Jack Smith denies politics played any role in Trump prosecutions during House testimony

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Jack Smith silent as he arrives for House deposition

Smith faces what's likely to be a heated closed-door confrontation with lawmakers over his investigations of President Donald Trump.

Former special counsel Jack Smith told House lawmakers during a closed-door deposition Wednesday on Capitol Hill that politics played no role in his investigations and prosecutions of President Donald Trump, directly countering accusations leveled at him by Republicans.

Smith, who was questioned by House Judiciary Committee members for more than eight hours, took full ownership of the two criminal cases he brought against Trump regarding the 2020 election and alleged retention of classified documents, according to excerpts of his opening statement obtained by Fox News Digital.

"The decision to bring charges against President Trump was mine, but the basis for those charges rests entirely with President Trump and his actions, as alleged in the indictments returned by grand juries in two different districts," Smith said.

JACK SMITH SUBPOENAED FOR DEPOSITION WITH HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Jack Smith, former special counsel, arrives for a closed-door deposition before the House Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

He added: "If asked whether to prosecute a former President based on the same facts today, I would do so regardless of whether the President was a Republican or Democrat."

The Republican-led committee has been investigating Smith's special counsel work for years, and Wednesday's deposition marked the first opportunity lawmakers had to directly question him on it. Republicans were expected to raise long-held grievances with Smith, including over the former special counsel seeking gag orders against Trump during his presidential campaign, attempting to fast-track court proceedings and subpoenaing phone data of some GOP members of Congress.

Committee ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., emerged from the room in the afternoon and told reporters Smith had just spent hours "schooling" the committee. Raskin praised Smith for his public service and said an open hearing would have been "devastating" for Trump and those involved in the "insurrectionary activities of January 6."

Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said at the deposition's conclusion that outside of the subpoenas, which he previously said he would ask Smith about, he could not reveal any details about the interview, citing committee rules.

"I can't get into responses. We actually follow the rules. I don't know about the Democrats," Jordan said.

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Jordan is aiming to release a transcript of the deposition, but it could take weeks or longer. The committee can only make it public after certain conditions have been met. Jordan also has not ruled out bringing Smith back to Congress for a public hearing.

Other members had little to say about the afternoon. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., said he saw no "real drama" and that Smith appeared professional, while Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fl., told reporters Wednesday morning the deposition was "boring."

Jessica Sonkin contributed to this report.