“The Illegal News” provides weekly analysis where law intersects with politics. Hosted by Bulwark publisher Sarah Longwell, the show features legal experts who break down Trump-era court proceedings. The podcast aims to simplify complex legal matters, offering context for significant developments and highlighting less-publicized legal actions. While George Conway is pursuing other ventures, Longwell continues to provide coverage.
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Former special counsel Jack Smith is set to testify publicly before the House Judiciary Committee next week, following a closed-door deposition in December regarding his investigations into Donald Trump. This public hearing was requested by Smith before the initial deposition, which focused on Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the mishandling of classified documents. During the closed-door deposition, Smith stated he could prove Trump’s “criminal scheme” beyond a reasonable doubt and that Trump was “the most culpable” in the election interference case. The upcoming hearing marks a significant development in the ongoing legal scrutiny of the former president.
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Newly released transcripts reveal that former special counsel Jack Smith was largely prevented from discussing his Mar-a-Lago classified documents investigation due to an injunction from U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon. Smith, despite his willingness, avoided delving into the specifics of his final report, even declining to review it before his closed-door testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. He cited the fear of violating Cannon’s order as the primary reason for his reticence, emphasizing his commitment to upholding the court’s directives. Smith’s reluctance underscores the constraints imposed upon him by the ongoing legal challenges, even as the cases against Trump’s co-defendants have been dismissed.
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During a recent rally-style speech, former President Trump addressed the 2022 FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago, focusing on the alleged search of First Lady Melania Trump’s personal items. Trump criticized the raid as “illegal and disgusting,” claiming agents went through his wife’s belongings. This commentary came amid an ongoing investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents and his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump also brought up the compensation claims against the federal government, proposing initially to give the awarded compensation to charity and then deciding against it.
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The former president, Donald Trump, has demanded a substantial payout from the Justice Department related to investigations against him, a figure he now claims could reach $1 billion. This demand stems from two complaints filed after he left office, addressing probes into his handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. During a recent speech, Trump discussed the matter, humorously suggesting he might give the money to charity before changing his mind. Despite the legal claims, the DOJ special prosecutor dropped the cases after Trump won the 2024 election.
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Special Counsel Jack Smith asserted that the decision to charge President Trump was his, but the foundation for the charges lies solely in Trump’s alleged actions as outlined in the indictments. Smith has faced pressure campaigns from Trump, with one example being the White House’s sharing of a story questioning the FBI’s initial doubts regarding probable cause for the Mar-a-Lago raid. Furthermore, Republicans have inserted a provision in the shutdown deal allowing senators whose phone records were accessed by Smith to sue the Justice Department.
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Special Counsel Jack Smith testified before lawmakers, asserting that Donald Trump’s actions were the foundation for the criminal indictments against him regarding the January 6th insurrection and classified documents. Smith emphasized that the charges stemmed from Trump’s alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and his retention of highly classified documents after leaving office. Smith also defended obtaining phone records of Republican lawmakers, explaining it was necessary due to Trump’s calls to them during the Capitol attack. Democrats praised Smith’s preparedness, while Republicans, who summoned Smith, criticized the investigation as a “political witch hunt.”
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During a closed-door hearing with the House Judiciary Committee, former special counsel Jack Smith stated his team found evidence proving Donald Trump’s “criminal scheme” to overturn the 2020 election results, as well as repeated attempts to obstruct justice regarding classified documents. Smith emphasized that Trump willfully retained highly classified documents after leaving office, storing them in inappropriate locations. Smith’s investigations led to two indictments against Trump, which were later dismissed after Trump won re-election and faced intense scrutiny from Republicans. Smith maintained that his decisions to charge Trump were based on Trump’s actions and were guided by principles of following the law without fear or favor.
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According to portions of his opening statement obtained by the Associated Press, former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith informed lawmakers during a closed-door interview that his team found proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Donald Trump criminally conspired to overturn the 2020 election results. He also stated the team had amassed “powerful evidence” that Trump broke the law by retaining classified documents and obstructing government efforts to retrieve them. Smith emphasized that his decisions were made without regard to Trump’s political affiliations or candidacy, and that he would prosecute a former president based on the same facts regardless of their political party. The private deposition was part of a Republican investigation into Smith’s probes.
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Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee are requesting Judge Aileen Cannon release the portion of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report concerning the prosecution of Donald Trump for allegedly hiding classified documents. This request comes after charges against co-defendants were dropped, removing the basis for the earlier order to keep the report sealed. The Democrats, led by Jamie Raskin, argue there is no legal reason to withhold the report, especially with Smith scheduled to testify about its contents in a closed-door deposition. While Cannon’s response is uncertain, the Democrats’ actions may influence her decision, potentially leading to further actions if the party regains the House majority.
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John Q. Hosedrinker