Former Special Counsel Jack Smith is requesting to testify publicly following a letter by House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH).
Writing to Jordan and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Smith’s lawyers said the “many mischaracterizations” of the investigation into President Trump warrant the “opportunity to testify in open hearings.”
“Given the many mischaracterizations of Mr. Smith’s investigation into President Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents and role in attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Mr. Smith respectfully requests the opportunity to testify in open hearings before the House and Senate Judiciary Committees,” Smith’s lawyers wrote.
They claimed that Smith “steadfastly adhered to established legal standards and Department of Justice guidelines, consistent with his approach throughout his career as a dedicated public servant,” noting that the former special counsel is “prepared to answer questions about the Special Counsel’s investigation and prosecution, but requires assurance from the Department of Justice that he will not be punished for doing so.”
“To that end, Mr. Smith needs guidance from the Department of Justice regarding federal grand jury secrecy requirements and authorization on the matters he may speak to regarding, among other things, Volume II of the Final Report of the Special Counsel, which is not publicly available,” the lawyers continued, further requesting that Smith have “access to the Special Counsel files, which he no longer has the ability to access.”
Earlier this month, Jordan sent a letter to former Special Counsel Smith, demanding that he testify on the weaponized Department of Justice under the Biden administration. “Among the disturbing tactics employed in that prosecution, your team sought to silence President Trump by restricting his public statements about the case, conducted an unnecessary and abusive raid of his residence, attempted to improperly pressure defense counsel with the promise of political patronage, and manipulated key evidence in the investigation,” the letter condemns, stating the actions undermined the “integrity of the criminal justice system and violated the core responsibility of federal prosecutors to do justice.”
