Jack Smith's lead prosecutor on Mar-a-Lago seized docs case to testify before House Judiciary Committee

Jay Bratt, the former special counsel prosecutor who led the classified documents case against President Donald Trump, is scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee next week as part of the committee’s investigation into the federal cases brought against Trump.

Bratt’s deposition is set for 10 am next Wednesday, according to a report by The Guardian. It marks the first known instance of a special counsel prosecutor being questioned by Congress since Trump returned to office and vowed to seek retribution against those involved in prosecuting him during the 2024 election cycle. After taking office, Trump’s Justice Department fired over a dozen officials who worked on former special counsel Jack Smith’s team.

Bratt had worked under Smith, whose cases against Trump included the now-dismissed Mar-a-Lago documents case and a separate one related to January 6. The classified documents case was thrown out before trial after US District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled Smith was unlawfully appointed. Cannon determined that Smith exercised powers of a “principal officer” of the Justice Department, a role that requires Senate confirmation.

While it is unclear what specific topics Bratt will be questioned about, the Judiciary Committee, led by Representative Jim Jordan, has frequently asserted that the prosecutions against Trump were politically motivated. The line of questioning is expected to reflect that belief.

Last year, House investigators sent letters to Smith seeking details about communications between the Biden White House and the Department of Justice, including an instance where Bratt traveled to the White House. Additionally, they sought records related to meetings between the FBI and DOJ officials before the decision to pursue a search warrant for Mar-a-Lago, an action Bratt is believed to have encouraged.