Jack Smith Hearing: Representative Jamie Raskin Criticises Republican Senator Over Political Stunt

Representative Jamie Raskin has criticised Republican Senator Eric Schmitt after a Senate hearing with former special counsel Jack Smith turned into a dispute over whether Smith had attended an Atlanta Hawks game or an Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball game.

Raskin, the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, accused Schmitt of turning the exchange into a political stunt aimed at helping Donald Trump. Speaking to CNN's Erin Burnett on Tuesday, 29 September, Raskin said Schmitt had 'basically disgraced himself' and called the episode a 'ridiculous little stunt'.

The criticism followed a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in which Schmitt questioned Smith about his whereabouts on 3 February 2024, suggesting text messages showed Smith had attended an Atlanta NBA game.

Schmitt's Question Centred on the 'Hawks'

Schmitt asked Smith whether he attended an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta on 3 February 2024. He said he had text messages from Smith's team indicating that Smith was in Atlanta for the game.

Smith denied attending the Atlanta game. He said he did not recall being in Atlanta as special counsel and instead remembered attending a University of Maryland women's basketball game involving Iowa star Caitlin Clark.

Schmitt briefly displayed a poster containing text messages that he said came from Smith's team. Smith asked to see the material again before explaining that he remembered attending a University of Maryland game involving Clark.

The game Smith described took place in College Park, Maryland, on 3 February 2024. Iowa defeated Maryland 93–85, with Clark scoring 38 points and recording 12 assists.

The Atlanta Hawks also played the Warriors that night, winning 141–134 in overtime. The two games involved different teams and took place in different states.

Klobuchar Challenges the Perjury Claim

The distinction became central when Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar suggested Schmitt may have confused the Iowa Hawkeyes with the Atlanta Hawks.

'Could it then be that University of Iowa is the Hawkeyes? Could that be it?' Klobuchar asked during the exchange.

Schmitt had warned Smith not to perjure himself before saying: 'I think you've already perjured yourself.' He later called Smith a 'total dirtbag' and a 'villain'.

When asked whether he still believed Smith had committed perjury, Schmitt said: 'We'll find out.'

Schmitt later defended his questioning, saying his role was to ask questions and get answers. He did not establish during the hearing that Smith had attended the Atlanta game.

The Fani Willis Connection

Schmitt's questioning also sought to connect Smith to former Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Nathan Wade, who had worked as a special prosecutor in the Georgia election case involving Trump.

Schmitt pointed to the timing of the Atlanta game, which occurred shortly after Willis acknowledged her relationship with Wade. His questioning suggested that Smith's alleged presence in Atlanta could have provided a connection to people involved in the Georgia case.

Smith's account placed him at the Maryland-Iowa game instead. The exchange therefore did not establish the Atlanta connection Schmitt was exploring.

The hearing did not establish that Smith had attended the Atlanta Hawks game or lied about doing so. It also does not resolve wider disputes surrounding his work as special counsel.

Raskin Attacks Schmitt's Approach

Raskin said Schmitt's handling of the exchange showed an eagerness to support Trump rather than establish facts about Smith's conduct.

'He's basically disgraced himself and identified himself with this ridiculous little stunt where he thought he was going to perform some major service to Donald Trump,' Raskin told CNN.

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee also challenged Schmitt's presentation. Klobuchar said Schmitt had used false information to imply that Smith was in another city and connected to events in Georgia.

Republicans, meanwhile, continued to argue that Smith's investigations and use of investigative powers warrant congressional scrutiny. The Senate hearing was formally focused on oversight of Smith's authority and his handling of investigations involving Trump.

The basketball exchange did not determine the wider disputes surrounding Smith's work, but left Schmitt facing questions over whether his questioning had conflated the Atlanta Hawks with the Iowa Hawkeyes.