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JUST IN Tension surged on Capitol Hill after special counsel Jack Smith formally demanded that Rep. Jim Jordan release the full video of his eight-hour, closed-door testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. Read More :⤵️
Capitol Hill is in the spotlight again — and this time the temperature just shot up. Former special counsel Jack Smith has formally demanded that Rep. Jim Jordan and the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee release the entire video of his more than eight-hour closed-door testimony — a session that has become a flashpoint in the ongoing political and legal war surrounding the investigations into former President Donald Trump. �
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🔥 What’s Behind the Clash?
Smith’s lawyers sent a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan, urging that the full recorded deposition be made public immediately. They argue that only by releasing the raw footage — not just edited summaries or transcripts — can the American people see and hear Smith’s responses directly from him, rather than through second-hand accounts or political commentary. �
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The eight-plus hours of closed-door testimony took place in mid-December before the House Judiciary Committee, where Smith defended the investigations he led into Trump’s actions — including alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the handling of classified documents. �
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✊ Smith Wants it Public — Republicans Push Back
Smith’s team says publicly releasing the full video will help correct what they see as mischaracterizations of his work and decision-making as special counsel. Their letter explicitly pushes for an open public hearing and immediate public access to the video — a move Democrats and some watchdogs have also supported. �
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But Rep. Jim Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chair, resisted earlier calls for a public appearance. For weeks, the committee conducted the interview in private under subpoena and only later publicly released portions of the transcript and video. Jordan’s office has signaled skepticism that releasing the entire footage serves the committee’s oversight goals. �
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📍 Why This Matters
This fight isn’t just procedural — it’s symbolic. Releasing the full video would give the public a rare, unfiltered look at how a former special counsel answered lawmakers’ questions under oath about some of the most consequential matters in recent U.S. political history. It also feeds into broader partisan battles over transparency, executive power, and congressional oversight. �
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And with Smith also scheduled to testify publicly before the committee later this month — just days before this hearing — all eyes in Washington are now on how this confrontation unfolds. �
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