Private Jack Smith remarks spur report he could drop 'unreleased evidence' against Trump
Source: Raw Story
May 10, 2026 8:16AM ET
Jack Smith is reportedly sending a message to President Donald Trump: even as he faces the prospect of prosecution, he still possesses weaponizable information that could damage the president.
Speaking at a private event at the Cosmos Club in Washington on April 20, Smith indicated his readiness to take on potential charges and signaled he could deploy unreleased evidence should Trump move forward with retaliatory prosecution, according to video of the event obtained by The New York Times. "But unlike others targeted by Mr. Trump, Mr. Smith still could inflict damage on the president by revealing unreleased evidence. He appears unfazed by the prospect of shifting from accuser to accused," the Times reported.
The implicit threat underscores the precarious position of both men: Trump is demanding Smith's prosecution, but doing so risks Smith going public with material that could prove damaging to the president. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Trump's former lead defense lawyer, now controls whether to bring charges, a potential conflict of interest that intensifies the political stakes.
Previously, the White House successfully blocked the release of a section of Smith's final report on the Mar-a-Lago documents case that "might have reminded the public of the evidence used to bolster the indictment," according to the Times.
Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/jack-smith-2676874374/
Link to NYT article - Jack Smith Calls the Justice Dept. Corrupted by Trump and His Allies
Funtatlaguy
(11,889 posts)Release it.
WiVoter
(1,682 posts)I'm tired of it.
InstantGratification
(447 posts)When Trump was re-elected, the cases against him became unprosecutable and were dropped. Smith can't legally release the evidence. Someone could sue to have the evidence released and a judge would have to order that to happen. Which did happen in the documents case and judge Cannon ruled against releasing it.
What Smith is doing is reminding Trump that, right now, the evidence is sealed. If DoJ tries to prosecute Smith in connection with ANY of the cases he was working on, that evidence, any memo's or emails discussing whether to charge Trump or not would become evidence in Smith's prosecution. He would finally be able to take that material into a court room and introduce it as evidence in his defense.
As an example, if he is charged with malicious prosecution in the J6 case, then Smith gets access to all the J6 material as part of the discovery process and can introduce it as defense exhibit 1, 2, 3, etc. Likewise with the stolen documents and other cases he was involved in.
Smith is literally daring Trump to prosecute him so he can finally take the evidence into a court room (as a defendant instead of prosecutor) and make his case before a jury. Trump can't be convicted this way, but the evidence will be public record for ALL TO SEE.
liberalla
(11,204 posts)information will be released. It's frustrating as hell that they've been blocked, but I do believe they're coming.
J_William_Ryan
(3,549 posts)And?
Damaging how Trumps corrupt DOJ wont prosecute; corrupt Senate Republicans wont vote to convict.
This is another example of the failure of American governance the inability to remove from power a criminal, despotic president.
Bluetus
(3,043 posts)Whatever happened to acting in the public interest?
Fiendish Thingy
(23,917 posts)FakeNoose
(42,244 posts)relogic
(226 posts)If he didnt have documents/evidence available to release and only his reputable opinion on trump,s crimes. Small plane aireal malfunctions or open windows would be his end, no doubt. Yes, Im that concerned by a regime that displays a desperate regard for winning at any cost.
multigraincracker
(37,978 posts)A document to be opened if he dies. Great life insurers policy.
popsdenver
(2,569 posts)is being held by Jack Smith.....no different than Ghislaine (sp?), or Heidi Fleis and countless others......
It is an insurance policy to keep them from being "disappeared".....by the "Powers to be"........
They distribute files, documents, etc to many friends?, with orders that if anything should happen to them, the copies should be sent to Major Media Corporations. (that would actually be the worst thing in today's world since all the major media is owned/operated by Uber Rich Corporations) But they would also be sent to major media outlets in other countries, who would gladly welcome them and begin publishing them.........
Why do you think Ghislaine and Heidi Fleis have survived?????? What Ghislaine has stashed away in secret locations...is a major bargaining chip for her release by the Republicans/Trump/UberRich/RepublicanPoliticians/Supreme Court Justices/etc etc
sheshe2
(98,290 posts)JohnnyRingo
(20,976 posts)Regardless any attacks on himself.
BTW... Why do I recall Smith dying a couple months ago? Now I wonder now who that was.
orangecrush
(30,984 posts)Ford_Prefect
(8,654 posts)republianmushroom
(22,628 posts)He will eat trump a new one.
Just Jerome
(542 posts)3Hotdogs
(15,507 posts)Hence the diapers.
question everything
(52,332 posts)SunSeeker
(58,365 posts)liberalla
(11,204 posts)I'm not sure either... It's awkward phrasing IMO. I didn't understand until I read the article.
AZ8theist
(7,586 posts)Bayard
(30,172 posts)Prosecuted and persecuted just for doing his job.
popsdenver
(2,569 posts)Trump/Republicans/2025 people that he has to fear, but Putin himself, along with Elon Musk and many of the modern day Robber Barrons........
generalbetrayus
(1,968 posts)Nixie
(18,097 posts)like is done with most Democrats. They are usually over dramatized fabricated leaks like Hillarys, whereas Trumps are all real things that are being suppressed. Trump is so insulated from real politics.
Leak away! The more time that goes by, the more it allows Trump to come up with his bullshit deflections and juvenile name-calling.
popsdenver
(2,569 posts)by all of the people who would be implicated along with him......All of the Republican Politicians, etc who probably are in the thousands, along with all the Uber Rich Oligarchs, etc
They are un-like the crack whores walking the streets, who WILL NOT do certain things..... for ANY amount of money.....
johnnyplankton
(656 posts)The level of political cowardice in this country continues to blow me away
mucifer
(25,719 posts)radical noodle
(10,678 posts)then isn't it his right, no matter what trump's bestest favorite judge has said, to use what he had uncovered in his defense? I think she has tied his hands temporarily but not permanently.
Joinfortmill
(21,581 posts)johnp3907
(4,335 posts)Deuxcents
(27,581 posts)Redleg
(7,015 posts)If he enlisted, he surely would go in as a Private First Class, given his college degrees.
reACTIONary
(7,274 posts)..... "But unlike others targeted by Mr. Trump, Mr. Smith still could inflict damage on the president by revealing unreleased evidence." This is mere speculation on the part of the NYT simply to make the point that there is a significant difference between him and others that have been targeted by DOJ. There is nothing in Smith's remarks that indicate that he has such evidence or that, if he did, that he would release release it.
.... "He appears unfazed by the prospect of shifting from accuser to accused." Once again, this is merely an impression of the reporter. It is true that his remarks were those of an accuser. And he certainly seemed unfazed. OK. So what?
The NYT report went a bit over the line here, and Raw Story picked up the ball and ran with it.