WASHINGTON ( TECHY QUANTUM) — The Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot “does not happen” without former President Donald Trump, former special counsel Jack Smith told Congress during a closed door deposition released Wednesday, describing Trump as the “most culpable and most responsible person” in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Smith said the evidence supporting indictments against Trump was substantial and built largely on testimony from his allies and Republican officials who prioritized the country over party loyalty.
KEY POINTS
- Smith stated that Trump was the central figure in the criminal conspiracy tied to the Jan. 6 attack.
- Evidence included testimony from Trump supporters and Republican officials opposing election fraud claims.
- Investigators obtained and analyzed phone records of GOP lawmakers to trace coordination related to election delays.
- Smith emphasized that the investigations were legally grounded and not politically motivated.
The release of the transcript and video from Smith’s Dec. 17 deposition by the House Judiciary Committee offers unprecedented insight into two major Justice Department investigations one examining Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, the other related to classified documents retained at Mar a Lago.
Smith’s remarks underscore the legal rationale behind pursuing charges against a former president and shed light on how Republican insiders played a pivotal role in building a case.
Smith, who left his role as special counsel in January 2025, repeatedly defended the evidence against Trump, saying that the Jan. 6 riot and other related actions were foreseeable and orchestrated for Trump’s personal benefit.
“The attack that happened at the Capitol, part of this case, does not happen without him,” Smith said during the deposition. Following the 2020 election, Trump and his allies promoted false claims that the results were fraudulent.
The Jan. 6 Capitol attack occurred as Congress convened to certify Joe Biden’s victory. Trump was indicted for conspiring to overturn the election and for willfully retaining classified documents at his Florida estate.
Both cases were paused following Trump’s 2024 election victory due to Department of Justice policy against indicting a sitting president.
Investigators relied heavily on testimonies from Trump supporters, including former electors and White House aides, who contradicted efforts to subvert the election.
Republican insiders, such as Mark Meadows, Trump’s former chief of staff, provided critical details about coordination between the White House and lawmakers during the Capitol riot.
Legal experts say Smith’s testimony emphasizes the challenges of holding a former president accountable under US law.
“This deposition clarifies the evidentiary basis for the case against Trump and demonstrates the unusual reliance on high ranking Republican cooperation,” said Mary McCord, former acting assistant attorney general for national security.
Political analysts note the deposition also underscores the lasting implications for party dynamics and governance. “The fact that Republican officials actively testified against Trump shows a tension between party loyalty and constitutional duty,” said Norman Ornstein, political scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.
Smith also addressed Republican criticism over the seizure and analysis of lawmakers’ phone records, framing it as a standard investigatory procedure.
“Who should be accountable for this is Donald Trump,” Smith said, noting that communications were legally obtained and tied to Trump directed actions rather than partisan targeting.
Data Insight
| Investigation Focus | Core Legal Allegation | Primary Evidence Source |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 6 / Election | Conspiracy to subvert certification | GOP aides & lawmakers’ phone records |
| Classified Documents | Willful retention of national secrets | Mar-a-Lago security logs & staff testimony |
| Role of Incitement | Direct culpability for Capitol riot | Dec. 17 deposition & public statements |
“Our case was built on Republicans who put allegiance to the country before the party,” Smith said. Mark Meadows described unusual fear among lawmakers during Jan. 6, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
“The deposition shows how federal investigators documented both actions and intent, which is essential in complex conspiracy cases.”
While the Justice Department paused prosecutions due to the 2024 election, Smith’s deposition signals that legal and political scrutiny of former presidents’ actions could influence future election law enforcement and legislative reforms.
Congressional committees may use the deposition to evaluate preventive measures for electoral interference and reinforce legal frameworks for presidential accountability.
The release of Smith’s deposition sheds new light on the mechanics and evidence of the Jan. 6 investigation.
By highlighting Trump’s central role and the participation of Republican officials in the case, the transcript adds historical and legal context for ongoing debates over election security, accountability, and the balance between political loyalty and constitutional duty.
NOTE! This report was compiled from multiple reliable sources, including official statements, press releases, and verified media coverage.
