House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan announced plans to invite former special counsel Jack Smith for a public hearing, potentially setting the stage for a significant political showdown involving allegations against President Donald Trump. The hearing is expected to occur as early as this month, drawing attention from both political parties and the White House.

“He’s coming in,” Jordan, an Ohio Republican, declared, referring to Smith, who spearheaded the federal criminal cases against Trump. Previously, Smith had endured an eight-hour session behind closed doors with Judiciary Committee members, during which his legal team advocated for a public platform to discuss the case.

On New Year’s Eve, Jordan released both a transcript and video record of December’s proceedings, expressing a desire for Smith to publicly address claims of presidential misconduct. Smith’s investigations had led to charges against Trump for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results, mishandling classified documents, and obstruction of justice, which were later dropped after Trump's 2024 reelection.

During his prior testimony, Smith denied finding evidence linking Trump directly to the Capitol violence on January 6, 2021. However, he noted Trump’s role in fostering distrust about the election's legitimacy, which, according to Smith, spurred the violent incidents.

Lanny Breuer, one of Smith's attorneys, emphasized that Smith is prepared to openly discuss his investigations at the upcoming hearing. The Republicans have criticized Smith, accusing him of conducting a biased investigation under the Biden administration’s influence. They have also highlighted that Smith’s team secretly obtained phone records of GOP lawmakers around the January 6 attack, an act Smith asserted was independent of any communication with Biden or his staff.

Despite the anticipation for Smith’s public testimony, legal constraints might limit the breadth of information he can share. A federal court order currently seals part of his report related to classified documents, which could restrict discussions during the hearing.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland welcomed the public hearing, viewing it as an opportunity to expose crucial information potentially detrimental to President Trump. “After Republicans forced Jack Smith into a backroom interrogation and rejected our calls for an open public hearing, now they decide they want a public hearing with Jack Smith after all," Raskin stated. He criticized the Republicans' previous private strategy and expressed confidence that a public discourse would further validate Smith’s findings and embarrass Trump and his supporters.

The upcoming public hearing promises to be a pivotal moment in American politics, as it could influence public opinion and future legal actions against the former President.