Explosive testimony from former special counsel Jack Smith, detailing his investigations into Donald Trump, has been made public by the House Judiciary Committee. The 255-page transcript, released on Wednesday 31 December 2025, reveals Smith's firm belief that the former president was criminally liable for his actions surrounding the January 6 Capitol riot and the mishandling of classified documents.
Smith's Core Allegations Against Trump
In a seven-hour deposition, Smith was unequivocal in his assessment. He stated that Donald Trump was "most culpable" for the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. Smith led the Justice Department's prosecution which argued the former president engaged in a criminal conspiracy to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 election.
Smith emphasised that his case relied heavily on testimony from Republicans who, in his words, "put their allegiance to the country before the party." He pointed to specific actions as evidence of criminal intent, notably Trump's demand that Georgia election officials "find" more than 11,000 votes to alter the state's outcome.
The Cases Effectively Ended by the 2024 Election
The testimony underscores that Smith was pursuing two major federal prosecutions. The first centred on the Capitol riot, while the second involved the mishandling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election effectively brought both prosecutions to an end, as a sitting president holds broad immunity from federal criminal charges.
Smith expressed no doubt about the motivation behind the legal challenges he faced. He told Congress he had "no doubt" that Trump sought political retribution against him personally for filing the cases. Despite the cases being halted, Smith insisted that, had they proceeded to trial, Trump would have been convicted in court.
Implications and Lasting Impact
The release of this detailed transcript provides an unprecedented look into the mindset of the prosecutor at the heart of two historic investigations. It solidifies the official record of Smith's conclusions, ensuring they remain part of the public discourse surrounding Trump's conduct post-2020 election.
While the legal proceedings were terminated, the testimony serves as a stark and formal indictment of Trump's actions from a top law enforcement official. The document is likely to fuel ongoing political and historical debate about accountability, the limits of presidential power, and the events of January 6.
