Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

demmiblue

(39,729 posts)
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 03:17 PM Dec 2025

BREAKING: The House Judiciary Committee has released Jack Smith's 255-page deposition transcript: (* VIDEO added)

Last edited Wed Dec 31, 2025, 04:19 PM - Edit history (1)

EDITED to add video:



BREAKING: The House Judiciary Committee has released Jack Smith's 255-page deposition transcript: judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-su...

Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney.bsky.social) 2025-12-31T19:02:26.001Z

Smith was barred from discussing any nonpublic parts of his classified documents probe by Judge Cannon's order prohibiting DOJ from divulging any nonpublic info about it.

Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney.bsky.social) 2025-12-31T19:06:10.766Z

Smith says Trump's claims that he won the election were not protected free speech because they were intneded to target a government function. "There is no historical analog for what President Trump did in this case."

Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney.bsky.social) 2025-12-31T19:14:47.401Z
52 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
BREAKING: The House Judiciary Committee has released Jack Smith's 255-page deposition transcript: (* VIDEO added) (Original Post) demmiblue Dec 2025 OP
... SheltieLover Dec 2025 #1
It appears that the "infected boil" has ruptured... FarPoint Dec 2025 #30
"intneded to target a government function." bucolic_frolic Dec 2025 #2
Kick and Rec berniesandersmittens Dec 2025 #3
How did this happen? DET Dec 2025 #4
Joyce Vance on MS Now talking about it. They were asking the same question. Why did they decide now to release the Amaryllis Dec 2025 #10
The billionaires are at least sick of him... FarPoint Dec 2025 #32
8 hours of video released too ... LSparkle Dec 2025 #5
Yes, all the real journalists... Shipwack Dec 2025 #34
"Fingers crossed there's some truth revealed."...amen to that...nt mitch96 Dec 2025 #40
Impeach and Remove (BTW, impeach and remove I Lean Cannon too.) Justice matters. Dec 2025 #6
Throw in Vance, too (n/t) PJMcK Dec 2025 #36
Kick MustLoveBeagles Dec 2025 #7
Here's the summary (Aaron Parnas): demmiblue Dec 2025 #8
He also extended their route to include the Capital. GreenWave Dec 2025 #26
And then sat there and watched it on TV several hours, tanyev Dec 2025 #35
Don't forget all the buses hibbing Dec 2025 #39
Including Ginny Thomas Historic NY Jan 2026 #50
No 2021 Trump/Capitol riot without Bush 2000 Brooks Brother's riot DemocracyForever Jan 2026 #52
Trump lit the fuse........ Historic NY Jan 2026 #49
K & R malaise Dec 2025 #9
Kick dalton99a Dec 2025 #11
Gee a holiday drop... go figure. yellow dahlia Dec 2025 #12
My thoughts exactly. Maddow used to call Friday news dumps, "Taking out the trash day". johnnyplankton Dec 2025 #16
Right. yellow dahlia Dec 2025 #18
Is This Good Or Bad News For Tr **p? ......nt global1 Dec 2025 #13
We'll just have to wait for the marmalade shartcannon's midnight screed on... Brother Buzz Dec 2025 #14
The GOP must want to hide it since it's a holiday eve news dump. Vinca Dec 2025 #15
I would absofuckinglutely say they wanna hide it...... democratsruletheday Dec 2025 #22
I LOVE this part: calimary Dec 2025 #44
WooHOO - 8 hrs of video at MeidasTouch! UTUSN Dec 2025 #17
Thanks malaise Dec 2025 #19
Yw, rec backatchoo! UTUSN Dec 2025 #23
I am over a half hour in and missed a bit at the beginning when Smith's lawyers were talking, Bev54 Dec 2025 #20
I can't wait oldtime dfl_er Dec 2025 #21
Oh, boy. Happy New Year! Joinfortmill Dec 2025 #24
Rec Wild blueberry Dec 2025 #25
Hell yeah! orangecrush Dec 2025 #27
When officials are going to release info they hope the public won't see, they tend to wait for Friday afternoons/evening LetMyPeopleVote Dec 2025 #28
Watching this could turn out to be... 2naSalit Dec 2025 #29
I know! Interesting that it was released today... what a way to start a New year! liberalla Dec 2025 #33
Excellent! Thank you! liberalla Dec 2025 #31
Smith says Trump "without question" added to the danger to Mike Pence's life red dog 1 Dec 2025 #37
Jack Smith's team interviewed Giuliani.... red dog 1 Dec 2025 #38
Given the majority party in the House, SouthBayDem Dec 2025 #41
Lots of grandstanding. Ms. Toad Dec 2025 #42
Transcript of video in OP. usonian Dec 2025 #43
Thank you UpInArms Jan 2026 #47
Many thanks! n/t iluvtennis Jan 2026 #48
8 hours is a long time. Attention span of Fox viewers about 8 minutes after the commercial for laxative 3Hotdogs Jan 2026 #45
Smith is a class act. mdbl Jan 2026 #46
Now get Vol. 2 from Cannonball, Historic NY Jan 2026 #51

FarPoint

(14,769 posts)
30. It appears that the "infected boil" has ruptured...
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 06:01 PM
Dec 2025

Some relief is my current state of mind.

bucolic_frolic

(55,166 posts)
2. "intneded to target a government function."
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 03:22 PM
Dec 2025

Yes, that would get someone in a lot of trouble under the DOJ rules now in effect.

DET

(2,503 posts)
4. How did this happen?
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 03:40 PM
Dec 2025

Jim Jordan is the chair. He would never voluntarily release this potentially explosive material. And quickly scrolling through the document, it looks like almost nothing has been redacted. Very peculiar.

Amaryllis

(11,299 posts)
10. Joyce Vance on MS Now talking about it. They were asking the same question. Why did they decide now to release the
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 03:49 PM
Dec 2025

whole thing after so much resistance?

FarPoint

(14,769 posts)
32. The billionaires are at least sick of him...
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 06:04 PM
Dec 2025

He, the Minister of Chaos and Crimes, he is more and more obnoxious every day.... GOP now wants to distance themselves from the loser in chief.... he is an anchor with no bottom to seek.

LSparkle

(12,186 posts)
5. 8 hours of video released too ...
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 03:42 PM
Dec 2025

Better call the real journos back to their posts (newsrooms or remote).

Fingers crossed there’s some truth revealed.

demmiblue

(39,729 posts)
8. Here's the summary (Aaron Parnas):
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 03:46 PM
Dec 2025
Responsibility for January 6 Violence

When pressed on Trump’s role in the Capitol attack, Smith testified that while Trump did not explicitly order the breach, the violence was foreseeable and exploited.

https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/

Smith said Trump spent weeks fueling distrust, invited angry supporters to Washington, directed them to the Capitol, and then failed to act decisively once violence erupted. He also testified that Trump later encouraged allies to pressure Members of Congress to further delay certification.

More: https://aaronparnas.substack.com/p/breaking-jack-smith-deposition-released?r=1sm9lf&triedRedirect=true

GreenWave

(12,643 posts)
26. He also extended their route to include the Capital.
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 05:51 PM
Dec 2025

And he disabled the response mechanisms.

tanyev

(49,304 posts)
35. And then sat there and watched it on TV several hours,
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 06:26 PM
Dec 2025

reluctantly telling them to stand down AFTER law enforcement finally started regaining control.


DemocracyForever

(80 posts)
52. No 2021 Trump/Capitol riot without Bush 2000 Brooks Brother's riot
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 04:27 PM
Jan 2026

There would never have been the 2021 Trump/Capitol riot without the 2000 Brooks Brothers riot at Government Cent in Miami that ws organized and paid for by the Bush campaign. In addition, it was Ginny Thomas's husband who was 1 of the 5 corrupt Supreme Court judges who threw out 170,000 legally cast Florida votes in order to appoint GW Bush which put our country on the path to Trump. Jack Smith's legal briefs also include the fact that Trump and his goons were going to stage Brooks Brothers type riots around the country if Trump didn't win in 2024. The connection between Trump and Bush 2000 couldn't be more clear.

yellow dahlia

(5,907 posts)
12. Gee a holiday drop... go figure.
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 03:49 PM
Dec 2025

But I'll be geeking out on it, because I am past the partying stage.

yellow dahlia

(5,907 posts)
18. Right.
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 04:37 PM
Dec 2025

And there have been a lot of newsworthy dramatic actions on Fridays this year. Go figure.

Brother Buzz

(39,900 posts)
14. We'll just have to wait for the marmalade shartcannon's midnight screed on...
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 04:00 PM
Dec 2025

That truth social thingy to see how he spins it.

democratsruletheday

(1,882 posts)
22. I would absofuckinglutely say they wanna hide it......
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 05:04 PM
Dec 2025

I mean....New Years Eve? They've got nothing on Smith and never did. Nothing on ANY of the people they've so lamely gone after: James, Comey, etc....I've come to learn with those ass wipes it's not that they even believe they have a case. It's about intimidation, fear mongering, trolling and making Smith/James/Comey's lives a living hell. They'll only succeed if the victims weaken and succumb.

Those three have stayed strong and they've gotten NOWHERE with their ass clown "prosecutions". I also should add there's a financial element to it. They want to financially ruin them in the process too. Ya know, just like Trump has done hundreds of times over the years. Right out of the Roy Cohn book of how to be a horrible POS excuse for a human being.

calimary

(90,052 posts)
44. I LOVE this part:
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 11:01 PM
Dec 2025

“… it’s not that they even believe they have a case. It’s about intimidation, fear mongering, trolling and making Smith/James/Comey’s lives a living hell. They’ll only succeed if the victims weaken and succumb.”

Truth!

Bev54

(13,433 posts)
20. I am over a half hour in and missed a bit at the beginning when Smith's lawyers were talking,
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 04:42 PM
Dec 2025

setting up my blue tooth speakers. Who is asking questions, is it lawyers for republicans?

LetMyPeopleVote

(179,889 posts)
28. When officials are going to release info they hope the public won't see, they tend to wait for Friday afternoons/evening
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 05:59 PM
Dec 2025

When officials are going to release info they hope the public won’t see, they tend to wait for Friday afternoons/evenings.

New Year’s Eve works just as well.

Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-12-31T20:13:53.767Z

2naSalit

(102,817 posts)
29. Watching this could turn out to be...
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 06:01 PM
Dec 2025

The great national pastime of the night, might be millions of us staying home and watching!

red dog 1

(33,065 posts)
37. Smith says Trump "without question" added to the danger to Mike Pence's life
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 06:54 PM
Dec 2025

Smith says Trump "without question" added to the danger to Mike Pence's life with his 2:24pm tweet while the Capitol was under attack.

Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney.bsky.social) 2025-12-31T19:24:12.792Z

red dog 1

(33,065 posts)
38. Jack Smith's team interviewed Giuliani....
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 07:06 PM
Dec 2025

NEW: Jack Smith's team interviewed Giuliani, and when asked whether Rudy believed his own lies about election fraud, Jack Smith said he did not, and that neither did Donald Trump.

Mueller, She Wrote (@muellershewrote.com) 2025-12-31T21:48:55.134Z

Ms. Toad

(38,648 posts)
42. Lots of grandstanding.
Wed Dec 31, 2025, 09:47 PM
Dec 2025

I'm about halfway through. They keep asking him about actions which took place before he was appointed special counsel. Now they've moved on to asking him about whether Republicans get jobs at big law firms. Poor Mr. Trump can't get big law to provide legal counsel to him - and they were running him ragged going from place to place for all or those trials in which someone is picking him.

He's more than holding his own.

3Hotdogs

(15,370 posts)
45. 8 hours is a long time. Attention span of Fox viewers about 8 minutes after the commercial for laxative
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 08:59 AM
Jan 2026

and the one for Previgen.

mdbl

(8,658 posts)
46. Smith is a class act.
Thu Jan 1, 2026, 10:18 AM
Jan 2026

It's unbelievable that people as low bar as the repugs like Gym Jordan think they can even allude to him of being biased.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»BREAKING: The House Judic...