Donald Trump Legal Proceedings

House Republicans released a redacted, 255‑page transcript and video of former special counsel Jack Smith’s roughly eight‑ to nine‑hour closed‑door Dec. 17 deposition, in which Smith said it was his decision to indict Donald Trump and called Trump “by a large measure the most culpable and most responsible person” in the Jan. 6 conspiracy, saying the Capitol attack “does not happen” without him. Smith defended investigative steps — including subpoenaing phone records of Republican lawmakers and evidence he says showed Trump willfully retained classified documents — insisted the prosecutions were based on facts and DOJ policy rather than politics, and has pressed for his testimony to be released publicly amid ongoing disputes over other sealed special‑counsel material.