Jack Smith Pleads Not Guilty in Criminal Referral Case

Former special counsel Jack Smith has entered a not guilty plea following a criminal referral made by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Jordan has accused Smith of perjury during a deposition before a House Republican-led committee back in December 2025.

In a response sent to Jordan and Assistant Attorney General Todd Branch on Wednesday night, Smith’s attorneys dismissed the referral as “unwarranted.”

Smith’s Legal Team Responds

According to Smith’s lawyer, he had agreed to testify knowing the potential risks, particularly since the Trump administration may attempt to find grounds for criminal charges based on his testimony. The lawyer stressed that this risk was not due to any false statements made by Smith, but rather because of repeated calls from Trump for Smith to face prosecution. This, they argue, undermines the principles essential to a functioning democracy.

Smith’s investigations have included looking into whether President Donald Trump and his associates tried to overturn the 2020 election results, along with allegations of mishandling classified documents. Trump has denied any wrongdoing regarding the ongoing investigations, which concluded after the 2024 presidential cycle.

Contentious Back-and-Forth

Jordan’s letter claimed that Smith’s responses gave the impression that he or his team lacked access to the text messages of members involved. Furthermore, he argued that it has now been proven false.

The referral came amid significant Republican scrutiny, with accusations that Smith was misusing the Justice Department for political ends and violating privacy rights.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, also a Republican, disclosed records last week showing that Smith’s team had reviewed text messages from 44 congressional members and White House personnel during the investigation.

Smith, when questioned about accessing members’ text messages, had claimed he only sought phone records. His legal team contended that Republicans’ assertions about not disclosing information were misleading, insisting that Smith had provided forthright answers during his testimony.

The attorneys emphasized that the legal pursuit is indicative of an alarming trend to politicize the legal system against nonpartisan public officials who are simply doing their jobs based on facts and law.

Protection and Rights Claims

Smith’s lawyers maintained that their retrieval of text messages did not infringe upon constitutional protections for lawmakers, clarifying that these communications were voluntarily sent to executive officials.

Trump has persistently criticized Smith throughout the investigation, labeling him a “Trump hater” and occasionally branding him a “thug.” Supporters of Trump have claimed that Smith has targeted the president for partisan reasons.

The DOJ confirmed receipt of Jordan’s referral and stated that it would evaluate any evidence of alleged criminal activity.

Fox News Digital has reached out for feedback from the commission regarding Smith’s legal team’s letter.