Democrats request the DOJ to make the complete Jack Smith report available before this week’s deposition.

Capitol Hill Prepares for Controversial Deposition

As Capitol Hill braces for a potentially contentious deposition with special counsel Jack Smith, House Democrats are urging the Justice Department to disclose the remaining sections of a report regarding former President Trump’s management of classified materials.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the leading Democrat on the committee, emphasized that Smith should have a chance to present his perspective ahead of the closed-door session scheduled for Wednesday. Raskin stated, “They’re concerned that the contents of the report could put them in a compromising position,” during an interview with Fox News Digital.

Jack Smith’s Report Submission

Smith submitted his final report to the Attorney General in January, following Trump’s 2024 re-election victory. The Justice Department had announced that Volume 1 of Smith’s report examined whether Trump played a role in attempts to reverse the 2020 election results.

Volume 2 is expected to investigate whether Trump unlawfully retained classified documents post-presidency. Lawmakers may scrutinize Smith for acquiring phone records of Congress members amid his inquiry into Trump. Allegations suggest that the FBI collected extensive phone records unbeknownst to Congress members.

Raskin suspects that Republicans may attempt to use the closed session to build a case against Smith. He argued, “Jack Smith should be allowed to testify publicly. All previous special counsels have done so, and this feels like an effort to fast track an absurd indictment against him,” Raskin remarked.

Concerns Over Secrecy

Raskin believes Republicans are reluctant for a public hearing as they might want to selectively distort or manipulate Smith’s statements. When asked about the rationale against releasing the complete report, Republicans referenced a prior ruling that blocked Volume 2 and the ongoing court proceedings surrounding its release.

Spokesperson Russell Dye explained that Attorney General Bondi is adhering to a federal judge’s decision to seal Volume 2, with Judge Cannon set to determine its fate by January 2026. Dye added, “Raskin is aware of these facts, yet his disdain for Trump leads him to mislead the public rather than seek clarity.”

This reasoning aligns with remarks from the DOJ, as Deputy U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche expressed that making the documents public would share a partial review of Trump’s handling of classified information, potentially fueling partisan attacks. Blanche also stated that disclosing Volume II could undermine the integrity of the special counsel’s ongoing work.