Jack Smith Name-Drops Republicans Who ‘Did the Right Thing’ as Trump ‘Preyed on Party Loyalty’ After 2020 Election

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith praised Republicans — mentioning two by name — as the strongest witnesses who “did the right thing and put the interest of the country over the personal interests of Donald Trump.”

As Smith was quizzed by Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) while appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, he claimed that Trump “preyed on loyalty and fear” after the 2020 election, which Trump has long claimed was rigged against him.

He then credited Republicans for being one of the reasons Trump didn’t stay in power after the 2020 election, saying that members of the GOP “stood up.”

Smith then revealed that he couldn’t fathom how his investigation into Trump could be seen as partisan.

“I personally find it very hard to understand how our investigation can be viewed as partisan, when the strongest witnesses, the people who were the difference between the rule of law standing and not, in our case, were Republicans,” he said.

He then shouted out former Vice President Mike Pence, Trump’s former veep who certified the election results for Joe Biden in the wee hours of January 7, 2021, and former Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers, who resisted pressure by Rudy Giuliani and Trump himself to recall state electors.

“People like Rusty Bowers in Arizona, people like Mike Pence, who did the right thing and put the interests of the country over the personal interests of Donald Trump. I just don’t understand how an investigation predicated on witnesses like that can be partisan.

Smith’s words came after a scathing opening statement in which he ripped Trump, saying his investigation uncovered “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that the president “engaged in serious crimes against our nation.”

He added: “Rather than accept his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results and prevent the lawful transfer of power.

Watch above via CNN.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!