By Darren Lyn
HOUSTON, United States (AA) - Former special counsel Jack Smith made his first public testimony before the US Congress on Thursday regarding his investigations into President Donald Trump and the president's subsequent attacks on him.
"I have seen how the rule of law can erode," Smith testified before the House Judiciary Committee. "My fear is that we have seen the rule of law function in this country for so long that many of us have come to take it for granted."
"But, the rule of law is not self-executing. It depends on our collective commitment to apply it. It requires dedicated service on behalf of others, especially when that service is difficult and comes with costs," he continued. "Our willingness to pay those costs is what tests and defines our commitment to the rule of law and to this wonderful country."
Smith charged Trump in two federal cases, including accusations that the president conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 election, in which Trump lost to Joe Biden, and led to the deadly Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the US Capitol by Trump supporters.
Smith also charged the president with willfully retaining classified government documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida and obstruction of justice.
Trump has denied wrongdoing, calling Smith's investigations politically motivated "witch hunts." Smith resigned from his post shortly before Trump was sworn in for his second term last year, and the president has continually called for Smith to be prosecuted.
As Smith testified before Congress, Trump continued his attacks against the former special counsel on his Truth Social platform.
Smith is "a deranged animal, who shouldn’t be allowed to practice Law," Trump posted, adding that he hoped Attorney General Pam Bondi "is looking at what he’s done, including some of the crooked and corrupt witnesses that he was attempting to use in his case against me. The whole thing was a Democrat SCAM -- A big price should be paid by them for what they have put our Country through!"
Smith testified that the president's attacks on him "are meant to intimidate" him.
"I will not be intimidated," said Smith. "I think these statements are also made as a warning to others what will happen if they stand up. And I am, as I say, I’m not going to be intimidated."
The Congressional hearing added no new revelations to Smith's investigations of Trump, but gave the public a chance to hear from Smith firsthand and listen to him talk publicly about his investigations into the president's criminal allegations.
Asked by the committee if he believes Trump’s Justice Department will find a way to indict him, Smith said: "I believe they will do everything in their power to do that because they’ve been ordered to by the president."