Jack Smith Demands Release of Testimony Video: ‘Let the Public Hear It’
Former special counsel Jack Smith has formally requested that House Republicans release the full videotape of his recent closed-door deposition, arguing that public access is necessary to counter partisan portrayals of his work.
Smith testified for roughly nine hours behind closed doors on December 17 before the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee, where lawmakers questioned him about his investigations into Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
In a letter sent December 18 to Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, Smith’s attorneys urged the prompt public release of the videotape, saying Americans should be able to “hear the facts directly” rather than rely on second-hand descriptions of the testimony. The letter also renews Smith’s request for a public hearing.
Representative Dan Goldman, who attended the deposition, echoed that call in public statements, saying there is no legitimate reason to withhold either the video or the transcript. Goldman argued transparency is especially important given the political controversy surrounding Smith’s investigations.
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While no official transcript has been released, participants have said Smith defended his prosecutorial decisions as grounded in law and Justice Department policy rather than politics. Republican committee leaders have not publicly detailed what information, if any, they plan to release from the session.
The request comes amid ongoing legal and political disputes over access to materials tied to Smith’s work, including portions of his final report related to the classified documents case, which remain under court-imposed delays.
Reaction online has been swift. Journalists and Democratic lawmakers have pressed for immediate disclosure, while social media commentary has included speculation that Republicans are reluctant to release unfiltered footage. Committee leaders, however, have not responded publicly to the request as of this writing.
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