Former special counsel Jack Smith requested to testify in "an open and public hearing" in a Thursday letter from his attorneys to House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).
Why it matters: The open forum would give Smith — who is facing congressional probes and calls from President Trump to have him "investigated and put in prison"— the opportunity to publicly defend his investigations into Trump's alleged criminal conduct.
- "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," Smith's lawyers, Lanny Breuer and Peter Koski, wrote in the letter obtained by Axios. "He stands by his decisions."
- Smith's attorneys did not respond to Axios' request for comment. Jordan's office did not provide comment.
