Sen. Katie Britt’s ‘look of utter horror’ as GOP colleague’s perjury accusation unravels during Jack Smith hearing goes viral
Schmitt accused Smith of lying based on messages that Smith said referred to a different basketball game.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYThe New York Post is an established national outlet with identifiable authorship, but its tabloid style and sensational framing temper its institutional credibility.
- Source type — An established national news publisher, though known for tabloid presentation.
- Editorial standards — The publisher has an established newsroom, but this short, viral-reaction story offers limited evidence of rigorous reporting.
- Author attribution — The article names an author.
The account gives a specific explanation for why the accusation faltered and attributes the competing statements, but it relies heavily on a brief hearing exchange and social-media reactions, with little context or additional sourcing.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article includes Smith’s explanation of the messages, but provides little context beyond the short exchange and no response from Schmitt after the accusation faltered.
- Counterarguments presented — Smith’s explanation is included, but no further response from Schmitt is reported.
- Loaded language — The article uses dismissive language to describe Schmitt’s accusation.
- Source diversity — The account includes statements from the hearing and social-media reactions, but few independent sources.
The article uses sensational language and portrays Schmitt’s accusation as a failed gambit, but the account does not show a clear broader partisan lean.
- Language tone — Phrases such as “bombshell accusation” and “embarrassing gambit” are sensational and critical of Schmitt’s move.
- Framing — The story centers on the accusation’s collapse and Britt’s viral reaction, without making a broader partisan argument.
- Source selection — The article includes social-media commentary but little evidence of ideologically selective sourcing.
Sen. Eric Schmitt’s perjury accusation against Jack Smith faltered after Smith explained the text messages Schmitt cited. Sen. Katie Britt’s reaction to the exchange went viral.
During a congressional hearing, Schmitt suggested that Smith had lied about coordinating his case against President Trump with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, citing messages that appeared to place Smith in Atlanta. Smith said he had attended a Maryland-Iowa women’s basketball game, not a Hawks game in Atlanta, and the article reports that the accusation soon collapsed.
Community verdict
2 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Senator whose perjury accusation against Jack Smith quickly unraveled
Senator whose reaction to the hearing exchange went viral
Britt's version of this story ↗President whose case was mentioned in connection with Schmitt’s accusation
Part of a bigger story
10 OUTLETSOutlets agree that at a Senate hearing, Eric Schmitt questioned Jack Smith about an Atlanta Hawks game, while Smith said he attended an Iowa Hawkeyes game instead. The exchange centered on a mix-up over which game the messages referred to. Left-leaning outlets frame the episode as a failed gotcha, stressing the mix-up and, in some coverage, unverified information or potential Republican political fallout. Center outlets focus on the error and Schmitt’s defense, alongside criticism from other senators and the moment’s viral attention. Right-leaning outlets also stress the accusation’s unraveling, while highlighting the viral reaction and, in one column, its implications for Schmitt’s political prospects.
- ARTICLES
- 19
- OUTLETS
- 10
- AVG CRED
- 68
- Mediaite · GOP Senator Was Reportedly Warned His So-Called Evidence Was ‘Unvetted’ Before It Backfired in Viral Moment
- Alternet.org · Schmitt knew his 'facts' on Smith were unreliable — but didn't care: report
- Raw Story · Eric Schmitt was warned about unvetted Jack Smith 'gotcha' texts before blunder: report
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