#uscongress — Public Fediverse posts

Revenge of the labor movement: Democrats with union backgrounds aim to retake Congress
By Michael Sainato

Meet the candidates with labor ties vying for Senate and House seats in midterm races. Most of the nominees are Democrats as the party looks to rebuild support among working-class voters

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/sep/19/democrats-labor-union-congress-candidates-midterm-elections

#Democrats #USunions #USpolitics #USmidtermelections2026 #USnews #USSenate #HouseofRepresentatives #USCongress #Texas #Nebraska #Wisconsin #Maine #Pennsylvania #California #NewYork #Montana #WestVirginia #Missouri #Alaska #Georgia #Minnesota #Michigan #NewJersey #Oklahoma #Ohio #Kansas #Florida #TheGuardian #MichaelSainato

Revenge of the labor movement: Democrats with union backgrounds aim to retake Congress
By Michael Sainato

Meet the candidates with labor ties vying for Senate and House seats in midterm races. Most of the nominees are Democrats as the party looks to rebuild support among working-class voters

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/sep/19/democrats-labor-union-congress-candidates-midterm-elections

#Democrats #USunions #USpolitics #USmidtermelections2026 #USnews #USSenate #HouseofRepresentatives #USCongress #Texas #Nebraska #Wisconsin #Maine #Pennsylvania #California #NewYork #Montana #WestVirginia #Missouri #Alaska #Georgia #Minnesota #Michigan #NewJersey #Oklahoma #Ohio #Kansas #Florida #TheGuardian #MichaelSainato

Revenge of the labor movement: Democrats with union backgrounds aim to retake Congress
By Michael Sainato

Meet the candidates with labor ties vying for Senate and House seats in midterm races. Most of the nominees are Democrats as the party looks to rebuild support among working-class voters

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/sep/19/democrats-labor-union-congress-candidates-midterm-elections

#Democrats #USunions #USpolitics #USmidtermelections2026 #USnews #USSenate #HouseofRepresentatives #USCongress #Texas #Nebraska #Wisconsin #Maine #Pennsylvania #California #NewYork #Montana #WestVirginia #Missouri #Alaska #Georgia #Minnesota #Michigan #NewJersey #Oklahoma #Ohio #Kansas #Florida #TheGuardian #MichaelSainato

Revenge of the labor movement: Democrats with union backgrounds aim to retake Congress
By Michael Sainato

Meet the candidates with labor ties vying for Senate and House seats in midterm races. Most of the nominees are Democrats as the party looks to rebuild support among working-class voters

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/sep/19/democrats-labor-union-congress-candidates-midterm-elections

#Democrats #USunions #USpolitics #USmidtermelections2026 #USnews #USSenate #HouseofRepresentatives #USCongress #Texas #Nebraska #Wisconsin #Maine #Pennsylvania #California #NewYork #Montana #WestVirginia #Missouri #Alaska #Georgia #Minnesota #Michigan #NewJersey #Oklahoma #Ohio #Kansas #Florida #TheGuardian #MichaelSainato

Revenge of the labor movement: Democrats with union backgrounds aim to retake Congress
By Michael Sainato

Meet the candidates with labor ties vying for Senate and House seats in midterm races. Most of the nominees are Democrats as the party looks to rebuild support among working-class voters

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/sep/19/democrats-labor-union-congress-candidates-midterm-elections

#Democrats #USunions #USpolitics #USmidtermelections2026 #USnews #USSenate #HouseofRepresentatives #USCongress #Texas #Nebraska #Wisconsin #Maine #Pennsylvania #California #NewYork #Montana #WestVirginia #Missouri #Alaska #Georgia #Minnesota #Michigan #NewJersey #Oklahoma #Ohio #Kansas #Florida #TheGuardian #MichaelSainato

https://www.europesays.com/people/233744/ Rep. Hakeem Jeffries defends Jared Kushner meeting, vows to fight Trump – East Bay Times #democrats #DonaldTrump #HakeemJeffries #LatestHeadlines #MorningWire #NationalNews #NationalPolitics #News #Politics #TrumpAdministration #USCongress

And yet they enjoy the best full medical money can buy.
#uscongress #hypocrisy #citizensunited #magamike #unethical #failures #fascism #oligarchy #broligarchy #aristocracy #kakistocracy #plutocracy #criminal #crime #corrupt #corruption #news #usnews #policy #politics #uspol #uspolitics #history #ushistory

And yet they enjoy the best full medical money can buy.
#uscongress #hypocrisy #citizensunited #magamike #unethical #failures #fascism #oligarchy #broligarchy #aristocracy #kakistocracy #plutocracy #criminal #crime #corrupt #corruption #news #usnews #policy #politics #uspol #uspolitics #history #ushistory

And yet they enjoy the best full medical money can buy.
#uscongress #hypocrisy #citizensunited #magamike #unethical #failures #fascism #oligarchy #broligarchy #aristocracy #kakistocracy #plutocracy #criminal #crime #corrupt #corruption #news #usnews #policy #politics #uspol #uspolitics #history #ushistory

And yet they enjoy the best full medical money can buy.
#uscongress #hypocrisy #citizensunited #magamike #unethical #failures #fascism #oligarchy #broligarchy #aristocracy #kakistocracy #plutocracy #criminal #crime #corrupt #corruption #news #usnews #policy #politics #uspol #uspolitics #history #ushistory

And yet they enjoy the best full medical money can buy.
#uscongress #hypocrisy #citizensunited #magamike #unethical #failures #fascism #oligarchy #broligarchy #aristocracy #kakistocracy #plutocracy #criminal #crime #corrupt #corruption #news #usnews #policy #politics #uspol #uspolitics #history #ushistory

Jon Kyl, former Republican US senator who served three terms, dies aged 84 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/jon-kyl-dead #UsPolitics #UsSenate #UsNews #Arizona #UsCongress #Republicans #BrettKavanaugh

Jon Kyl, former Republican US senator who served three terms, dies aged 84 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/jon-kyl-dead #UsPolitics #UsSenate #UsNews #Arizona #UsCongress #Republicans #BrettKavanaugh

Jon Kyl, former Republican US senator who served three terms, dies aged 84 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/jon-kyl-dead #UsPolitics #UsSenate #UsNews #Arizona #UsCongress #Republicans #BrettKavanaugh

Jon Kyl, former Republican US senator who served three terms, dies aged 84 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/jon-kyl-dead #UsPolitics #UsSenate #UsNews #Arizona #UsCongress #Republicans #BrettKavanaugh

Jon Kyl, former Republican US senator who served three terms, dies aged 84 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/jon-kyl-dead #UsPolitics #UsSenate #UsNews #Arizona #UsCongress #Republicans #BrettKavanaugh

Jon Kyl, former Republican US senator who served three terms, dies aged 84
By Chris Stein in Washington

The Arizona senator shepherded the confirmation of conservative supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/jon-kyl-dead

#USpolitics #USSenate #USnews #Arizona #USCongress #Republicans #BrettKavanaugh #TheGuardian #ChrisSteininWashington

Jon Kyl, former Republican US senator who served three terms, dies aged 84
By Chris Stein in Washington

The Arizona senator shepherded the confirmation of conservative supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/jon-kyl-dead

#USpolitics #USSenate #USnews #Arizona #USCongress #Republicans #BrettKavanaugh #TheGuardian #ChrisSteininWashington

Jon Kyl, former Republican US senator who served three terms, dies aged 84
By Chris Stein in Washington

The Arizona senator shepherded the confirmation of conservative supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/jon-kyl-dead

#USpolitics #USSenate #USnews #Arizona #USCongress #Republicans #BrettKavanaugh #TheGuardian #ChrisSteininWashington

Jon Kyl, former Republican US senator who served three terms, dies aged 84
By Chris Stein in Washington

The Arizona senator shepherded the confirmation of conservative supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/jon-kyl-dead

#USpolitics #USSenate #USnews #Arizona #USCongress #Republicans #BrettKavanaugh #TheGuardian #ChrisSteininWashington

House Republican releases campaign ad critical of Trump’s immigration policies
By Chris Stein

María Elvira Salazar says some enforcement has ‘gone too far’ as GOP seeks distance from Trump before midterms

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/republican-maria-elvira-salazar-campaign-ad-trump-immigration

#Republicans #DonaldTrump #USimmigration #HouseofRepresentatives #Florida #USCongress #Trumpadministration #ICEUSImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement #USpolitics #USnews #USmidtermelections2026 #Worldnews #TheGuardian #ChrisStein

House Republican releases campaign ad critical of Trump’s immigration policies
By Chris Stein

María Elvira Salazar says some enforcement has ‘gone too far’ as GOP seeks distance from Trump before midterms

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/republican-maria-elvira-salazar-campaign-ad-trump-immigration

#Republicans #DonaldTrump #USimmigration #HouseofRepresentatives #Florida #USCongress #Trumpadministration #ICEUSImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement #USpolitics #USnews #USmidtermelections2026 #Worldnews #TheGuardian #ChrisStein

House Republican releases campaign ad critical of Trump’s immigration policies
By Chris Stein

María Elvira Salazar says some enforcement has ‘gone too far’ as GOP seeks distance from Trump before midterms

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/republican-maria-elvira-salazar-campaign-ad-trump-immigration

#Republicans #DonaldTrump #USimmigration #HouseofRepresentatives #Florida #USCongress #Trumpadministration #ICEUSImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement #USpolitics #USnews #USmidtermelections2026 #Worldnews #TheGuardian #ChrisStein

House Republican releases campaign ad critical of Trump’s immigration policies
By Chris Stein

María Elvira Salazar says some enforcement has ‘gone too far’ as GOP seeks distance from Trump before midterms

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/republican-maria-elvira-salazar-campaign-ad-trump-immigration

#Republicans #DonaldTrump #USimmigration #HouseofRepresentatives #Florida #USCongress #Trumpadministration #ICEUSImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement #USpolitics #USnews #USmidtermelections2026 #Worldnews #TheGuardian #ChrisStein

House Republican releases campaign ad critical of Trump’s immigration policies https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/republican-maria-elvira-salazar-campaign-ad-trump-immigration #Republicans #DonaldTrump #UsImmigration #HouseOfRepresentatives #Florida #UsCongress #TrumpAdministration #IceUsImmigrationAndCustomsEnforcement #UsPolitics #UsNews #UsMidtermElections2026 #WorldNews

House Republican releases campaign ad critical of Trump’s immigration policies https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/republican-maria-elvira-salazar-campaign-ad-trump-immigration #Republicans #DonaldTrump #UsImmigration #HouseOfRepresentatives #Florida #UsCongress #TrumpAdministration #IceUsImmigrationAndCustomsEnforcement #UsPolitics #UsNews #UsMidtermElections2026 #WorldNews

House Republican releases campaign ad critical of Trump’s immigration policies https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/republican-maria-elvira-salazar-campaign-ad-trump-immigration #Republicans #DonaldTrump #UsImmigration #HouseOfRepresentatives #Florida #UsCongress #TrumpAdministration #IceUsImmigrationAndCustomsEnforcement #UsPolitics #UsNews #UsMidtermElections2026 #WorldNews

House Republican releases campaign ad critical of Trump’s immigration policies https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/republican-maria-elvira-salazar-campaign-ad-trump-immigration #Republicans #DonaldTrump #UsImmigration #HouseOfRepresentatives #Florida #UsCongress #TrumpAdministration #IceUsImmigrationAndCustomsEnforcement #UsPolitics #UsNews #UsMidtermElections2026 #WorldNews

House Republican releases campaign ad critical of Trump’s immigration policies https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/republican-maria-elvira-salazar-campaign-ad-trump-immigration #Republicans #DonaldTrump #UsImmigration #HouseOfRepresentatives #Florida #UsCongress #TrumpAdministration #IceUsImmigrationAndCustomsEnforcement #UsPolitics #UsNews #UsMidtermElections2026 #WorldNews

Ilhan Omar brings bill to make ICE ‘pay the price’ for terrorizing communities https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/ilhan-omar-ice-bill #UsImmigration #IceUsImmigrationAndCustomsEnforcement #IlhanOmar #UsCongress #UsPolitics #UsNews

Ilhan Omar brings bill to make ICE ‘pay the price’ for terrorizing communities https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/ilhan-omar-ice-bill #UsImmigration #IceUsImmigrationAndCustomsEnforcement #IlhanOmar #UsCongress #UsPolitics #UsNews

Ilhan Omar brings bill to make ICE ‘pay the price’ for terrorizing communities https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/ilhan-omar-ice-bill #UsImmigration #IceUsImmigrationAndCustomsEnforcement #IlhanOmar #UsCongress #UsPolitics #UsNews

Ilhan Omar brings bill to make ICE ‘pay the price’ for terrorizing communities
By David Smith in Washington

Make ICE Pay Act would block nearly $140bn in funding and redirect money to places reeling from Trump crackdown

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/ilhan-omar-ice-bill

#USimmigration #ICEUSImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement #IlhanOmar #USCongress #USpolitics #USnews #TheGuardian #DavidSmithinWashington

Ilhan Omar brings bill to make ICE ‘pay the price’ for terrorizing communities
By David Smith in Washington

Make ICE Pay Act would block nearly $140bn in funding and redirect money to places reeling from Trump crackdown

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/ilhan-omar-ice-bill

#USimmigration #ICEUSImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement #IlhanOmar #USCongress #USpolitics #USnews #TheGuardian #DavidSmithinWashington

Ilhan Omar brings bill to make ICE ‘pay the price’ for terrorizing communities
By David Smith in Washington

Make ICE Pay Act would block nearly $140bn in funding and redirect money to places reeling from Trump crackdown

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/17/ilhan-omar-ice-bill

#USimmigration #ICEUSImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement #IlhanOmar #USCongress #USpolitics #USnews #TheGuardian #DavidSmithinWashington

Takeaways from Jack Smith’s testimony on his case against Trump – AP News

Politics

Takeaways from Jack Smith on his case against Trump, ‘so many witnesses’ and the threats ahead

1 of 6 | Jack Smith stands by his Trump investigation at congressional hearing

2 of 6 | Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith testifies before the House Judiciary Committee about his investigations into President Donald Trump, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)

3 of 6 | Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith waits to testify before the House Judiciary Committee about his investigations into President Donald Trump, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo / Mark Schiefelbein)

4 of 6 | Founder of the Oath Keepers Stewart Rhodes, center, taking his seat for the testimony of former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith before the House Judiciary Committee about his investigations into President Donald Trump, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)

5 of 6 | Washington Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges, left, greets former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith after the House Judiciary Committee hearing at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)

6 of 6 | Former U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Harry Dunn, left, hands former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith a police patch after the House Judiciary Committee hearing about his investigations into President Donald Trump at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. Looking on at center is Washington Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)

By  LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and ERIC TUCKER Updated 3:49 PM PST, January 22, 2026

150

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former special counsel Jack Smith testified Thursday about his investigation of President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, detailing how the defeated president “sought to prey” on his supporters and “looked for ways to stay in power,” culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

It was Smith’s first public hearing since he left the department last year, and the nearly five-hour session at the House Judiciary Committee delved into far-flung details — from former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson’s blockbuster testimony before the Jan. 6 committee to the gag order slapped on Trump during the investigation over his efforts to intimidate witnesses.

“Our investigation revealed that Donald Trump is the person who caused Jan. 6, it was foreseeable to him, and that he sought to exploit the violence,” Smith testified.

Trump, during the hearing, was live-posting his rage against Smith — suggesting the former career prosecutor should himself be prosecuted. In the room sat militant Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, and a tense encounter erupted between one audience member and police who had defended the Capitol, reminding how Jan. 6 still divides the Congress, and the country.

Related Stories

Smith defends his Trump investigations at a House hearing. ‘No one should be above the law,’ he says

Jack Smith tells lawmakers his team developed ‘proof beyond a reasonable doubt’ against Trump

Capitol riot ‘does not happen’ without Trump, Jack Smith told Congress – Smith said he believes Trump officials now will do “everything in their power” to prosecute him, but he said he would “not be intimidated” by attacks from the president, adding that investigators gathered proof that Trump committed “serious crimes.”

Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith testifies before the House Judiciary Committee at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo / Mark Schiefelbein)

“I’m not going to pretend that didn’t happen because he’s threatening me,” Smith said.

Once Trump won reelection in 2024, Smith abandoned the cases against him, adhering to Justice Department protocol against prosecuting a sitting president. Trump faced a four-count indictment in the conspiracy to overthrow the election and, separately, Smith’s team indicted Trump over holding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home.

Throughout the session, Republicans highlighted new developments as they seek to sow doubt on Smith’s now defunct-case against Trump, while Democrats warned that Trump’s allies are trying to rewrite history after the defeated president sent his supporters to the Capitol to fight for his failed election against Democrat Joe Biden.

Far from done, Smith is expected to be called before the Senate, which is planning its own hearing, and he has been unable to discuss the documents case that lawmakers want to probe. Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon halted the release of a report by Smith’s team on that case with an injunction that is set to expire next month, but lawyers for Trump have asked to leave it permanently under seal.

One star witness under scrutiny, but Smith says there are ‘so many’ more

Republicans have fixated for years on countering the gripping testimony that former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson gave to the Jan. 6 committee, trying to prove her wrong.

The young aide recounted having been told that day about Trump lunging for the steering wheel in the presidential limousine as he demanded to join supporters at the Capitol. It’s a story that others said did not happen.

“Mr. Smith, is Cassidy Hutchinson a liar?” asked Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the committee chairman.

Smith explained that Hutchinson’s testimony was “second hand,” and as his team interviewed other witnesses, and the Secret Service agent in the car at the time “did not confirm what happened.”

Jordan pressed whether Smith would have brought Hutchinson forward to testify anyway, and Smith said he had not made “any final determinations.”

Smith said, “We had a large choice of witnesses.”

“That says it all,” Jordan declared. “You were still considering putting her on the witness stand because you had to get President Trump.”

In fact, Smith said, one of the “central challenges” of the case was to present it in a concise way, “because we did have so many witnesses” — state officials, Trump campaign workers and advisers — to testify.

“Some of the most powerful witnesses were witnesses who, in fact, were fellow Republicans who had voted for Donald Trump, who had campaigned for him and who wanted him to win the election,” Smith said.

Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Takeaways from Jack Smith’s testimony on his case against Trump | AP News

Takeaways from Jack Smith’s testimony on his case against Trump – AP News

Politics

Takeaways from Jack Smith on his case against Trump, ‘so many witnesses’ and the threats ahead

1 of 6 | Jack Smith stands by his Trump investigation at congressional hearing

2 of 6 | Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith testifies before the House Judiciary Committee about his investigations into President Donald Trump, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)

3 of 6 | Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith waits to testify before the House Judiciary Committee about his investigations into President Donald Trump, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo / Mark Schiefelbein)

4 of 6 | Founder of the Oath Keepers Stewart Rhodes, center, taking his seat for the testimony of former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith before the House Judiciary Committee about his investigations into President Donald Trump, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)

5 of 6 | Washington Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges, left, greets former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith after the House Judiciary Committee hearing at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)

6 of 6 | Former U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Harry Dunn, left, hands former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith a police patch after the House Judiciary Committee hearing about his investigations into President Donald Trump at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. Looking on at center is Washington Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges. (AP Photo / Jacquelyn Martin)

By  LISA MASCARO, MARY CLARE JALONICK, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and ERIC TUCKER Updated 3:49 PM PST, January 22, 2026

150

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former special counsel Jack Smith testified Thursday about his investigation of President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, detailing how the defeated president “sought to prey” on his supporters and “looked for ways to stay in power,” culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

It was Smith’s first public hearing since he left the department last year, and the nearly five-hour session at the House Judiciary Committee delved into far-flung details — from former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson’s blockbuster testimony before the Jan. 6 committee to the gag order slapped on Trump during the investigation over his efforts to intimidate witnesses.

“Our investigation revealed that Donald Trump is the person who caused Jan. 6, it was foreseeable to him, and that he sought to exploit the violence,” Smith testified.

Trump, during the hearing, was live-posting his rage against Smith — suggesting the former career prosecutor should himself be prosecuted. In the room sat militant Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, and a tense encounter erupted between one audience member and police who had defended the Capitol, reminding how Jan. 6 still divides the Congress, and the country.

Related Stories

Smith defends his Trump investigations at a House hearing. ‘No one should be above the law,’ he says

Jack Smith tells lawmakers his team developed ‘proof beyond a reasonable doubt’ against Trump

Capitol riot ‘does not happen’ without Trump, Jack Smith told Congress – Smith said he believes Trump officials now will do “everything in their power” to prosecute him, but he said he would “not be intimidated” by attacks from the president, adding that investigators gathered proof that Trump committed “serious crimes.”

Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith testifies before the House Judiciary Committee at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo / Mark Schiefelbein)

“I’m not going to pretend that didn’t happen because he’s threatening me,” Smith said.

Once Trump won reelection in 2024, Smith abandoned the cases against him, adhering to Justice Department protocol against prosecuting a sitting president. Trump faced a four-count indictment in the conspiracy to overthrow the election and, separately, Smith’s team indicted Trump over holding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home.

Throughout the session, Republicans highlighted new developments as they seek to sow doubt on Smith’s now defunct-case against Trump, while Democrats warned that Trump’s allies are trying to rewrite history after the defeated president sent his supporters to the Capitol to fight for his failed election against Democrat Joe Biden.

Far from done, Smith is expected to be called before the Senate, which is planning its own hearing, and he has been unable to discuss the documents case that lawmakers want to probe. Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon halted the release of a report by Smith’s team on that case with an injunction that is set to expire next month, but lawyers for Trump have asked to leave it permanently under seal.

One star witness under scrutiny, but Smith says there are ‘so many’ more

Republicans have fixated for years on countering the gripping testimony that former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson gave to the Jan. 6 committee, trying to prove her wrong.

The young aide recounted having been told that day about Trump lunging for the steering wheel in the presidential limousine as he demanded to join supporters at the Capitol. It’s a story that others said did not happen.

“Mr. Smith, is Cassidy Hutchinson a liar?” asked Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the committee chairman.

Smith explained that Hutchinson’s testimony was “second hand,” and as his team interviewed other witnesses, and the Secret Service agent in the car at the time “did not confirm what happened.”

Jordan pressed whether Smith would have brought Hutchinson forward to testify anyway, and Smith said he had not made “any final determinations.”

Smith said, “We had a large choice of witnesses.”

“That says it all,” Jordan declared. “You were still considering putting her on the witness stand because you had to get President Trump.”

In fact, Smith said, one of the “central challenges” of the case was to present it in a concise way, “because we did have so many witnesses” — state officials, Trump campaign workers and advisers — to testify.

“Some of the most powerful witnesses were witnesses who, in fact, were fellow Republicans who had voted for Donald Trump, who had campaigned for him and who wanted him to win the election,” Smith said.

Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Takeaways from Jack Smith’s testimony on his case against Trump | AP News

Jan. 6 riot ‘does not happen’ without Trump, Jack Smith told Congress – NPR

Law
Capitol riot ‘does not happen’ without Trump, Jack Smith told Congress
December 31, 20259:15 PM ET

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Jan. 6., 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol “does not happen” without Donald Trump, former special counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers earlier this month in characterizing the Republican president as the “most culpable and most responsible person” in the criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, seen here in August 2023, defended his work to House members Wednesday.

Law
Jack Smith defends his prosecutions of Trump in closed-door session in Congress

The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee released on Wednesday a transcript and video of a closed-door interview Smith gave about two investigations of Trump. The document shows how Smith during the course of a daylong deposition repeatedly defended the basis for pursuing indictments against Trump and vigorously rejected Republican suggestions that his investigations were politically motivated.
Special counsel Jack Smith delivers remarks on a recently unsealed indictment against Donald Trump in August 2023 in Washington, D.C.

Law
Special counsel Jack Smith says evidence against Trump was enough to convict him

“The evidence here made clear that President Trump was by a large measure the most culpable and most responsible person in this conspiracy. These crimes were committed for his benefit. The attack that happened at the Capitol, part of this case, does not happen without him. The other co-conspirators were doing this for his benefit,” Smith said, bristling at a question about whether his investigations were meant to prevent Trump from reclaiming the presidency in 2024.

“So in terms of why we would pursue a case against him, I entirely disagree with any characterization that our work was in any way meant to hamper him in the presidential election,” he added.

The Dec. 17 deposition was conducted privately despite Smith’s request to testify publicly. The release of the transcript and video of the interview, so far Smith’s only appearance on Capitol Hill since leaving his special counsel position last January, adds to the public understanding of the decision-making behind two of the most consequential Justice Department investigations in recent history.

Trump was indicted on charges of conspiring to undo the 2020 election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, and of willfully retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Both cases were abandoned after Trump’s 2024 election win, with Smith citing Justice Department policy against the indictment of a sitting president.

Smith repeatedly made clear his belief that the evidence gathered against Trump was strong enough to sustain a conviction. Part of the strength of the Jan. 6 case, Smith said, was the extent to which it relied on the testimony of Trump allies and supporters who cooperated with the investigation.

“We had an elector in Pennsylvania who is a former congressman, who was going to be an elector for President Trump, who said that what they were trying to do was an attempt to overthrow the government and illegal,” Smith said. “Our case was built on, frankly, Republicans who put their allegiance to the country before the party.”

Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Jan. 6 riot ‘does not happen’ without Trump, Jack Smith told Congress : NPR

Jan. 6 riot ‘does not happen’ without Trump, Jack Smith told Congress – NPR

Law
Capitol riot ‘does not happen’ without Trump, Jack Smith told Congress
December 31, 20259:15 PM ET

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Jan. 6., 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol “does not happen” without Donald Trump, former special counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers earlier this month in characterizing the Republican president as the “most culpable and most responsible person” in the criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, seen here in August 2023, defended his work to House members Wednesday.

Law
Jack Smith defends his prosecutions of Trump in closed-door session in Congress

The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee released on Wednesday a transcript and video of a closed-door interview Smith gave about two investigations of Trump. The document shows how Smith during the course of a daylong deposition repeatedly defended the basis for pursuing indictments against Trump and vigorously rejected Republican suggestions that his investigations were politically motivated.
Special counsel Jack Smith delivers remarks on a recently unsealed indictment against Donald Trump in August 2023 in Washington, D.C.

Law
Special counsel Jack Smith says evidence against Trump was enough to convict him

“The evidence here made clear that President Trump was by a large measure the most culpable and most responsible person in this conspiracy. These crimes were committed for his benefit. The attack that happened at the Capitol, part of this case, does not happen without him. The other co-conspirators were doing this for his benefit,” Smith said, bristling at a question about whether his investigations were meant to prevent Trump from reclaiming the presidency in 2024.

“So in terms of why we would pursue a case against him, I entirely disagree with any characterization that our work was in any way meant to hamper him in the presidential election,” he added.

The Dec. 17 deposition was conducted privately despite Smith’s request to testify publicly. The release of the transcript and video of the interview, so far Smith’s only appearance on Capitol Hill since leaving his special counsel position last January, adds to the public understanding of the decision-making behind two of the most consequential Justice Department investigations in recent history.

Trump was indicted on charges of conspiring to undo the 2020 election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden, and of willfully retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Both cases were abandoned after Trump’s 2024 election win, with Smith citing Justice Department policy against the indictment of a sitting president.

Smith repeatedly made clear his belief that the evidence gathered against Trump was strong enough to sustain a conviction. Part of the strength of the Jan. 6 case, Smith said, was the extent to which it relied on the testimony of Trump allies and supporters who cooperated with the investigation.

“We had an elector in Pennsylvania who is a former congressman, who was going to be an elector for President Trump, who said that what they were trying to do was an attempt to overthrow the government and illegal,” Smith said. “Our case was built on, frankly, Republicans who put their allegiance to the country before the party.”

Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Jan. 6 riot ‘does not happen’ without Trump, Jack Smith told Congress : NPR

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