Former special counsel Jack Smith has asked Congress to allow him to speak publicly in a hearing, and this request is reportedly making many Republicans nervous. They fear that Donald Trump’s push for revenge could end up hurting him instead of helping.
According to The New York Times report by Glenn Thrush, Trump has long been focused on punishing and embarrassing those he sees as his enemies. In the past, most of his targets have not had enough power or evidence to truly fight back against him. But Jack Smith is not like the others.
Smith spent over two years leading investigations into Trump, gathering strong evidence that the former president mishandled classified government documents and tried to overturn the 2020 election results. Now, Smith seems ready to speak publicly and directly challenge one of Trump’s core claims — that he is a victim of political persecution and has done nothing wrong.
This move has alarmed several Republicans. Some of them, according to the Times, are worried that if Smith gets the chance to speak in public, he could use it to make a powerful case against Trump and reveal details that were never heard before. They fear this could weaken Trump’s credibility, especially since Smith is seen as a serious and experienced investigator with a strong anti-corruption record.
Reports say Smith told people close to him that he actually welcomes this opportunity. He believes he was denied a fair chance to present his findings because of the Supreme Court’s decision granting Trump broad immunity and because of rulings by a Trump-appointed judge in Florida that limited his prosecution.
Trump has often been able to use his influence to launch investigations against his political rivals, but this time things could be very different. Smith’s public hearing could turn the tables, giving him a stage to explain his case to the American people without legal restrictions.
So far, Congress has not responded to Smith’s request. But his legal team says he’s ready. “Name the time and place,” attorney Lanny Breuer said. “Jack will be there.”
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, one of Trump’s strongest defenders, is reportedly preparing to issue a subpoena instead of agreeing to a voluntary hearing. If that happens, Smith is not expected to ignore it. However, the Senate could still offer him a platform to speak publicly before that decision becomes necessary.
For now, all eyes are on Congress to see whether Jack Smith will get the chance to tell his side of the story — and whether Trump’s pursuit of revenge might end up setting off a political firestorm he didn’t see coming.
