By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | January 2026
The stage is set for a clash in Washington as former DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith prepares to testify publicly before the House Judiciary Committee on January 22, 2026. The announcement came from GOP Chairman Jim Jordan, who framed the hearing as a chance to probe the inner workings of Smith’s office and the high-profile investigations into Donald Trump. Jordan emphasized accountability and transparency, pressing questions about investigative choices, subpoenas, and whether Smith’s team overstepped its authority.
Republicans, led by Jordan, cast the hearing as a critical opportunity to examine potential prosecutorial overreach and to demand answers about the alleged selective targeting of Trump. In a statement released by the House Judiciary GOP, Jordan said that the public deserved to see “the reasoning and decisions behind these investigations” in a fully transparent forum.
Jack Smith’s side presents a very different picture. The former Special Counsel is expected to defend the integrity of his decisions, stressing that every prosecutorial step was evidence-driven and independent. Smith’s December 17, 2025 deposition, released publicly with transcript and video, shows him repeatedly stating that charges were only pursued where evidence met the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Smith led investigations into Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol and the handling of classified documents post-presidency, describing the events of January 6 as “an unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy, fueled by lies.” He praised law enforcement who defended the Capitol, calling them heroes and patriots, and emphasized that the indictment was an allegation and Trump must be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Tomorrow’s hearing promises intense exchanges, with Republicans pressing for scrutiny and Democrats and Smith defending the law and the evidence behind the cases. The public will have a front-row seat, watching how Smith articulates the reasoning behind his decisions and how committee members challenge him on controversial points. Observers will also be looking for any new details that could shed light on the Trump investigations and the broader January 6 case.
You can watch Jack Smith’s public testimony tomorrow live on the House Judiciary Committee webcast, PBS NewsHour, or C-SPAN.
