In a significant development, the House Judiciary Committee has released the full transcript of former special counsel Jack Smith's closed-door testimony concerning his investigations into former President Donald Trump. The 255-page document, made public on Wednesday 31 December 2025, reveals Smith's firm belief in Trump's criminal liability for the events of January 6, 2021, and in a separate classified documents case.
Smith's Core Allegations Against Trump
During a seven-hour deposition, Jack Smith, who led two major Justice Department prosecutions against Trump, presented a damning assessment. He asserted that Donald Trump was "most culpable" for the attack on the US Capitol. Smith argued that the former president did not merely fail to stop the riot but actively "caused and exploited" the chaos in a bid to overturn the 2020 election result.
Smith detailed that his investigation into the January 6 case heavily relied on testimony from Republicans who, in his words, "put their allegiance to the country before the party." He pointed to Trump's now-infamous call with Georgia officials, where he asked them to "find" more than 11,000 votes, as clear evidence of criminal intent.
A Case Cut Short by the 2024 Election
The released testimony underscores the unprecedented constitutional situation created by Trump's 2024 election victory. Smith's twin prosecutions – one regarding the Capitol riot and a second concerning the mishandling of classified documents – were effectively ended by Trump's return to the White House. Despite this, Smith insisted to Congress that, had the cases proceeded, the evidence was sufficient for convictions.
Smith also expressed his personal conviction that Trump sought political retribution against him for filing the cases, stating he had "no doubt" about the former president's motives.
The Lasting Impact of the Released Transcript
The publication of this detailed transcript provides the public with the clearest insight yet into the special counsel's concluded investigations. It fuels ongoing historical and political debate about accountability for the January 6 attack. While the legal proceedings are halted, Smith's testimony solidifies the official record, painting a picture of a president who, according to the lead prosecutor, was centrally responsible for one of the most significant assaults on American democratic institutions in modern history.
