Full Breakdown
Eric Schmitt’s Botched “Gotcha” Question on Jack Smith’s Alleged Atlanta Game
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) asked former special counsel Jack Smith whether he had attended an NBA contest between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks on February 3, 2024. Schmitt displayed a poster of text-message excerpts that he said placed Smith in Atlanta that night, then called Smith a “dirtbag” and a “villain,” accusing him of perjury.
Background & Context
Schmitt, a Trump ally, has framed Smith’s investigations as politically motivated. The question was meant to suggest Smith might have coordinated with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis on the day after Willis publicly acknowledged a romantic relationship with a colleague, a development that had intensified the Georgia probe into Trump. The hearing was part of a congressional review of Smith’s two federal prosecutions of Trump—one for classified-documents violations and another for alleged election-interference.
Data & Statistics
- Date of alleged game: February 3, 2024.
- Teams cited by Schmitt: Atlanta Hawks vs. Golden State Warriors (NBA).
- Teams actually attended by Smith: University of Maryland Terrapins vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (women’s NCAA), featuring Caitlin Clark.
Official Statements & Responses
Schmitt asserted his staff possessed evidence and claimed “you have weaponized the Department of Justice against political enemies to an extent that has never happened in the history of this country.” He added, “He answered the question. That’s what these hearings are for.”
Smith replied, “If this is the correct basketball game, I recall going to a University of Maryland basketball game where Caitlin Clark was playing right around that time, and the Marshal Service was there with me.”
Sen. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) called the episode a “national laughingstock,” saying Schmitt had “disgraced himself.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Reports differ on how many NBA games were scheduled in Atlanta on February 3, 2024, casting doubt on Schmitt’s claim that “the only NBA game” was there. The origin of the text-message poster remains unclear; some outlets describe it as “out-of-context” and note it was removed before senators could examine it fully.
What’s Next
Schmitt has not issued a formal apology. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to continue questioning Smith on the broader investigations into former President Trump.