Former special counsel John L. “Jack” Smith sat for a closed-door deposition Wednesday with the House Judiciary Committee, defending his conclusion that President Donald Trump engaged in a criminal effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election, according to portions of his opening statement obtained by CQ Roll Call.
“Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power,” Smith told the committee, according to the remarks.
The former special counsel also appeared to reject long-standing Republican criticisms that his investigation was driven by partisan politics, according to the remarks, asserting he made his “decisions in the investigation without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 presidential election.”
