House Democrats Seek Release of Classified Section in Jack Smith’s Report
House Democrats on the Judiciary Committee requested the release of the classified portion of special counsel Jack Smith’s report concerning the prosecution of Donald Trump. They plan to petition Aileen Cannon, the presiding judge in the case over alleged mishandling of classified documents by Trump.
Smith is set to testify in a closed-door deposition before the Republican-led committee next week. His testimony will cover his investigation into claims that Trump took classified materials to his properties and attempted to conceal them.
Judge Cannon previously ordered this portion of the report to remain confidential, citing ongoing cases against two co-defendants. Those charges have since been dropped, prompting Democrats to argue that the rationale for keeping the report secret no longer exists.
In a motion filed with the court, Democrats stated: “The criminal proceedings have been dismissed, and the House Judiciary Committee has proceeded with a formal investigation into the special counsel’s operations.” They urged that the classified chapter now be released.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has also withheld the report’s classified section. On Friday, the Judiciary Committee’s 19 Democrats, led by Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, sent Bondi a letter demanding its publication ahead of Smith’s deposition.
The letter highlighted the contradiction, noting: “For ten months you have had zero legal basis for withholding the report. Now you have authorized Mr. Smith to testify behind closed doors about the investigation that the report memorializes – while still refusing to produce the report itself.”
A Justice Department spokesperson defended the decision, referencing Cannon’s court order. They added that the department “will continue to respect the rule of law and ignore these political stunts.”
Judge Cannon, who has ruled favorably toward Trump in related cases, including dismissing charges in July, now faces pressure on constitutional grounds. Democrats argue legislative oversight demands transparency, especially since charges against co-defendants no longer justify secrecy.
If Democrats regain the House majority after the midterm elections, they may leverage subpoena powers to compel release. Meanwhile, Republican Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan recently subpoenaed Smith for a committee deposition. Smith’s legal team, however, indicated willingness to testify publicly.
Earlier, the Justice Department released the first portion of Smith’s report detailing the investigation into Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Smith stated he believed a conviction could be secured against the former president in that matter.
The outcome of Democrats’ motion could influence judicial decisions on balancing classified information protection with congressional oversight needs. The situation remains fluid as both branches assert their priorities in this high-profile investigation.
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