Eric Schmitt accused Jack Smith of perjury at a Senate hearing. Then Amy Klobuchar called out a glaring error in his accusation: 'Deserves an apology'
Klobuchar said Schmitt had the teams wrong and should apologize to Smith for accusing him.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYWe Got This Covered is identified as a trade-press publisher, and the page names an author, but the article offers limited detail about the outlet’s editorial standards or corrections practices. Its reporting relies in part on other outlets’ accounts and interviews.
- Source type — Trade-press classification suggests a niche publisher rather than a major general-news organization.
- Source transparency — The article identifies other outlets for some reporting but provides little description of its own reporting process.
- Author attribution — A named author is credited.
- Editorial standards — The page provides no clear evidence here about corrections practices or editorial safeguards.
The article gives accounts and quotations from Smith, Schmitt and Klobuchar, and reports that Schmitt later defended his claim. Its sourcing is partly attributed to other outlets, and the presentation contains a confusing passage that appears to blur Klobuchar’s comment with Schmitt’s earlier remarks.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article presents Smith’s account, Klobuchar’s criticism and Schmitt’s accusation and later defense. The framing gives greater emphasis to the error and the call for an apology, and Schmitt’s office is reported not to have responded to questions.
- Source diversity — The story includes statements from Schmitt, Smith and Klobuchar, along with accounts attributed to other outlets.
- Counterarguments presented — Schmitt’s accusation and later defense are included, as is Smith’s account of where he was.
- Framing — The headline and narrative emphasize the apparent error and Klobuchar’s criticism.
- Omitted context — The article says Schmitt’s office did not immediately answer questions about the information he used.
The article’s framing emphasizes the error in Schmitt’s accusation and Klobuchar’s demand for an apology. It includes Schmitt’s later defense, but the overall presentation is unfavorable to him.
- Headline — The headline spotlights Klobuchar calling out an error and says the accusation deserves an apology.
- Framing — The narrative centers on the mistaken team details and the criticism of Schmitt.
- Source selection — The article includes statements from both sides, including Schmitt’s later response.
- Language tone — The account repeats strongly critical language, while attributing it to the speakers.
At a Senate hearing, Eric Schmitt accused Jack Smith of lying under oath about attending an Atlanta basketball game, but Amy Klobuchar said Schmitt had the teams wrong and owed Smith an apology. Schmitt later said Smith still could have lied.
At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Schmitt questioned Smith about whether he had been in Atlanta for a Warriors-Hawks game on Feb. 3, 2024, and accused him of lying under oath. Smith said he was not in Atlanta and had attended a women’s college basketball game in Maryland instead.
Klobuchar challenged Schmitt’s accusation, saying he had confused the teams and should have his facts straight before calling Smith a “dirtbag.” She said Schmitt owed Smith an apology. Schmitt later told HuffPost that Smith could have lied, while noting that Atlanta was the only NBA or men’s college basketball game at 7:30 that night.
Community verdict
7 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Senator who accused Smith of lying under oath at a hearing
Schmitt's version of this story ↗Senator who declined to comment on the exchange
Part of a bigger story
5 OUTLETSAt a Senate hearing, Eric Schmitt questioned Jack Smith about an alleged Atlanta basketball game. Amy Klobuchar said Schmitt may have confused the Atlanta Hawks with the Iowa Hawkeyes. Left-leaning outlets foreground Schmitt's insult alongside Klobuchar's correction. Center outlets focus on the possible team mix-up and Klobuchar's challenge to Schmitt's account.
- ARTICLES
- 5
- OUTLETS
- 5
- AVG CRED
- 68
- Los Angeles Times · Commentary: Senator flubs gotcha moment by mixing up sports teams. A woman steps in to correct him
- The Independent · Senator reveals the moment she knew viral Jack Smith gotcha was a slow-mo train wreck
- The Hill · Eric Schmitt seems to confuse basketball teams in attempt to link Jack Smith, Fani Willis
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