Trump’s Prosecutor Publicly Defends Dismissed Cases

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith is finally set to publicly defend his years-long, politically charged investigation into President Trump before the House Judiciary Committee. After months of avoiding accountability, Smith’s appearance today—January 22, 2026—will force him to answer Republican accusations that his two dismissed cases were part of a broader, weaponized effort by the Biden Justice Department to target a political opponent. This high-stakes testimony is expected to expose the partisan nature of prosecutions that collapsed the moment voters returned Trump to office.

Story Snapshot

Jack Smith testifies publicly for the first time on January 22, 2026, about his investigations targeting President Trump
Smith claims evidence “beyond a reasonable doubt” despite dismissing both cases after Trump’s election victory
Republicans expose Smith’s partisan prosecution as part of broader DOJ weaponization against conservative leadership
Smith faces restrictions on testimony due to Judge Cannon’s sealing order and DOJ limitations
Democrats continue defending Smith’s failed prosecutions while Republicans demand answers for constitutional overreach

Biden-Era Prosecutor Faces Congressional Scrutiny

Jack Smith appears before the House Judiciary Committee at 10 a.m. ET on January 22, 2026, marking his first public testimony regarding investigations that targeted President Trump during the Biden administration. This follows an eight-hour closed-door deposition in December 2025, where Chairman Jim Jordan subpoenaed Smith after months of the former prosecutor avoiding accountability. Smith’s lawyers repeatedly requested public testimony since October 2025, finally securing this hearing after Republicans documented his evasive responses in private sessions.

Former special counsel Jack Smith will publicly testify for the first time on Jan. 22 about his investigations of President Donald Trump.https://t.co/n7W3pMChUI

— 7News DC (@7NewsDC) January 13, 2026

Dismissed Cases Raise Questions About Political Motivation

Smith pursued two separate prosecutions against Trump: classified documents retention in Florida and alleged 2020 election interference in Washington, D.C. Both cases collapsed after Trump’s decisive 2024 election victory, when Smith suddenly dismissed them citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. This convenient timing exposes the political nature of prosecutions that Democrats claimed were ironclad. Smith now asserts he possessed evidence “beyond a reasonable doubt” and would have prosecuted any former president identically, yet he abandoned both cases the moment voters rejected the Biden administration’s weaponized justice apparatus.

Republican Leaders Expose DOJ Weaponization

House Speaker Mike Johnson stated Smith “has a lot to answer for,” emphasizing these answers are “long overdue” after years of partisan prosecution. Chairman Jordan characterized the hearing as revealing “this was no different than all the other lawfare weaponization of government going after President Trump.” Republicans point to Smith’s secret acquisition of GOP senators’ phone records as evidence of constitutional overreach and abuse of prosecutorial power. This pattern reflects the broader assault on conservative values that Americans rejected in 2024, demanding accountability for those who corrupted federal law enforcement to target political opponents.

Constitutional Concerns Over Prosecutorial Independence

Smith faces significant limitations on his testimony due to DOJ restrictions preventing detailed discussion of the classified documents case and Judge Aileen Cannon’s order blocking release of his report’s second volume. Smith admitted he has not reviewed his own report since submitting it to former Attorney General Merrick Garland in early 2025, raising questions about his command of facts he claims justified prosecution. Democrats like Rep. Jamie Raskin defend Smith’s credibility, insisting he answered questions satisfactorily during closed sessions. However, Republicans demand public accountability for investigations that undermined constitutional principles of equal justice and prosecutorial restraint.

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith is set to testify publicly before the House Judiciary Committee

Implications for Justice System Integrity

Smith’s testimony establishes dangerous precedents for special counsel accountability and executive branch independence. His voluntary appearance occurs in a politically charged environment where his prosecutions served Biden administration interests in criminalizing Trump’s presidency and 2024 candidacy. The hearing exposes how unelected prosecutors wielded unchecked power against a former president and current commander-in-chief, violating fundamental principles of limited government and separation of powers. Smith’s assertion that Trump was “by a large measure the most culpable and most responsible person” in alleged election conspiracy reveals partisan bias masquerading as objective prosecution, exactly the weaponization conservatives warned would destroy public confidence in federal law enforcement institutions.

The American people delivered their verdict in November 2024, rejecting the lawfare strategy that characterized Biden’s Justice Department. Smith’s public testimony provides transparency that should have occurred before he destroyed constitutional norms by prosecuting a presidential candidate during an election year. While Democrats frame these investigations as legitimate accountability, the timing, selective prosecution, and ultimate dismissal expose them as political theater designed to damage Trump’s electoral prospects and undermine conservative governance.

Watch the report: WATCH LIVE: Jack Smith testifies publicly about his Trump investigations