WASHINGTON — Former special counsel Jack Smith told senators Tuesday that he would not be silenced “by continued threats of prosecution” over his handling of the investigation into President Donald Trump.
\n\nSmith appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee amid the Justice Department’s push to target law enforcement officials involved with his investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the lead-up to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, as well as the probe into his handling of classified documents after he left office in January 2021.
\n\nSmith, who brought two since-dismissed federal criminal cases against Trump, said in his opening statement that he stood by his decision to bring charges against Trump, which was the result of a deep investigation that uncovered substantive evidence.
\n\n“The status, power, prominence, or political affiliation of the subject of an investigation must play no role in the decision to investigate, prosecute, or decline to prosecute,” he said.
\n\n“Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in serious crimes against our nation,” he said. Trump has said he did nothing wrong.
\n\nThe hearing quickly devolved into a battleground of insults.
\n\nLouisiana Republican John Kennedy began his…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/