Former Special Counsel Jack Smith is expected to appear publicly before Congress later this month to answer questions about his high-profile investigations into President Donald Trump—a development Republicans say is long overdue as concerns grow over the Justice Department’s handling of politically charged cases.
Smith, who was appointed by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022, will testify before the House Judiciary Committee on January 22, according to an announcement made Monday night by Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH).
The upcoming hearing follows Smith’s closed-door interview with House lawmakers last month, where he reportedly claimed he had proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 election—an assertion likely to draw close scrutiny from Republicans, who have argued that the federal government has repeatedly applied one set of standards to Trump and another to Democrats.
Smith’s testimony is expected to focus on the two major investigations he previously led: one involving Trump’s alleged actions following the 2020 election, and another involving the handling of classified records after Trump left office.
“Jack has been clear for months he is ready and willing to answer questions in a public hearing about his investigations into President Trump’s alleged unlawful efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his mishandling of classified documents,” Smith’s attorney, Lanny Breuer, said in a statement to NBC News.
Smith testified for roughly nine hours in the closed-door session, but has since pushed to make his remarks public. According to the report, Smith later demanded that House Republicans release the “full videotape” of his nine-hour testimony.
Both the transcript and video were released a week later, after Republicans said the public deserved transparency about an investigation that many conservatives view as a continuation of Washington’s long-running legal campaign against Trump.
In his closed-door testimony, Smith reportedly claimed he had proof “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump committed a crime related to efforts to challenge the 2020 election outcome. Supporters of Trump, however, have argued that contesting election procedures and raising objections—especially through legal channels—is not unusual in American politics and has occurred in disputed elections in the past, including challenges by Democrats to Republican victories.
Smith also addressed his classified-documents case, claiming his office uncovered evidence that Trump “willfully retained highly classified documents after he left office in January 2021, storing them at his social club, including in a bathroom and a ballroom where events and gatherings took place.”
The documents investigation centered on materials stored at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida residence and private club. Republicans have questioned whether Trump was treated fairly compared to other officials who were also found to have mishandled classified materials, arguing that selective enforcement undermines public trust in the justice system.
Smith’s public appearance on January 22 is likely to intensify debate over whether the Justice Department and federal prosecutors have been used as political weapons—particularly as the country heads deeper into a contentious election cycle and voters demand answers about government power, transparency, and equal justice under the law.
