Jack Smith Defends Trump Prosecutions in Released Deposition Transcript, With Public Testimony Set for Next Week pssss
Jack Smith Defends Trump Prosecutions in Released Deposition Transcript, With Public Testimony Set for Next Week
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2026 — Former special counsel Jack Smith offered a forceful defense of his investigations into Donald J. Trump during a closed-door deposition before the House Judiciary Committee last month, asserting that evidence showed the president had engaged in a “criminal scheme” to overturn the 2020 election results. The Republican-led committee released a redacted transcript and video of the nearly eight-hour session on Dec. 31, 2025, shedding light on Smith’s rationale for the now-dismissed federal cases.
In his opening statement, Mr. Smith told lawmakers: “Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power.” He emphasized that the decision to prosecute was his alone, based on Trump’s actions and supported by grand juries in two jurisdictions, and that he had “zero regrets” about the charges. “If Trump didn’t want to be indicted, he shouldn’t have broken the law,” Mr. Smith added, according to the transcript.
Mr. Smith, who resigned in November 2025 after Mr. Trump’s re-election, led two federal cases against the president: one involving efforts to subvert the 2020 election and another related to the retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Both were dismissed by Attorney General Pam Bondi shortly after Mr. Trump took office, citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. He reiterated during the Dec. 17, 2025, deposition that he would bring the same charges today based on the facts, dismissing suggestions of political motivation.
The session, subpoenaed by Chairman Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, focused on allegations of Justice Department weaponization under the Biden administration. Republicans pressed Mr. Smith on issues like subpoenaing lawmakers’ phone records and potential First Amendment violations, with some questioning whether the prosecutions criminalized political speech. Mr. Smith defended his actions, noting he had offered to testify publicly but was required to appear in private. Critics, including some Democrats, have called the closed format a “travesty,” arguing for greater transparency.
Mr. Smith is scheduled to testify publicly before the same committee on Jan. 22, in a hearing titled “Oversight of the Office of Special Counsel Jack Smith.” The appearance follows his request for an open forum and comes amid ongoing scrutiny of his work. Committee Republicans have framed the inquiry as an examination of potential abuses, while Democrats view it as an opportunity to highlight evidence from the investigations.
The release has reignited debate over the cases, with some Republicans suggesting the hearing backfired by amplifying Mr. Smith’s unapologetic stance. Behind the scenes, Mr. Trump’s legal team has been active, though no public statements directly addressed the transcript.
In a related development, reports indicate the BBC may seek to subpoena Mr. Smith as a witness in Mr. Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster, filed in Florida federal court. The suit alleges defamation and unfair trade practices over a BBC documentary or reporting on Mr. Trump, seeking $5 billion for each claim. The BBC has moved to dismiss the case, but details on any subpoena for Mr. Smith remain unconfirmed. Mr. Trump’s lawyers have not commented on the potential involvement.
The White House referred questions to the Justice Department, which declined to comment on ongoing litigation. Mr. Smith’s representatives could not be reached for additional statements.
As Mr. Trump settles into his second term, the testimony underscores lingering partisan divides over accountability for the events surrounding Jan. 6, 2021, and the handling of classified materials. Political analysts suggest the public hearing could further polarize discourse ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Trump Warns New York Mayor-Elect Mamdani: ‘We’ll Have To Arrest Him’
Trump Warns New York Mayor-Elect Mamdani: ‘We’ll Have To Arrest Him’
President Donald Trump on Wednesday addressed sharp criticism from Zohran Mamdani, who defeated disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in New York City’s mayoral race. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, ordered the president during his fiery victory speech to “turn the volume up.”
“I think it’s a very dangerous statement for him to make,” Trump told Fox News host Bret Baier. “He has to be a little bit respectful of Washington, because if he’s not, he doesn’t have a chance of succeeding. And I want to make him succeed.” He quickly clarified, “I want to make the city succeed, I don’t want to make him succeed.”
Trump has frequently attacked the progressive candidate throughout his campaign, which focused on affordable housing and expanding social safety nets. Mamdani faced racist attacks from critics before defeating Cuomo, whom Trump had endorsed.
In his victory speech Tuesday, Mamdani called Trump a “despot” who has “betrayed” the nation. He urged his supporters to use their votes and voices to “stop the next Trump” by “dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power.”
“I thought it was a very angry speech,” Trump told Baier. “Certainly angry toward me, and I think he should be nice to me. I’m sort of the one that has to approve a lot of things coming to him, so he’s off to a bad start.”
Supporters countered that Mamdani, 34, is off to a great start as the first Muslim and South Asian mayor in city history, and its youngest in more than a century.
“Look, for thousands of years communism has not worked. Communism, or the concept of communism, has not worked. I tend to doubt it will work this time,” Trump said. He added that he was “torn” by Mamdani’s win due to his “love” for New York City, saying he “would like to see the new mayor do well.”
When asked if he’s thought about reaching out, Trump replied, “I would say he needs to reach out to us, really. I’m here. We’ll see what happens, but I would think it would be more appropriate for him to reach out to us.”
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In June, when asked about Mamdani’s vow to “stop masked ICE agents from deporting our neighbors,” Trump said, “Well then, we’ll have to arrest him.”
“Look, we don’t need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I’m going to be watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation,” Trump added.
Trump Admin Wildly Surpasses Biden Energy Record In Matter of Months
The White House marked the one-year anniversary of the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC) on Saturday, February 14, 2026, touting a massive surge in U.S. energy production that has fundamentally reshaped the global market in just over twelve months.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who chairs the Council alongside Energy Secretary Chris Wright, presented data showing that U.S. output has not only eclipsed the previous administration’s peaks but has done so at a pace federal officials are calling "unprecedented."
Record-Breaking Production Levels
The administration's "Energy Dominance" agenda, codified by executive order exactly one year ago, has driven U.S. crude oil production to a record 13.6 million barrels per day in 2025. By comparison, it took the Biden administration nearly four years to move production from 11.3 million to 13.2 million barrels—a threshold the current administration cleared in its first few months.
Natural gas output has seen a similar vertical climb. In November 2025, production reached 110.1 billion cubic feet per day, the highest level since federal tracking began in 1973. This represents an 8% increase over the previous administration's average.
“Gasoline prices have fallen to some of the lowest levels in years, permitting has been streamlined, and American energy exports are surging,” Secretary Burgum told Fox News Digital. “These achievements mean real savings for families, farmers, and small businesses.”
Surging Global Influence and LNG Exports
The U.S. has significantly widened its lead as the world’s premier liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter. Average LNG exports rose to 15.1 billion cubic feet per day in 2025, a sharp jump from the 11.9 billion recorded in late 2024.
This surge is credited to the Council's aggressive focus on "unleashing" American resources through:
Regulatory Rollbacks: Modernizing financial risk evaluations to free up billions for offshore exploration.
Permitting Speed: The Department of the Interior has approved 63.7% more Federal and Indian drilling permits compared to the previous administration over the same period.
Infrastructure Investment: New agreements with a bipartisan group of governors to advance over $15 billion in power-generation projects.
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The Economic Impact: Addressing Affordability
A central pillar of the NEDC's mission is to use energy abundance as a tool against inflation. While recent Middle East tensions have caused temporary spikes in crude prices, the administration maintains that the expanded domestic grid and increased output are the only long-term solutions to lowering transportation and grocery costs.
Secretary Burgum reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to "conservation abundance," arguing that environmental stewardship and fossil fuel development are not mutually exclusive. As the U.S. enters the second year of this policy, the White House expects to export four billion more cubic feet of natural gas per day than in 2024—a 33% increase.
