Senate Judiciary
The Jack Smith hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday produced an unexpected moment when Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Missouri Republican, appeared to confuse two basketball teams while questioning the former special counsel. The exchange spread quickly online, and Democrats on Capitol Hill responded sharply.
Story Summary
Schmitt asked Smith about an Atlanta Hawks game in February 2024. Smith said he attended an Iowa Hawkeyes game in Maryland instead. Rep. Jamie Raskin later criticized Schmitt on CNN, while Schmitt defended his role as a questioner.
What Happened at the Jack Smith Hearing
Schmitt asked Smith whether he had attended a February 2024 NBA game in Atlanta between the Hawks and the Golden State Warriors. Smith first said he had not. Schmitt then had staff display a poster showing text messages among Smith’s team members that discussed seat numbers.
Schmitt said the timing mattered “for context.” The game, he noted, came just before Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis acknowledged a romantic relationship with a colleague. That disclosure disrupted the Georgia election interference case against President Donald Trump.
Smith’s demeanor shifted to confusion. He said the only game he recalled was an Iowa Hawkeyes game in Maryland, where he watched Caitlin Clark play. Video from that game showing him in the crowd has since circulated on social media.
Key Facts
How the Basketball Confusion Unfolded
The mix-up centered on two similar names. The Atlanta Hawks are an NBA team. The Hawkeyes represent the University of Iowa. Reports from several outlets said Schmitt and his staff appeared to treat a reference to the Hawkeyes as a reference to the Hawks.
Other senators quickly noticed. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) pointed out that Iowa’s team is the Hawkeyes, and she told Schmitt to check his facts before making accusations. According to NBC News coverage of the exchange, Smith said the only game he remembered around that time was a Maryland game involving Clark’s team.
Smith also said records from the Justice Department could support his attendance at the Iowa game, according to The Washington Examiner. Schmitt closed his questioning by calling Smith a “dirtbag” and a “villain,” after lawmakers challenged him on the details of the two teams.
Democratic Senators React During the Hearing
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), who also sits on the committee, accused Schmitt of pushing a false narrative by placing Smith at a game he was not near. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said it appeared Schmitt hoped to catch Smith in a false statement using text messages. In Schiff’s words, the only false element turned out to be the presentation.
Senate Democrats also described the line of questioning as a conspiracy theory. Schmitt has since promoted the inquiry on conservative media.
Raskin Criticizes Schmitt After the Jack Smith Hearing
Rep. Jamie Raskin, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, spoke with CNN’s Erin Burnett later on Tuesday. He said Schmitt had embarrassed himself and argued that the questioning was meant to please Trump. He also said Schmitt does not seem to grasp how the episode looks to the public.
Burnett asked whether Schmitt would apologize to Smith. Raskin answered that it did not look that way.
Schmitt Defends His Questioning
Schmitt has rejected the idea that he made a mistake. Speaking to CNN, he joked about Smith being a Caitlin Clark fan. He also said the Hawks game was the only NBA game in Atlanta at that time.
Nonpartisan outlets, including Nexstar affiliate KTVI in St. Louis, also asked him about the exchange. He told them his job is to ask questions and Smith’s job is to answer them. Asked whether he believes Smith lied under oath, Schmitt said “we’ll see.”
Why the Jack Smith Hearing Drew Wider Attention
Smith testified about his investigations of Trump, and the hearing drew heavy coverage before the basketball exchange began. The moment stood out because it involved a perjury accusation, a visual exhibit, and a factual dispute that viewers could check quickly. As a result, clips of the exchange gained wide attention online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sen. Eric Schmitt ask Jack Smith?
He asked whether Smith attended a February 2024 NBA game in Atlanta between the Hawks and the Warriors.
What did Smith say in response?
Smith denied attending a Hawks game. He said he attended an Iowa Hawkeyes game in Maryland to watch Caitlin Clark play.
Why did Schmitt mention Fani Willis?
Schmitt said the game took place just before Willis acknowledged a romance with a colleague, an event that shook up the Georgia case against Trump.
What did Jamie Raskin say about Schmitt?
Raskin told CNN that Schmitt had humiliated himself. When asked if Schmitt would apologize, he said it did not look that way.
How has Schmitt responded?
Schmitt has said his job is to ask questions and Smith’s job is to answer them. On whether Smith lied under oath, he said “we’ll see.”
