Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.)’s effort to accuse former special counsel Jack Smith of perjury during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday collapsed after he mistakenly referenced an Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball game instead of an Atlanta Hawks NBA game. The error undermined his claim that Smith had traveled to Atlanta on February 3, 2024, potentially coordinating with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who was prosecuting former President Donald Trump at the time.
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) later recounted her reaction to the exchange, describing Schmitt’s questioning as a ‘slow-motion train wreck’ that quickly went viral. Meanwhile, Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) was captured in a widely shared video appearing stunned as the exchange unfolded, with social media users joking that her ‘soul left her body.’
The Core Facts of the Hearing
During the hearing, Schmitt accused Smith of lying under oath by claiming to possess ‘a series of text messages’ placing Smith at an Atlanta Hawks NBA game on the specified date. Schmitt suggested this trip could indicate improper coordination between Smith and Willis, who had recently disclosed an affair with a prosecutor in her office. Smith denied attending any Atlanta Hawks game, stating he recalled attending a University of Maryland women’s basketball game featuring Caitlin Clark on that date.
Schmitt’s line of questioning failed to produce evidence of Smith’s alleged perjury, and his attempt to link Smith’s presence in Atlanta to Willis’s prosecution of Trump dissolved under scrutiny. The Missouri Republican doubled down on his claim in subsequent statements, asserting that the mix-up was ‘not a mistake.’
The Aftermath and Political Fallout
The incident occurred just hours after an Axios report touted Schmitt as a potential 2028 vice-presidential running mate for Vice President JD Vance, describing him as ‘trustworthy, intelligent, articulate, and a deft political operator.’ By the afternoon, however, Schmitt’s political momentum had reversed, with the failed questioning becoming a social media meme and a source of ridicule among critics.
Schmitt’s office has not provided additional details about the ‘text messages’ he referenced during the hearing. Smith has not publicly commented beyond his denial during the hearing.
Broader Context: Oversight and Accountability Concerns
The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing was part of ongoing oversight discussions regarding the investigations into former President Trump, including Smith’s role as special counsel. While Schmitt framed his questioning as an effort to uncover potential ‘perjury’ or ‘collusion,’ no evidence has been presented to support these claims. The hearing also highlighted the political stakes of such oversight, with senators from both parties offering differing interpretations of the event’s significance.
Senator Klobuchar, a Democrat, characterized the exchange as a ‘gotcha moment’ that backfired, while Schmitt’s Republican colleagues have framed the incident as part of broader concerns about ‘prosecutorial overreach’ in high-profile cases. The hearing did not result in any formal action against Smith, and the allegations remain unsubstantiated.
Timeline of Key Events
- February 3, 2024: Date Schmitt claimed Smith attended an Atlanta Hawks game.
- Tuesday (Hearing Date): Schmitt’s questioning of Smith during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
- Post-Hearing: Schmitt’s claim collapses as Smith denies attending an Atlanta Hawks game; social media reaction intensifies.
- Later Tuesday: Axios report on Schmitt’s potential vice-presidential prospects published; Schmitt’s political standing shifts amid the viral backlash.
- Wednesday: Schmitt reaffirms his claim, stating the mix-up was ‘not a mistake.’