Jack Smith Denies Political Influence in Trump Prosecutions During House Judiciary Deposition
Special counsel Jack Smith testified in a closed-door House Judiciary Committee deposition on December 17, 2025, denying that politics played any role in the prosecutions of former President Donald Trump. Smith asserted that he owns two criminal cases against Trump related to interference in the 2020 election and the improper retention of classified documents. He stated that the charges were based on indictments from grand juries in two districts and emphasized that the decision to prosecute was his alone. Smith further indicated that, given the same facts, he would proceed with prosecution regardless of the former president's political party affiliation. Republicans at the deposition planned to question Smith on topics including gag orders, efforts to fast-track court proceedings, and subpoenas for phone data from some GOP lawmakers. Representative Jared Moskowitz described the deposition as boring at its onset. This deposition is part of the broader congressional oversight of the Department of Justice's investigations into Trump.
