Jack Smith will testify publicly about his investigations into Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith is scheduled to testify publicly next week about his investigations into President Donald Trump that resulted in indictments.

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said in an interview with Fox News on Monday night that Smith will appear before the committee on January 22. A spokesman for Smith on Tuesday confirmed the committee hearing.

Read more: Jack Smith told Congress that the January 6 attack “wouldn’t happen” without Trump

Smith has already testified behind closed doors before the committee. A released transcript of that private briefing shows Smith telling lawmakers that the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol “wouldn’t happen” without Trump.

Smith led investigations into Trump’s hoarding of secret documents at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, and his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election after the Republican president lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Both investigations resulted in indictments that were abandoned after Trump won the November 2024 presidential election, with Smith citing Justice Department legal opinions barring the indictment of a sitting president.

“Jack has been clear for months that he is ready and willing to answer questions at a public hearing about his investigations into President Trump’s alleged illegal efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his mishandling of classified documents,” Lanny Brewer, one of Smith’s attorneys, said in a statement last week while discussing a public hearing.

Trump said the Justice Department was used as a weapon against him as he sought to return to the White House.