Raskin rips Schmitt questioning of Jack Smith: ‘He’s basically disgraced himself’
Schmitt questioned Jack Smith about a basketball game, defended his inquiry, and criticized Smith during the hearing.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYThe Hill is an established national news outlet with attributed reporting and a named author. The text does not provide enough information to assess its corrections practices directly.
- Source type — Established national news publisher.
- Author attribution — A named author is credited.
- Editorial standards — The article attributes statements to named participants and reports Schmitt's response.
The article identifies the participants, recounts the exchange, and includes Schmitt’s defense as well as criticism from other senators. Much of the account centers on statements and interpretations of the hearing, with limited independent context.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The account gives substantial space to criticism of Schmitt but includes his stated rationale and response. It offers little additional context beyond the hearing exchange and participants’ reactions.
- Source diversity — The article includes Raskin, Schmitt, Hirono, and Schiff, but the critical views largely come from Democrats.
- Counterarguments presented — Schmitt's defense of his questioning and his response on possible perjury are included.
- Loaded language — Loaded descriptions are quoted and attributed rather than presented as the article's own judgment.
- Omitted context — The report provides limited independent context for the underlying hearing exchange.
The article reports criticism of Schmitt but also includes his stated defense and does not adopt either side’s claims as its own. Its language is largely attributed rather than editorialized.
- Language tone — Most charged descriptions are direct quotations attributed to Raskin or other participants.
- Source selection — The article includes criticism from several Democrats and Schmitt’s response.
- Framing — The focus is Raskin’s criticism of Schmitt’s hearing questions, consistent with the headline.
Rep. Jamie Raskin criticized Sen. Eric Schmitt over his questioning of former special counsel Jack Smith at a hearing, after Schmitt appeared to confuse two basketball games. Schmitt defended his questioning, while other senators also challenged his account.
Raskin told CNN that Schmitt had disgraced himself with what Raskin called a stunt intended to serve Donald Trump. Schmitt had asked Smith about attending a February 2024 Atlanta game involving the Hawks and Golden State Warriors; Smith said he had attended an Iowa Hawkeyes game in Maryland instead. Schmitt’s staff displayed texts about seat numbers, and Schmitt later called Smith a “dirtbag” and a “villain.”
Schmitt said he was doing his job by asking questions and said “we’ll see” about whether Smith perjured himself. Sen. Mazie Hirono accused Schmitt of promoting a false narrative, and Sen. Adam Schiff said Schmitt appeared to hope to catch Smith in a false statement. Raskin said he did not expect Schmitt to apologize.
Community verdict
8 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →House Judiciary Committee ranking member criticizing Schmitt's questioning
Raskin's version of this story ↗Former subject of the election interference case referenced by Schmitt
Senator who commented on Schmitt's questioning
Senator who criticized Schmitt's account
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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