URGENT UPDATE: The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed former special counsel Jack Smith for a closed-door interview scheduled for December 17. This comes despite Smith’s earlier offer to testify openly regarding his investigations into Donald Trump‘s actions surrounding the 2020 election and the classified documents case.
In a letter dated Wednesday, committee chairman Rep. Jim Jordan stated that Smith possesses crucial information for the committee’s oversight. “Due to your service as Special Counsel, the Committee believes that you possess information that is vital to its oversight of this matter,” Jordan wrote.
Smith’s attorney, Peter Koski, expressed disappointment over the decision to decline an open hearing, stating, “We are disappointed that offer was rejected, and that the American people will be denied the opportunity to hear directly from Jack on these topics.” However, he confirmed that Smith will comply with the subpoena for the private deposition.
Smith, originally from Central New York and a graduate of Liverpool High School, was appointed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2022 to conduct investigations into Trump. His efforts have included scrutinizing Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and the former president’s handling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
The urgency of this testimony is underscored by recent revelations that Smith’s team analyzed the phone records of certain Republican lawmakers around the time of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots. While Smith’s legal team clarified that the records only included call logs without content, Republican leaders have seized upon these details to challenge Smith’s investigations.
Smith’s team has defended his actions, stating, “Mr. Smith’s actions as Special Counsel were consistent with the decisions of a prosecutor who has devoted his career to following the facts and the law.” They emphasized that Smith’s investigative choices were free from political influence.
As this story develops, the implications of Smith’s testimony could be significant for both Congress and the ongoing legal battles surrounding Trump. Observers will be closely monitoring the fallout from this subpoena and its potential impact on the political landscape as the 2024 elections approach.
Stay tuned for updates on this urgent matter as it unfolds.
