Jack Smith

As I testify before the committee today, I want to be clear.

I stand by my decisions as special counsel, including the decision to bring charges against President Trump.

Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in criminal activity.

If asked whether to prosecute a former president based on the same facts today, I would do so regardless of whether that president was a Democrat or a Republican.

No one, no one should be above the law in this country and the law required that he be held to account.

So that is what I did.

To have done otherwise on the facts of these cases would have been to shirk my duties as a prosecutor and as a public servant.

which I had no intention of doing.

I stand by my decisions as special counsel, including Trump.

the decision to bring charges against President Trump.

Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in criminal activity and the law required that he be held to account.

So that is what I did.

Chairman Jordan, Ranking Member Raskin, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to discuss my work as special counsel.

I love my country and believe deeply in the core principles upon which it was founded.

For nearly three decades, I've served as a career prosecutor in both Republican and Democratic administrations.

I've handled cases ranging from domestic assault and gang violence to public corruption and election crimes across the United States, and I've prosecuted war crimes overseas.

I am not a politician, and I have no partisan loyalties.

My career has been dedicated to serving our country by upholding the rule of law.

Throughout my public service, my approach has always been the same.

Follow the facts and the law without fear or favor.