Former special counsel Jack Smith is set to testify in a public congressional hearing next week, marking his first open appearance before lawmakers.
House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan said Smith will appear on January 22 as part of the committee’s probe into investigations involving President Donald Trump.
The hearing will focus on Smith’s role in investigating Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Smith previously testified for roughly eight hours in a closed-door session with the Judiciary Committee in December.
Transcripts from that private testimony were later released to the public.
Smith’s legal team requested that he be allowed to testify publicly before Congress.
Jordan said last week that he intended to invite Smith to appear in an open hearing.
Republicans have repeatedly criticised Smith’s investigations, describing them as politically motivated.
President Trump and his allies have labelled the probes a “witch hunt.”
The public hearing will give Republican lawmakers an opportunity to question Smith’s conduct and decisions openly.
Democrats are expected to use the hearing to highlight evidence gathered during the investigations.
The investigations led to charges accusing Trump of attempting to subvert the 2020 election results.
Smith also oversaw a separate case involving Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents.
During his closed-door testimony, Smith defended the integrity and independence of his investigations.
He said he was willing to share details publicly but was restricted by Department of Justice guidance.
Smith said the Justice Department cited a court order that kept key aspects of the cases under seal.
The upcoming hearing is expected to be highly contentious and politically charged.
It comes amid broader Republican efforts to scrutinise federal law enforcement and prosecutorial authority.