Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith has told lawmakers in a closed-door interview his team "developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt" President Donald Trump criminally conspired to overturn his 2020 election loss. That's according to portions of Smith's opening statement obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday. Smith says investigators had "powerful evidence" Trump broke the law by hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate from his first term as president and by obstructing government efforts to recover the records. Smith says decisions in the investigations were made without regard to consideration of Trump's Republican candidacy in 2024. Trump has said he'd rather see Smith testify publicly.
The Justice Department says Attorney General Merrick Garland will not be prosecuted for contempt of Congress after refusing to turn over audio of President Joe Biden's interview in his classified documents case because his actions "did not constitute a crime." A Justice Department official said that in a letter to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday. The House voted Wednesday to hold Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over the audio of Biden's interview with a special counsel. The Democratic White House has accused Republicans of wanting the audio recordings only so they can chop them up and use them for political purposes.
By FARNOUSH AMIRI, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and COLLEEN LONG Associated Press
The House Judiciary Committee voted to move forward with an effort to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress hours. This comes after the White House blocked access to an audio recording of President Joe Biden's interview with the special counsel who oversaw an investigation into his handling of classified documents. The House panel voted Thursday afternoon to advance the contempt maneuver. A similar vote is scheduled for later Thursday with the House oversight committee. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson accused Biden of suppressing the tape because he's afraid to have voters hear it during an election year. A transcript of the interview shows Biden struggling to recall some dates and occasionally confusing some details but having deep recall in other areas.
