By Howard Bingham — January 13, 2026
Former special counsel Jack Smith is set to take center stage on Capitol Hill once again — this time in public view — as he prepares to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 10 a.m. ET regarding his high-profile prosecutions of President Donald Trump.
The testimony comes one month after Smith sat for an eight-hour closed-door deposition with the GOP-led committee, where he defended his office’s work on two Trump-related investigations that ended without trials — a rare outcome for a special counsel’s efforts.
A shift from secrecy to the spotlight
House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) announced that Smith will appear publicly before lawmakers to answer questions about the Mar-a-Lago classified documents probe and the 2020 election interference investigation — both of which resulted in criminal charges that were later dropped when Trump won reelection in 2024.
Smith’s closed-door testimony drew intense scrutiny from Republicans, who have long criticized his investigations as politically motivated. During that session, Smith defended his decisions, insisting his team acted on the facts and the law, not politics, and argued that the evidence was strong enough to meet the standard of proof required in a criminal case.
The public hearing will mark a significant escalation in the committee’s oversight. In a public forum, lawmakers will have the ability to challenge Smith directly on the record — a stark contrast to the more limited, hour-long questioning blocks afforded behind closed doors.
What’s on the agenda?
Republicans on the committee are expected to focus on what they describe as “weaponization” of the justice system against Trump, scrutinizing Smith’s prosecutorial choices, investigative steps, and the broader implications of special counsel authority. Critics have seized on aspects of the prior investigations — including surveillance tactics and alleged overreach — to argue Smith’s office pursued the former president in a manner that blurred legal objectivity with political consequence.
Democrats, for their part, have signaled support for the public hearing and stressed that transparency is essential to public trust. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) characterized the open session as a “win for truth-seeking Americans” and a way to correct the narrative after months of behind-the-scenes testimony.
Smith’s legal team has welcomed the opportunity to defend his work in the glare of public scrutiny, arguing that his investigations were conducted professionally and consistent with constitutional obligations.
The broader backdrop
Smith was appointed special counsel in November 2022 by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee investigations involving Trump’s retention of classified materials at his Florida estate and his conduct surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Both cases resulted in charges in 2023, but neither went to trial due to legal rulings and the reelection of Trump — which, under Department of Justice policy, halted prosecutions of sitting presidents.
In his closed-door deposition, Smith maintained that the events of Jan. 6 “would not have occurred without” Trump’s actions, and that his team’s investigation had developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt — statements that Republicans and Democrats alike are expected to revisit during the upcoming public hearing.
Eye on Jan. 22
With heightened public interest and partisan tension around the proceedings, Smith’s testimony next week promises to be a defining moment in the ongoing debate over federal prosecutorial power, executive accountability, and congressional oversight. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle will be watching — and so will the country.
Howard Bingham is a business journalist covering corporate strategy, financial markets, and economic policy affecting US and global commerce.
