WASHINGTON — Special Counsel Jack Smith dropped a bombshell in his latest 170-page report, offering a deep dive into Donald Trump’s actions around the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. According to Smith, Trump didn’t just spread false claims of election fraud—he actively encouraged his supporters to take violent action that day.
The report, made public Tuesday, covers Smith’s exhaustive investigation into Trump’s efforts to stay in power after losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden. Over 250 interviews were conducted, and more than 55 witnesses testified to federal grand jurors as part of the probe.
Here’s what the report reveals:
Smith wastes no time defending his decision to bring charges against Trump. He firmly rejects claims that his investigation was politically motivated. “To all who know me well,” Smith writes, “the suggestion that my decisions were influenced by politics is laughable.”
He also points out that if Trump hadn’t been elected president again, there was enough evidence to convict him of serious crimes related to January 6. Smith makes it clear that the evidence against Trump was strong, but politics delayed the prosecution.
Trump, not surprisingly, fired back at the report on his platform, Truth Social. “Jack is a lamebrain prosecutor,” Trump wrote, mocking the timing of the report’s release in the early hours of the morning and repeating debunked claims about the January 6 committee.
However, Smith’s investigation sheds light on a shocking reality: Trump’s actions broke decades of tradition for peaceful transitions of power in the U.S. He also paints a vivid picture of the chaos surrounding the Capitol riots, detailing how Trump’s influence and social media presence posed significant hurdles for the investigation.
Despite public outcry and threats to witnesses, Smith’s report makes it clear that Trump repeatedly praised the rioters, calling them “patriots” and even sharing his fond memories of January 6, referring to it as a “beautiful day.” The report also accuses Trump of knowingly spreading false voter fraud claims, which, according to Smith, were not only “objectively unreasonable” but also intentionally misleading.
Even more damning, Smith provides testimony that Trump privately acknowledged losing the election. After Biden’s victory speech, Trump reportedly told an aide, “Can you believe I lost to this f’ing guy?”
Though Trump’s team has denied any wrongdoing, Smith’s office explains that it would have been able to prove Trump’s actions were premeditated, as he had already planned to dispute the election results, whether there was fraud or not.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Smith’s report does acknowledge the complexity of legal terms like “insurrection,” which made it difficult to pursue certain charges against Trump. However, the investigation is ongoing, with Smith keeping a close eye on six co-conspirators who have not been named publicly.
The Report’s Final Thoughts:
While Trump continues to deny his role in the chaos, the federal grand jury confirmed that the claims Trump spread were not just false—they were “unsupported” and “ever-changing.”
Now, as Trump prepares to run for president again, he has made it clear that he may pardon those involved in the January 6 riots. With over 1,580 rioters charged and many already convicted, the question remains: will Trump continue to advocate for those who were violent against police officers?
In the days ahead, the public will see just how much influence Trump’s actions have on the future of U.S. democracy. Whether he wins or loses in the 2024 election, Smith’s report leaves an indelible mark on the history of this tumultuous chapter.
