WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Former special counsel Jack Smith on Thursday forcefully defended his decision to charge President Donald Trump, telling the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee that the former president broke the law and that prosecutors had evidence strong enough to win convictions in court. Smith appeared publicly before Congress for the first time to discuss the investigations he led into Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents after leaving office. His testimony came as Republicans continue to accuse the Justice Department of political bias, claims Smith firmly rejected.

Smith told lawmakers that Trump faced charges because the evidence showed he willfully violated federal law.

“President Trump was charged because the evidence established that he willfully broke the law,” Smith said. He added that grand juries in two separate districts reached that conclusion based on the facts presented to them.

Smith emphasized that his decisions rested on evidence and legal standards, not politics. He said any prosecutor presented with the same facts would have reached the same result, regardless of party.

“Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in criminal activity,” Smith said. “No one should be above the law in this country.”

Addressing the 2020 election, Smith said Trump carried out a criminal scheme to overturn the results and block the peaceful transfer of power. Smith told the committee that Trump’s actions threatened the foundation of American democracy. He said the investigation showed clear efforts to interfere with the lawful certification of the election. Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in the election case. He pleaded not guilty before the charges were later dismissed following his reelection.

Smith also described the classified documents case involving Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. He said Trump illegally kept highly sensitive national security documents after leaving office in January 2021.

According to Smith, the documents were stored in unsecured locations, including a ballroom and a bathroom. He said Trump also tried to obstruct justice to hide his continued possession of the records. Trump denied those allegations and pleaded not guilty in the case. The charges were later dropped under the Justice Department’s long-standing policy against prosecuting a sitting president.

Smith strongly denied claims that his work faced pressure from then-President Joe Biden or Attorney General Merrick Garland. He said politics played no role in his decisions.

“If asked whether to prosecute a former president based on the same facts today, I would do so regardless of party,” Smith said.

He warned that attacks on investigators and prosecutors pose a danger to the rule of law. Smith said public servants must be willing to carry out their duties even when the cost is high.

“The rule of law is not self-executing,” Smith said. “It depends on our collective commitment to apply it.”

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, accused Smith of leading a partisan investigation. Jordan said Democrats have targeted Trump for years and argued the prosecutions damaged public trust.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland defended Smith’s work. Raskin said the evidence showed Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the 2020 election. He praised Smith for following the law and ethics rules. Raskin contrasted Smith’s actions with Trump’s conduct, saying Smith relied on facts rather than political power.

Thursday’s hearing marked Smith’s second appearance before the committee. He testified behind closed doors last month. In that session, he again said prosecutors had proof beyond a reasonable doubt in both cases.

During that earlier testimony, Smith could not answer many questions about the classified documents case. The Justice Department instructed him not to discuss details due to ongoing legal restrictions. Smith’s legal team said he will follow a federal judge’s order blocking the release of part of his final report related to the documents case.