In a dramatic and newly released congressional testimony, former Special Counsel Jack Smith delivered a stark account of Donald Trump's actions surrounding the January 6 Capitol riot, alleging the former president was driven by a desire for revenge and directly endangered the life of his own vice president.
A Case Built on Republican Testimony
The House Judiciary Committee has published the full transcript and video of Smith's December 17 testimony, detailing his unprecedented criminal investigation into Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Smith, who resigned just before Trump resumed office, forcefully defended the integrity of his work.
He stated that Donald Trump was "by a large measure" the person "most responsible" for the conspiracy to subvert the election and the violent attack on the US Capitol that followed. "These crimes were committed for his benefit," Smith told lawmakers. "The attack that happened at the Capitol... does not happen without him."
Countering claims of political bias, Smith insisted he had no contact with President Joe Biden or the White House regarding the cases. He asserted he would have pursued identical charges against a Democrat. "The timing and speed of our work reflects the strength of the evidence and our confidence that we would have secured convictions at trial," he testified.
Endangering an Ally and a Hunger for Retribution
One of the most chilling revelations concerned Trump's treatment of Vice President Mike Pence during the riot. Smith testified that Trump's now-infamous tweet attacking Pence for not obstructing the election certification "without question" exacerbated the direct threat to Pence's life. The mob, chanting "Hang Mike Pence!", came perilously close to the vice president.
Smith also painted a picture of a president singularly focused on retribution. "I am eyes wide open that this president will seek retribution against me if he can," Smith stated. He pointed to the immediate firing of over a dozen Justice Department officials connected to Trump investigations after the 2024 election as evidence this process has already begun.
The former special counsel warned that it would be "catastrophic" for democracy if individuals could interfere in elections without facing legal consequences.
Clarity on Evidence and a Pattern of Denial
Smith used his appearance to address Republican complaints about investigators obtaining phone records of GOP lawmakers. He explained that toll records (showing numbers and call durations, not content) were lawfully secured because the White House was contacting legislators on January 6 as part of the alleged conspiracy.
"Well, I think who should be accountable for this is Donald Trump," Smith said. "These records are people... Donald Trump directed his co-conspirators to call these people."
The testimony further depicted Trump as wilfully ignoring reality. Smith described a pattern where Trump rejected any information suggesting he lost the election and clung to any theory, however baseless, that suggested he could remain in power. This obstinance, Smith said, continued during the violence. "He refused to stop it," Smith testified, adding that Trump had to be pushed repeatedly by his staff to act.
As of now, Donald Trump has not publicly responded to the detailed allegations laid out in Jack Smith's congressional testimony.
