Ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith presses for public release of his closed-door deposition tape

WASHINGTON, DC: Former special counsel Jack Smith on Wednesday, December 24, urged House Republicans to release the full videotape of his closed-door testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, saying that the public should hear his remarks directly rather than through selective accounts.

Smith’s request was made in a letter obtained by CBS News and sent by his attorneys, Lanny Breuer and Peter Koski, to Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio.

The demand followed Smith’s nearly nine-hour deposition before the GOP-led panel last week, during which he answered questions related to his investigations into President Donald Trump.

Jack Smith requests public release of testimony

In the letter, Smith’s attorneys asked for the prompt release of the full recording, arguing that transparency would prevent what they described as mischaracterizations of Smith’s testimony.

"Mr Smith respectfully requests the prompt public release of the full videotape of his deposition," the letter stated. "Doing so will ensure that the American people can hear the facts directly from Mr Smith, rather than through second-hand accounts."

The attorneys added that Smith welcomed the opportunity to testify and said that a full release of the video would help clarify the work of the special counsel’s office.

They wrote that Smith hopes the footage would "serve to correct the many mischaracterizations about the work of the Special Counsel’s Office."

Jim Jordan says closed‑door interview ensured efficiency

Smith was subpoenaed by the Judiciary Committee as part of a broader Republican investigation into what the panel described as the "weaponization" of the Justice Department.

Chairman Jordan opted to conduct the interview behind closed doors rather than hold a public hearing, despite Smith previously offering to testify in an open setting.

According to reports citing leaked transcripts, Smith told lawmakers during the private session that his office had obtained "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" that Trump had "criminally" conspired to overturn the 2020 election results.

"The decision to bring charges against President Trump was mine," Smith told the committee, according to those transcripts. "We took actions based on what the facts and the law required."

Jordan has defended the committee’s process, saying that closed-door interviews allow lawmakers to gather information more efficiently before deciding what material should be released publicly.

Jack Smith stands by his actions as scrutiny continues

Smith’s attorneys emphasized in the letter that he continues to stand by the decisions made during his tenure as special counsel. 

"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," the attorneys wrote. "He stands by his decisions."

The letter also renewed Smith’s request for an open and public hearing, indicating that he remains willing to testify again if the committee agrees to do so on camera.

The criminal cases brought by Smith were later dismissed following Trump’s election victory, ending the prosecutions but leaving broader political disputes over the investigations unresolved.

The Judiciary Committee has not publicly indicated whether it plans to release the full videotape of Smith’s testimony.