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Jack Smith tells senators his probe found proof Trump committed serious crimes
September 29, 2026
Former special counsel Jack Smith tells the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that his investigation found proof beyond a reasonable doubt of serious crimes by Trump.
As special counsel, Jack Smith brought federal criminal charges against Donald Trump, and in a closed-door deposition on December 17 he defended those investigations before the House Judiciary Committee.
Key facts
- Jack Smith, the former special counsel, stood by his investigations on December 17 when he gave a deposition behind closed doors to the House Judiciary Committee.
AP News reports that Jack Smith, the former special counsel, tells the Senate Judiciary Committee his investigation found proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump committed serious crimes, and that he would bring the same prosecution against any former president of either party. According to AP News, Smith said, “Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in serious crimes against our nation. If asked whether to prosecute a former president today based on the same facts, I would do so regardless of whether that president was a Republican or a Democrat.” PBS carries the first of those two sentences as Smith spoke it at the hearing, and The New York Times carries the same testimony. NBC News carries the hearing live, and Fox News and CBS News also cover it.
Politico reports what Smith intended to say before the session opened on Tuesday morning. Its preview has him defending his choice to charge Trump and describing the proof his investigations gathered as evidence of criminal activity, where the remarks AP News and PBS carry speak of serious crimes against the nation. The two versions differ in wording, not in substance. Politico also reports that Smith defended his investigations on December 17 in a deposition before the House Judiciary Committee held behind closed doors. The Washington Post headline describes Smith sparring with senators over the Trump probes and refusing to be silenced.
The New York Times and CBS News both carry an exchange aimed at Schmitt, in which the speaker says false information and confusion over the name of a team led to a dirt bag insult that deserves an apology. The accounts agree on what Smith told the committee, and the rest of the hearing was still under way at the time of this draft.
"Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in serious crimes against our nation," Smith told a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
Smith
Still developing
The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing is live as of the time of this draft, and what else Smith tells senators is not yet in the account.
How settled the reporting is
Sources
- AP News — Ex-special counsel Smith tells senators he won't 'be silenced' by Trump's threats of prosecution
- NBC News — Watch live: Jack Smith testifies at Senate hearing - NBC News
- The New York Times — Jack Smith, Former Special Counsel Who Charged Trump, Appears Before Congress: Live Updates - The New York Times
- PBS — WATCH: Jack Smith says he would prosecute Trump again for 'serious crimes against our nation' - PBS
- Politico — What Jack Smith plans to tell the Senate Judiciary Committee - Live Updates - POLITICO
- Fox News — Jack Smith probe swept up Fox News, other media communications with government sources - Fox News
- CBS News — Watch Live: Jack Smith testifies on Trump probes at Senate hearing
Toggle read the full reports of 7 of the 8 outlets counted on this event. The other 1 are counted from their headlines and opening sentences.