Jack Smith, Who Claimed He Found Dirt on Trump, Is Now Set to Give Live Testimony in Major Reversal

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led the federal investigations into President Donald Trump before the cases were shuttered following Trump’s 2024 reelection, is now scheduled to provide live public testimony before the House Judiciary Committee as early as February, according to CBS News reporting.

The development marks a significant shift after months of closed-door depositions and Republican resistance to open hearings.

Smith’s request for a public session came in a letter to the committee last month, in which his attorneys emphasized the integrity of his work: “During the investigation of President Trump, Mr. Smith steadfastly followed Justice Department policies, observed all legal requirements, and took actions based on the facts and the law. He stands by his decisions.”

Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) welcomed the news, framing it as a victory for transparency: “Even with many hours of private testimony, Republicans could not lay a glove on Jack Smith, his evidence, or his case. That will not change now that they have finally heeded our call to have him testify publicly. This upcoming hearing is a win for truth-seeking Americans.”

The committee’s Republican chair, James Comer (R-Ky.), had previously declined to convene a public hearing, opting instead for a closed-door deposition in which Smith testified for several hours. That session, while yielding no significant new revelations damaging to Smith or the prior investigations, did not satisfy Democratic demands for full public accountability.

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Smith’s Investigations and Shutdown

Smith was appointed special counsel in November 2022 to lead two major federal probes into Trump: one concerning the retention of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and related obstruction allegations, the other focused on efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including the events of January 6, 2021.

Both cases resulted in indictments, with Trump pleading not guilty. The prosecutions were terminated after Trump’s reelection in 2024, consistent with longstanding Justice Department policy against indicting or prosecuting a sitting president.

Smith’s work has been a lightning rod: Trump and his allies have repeatedly labeled the investigations as politically motivated “witch hunts,” while Democrats and legal experts have defended the cases as fact-driven and necessary.

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The Push for Public Testimony

Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have consistently called for Smith to testify in open session, arguing that closed-door appearances limit public understanding and accountability.

Republicans, who control the committee, initially resisted, citing concerns over ongoing sensitivities or the need for further private questioning.

Smith’s letter last month appears to have shifted the dynamic, with sources indicating committee leadership is now preparing for a public hearing in February. The exact date has not been finalized, but preparations are reportedly underway.

Raskin’s statement reflects the Democratic view that Smith’s prior private testimony withstood intense scrutiny, and a public session will only reinforce the credibility of the original investigations.

The planned hearing comes at a time when the Epstein file releases and other controversies have kept federal investigations in the national spotlight.

A live appearance by Smith, who once claimed he found evidence that Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election, would provide a high-profile platform to revisit the classified documents and election interference cases, potentially offering new insights into evidence, decision-making, and the reasons for closure.

For Democrats, it represents an opportunity to highlight what they see as legitimate, fact-based inquiries halted only by Trump’s reelection. For Republicans, it poses the risk of renewed focus on allegations that have already been dismissed in court due to presidential immunity.

Trump has continued to attack Smith personally, calling him a partisan operative. The former special counsel has remained largely silent publicly since the cases ended, making the upcoming testimony one of his first major public appearances since leaving the role.

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What to Expect

While the precise scope of the hearing remains unclear, committee members on both sides are expected to focus on: The strength of evidence in the classified documents and election interference cases, the decision-making process behind indictments and eventual closure, allegations of political bias in the investigations and the impact of DOJ policy on prosecuting a sitting president

With the political calendar heating up ahead of the 2026 midterms, the hearing is likely to become a major media event, drawing intense coverage.

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For now, the scheduling of live testimony represents a significant victory for transparency advocates and a potential moment of reckoning for one of the most consequential special counsel investigations in modern history.

Whether it changes public perceptions or simply reignites old debates remains to be seen—but Jack Smith will finally have the chance to speak openly before Congress and the American people.