Jack Smith defends his Trump investigations in closed-door congressional testimony - PRESS AI WORLD
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Jack Smith defends his Trump investigations in closed-door congressional testimony

Credited from: SCMP

  • Jack Smith testified that investigations against Trump had sufficient evidence for prosecution.
  • Smith emphasized decisions were based solely on facts and law, without political bias.
  • The investigations centered on Trump's handling of classified documents and attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
  • Smith's appearance was a closed-door session at the request of the Republican-led committee.
  • He claimed to have developed "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" against Trump regarding election interference.

Former special counsel Jack Smith defended his investigations of President Trump in a closed-door testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, asserting that “the basis for those charges rests entirely with President Trump and his actions.” Smith stated that his investigations developed “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” against Trump for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results and mishandling classified documents from his presidency, according to Reuters.

Smith clarified that his prosecutorial decisions were made without regard to Trump's political affiliations or his candidacy for the 2024 election. “I made my decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy," he emphasized, uncovering "powerful evidence" related to his investigations, as he stated before the committee, according to BBC and NPR.

During the closed session, Smith rebutted claims made by Republican lawmakers that his inquiries were politically motivated. He noted, "we took actions based on what the facts and the law required," reiterating his commitment to impartiality. Additionally, he insisted that the investigations only drew upon evidence relevant to their conclusions, detailing the legal basis for his actions, as reported by CBS News and South China Morning Post.

Smith's testimony follows accusations from Republican lawmakers that he conducted a politically motivated investigation. In defense, he maintained, “The decision to bring charges against President Trump was mine,” and he expressed willingness to apply the same standards if dealing with any president, Republican or Democrat. His remarks about having gathered substantial evidence and proof were clear in emphasizing the gravity of the allegations, as detailed in reports from Al Jazeera and ABC News.

Despite Smith's request for a public hearing, the session was held privately following a subpoena from the Republican-led committee. The hearing aimed to scrutinize the prosecution's credibility while also highlighting Smith’s adherence to legal standards throughout his investigations, leading to significant political ramifications and ongoing debates about the implications of law enforcement's involvement in political matters, according to reports by Los Angeles Times and CBS News.

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