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Jack Smith tells senators he stands by his decision to charge Trump
Former special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, defending his two investigations of President Trump. "I stand by my decisions as special counsel, including my decision to bring charges against President Trump," he said. Both cases were dropped after Trump won the 2024 election, under Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president.
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How each side sees it
Committee Republicans sayChairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said Smith's operation "was a partisan weapon that broke the rules, lied to the court and engaged in bad faith throughout," and that it went well beyond Jan. 6.
Committee Democrats sayRanking member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) called the attacks on Smith "petty, personal and political" and a distraction from what he called Trump's unlawful conduct.
Smith saysHe would bring the same charges today "regardless of whether that President was a Republican or a Democrat."
Sources
- ABC News: Jack Smith tells Senate panel 'I stand by' decisions to charge Trump
- PBS NewsHour (AP): Jack Smith testifies before Senate Judiciary
- Senate Judiciary Committee: Grassley's opening statement
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