The Accountability That Republicans Still Refuse to Face

Former special counsel Jack Smith delivered a blunt truth

Blue Press Journal (DC) – For years, congressional Republicans have twisted themselves into knots to defend Donald Trump from any semblance of accountability. They’ve dismissed investigations as “witch hunts,” undermined the justice system, and painted Trump as a victim of political persecution. But this week on Capitol Hill, former special counsel Jack Smith delivered a blunt truth that slices through the endless spin: Donald Trump is facing criminal charges because of Donald Trump — and no one else. 

Smith, in testimony before lawmakers, made clear that the decision to indict was his, but the evidence was Trump’s own doing. “The basis for those charges rests entirely with President Trump and his actions,” Smith explained. He laid out, point by damning point, the proof his team had gathered: beyond a reasonable doubt, Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the 2020 election and block the lawful transfer of power. And not just in the abstract — in the chaos of January 6, the violence at the Capitol became another tool in Trump’s hands. Smith revealed that Trump and his associates sought to exploit that violence, calling members of Congress to pressure them into delaying the certification of Joe Biden’s victory. 

These weren’t just bad decisions or political miscalculations; they were deliberate acts, taken with full knowledge of their consequences. Smith also detailed Trump’s willful retention of highly classified documents after leaving office. These weren’t locked away in a secure facility — they were stashed at his Mar-a-Lago social club, including in a bathroom and a ballroom where events were held. The image is almost surreal: national security secrets sitting a few feet away from the clink of champagne glasses and the hum of party chatter. 

Yet, despite this mountain of evidence, congressional Republicans continue to shield Trump. They have attacked prosecutors, minimized the seriousness of the charges, and, in some cases, openly pledged to dismantle the very institutions tasked with enforcing the law. Their loyalty is not to the Constitution, nor to the peaceful transfer of power, but to a man who sought to break both. 

Smith’s testimony strips away the excuses. No deep-state plot forced Trump to incite an insurrection. No partisan vendetta compelled him to hide classified documents in a bathroom. These were his choices, his actions, his responsibility. The tragedy — and danger — is that a major political party remains committed to helping him escape the consequences.