What We Know About Jack Smith’s Closed-Door Deposition

A closed-door deposition is a private congressional interview; unlike a public hearing, it is not televised and does not automatically produce a public transcript.

On December 17, 2025, former Special Counsel Jack Smith appeared before the House Judiciary Committee for a closed-door deposition related to his investigations into former President Donald Trump. The session was private, and no transcript or video has been released.

The Format

Smith’s appearance took the form of a closed-door deposition, not a public hearing.

Closed depositions are common in congressional investigations, particularly when testimony overlaps with criminal prosecutions. According to reporting, Smith had offered to testify publicly, but the committee chose to proceed with a private session.

Smith’s Prepared Statement (as reported)

While the full statement has not been released, multiple news outlets reported consistent summaries of Smith’s opening remarks. According to those accounts:

• Smith said his team developed “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” supporting criminal charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

• He said investigators gathered substantial evidence that Trump willfully retained classified documents and obstructed efforts to recover them.

• Smith emphasized that his charging decisions were based on facts and the law, not political considerations, and said he would have made the same decisions regardless of party.

“The decision to bring charges was mine — but the basis for those charges rests entirely with President Trump and his actions.”

(as summarized in press reports of Smith’s prepared statement)

Lawmakers’ Reactions

After the deposition, Democratic members of the committee, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, said Smith answered all questions posed to him and called for the testimony to be released publicly. Republican committee leadership has not released a transcript or a detailed summary of the session.

What’s Public — and What Isn’t

Public

• Media reports summarizing Smith’s prepared remarks

• Lawmakers’ post-deposition statements

Not public

• A transcript or video recording

• A full official record of the deposition

As a result, the public’s understanding of the testimony relies on secondary reporting rather than direct access to the proceedings.

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Update: In a related development, Judge Aileen Cannon lifted reporting restrictions on portions of the special counsel’s report but granted former President Trump 60 days to respond before any material is released publicly.

References / Further Reading

• Reuters — coverage of Smith’s closed-door testimony and defense of prosecutorial decisions

• Associated Press — reporting on Smith’s prepared statement and evidence standards

• PBS NewsHour — overview of the deposition and congressional response

• The Hill — Cannon keeps Jack Smith’s classified records report under wraps for now