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The man who tried to put Donald Trump in prison defended himself this week against the president's allies in Congress during a fiery hearing that reminded the country about his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. |
Hi there, This is America readers, I'm Phillip M. Bailey, chief political correspondent at USA TODAY. |
Former Special Counsel Jack Smith defended his prosecutions at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Jan. 22, saying he would have been able to prove at trial that the then-former president knew his election fraud claims were false. |
For much of the proceedings Republicans on the panel focused on accusations of prosecutorial overreach, which echoed Trump's criticisms that former President Joe Biden and the Democrats were weaponizing the law against him. |
The GOP lawmakers used their time on legal technicalities and the perception that Smith was engaging in a witch hunt, which Democratic members on the committee pushed back against as an attempt to "rewrite history" and misrepresent what led to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. | Former Special Counsel Jack Smith testifies during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Jan. 22, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Smith testified on his team's federal criminal investigations into President Donald Trump which included 2020 election interference and classified documents. Al Drago, Getty Images |
At one point the hearing turned tense when Michael Fanone, a former D.C. Metropolitan Police officer who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 and was assaulted by rioters, confronted Ivan Raiklin, a well-known election denier. |
The expletive-laced exchange between the two during a hearing recess underscored the tensions, as the straight-faced Smith outlined the sobering facts behind Trump unlawfully trying to stay in power five years ago. |
For more on Jack Smith's testimony, check out USA TODAY's coverage: |
'Sinners' makes history at the Oscars ahead of award ceremony |
The nominations come at a time where criticisms of diversity programs have peaked, and this awards season is bound to strike those same nerves and create similar narratives as they have in years past. |
Among the 16 nominations are a total of 10 Black, which ties the all-time record for a movie producing the most Black nominees in history, according to Variety. |
The magazine also noted nominations across various categories showcasing Latino artists, such as director Guillermo del Toro for his reinterpretation of "Frankenstein" and actor Benicio del Toro for his role in "One Battle After Another" becoming the most nominated Latino producer and actor in history, respectively. |
The 2026 Oscars air March 15 on ABC and Hulu (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT). |
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