House Republicans Release Transcripts Related to Jack Smith's Investigation

<p>House Republicans released six transcripts on September 22, 2026, providing insights into former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation of President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers. The documents include testimony from five members of Smith's team: J.P. Cooney, Molly Gaston, Ray Hulser, Tad Duree, and Thomas Windom, as well as testimony from Brian Burnett, an agent for the Office of Inspector General (OIG).</p><p>The transcripts detail the rationale behind investigatory decisions, particularly regarding the examination of communications among lawmakers during the investigation into whether Trump attempted to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power following the 2020 election. Committee Republicans claim that investigators improperly subpoenaed phone records from over a dozen GOP lawmakers during the Arctic Frost investigation and secured gag orders that prevented these lawmakers from knowing their records had been obtained by the Biden-Harris Justice Department.</p><p>Particular attention is given to communications from Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., whose phone was seized as part of the investigation. Testimony from prosecutor Timothy "Tad" Duree indicated that the decision to seize Perry's phone was based on his connections to Trump and his involvement in seeking legal strategies to maintain Trump's presidency after the election loss. Duree stated, "If you seek to obtain something voluntarily, people can just choose not to give it to you... it was important to me and our team to obtain evidence in a way that it was unadulterated."</p><p>While some testimony emphasized adherence to investigative protocols, other parts revealed atypical aspects of the investigation. A veteran agent involved in the Jeffrey Clark investigation described the operation as "unique" based on his 30 years of law enforcement experience. He noted that prosecutors directed investigative steps typically managed by agents, indicating a "top down" dynamic where results from subpoenas were returned to prosecutors rather than the agents who issued them, according to Burnett.</p><p>Burnett, who retired in 2024 after a 15-year tenure in the DOJ’s inspector general’s office, stated he had not encountered a case where prosecutors dictated the investigation in such a manner during his career.</p><p>This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.</p>