The Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Jim Jordan, has submitted a formal criminal referral to the Department of Justice, calling for the prosecution of Jack Smith over alleged false statements made to Congress.
The Accusation Against Jack Smith
The congressional panel is accusing Smith of lying to lawmakers. The referral requests the Department of Justice to investigate and potentially prosecute him based on testimonies he gave regarding his federal investigations into Donald Trump.
Smith previously appeared before Congress in December 2025 and January 2026, where he defended his work. During those hearings, he faced intense questioning from conservative lawmakers about his handling of the classified documents case and his team's conduct.
Donald Trump Reacts on Social Media
Following the news of the referral, Donald Trump took to Truth Social to share his reaction. Highlighting the committee's action, he posted, "Justice at last??? House panel accuses Jack Smith of lying to Congress, urges DOJ to prosecute."
Trump has long been a vocal critic of Smith, frequently calling for his prosecution as the investigations unfolded.
A Year of Legal Battles and Controversies
The criminal referral follows months of mounting tensions and separate controversies surrounding Smith's team. In March 2026, conservatives accused him of maintaining improper ties with judges involved in the Trump cases following a release of new documents.
Additionally, in May 2026, the Department of Justice alleged that a former prosecutor had emailed herself an unreleased report prepared by Smith. Despite a senior Democrat stating in March that Smith had a memo containing damning evidence regarding the handling of classified documents, the focus in Congress has now shifted squarely onto Smith's own testimony.
