Chicago – February 02, 2026
Former special counsel Jack Smith has delivered his first public testimony regarding the criminal investigations his office conducted into President Donald Trump, stating that Trump was responsible for the violence that erupted on January 6, 2021, when a mob attacked the U.S. Capitol.
Speaking during a lengthy hearing before a congressional committee on Thursday, Smith said he believed Trump played a direct role in triggering the unrest, which resulted in hundreds of rioters breaching the Capitol building as lawmakers worked to certify the 2020 presidential election results.
During his testimony, Smith told the committee that his investigative team had gathered “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” and possessed sufficient evidence to win convictions against Trump in both criminal cases pursued by federal prosecutors.
The investigations included:
1.Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results
2. Claims that Trump illegally retained classified documents after leaving office following his first term
Smith emphasized that prosecutors believed the cases were strong and that the evidence met the legal standard required for conviction.
