Richard J. Durbin

12/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/17/2025 14:33

Durbin Statement On Jack Smith’s Closed Door House Testimony

December 17, 2025

Durbin Statement On Jack Smith's Closed Door House Testimony

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on Jack Smith's closed-door testimony to the House Judiciary Committee today:

"If Senate Republicans and the Attorney General are truly committed to transparency, they'll allow Jack Smith to testify publicly under oath, as he's offered. They also must release the unredacted Volume II of his report and any materials not already produced related to Volumes I and II. But they refuse.

"Mr. Smith is the only person with direct knowledge of decisions and actions taken under his leadership as Special Counsel. If Republicans have so many questions, a transparent means of answering is necessary. Anything less than public testimony under oath is unacceptable."

On October 30, Durbin and Senate Judiciary Democrats called on Chairman Grassley to allow Former Special Counsel Jack Smith to testify publicly before the Committee. In their letter, the Senators also urged Grassley to request the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) release Volume II of the unredacted "Final Report of the Special Counsel's Investigations and Prosecutions," which was submitted to then-Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland in January 2025.

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