Private Jack Smith remarks spur report he could drop 'unreleased evidence' against Trump

[BumRushDaShow]

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/

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Link to NYT article - Jack Smith Calls the Justice Dept. ‘Corrupted’ by Trump and His Allies

[Funtatlaguy]

1. Don't tease us...

Release it.

[WiVoter]

18. I Agree, Endless Teasing & Not Much Action

I'm tired of it.

[InstantGratification]

31. He can't unilaterally decide to release the evidence

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]

33. I believe the time is coming when an avalanche of previously withheld and/or hidden

information will be released. It's frustrating as hell that they've been blocked, but I do believe they're coming.

[calimary]

45. I hope you're right.

But I’ve been left disappointed before.

[J_William_Ryan]

2. "...material that could prove damaging to the president."

And?

‘Damaging’ how – Trump’s corrupt DOJ won’t prosecute; corrupt Senate Republicans won’t vote to convict.

This is another example of the failure of American governance – the inability to remove from power a criminal, despotic president.

[Bluetus]

6. Why has this information NOT been released to the public already?

Whatever happened to acting in the public interest?

[Fiendish Thingy]

35. Much of it was sealed by Judge Cannon Nt

[Bluetus]

40. She can't seal the world.

She can seal court filings.

Where did Smith get the information? There must be ways to bring forward some of the original evidence that is beyond Canon's bailiwick.

We must think like revolutionaries. Working through the system is not an option. The fascists have corrupted and weaponized the entire system now.

[Fiendish Thingy]

41. She sealed his report

But it can either be unsealed in discovery, or DOJ must drop the charges.

[BadgerMom]

44. It might persuade some voters to vote differently in November.

I’m sure Republicans would make his actions our fault somehow, but if a lot were released, it might quiet their uniform response.

[FakeNoose]

3. Bring it on, Jack Smith! Let's hear all of it ... unredacted

[relogic]

7. Just think.

If he didn’t 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, I’m that concerned by a regime that displays a desperate regard for winning at any cost.

[multigraincracker]

16. He needs a safety switch.

A document to be opened if he dies. Great life insurers policy.

[popsdenver]

21. All that information

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

[msfiddlestix]

36. Don't hold your breath, not goona happen. Btw, source is raw story.

[FakeNoose]

37. Not when it's published in the New York Times first ... Raw Story is reprinting the NYT story

[sheshe2]

4. Do it!

[JohnnyRingo]

5. If he has further evidence, he should release it.

Regardless any attacks on himself.

BTW... Why do I recall Smith dying a couple months ago? Now I wonder now who that was.

[orangecrush]

8. Mueller

[Ford_Prefect]

9. Why wait????? The way to stop a predator is to strike first and hard.

[republianmushroom]

10. Don't think this is the man trump wants to mess with.

He will eat trump a new one.

[Just Jerome]

20. Ewwwww

[3Hotdogs]

26. Why not? The old one sin't working too good:

Hence the diapers.

[question everything]

11. Why "private" is part of the title? What am I missing?

[SunSeeker]

13. He is a private individual now, no longer employed by the public/government. nt

[liberalla]

25. The remarks were made in private?

I'm not sure either... It's awkward phrasing IMO. I didn't understand until I read the article.

[AZ8theist]

27. A private event. Invited guests only I would surmise.

[Bayard]

12. Mr. Smith should hire bodyguards

Prosecuted and persecuted just for doing his job.

[popsdenver]

22. It's not just

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]

14. Is that a bone spur report?

[Nixie]

15. I've often wondered why Trump has not had to deal with leaks

like is done with most Democrats. They are usually over dramatized fabricated leaks like Hillary’s, whereas Trump’s 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]

24. He is insulated

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]

17. SOMEONE has to have some guts and get the truth out.

The level of political cowardice in this country continues to blow me away

[FakeNoose]

42. I believe that Jack Smith has the integrity to do it

He claims to be "non-partisan" and unaffiliated with any party, but I wonder ...

After spending almost 3 years investigating and prosecuting Chump, how can Jack Smith remain on the sidelines? I don't believe it's possible. I do believe he's a good man and a truly gifted lawyer.

[mucifer]

19. So why didn't he release it before the presidential election??

[FakeNoose]

43. He would have been breaking the law

Prosecutors are never allowed to reveal the facts they've uncovered in an on-going investigation. Especially when it's political dynamite like the Chump investigations.

When Chump won the election in 2024, all of those case were immediately shut down. Jack Smith was fired, along with the other attorneys. Now he's a private citizen, and he has the same freedom of speech that we all have, within certain parameters.

[radical noodle]

23. If he's prosecuted for illegally investigating trump

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]

28. Jack Smith has something BAD on Donald.

[johnp3907]

29. So he'll drop this stuff only to help himself?

[Deuxcents]

30. Just do it. Piecemeal it if you want but just get it out thete

[Redleg]

32. At first I thought Jack Smith had enlisted in the army with the rank of Private

If he enlisted, he surely would go in as a Private First Class, given his college degrees.

[reACTIONary]

34. More Raw Story bullshit....

..... "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.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

38. MaddowBlog-Silent no more, Jack Smith calls out Trump's 'corrupted' Justice Department

The prosecutor wasn’t able to make his case in court, but months later, he’s bringing his arguments to the public in forceful and unrestrained ways.

Silent no more, Jack Smith calls out Trump’s ‘corrupted’ Justice Department www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Ian Kremer (@wolverinebear.bsky.social) 2026-05-08T01:11:29.817Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/silent-no-more-jack-smith-calls-out-trumps-corrupted-justice-department

But nearly a year and a half later, the former special counsel has made the transition from a lawyer who preferred silence to one who has quite a bit to say. The New York Times reported:

Jack Smith, the special counsel who twice indicted President Trump, accused the Justice Department of having been “corrupted” by Trump loyalists he claimed were demolishing its credibility and seeking to undermine the rule of law.

Mr. Smith’s remarks, made last month in a private discussion at the Cosmos Club in Washington, represented his sharpest criticism of the department since leaving his post early last year.

“We have a Department of Justice today that targets people for criminal prosecution simply because the president doesn’t like them,” Smith said in the hourlong discussion on April 20, according to a video obtained by the Times that was shared with attendees. He added, “We have a department that fails to move on cases because they might uncover facts that are inconvenient to narratives the president would like to press.”.....

Soon after, during an interview with former prosecutor Andrew Weissmann at the University College London, Smith condemned Republican criticisms of his work as “ludicrous,” adding, “I think the attacks on public servants, particularly nonpartisan public servants — I think it has a cost for our country that is incalculable, and I think that we — it’s hard to communicate to folks how much that is going to cost us.”

More recently, Smith also delivered private and public testimony before the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee, which also didn’t do his Republican detractors any favors.

Smith was not able to make his case in court, but with increasing frequency, he’s bringing his arguments to the public in forceful and unrestrained ways.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

39. Jack Smith Calls the Justice Dept. 'Corrupted' by Trump and His Allies (NYT gift article)

At a private event in Washington last month, Mr. Smith, the former special counsel, accused Justice Department leaders of targeting people for prosecution to please and impress the president.

Link to tweet

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/06/us/politics/jack-smith-justice-dept-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.gVA.MAn8.K8-zMDWLFD9u&smid=url-share

Jack Smith, the special counsel who twice indicted President Trump, accused the Justice Department of having been “corrupted” by Trump loyalists he claimed were demolishing its credibility and seeking to undermine the rule of law.

Mr. Smith’s remarks, made last month in a private discussion at the Cosmos Club in Washington, represented his sharpest criticism of the department since leaving his post early last year. They came at a time when Mr. Trump is demanding Mr. Smith be prosecuted for his work as special counsel — an outcome Mr. Smith believes is likely, according to people familiar with his thinking.

“We have a Department of Justice today that targets people for criminal prosecution simply because the president doesn’t like them,” Mr. Smith said in the hourlong discussion on April 20, according to a video obtained by The New York Times.

Mr. Smith, speaking in the deliberate cadence of a prosecutor delivering a closing argument, cited what he cast as the wholesale erosion of the department’s tradition of independence from the White House. “We have a department that fails to investigate cases because they might uncover facts that are inconvenient narratives the president would like to press,” he said.

“We have a department that fails to move on cases because they might uncover facts that are inconvenient to narratives the president would like to press,” added Mr. Smith, who was appointed in late 2022 to investigate Mr. Trump’s post-presidency retention of government documents and his push to overturn the 2020 election.