Former special counsel Jack Smith is scheduled to testify Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a hearing titled ‘Oversight of Jack Smith’s Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters.’
The hearing, led by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, will focus on Republican allegations that Smith misused his investigative authority in two federal cases involving former President Donald Trump—one related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and another concerning the handling of classified documents after leaving office. Smith, who served as special counsel from November 2022 to November 2024, is the sole witness at the 9 a.m. ET session.
Core Facts of the Hearing
- Smith’s appearance marks his second time testifying before a Republican-controlled congressional committee, following a January hearing before the House Judiciary Committee.
- The Justice Department is pursuing disciplinary action against law enforcement officials involved in Smith’s investigations, according to reporting from NBC News.
Republican Allegations and Smith’s Response
Sen. Grassley has framed the hearing as an opportunity to hold Smith accountable for what Republicans describe as politically motivated prosecutions. In a statement ahead of the hearing, Grassley asserted that Smith’s actions amounted to ‘rampant abuse of authority’ funded by taxpayers and suggested that similar conduct against Democrats would have drawn greater scrutiny.
Smith has denied these allegations, stating in his final report on the 2020 election interference case that any claim his decisions were ‘influenced or directed by the Biden administration or other political actors’ was ‘laughable.’ He has also maintained that a jury would have convicted Trump had the case proceeded to trial.
Scope of the Investigations
The Jan. 6-related probe examined Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election results, while the classified documents case focused on Trump’s retention of sensitive materials after leaving the White House. Both cases were dismissed by federal judges, with one ruling in July 2024 that Smith’s team had withheld exculpatory evidence from Trump’s legal team.
Ongoing Accountability Measures
The Justice Department’s Inspector General is separately reviewing potential misconduct within Smith’s investigations, including allegations of improper coordination with federal agencies. These reviews are ongoing and have not yet resulted in public findings.
Smith did not issue a statement ahead of his testimony, and the Senate Judiciary Committee has not released additional details on the expected line of questioning.