During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., mistakenly accused former special counsel Jack Smith of perjury after confusing the Iowa Hawkeyes with the Atlanta Hawks basketball teams. Smith had attended a women’s college basketball game in College Park, Md., featuring the Iowa Hawkeyes, not an NBA game in Atlanta.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., clarified the error during the hearing, noting that Smith had been at the University of Maryland Terps’ game against Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Schmitt later acknowledged having information about Smith attending a basketball game but maintained his line of questioning. The incident occurred as Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, separately pursued allegations that Smith had made false statements under oath regarding access to lawmakers’ text messages in the Trump investigation.
Key Details of the Incident
- Schmitt referenced text messages suggesting Smith attended an Atlanta Hawks game on February 3, 2024, but Smith denied this, stating he was in College Park for the Iowa-Maryland game.
- Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., seated beside Schmitt, was captured on camera with a stunned expression as the error became apparent.
- Schmitt’s office later stated he had information about Smith attending a basketball game but did not retract the perjury accusation.
Context and Reactions
- The hearing was part of broader scrutiny over Smith’s handling of the Trump investigation, including claims that his team accessed text messages from 44 lawmakers without proper authorization.
- Jordan has called for a criminal referral against Smith, alleging willful false statements under oath regarding the text message access.
- Klobuchar criticized Schmitt’s approach, stating, “I think people should have their facts straight before they accuse people.”
Broader Political Fallout
- The incident added to a week of political missteps, with lawmakers from both parties facing criticism over unforced errors.
- Social media commentary highlighted the moment as emblematic of partisan overreach, with some observers questioning Schmitt’s preparedness and others mocking his mistake as a career misstep for Britt, a potential 2028 vice-presidential contender.