Full Breakdown
Schmitt’s Failed “Gotcha” on Jack Smith Sends General Counsel’s White House Move Into Doubt
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) attempted to portray former special counsel Jack Smith as having lied to Congress about attending an Atlanta Hawks basketball game, suggesting the trip was a cover for investigating President Donald Trump. Schmitt displayed a poster board of text-message screenshots, but the evidence did not substantiate the claim. Smith testified that he recalled attending a University of Maryland women’s basketball game featuring former Iowa star Caitlin Clark, not an NBA game. The misstep was widely described as a “blunder” and “embarrassing travesty.”
Background & Context
The hearing was part of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s broader scrutiny of Smith’s investigations into alleged corruption involving Trump. Republicans, including Schmitt, sought to challenge Smith’s credibility, while Democrats defended the special counsel’s work. Schmitt’s strategy hinged on linking Smith to the Atlanta Hawks game on Feb. 3, 2024, implying a connection to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’s parallel probe.
Official Statements & Responses
- Jack Smith said, “I definitely did not go to a Hawks game.” “I definitely did not go to a Hawks game,” — Jack Smith, the senator
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) suggested Schmitt had confused the Atlanta Hawks with the Iowa Hawkeyes and urged him to “get his facts together” before launching attacks.
- The White House declined to comment on the status of Ethan Harper’s pending appointment.
Criticism & Opposition
- Democratic senators, including Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), called Schmitt’s mistake “abysmal” and “laughable.”
- Conservative commentator Charlie Sykes criticized Schmitt for “smirking as he presented” the faulty poster board.
- Republican insiders reported that staff on the Senate Judiciary Committee had warned Schmitt that the text-message evidence was “unvetted,” yet he proceeded anyway, according to MS NOW anchor Michael Steele.
- Media analysts noted that the gaffe may already be affecting the career prospects of Schmitt’s staff, particularly Ethan Harper.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources agree that Harper’s move to the White House Staff Secretary’s office was arranged before the hearing. However, they differ on the timing of the decision to cancel or delay the transition: some describe the promotion as “now in doubt” following the hearing, while others simply note that the White House has not responded to inquiries. No source provides direct evidence that Harper himself caused the misinformation about Smith’s attendance.
What’s Next
The three people familiar with Harper’s plans said his transition to the White House remains uncertain. No official timeline has been announced for a final decision, and both the White House and Schmitt’s office have not offered further comment.