Chief Justice John Roberts said Wednesday that the Constitution remains a sturdy pillar for the country, a message that comes after a tumultuous year in the nation's judicial system with pivotal Supreme Court decisions on the horizon.

The Jan. 6., 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol "does not happen" without Donald Trump, former special counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers earlier this month in characterizing the Republican president as the "most culpable and most responsible person" in the criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

After a setback at the Supreme Court, President Trump said Wednesday he is abandoning his efforts -- for now -- to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, despite his belief that their presence brought down crime.

Former special counsel Jack Smith used a closed-door session with Congress to defend his prosecutorial pursuit of President Trump, saying his probe found proof "beyond a reasonable doubt" the president tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election.