Former US Special Counsel Jack Smith has been branded a "TYRANT" by a prominent MAGA commentator following the release of his explosive congressional testimony, in which he directly blamed Donald Trump for the January 6 Capitol riot.
Fiery MAGA Reaction to Released Testimony
The incendiary label came from Eric Daugherty, Chief Content Officer at RightLine, after Smith's 255-page testimony to Congress from December 17 was made public. In his statement, Daugherty took particular issue with Smith's legal interpretation of Trump's First Amendment rights surrounding the 2020 election.
"HOLY CRAP. Special Counsel Jack Smith said during his Congressional testimony President Trump did NOT have a 1st Amendment Right to say the 2020 election was fraudulent," Daugherty wrote on X. "THIS GUY IS A TYRANT! No free speech for Trump? Lock Jack Smith up."
The Core of Smith's Accusations Against Trump
In his detailed testimony, Smith, who led the 2022 investigation into Trump's actions, stated his team had assembled "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" that the former president sought to overturn the 2020 election results by exploiting the riot. He characterised Trump's actions as a "criminal scheme" that culminated in the violent attack on the US Capitol.
Smith clarified that Trump was free to claim he believed he won the election, even falsely. However, he drew a critical legal distinction. "But what he was not free to do was violate Federal law and use knowing -- knowingly false statements about election fraud to target a lawful government function," Smith told Congress. He emphasised this specific action had "no historical analog."
Case Built on Republican Testimony and Pardon Fallout
Smith asserted his investigation's impartiality, noting it heavily relied on evidence from members of Trump's own party. He cited a former Republican congressman in Pennsylvania, slated to be a Trump elector, who allegedly stated their efforts constituted "an attempt to overthrow the government and illegal." Smith concluded, "Our case was built on, frankly, Republicans who put their allegiance to the country before the party."
The testimony also highlighted the peril faced by then-Vice President Mike Pence, whom Trump pressured to derail Joe Biden's certification. Smith stated Trump's actions "endangered the life of his own Vice President," a claim underscored by reports of rioters chanting "hang Mike Pence."
While Trump has not been criminally convicted regarding January 6, Smith's investigation was dropped when Trump returned to office. Since his second-term victory, Trump has issued pardons or commutations for over 1500 people convicted or charged in connection with the riots, including 14 members of the far-right Proud Boys group, stating they had been "destroyed" by the justice system.
