From Slate Magazine · Shirin Ali · · 1m 50s
Schmitt's Perjury Attempt Fails
Senator Schmitt accused Jack Smith of perjury over a basketball game he never attended.
In brief
Senator Schmitt accused Jack Smith of perjury over a basketball game he never attended. Senator Schmitt's claim that Jack Smith perjured himself by attending an Atlanta Hawks game was false due to a team name confusion. Originally reported by Slate Magazine.
Schmitt's Perjury Claim
Senator Eric Schmitt accused Jack Smith of perjury during a Senate hearing by claiming text messages showed Smith attended an Atlanta Hawks game on Feb 3, 2024.
“So your testimony today is that you did not go to an Atlanta Hawks game on Feb. 3, 2024, is that correct?”
Smith's Confusion
Smith admitted he had no recollection of attending any Hawks game but was unsure about his whereabouts on February third, 2024.
“I have no recollection of that.”
Team Name Mixup
Schmitt confused the Atlanta Hawks with the Iowa Hawkeyes, who played a women's college basketball game in Maryland on February third, 2024.
“It was because Caitlin Clark was coming to Maryland to play.”
Schmitt's Blunder
Schmitt called Smith a 'dirtbag' after claiming Smith was involved in Georgia election interference, despite Smith attending a University of Maryland game.
“I’m going to begin my questions now, but I think people should have their facts straight before they accuse someone of being a 'dirtbag'.”
Klobuchar's Correction
Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar confirmed Schmitt's team name confusion and that Smith attended a University of Maryland basketball game with Caitlin Clark.
“It was because Caitlin Clark was coming to Maryland to play.”
Schmitt's Aftermath
Schmitt doubled down on perjury claims after the hearing, insisting Smith lied under oath and refusing to apologize.
“I think you’ve already perjured yourself.”
Schmitt's Defense
Schmitt claimed his role was to 'ask questions' and blamed Smith for 'lied under oath time and time again' despite the confusion.
“I presented him with text messages about him wanting to meet with people that could have obviously been related to the prosecution.”
Smith's Background
Smith previously handled Trump's classified documents and 2020 election cases before resigning as special counsel days before Trump's second inauguration.
“It has been years since Smith first unveiled his two indictments of Trump.”
Republican Loyalty
Republicans have supported Smith's prosecutions despite his resignation, aiming to find perjury inconsistencies in his testimony.
“The GOP has refused to let Smith go, hoping to find a way to prosecute him for daring to hold Trump and his allies accountable.”
Schmitt's Mistake
Schmitt incorrectly stated the only basketball game on February third, 2024, was in Atlanta, when Smith attended a Maryland women's game.
“For a U.S. senator to have false information and imply, based on a confusion about the name of a team, which I knew, knowing my Midwestern sports, that you were in another city, that you were somehow involved that day in what was happening in Georgia.”
Schmitt's Stance
Schmitt continued to push perjury claims despite the team name confusion, aiming to keep Smith under scrutiny.
“I think you’ve already perjured yourself.”
The essence
Senator Schmitt's claim that Jack Smith perjured himself by attending an Atlanta Hawks game was false due to a team name confusion.
