Former special counsel Jack Smith has asked House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan to release the recorded transcript of his more-than-eight-hour closed-door deposition and to schedule a separate live hearing. His lawyers argue the public should be allowed to see the Q&A; Republicans have kept the session private, reportedly fearing Smith could bolster the case against former President Trump. Democrats say public testimony might have been damaging for Trump and his allies.
Jack Smith Pushes Jim Jordan To Release Closed-Door Testimony — GOP Keeps It Secret
Former special counsel Jack Smith has renewed his push to make his recent closed-door testimony before the House Judiciary Committee public, after spending more than eight hours in a recorded deposition conducted by the panel chaired by Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.
What Happened
Smith's legal team has formally asked House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan to release the recorded and transcribed question-and-answer session and to schedule a separate, live hearing so Americans can view his testimony in real time. POLITICO reported that the letter from Smith’s attorneys — obtained by the outlet — requests both the public release of the recorded deposition and a new open forum for testimony.
Why Republicans Kept It Closed
Despite Smith’s requests, the Jordan-led committee declined to make the session public. The New York Times reported that House Republicans were reluctant to give Smith a high-profile platform, reportedly fearing he could make a compelling case for the indictments connected to the effort to overturn the 2020 election and for the retention of classified documents — potentially embarrassing former President Donald Trump.
Jack Smith; Jim Jordan.(Bloomberg via Getty Images; Getty Images)
'Jordan made an excellent decision in not allowing Jack Smith to testify publicly, because had he done so, it would have been absolutely devastating to the president and all the president’s men involved in the insurrectionary activities of Jan. 6.' — Rep. Jamie Raskin, top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee
What This Means
The request to release the recorded session and to hold a public hearing highlights a tension at the heart of the GOP effort: on paper, Republicans say they want to press the former special counsel in a public forum, but in practice they have resisted giving him that platform. Smith's team continues to press for transparency; whether Republicans will relent remains uncertain.
Context: Smith led the criminal cases against former President Trump. The deposition was recorded and transcribed, and Smith's lawyers say the public has a right to see both the full record and to hear live testimony addressing Republican criticisms. This article updates related earlier coverage.
Originally published on MS NOW; updated reporting from POLITICO and The New York Times referenced.
