Jack Smith, the Biden-era special counsel notorious for charging former President Donald Trump with federal crimes, is slated to testify before the House Judiciary Committee this Wednesday. As the first to levy such charges against a former president, Smith steps into a fiercely contentious arena.

The atmosphere is charged as Republicans aim to depict Smith as a pawn of a politicized Justice Department. This portrayal has gained traction especially after it was revealed that Smith had accessed the phone records of at least eight GOP senators during his investigation into the alleged manipulation of the 2020 election results by Trump.

House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) expressed his concerns to POLITICO, stating, “What they did all along, everything was wrong … a lot of things that were just not normal course of investigation or prosecution.” Jordan warned of repercussions if Smith fails to adequately address the committee's inquiries.

Adding fuel to the fire, Republican Troy Nehls of Texas didn’t mince words about his expectations: “Jack Smith should be in jail — if not prison. He’s a crook … and he needs to be held accountable for all his games that he played.”

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats, including the top House Judiciary Democrat Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), are pressing for clarity on the findings from Smith's truncated investigations into Trump. These inquiries were halted post Trump's re-election in 2024, adhering to the norm that sitting presidents are immune from federal charges.

Peter Koski, a former high-ranking DOJ official and member of Smith’s legal team, stated that Smith is “looking forward to answering the committee’s questions, sharing the legal basis for his investigative steps, and discussing the evidence of President Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his unlawful possession of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.”

Despite the anticipation, Smith faces legal constraints on what information he can disclose due to strict secrecy rules. Nonetheless, Raskin simplified the expectations for Smith's testimony: “He just needs to come and tell the truth.”

Additional Congressional Activities to Watch:

The House is poised for a critical vote on a new GOP health care package that notably excludes an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies. The vote, set for Wednesday afternoon, follows a session with the Problem Solvers caucus, who will discuss potential health policy revisions.

Meanwhile, FCC Chair Brendan Carr's upcoming Senate Commerce Committee appearance also looms large. Under scrutiny from Republicans led by Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Carr’s handling of free speech issues, particularly his interactions with TV host Jimmy Kimmel, promises to spark intense debate.

As these pivotal events unfold, the Capitol remains a hub of high stakes and political drama, setting the stage for significant shifts in both policy and partisan dynamics.