Eric Schmitt Defends Hearing Claim

Sen. Eric Schmitt used a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to accuse former special counsel Jack Smith of lying about attending a basketball game and suggested the trip involved Atlanta-based Trump inquiries. Smith denied being at an Atlanta Hawks game, saying he attended a Maryland women’s basketball game to watch Iowa and Caitlin Clark. The exchange came as Republicans continued scrutinizing Smith’s Jan. 6 and election-interference work. Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Schmitt appeared to confuse the Hawks with the Hawkeyes. Smith’s side said records and footage supported his account. Schmitt refused to concede error, saying his question was about Atlanta. He later joked online while insisting Smith’s answer helped him.