🧵 THREAD Special Counsel Jack Smith’s testimony made it clear his criminal prosecutions of Donald Trump didn’t…

🧵 THREAD Special Counsel Jack Smith’s testimony made it clear his criminal prosecutions of Donald Trump didn’t fail—they were blocked. The evidence was overwhelming, including from Trump’s own allies and supporters. As Smith said, Trump was guilty beyond any reasonable doubt of conspiring to overthrow the 2020 elections by fraud and force. (1/10)

In his testimony, Mr. Smith explained that the January 6 investigation was built primarily on statements from Trump’s own allies and fellow Republicans, including senior party officials who supported him but told him the truth about his losing the election. (2/10)

Mr. Smith further testified that a sweeping injunction issued by Judge Aileen Cannon barred him from discussing with the Committee the overwhelming evidence that Trump knowingly retained hundreds of presidential and highly classified records in the bathrooms and ballrooms of his Mar-a-Lago club and then deliberately defied subpoenas, obstructed law enforcement, hid evidence, and lied about his continuing retention of these records. This is a judicial coverup. (3/10)

If the January 6 case had gone to trial, the most powerful evidence against Trump would have come from members of his own party: state and national Republicans who supported him but explained to Trump that the election results were legitimate, and repeatedly debunked his false fraud claims to his face. Trump knew he lost the 2020 election, yet he still lies to the American public even to this day. (4/10)

When in the hot seat with prosecutors, Rudy Giuliani disavowed the election fraud claims he and Trump promoted. Trump always knew the Big Lie was “BS,” as AG Barr told him. He knew he lost the 2020 elections. He just wanted to stay in power. (5/10)

Mr. Smith explained that Trump exploited the personal loyalty and political trust of his supporters. He went so far as to convince some to serve as fraudulent electors as part of his unlawful effort to overturn the election. Trump’s conduct was “deliberate and criminal.” (6/10)

Career prosecutors, FBI agents, and staff who worked on Smith’s team were fired for doing their jobs following the facts and the law without fear or favor. The evidence of Trump’s criminal conduct was overwhelming, and Trump fired law enforcement to try to bury the truth and rewrite history. (7/10)

Mr. Smith’s office never wiretapped Members of Congress. He did seek a few days of phone bill information belonging to Members of Congress that Trump and his co-conspirators contacted and attempted to recruit into their unlawful scheme to overturn their elections.   Smith used grand jury subpoenas and followed every rule in the book. (8/10)

The record shows that Donald Trump privately referred to Sidney Powell as “crazy,” even as she was publicly advancing false claims of election fraud on his behalf. Trump always knew their outlandish claims of election fraud were lies. He didn’t actually believe the elections were stolen; he thought he had a right to stay in office. (9/10)

When Republicans scream “weaponization of DOJ,” don’t be fooled. Just ask yourself why Republicans are trying so hard to hide the facts about Trump’s lies. Ask why Jack Smith still isn’t allowed to talk about his investigation into how Trump knowingly retained hundreds of presidential and highly classified records in the bathrooms and ballrooms of his Mar-a-Lago club and then deliberately defied subpoenas, obstructed law enforcement, hid evidence, and lied about his continuing retention of the records. (10/10)