Former special counsel Jack Smith is set to testify publicly before the House Judiciary Committee on January 22, 2026, as announced by Chairman Jim Jordan. This hearing follows Smith’s closed-door deposition last month and represents a pivotal moment in the Republican-led committee’s investigation into his prosecutions of former President Donald Trump.
Smith, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022, oversaw two major investigations into Trump. One focused on the mishandling of classified documents after Trump left office, and the other examined efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. These probes resulted in more than 40 federal charges, though both cases were ultimately dropped after Trump was re-elected in November 2024.
Last December, Smith testified for approximately nine hours in a private deposition before the Judiciary Committee. During that session, he defended his work, asserting that the evidence was sufficient to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. He emphasized that the decision to bring charges was his alone, based on Trump’s actions as alleged in the indictments.
The committee, chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan, has accused Smith of conducting a “partisan and politically motivated” investigation. Jordan subpoenaed Smith in October 2025 to testify privately, citing concerns over alleged abusive surveillance of lawmakers. Republicans have criticized Smith for obtaining phone records of sitting Republican members during his investigations.
In his closed-door testimony, Smith rejected claims that his prosecutions were intended to harm Trump’s 2024 campaign. He stated that the Biden White House was not involved in his investigations and highlighted that Trump was “the most culpable and most responsible person” in the election interference conspiracy. Smith also revealed that his team had evidence to charge some of Trump’s co-conspirators but had not finalized those decisions.
Democrats on the committee have welcomed the move to a public hearing. Ranking Member Jamie Raskin called the initial closed-door strategy a “backroom interrogation” that backfired, and he views the public testimony as a victory for transparency. Raskin added that the hearing could expose what he describes as Republican reliance on misinformation.
The public hearing on January 22 is expected to delve into the specifics of Smith’s investigations and the legal justifications for his actions. It will provide a platform for both parties to question Smith openly, potentially shedding light on the contentious debates surrounding the prosecutions. This event is likely to attract significant public and media attention, given the high-profile nature of the cases.
Overall, Smith’s upcoming public testimony underscores the ongoing political and legal battles stemming from the Trump investigations. It represents a key opportunity for accountability and clarity in a deeply polarized environment, with implications for future oversight of special counsel investigations and the broader discourse on justice and partisanship in the U.S.
