# Senator's perjury trap backfires over Hawks-Hawkeyes mix-up

> GOP senator Eric Schmitt accused Jack Smith of lying about attending an NBA game, but the former special counsel was actually at a college basketball game featuring Caitlin Clark.
- Title: Senator's perjury trap backfires over Hawks-Hawkeyes mix-up
- Summary: GOP senator Eric Schmitt accused Jack Smith of lying about attending an NBA game, but the former special counsel was actually at a college basketball game…
- Keywords: eric schmitt, jack smith, senate judiciary committee, perjury accusation, hawks hawkeyes mix-up, caitlin clark, maryland iowa game, amy klobuchar, donald trump, politics, news, Senator's
- Source: NBC News — https://nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senator-eric-schmitt-jack-smith-basketball-perjury-rcna600546
- Author: Rebecca Shabad
- Published: 2026-09-29T23:36:01.521+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: eric schmitt, jack smith, senate judiciary committee, perjury accusation, hawks hawkeyes mix-up, caitlin clark, maryland iowa game, amy klobuchar, donald trump, politics, news
## Schmitt's perjury accusation
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., accused former special counsel Jack Smith of perjury during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, claiming Smith lied about attending a specific basketball game.
## The game in question
Schmitt asked Smith whether he attended an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks on February third, twenty twenty-four. Smith said no, he did not go to a Hawks game.

> I definitely did not go to a Hawks game. I'm sure of that.
## The timing and context
Schmitt noted the date was the day after Fani Willis, the district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, announced her romantic relationship with a prosecutor in her criminal case against Trump.
## Schmitt produces evidence
Schmitt said he had text messages from Smith's team saying Smith was in Atlanta at a Warrior-Hawks game on February third, twenty twenty-four. A staffer held up a poster board with three text messages.
## Schmitt's accusation escalates
Schmitt told Smith he had already perjured himself and said Smith would go down in history as a total dirtbag. Smith complained he had not gotten to look at the poster board properly.

> a total dirtbag
## Smith's actual game
Smith said the only game he remembered attending around that time was a University of Maryland basketball game against the Iowa Hawkeyes featuring star player Caitlin Clark on February third, twenty twenty-four.
## Klobuchar confirms the details
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., checked the date and confirmed Iowa played Maryland on February third, twenty twenty-four. Iowa won ninety-three to eighty-five, and Caitlin Clark scored over thirty points. The game was in Maryland.

> Iowa, the Iowa Hawkeyes, played Maryland on Feb. 3, 2024. The final score was 93-85. Iowa won, and Caitlin Clark scored over, scored 30 points
## Klobuchar's rebuke
Klobuchar chided Schmitt for mixing up the Hawks and the Hawkeyes and said a U.S. senator having false information and calling Smith a dirtbag based on that confusion deserved an apology.
## Schmitt refuses to apologize
Schmitt did not apologize. Asked by NBC News afterward whether he still thought Smith had perjured himself, he said that would be up to a prosecutor to determine and his job was to ask questions.

> We'll find out. That's going to be up to a prosecutor to determine. My job here today was to ask questions and get answers.
## Right-wing praise despite the error
Despite the flub, some right-wing commentators praised Schmitt. Pro-Trump influencer Benny Johnson posted that Schmitt caught Smith perjuring himself and pulled out receipts, though the post appeared to be taken down by late afternoon.
## Schmitt doubles down on air
Schmitt later appeared on The Charlie Kirk Show, where hosts praised him for a great moment. He said Smith sat there acting dumbfounded and claimed it was the only NBA or NCAA men's game in Atlanta at that time.
## Schmitt's final post
On Tuesday night, Schmitt posted on X, "Who knew Jack Smith was a Caitlin Clark fan?" The post appeared to acknowledge the mix-up while maintaining his critical stance toward Smith.

> Who knew Jack Smith was a Caitlin Clark fan?
## Key takeaway

Senator Eric Schmitt accused Jack Smith of perjury over a basketball game attendance, but Smith was at a different game entirely, undermining the senator's attack.