WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2026 — Claims that former special counsel Jack Smith made a new, formal demand “30 minutes ago” for Rep. Jim Jordan to release the full video of his December 2025 closed-door deposition — causing immediate “ice-cold panic” among Republican leaders and hinting at a hidden “bombshell” detail from the testimony — are unsupported by any credible reports or official records.
The eight-hour deposition occurred on Dec. 17, 2025, before the House Judiciary Committee. A 255-page redacted transcript and partial video footage were publicly released by the committee on Dec. 31, 2025, following earlier requests from Smith’s attorneys for transparency. Those requests dated to mid-December 2025, when Smith’s lawyers (Lanny Breuer and Peter Koski) wrote to Chairman Jordan urging an open hearing and full videotape release so the public could hear directly from Smith rather than through selective accounts.
No fresh demand has surfaced in the past day or even the past month. The committee has not indicated any new correspondence from Smith or his team on this issue. Smith’s public testimony before the same committee took place on Jan. 22, 2026, in an open session broadcast live, where he defended his investigations into former President Trump’s actions related to the 2020 election and classified documents. That hearing focused on oversight of his office and included pointed questioning from Republicans, including Jordan, but no discussion of unreleased footage or demands for it.
The deposition video and transcript, already public since late December, cover Smith’s assertion that he had “proof beyond a reasonable doubt” of Trump’s involvement in a scheme to overturn the 2020 election results, his lack of regrets about the charges, and details on subpoena processes (including toll records for lawmakers). No singular “bombshell” detail from behind closed doors has been identified in reporting or the released materials that would trigger the described firestorm. Speculation about hidden revelations appears to stem from online amplification of the old footage rather than new developments.
Social media posts repeating the query’s language show no corroborating sources — no statements from Smith’s representatives, congressional aides, or major outlets. The narrative mirrors patterns of recycled or exaggerated claims about Smith’s work, often timed to coincide with his appearances or related hearings.
The White House and House Judiciary Committee spokespeople have not commented on the specific viral allegation. Fact-checkers have flagged similar stories as misleading, conflating the December 2025 requests with imagined current events.
For context, the full deposition materials remain available on the House Judiciary Committee’s website and through archives like Congress.gov. Today’s focus in Washington centers on ongoing oversight hearings rather than any unreleased video drama. If new official actions emerge, they would be documented through standard channels.
