same facts today, he would again bring charges against a former president, “regardless of whether the president was a Republican or Democrat.”

Smith was appointed in 2022 by Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee both probes. His team filed charges in each case but abandoned them after Trump was elected to the White House, citing Justice Department legal opinions that say a sitting president cannot be indicted. (Read more from “Jack Smith Testifies Privately Team Had ‘Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt’ on Trump” HERE)