5 Points About a Senator’s Disastrous But Hilarious Attempt to Accuse Jack Smith of Perjury
Schmitt accused Jack Smith of perjury based on an apparent mix-up between an Atlanta Hawks game and an Iowa Hawkeyes game.
SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYTalking Points Memo is an established national political news outlet with an identifiable author. This article is transparently written as a commentary-style piece, though the page provides limited information here about corrections practices.
- Source type — Established national political outlet; a strong but not top-tier institutional credibility signal.
- Author attribution — The article names John Light as its author.
- Editorial standards — The piece identifies reported events and points to supporting texts and video, but its commentary style shapes the presentation.
The article gives a concrete account of the hearing exchange and points to texts, video, and social-media posts. Its sourcing is narrow, and it offers little response or broader context from Schmitt or the other people criticized; its mocking commentary also limits its value as straight reporting.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article centers on the failure of Schmitt’s accusation and criticizes those who amplified it. It provides supporting details but does not include a substantive response from Schmitt or his allies.
- Counterarguments presented — No substantive defense or explanation from Schmitt or his allies is included.
- Source diversity — Evidence comes from texts, video, and social-media posts, but perspectives are largely aligned against the accusation.
- Loaded language — The writing is openly mocking and uses strongly evaluative descriptions.
The article uses openly derisive language about Schmitt and sharply criticizes Republican and right-wing media figures. Its framing is distinctly left-leaning rather than neutral.
- Language tone — Uses ridicule and dismissive phrasing about Schmitt and his accusation.
- Framing — Presents the episode as a failed political gotcha and a case of conservative media amplification.
- Source selection — Relies on evidence and commentary that undercut the accusation, with little space for a defense from its proponents.
Sen. Eric Schmitt accused former special counsel Jack Smith of perjury at a Senate hearing, but the article says the evidence pointed to Smith attending an Iowa Hawkeyes game, not an Atlanta Hawks game. It also describes how other conservative figures amplified the accusation before it unraveled.
At a Senate hearing, Eric Schmitt suggested Jack Smith had met Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis at an Atlanta Hawks game and accused Smith of perjury. Smith said he had not attended a Hawks game; texts referring to a seat at the Iowa Hawkeyes’ venue and video appearing to show Smith at a Hawkeyes game supported the explanation that Schmitt had confused the teams. Amy Klobuchar intervened as the exchange unfolded.
The article reports that Benny Johnson and Sean Hannity initially praised Schmitt’s accusation, then deleted their posts. It also describes Josh Hawley accusing Smith of perjury and calling for him to be disbarred, and says John Kennedy helped Schmitt display a sign advancing the meeting claim.
Community verdict
4 VOTES
People in this story
SWIPE →
Senator who intervened during the hearing exchange
Senator pictured holding a sign with Schmitt advancing the meeting claim
Senator shown reacting to Smith’s explanation
Senator who accused Smith of perjury and called for his disbarment
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
Discussion · 0
Loading comments…