Watch: Jack Smith warns that Americans take the rule of law for granted

Former special counsel Jack Smith told a House committee on Thursday that he fears Americans now take the idea of ​​the “rule of law” for granted, and that its implementation depends on “collective commitment.”

Watch Smith’s remarks in the video player above.

At a hearing focused on Smith’s investigations into President Donald Trump’s mishandling of classified documents and his role in the Jan. 6 attack, Smith said that as a public servant in international settings, he “has seen how the rule of law can be eroded,” adding that many Americans may now take it for granted in the United States.

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“The rule of law is not self-executing,” Smith said. “It depends on our collective commitment to enforcing it. It requires dedicated service on behalf of others, especially when that service is difficult and comes with costs.”

The hearing is an opportunity for the prosecutor to provide his inside view on the investigations, which have led to unprecedented indictments. They were thwarted once it became clear that Trump would return to the Oval Office; Justice Department policy prohibits the prosecution of a sitting president.

Republicans and the president accused Smith of pursuing a politically motivated case against the president. Trump denied any wrongdoing while attacking Smith, calling him a “criminal” who should be investigated and “put in prison.”

Smith defended his investigations in an hours-long closed-door meeting with lawmakers in December, saying he said he had “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” of what his investigations revealed. He denied accusations of bias.