Klobuchar Rips Schmitt Over Botched Jack Smith Hearing: 'Don't Call Someone a Dirtbag When You Don't Have Your Own Facts Right'

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is hammering Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) after the Missouri Republican's high-profile interrogation of former Special Counsel Jack Smith backfired spectacularly, exposing a major factual error in Schmitt's line of questioning. The clash, which unfolded during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, has become a flashpoint in the ongoing political battle over the prosecution of former President Donald Trump.

What happened during the Senate hearing?

During Tuesday's hearing, Schmitt aggressively questioned Smith about his whereabouts on February 4, 2024. Schmitt suggested Smith had attended an Atlanta Hawks NBA game that night, insinuating a connection to some unspecified conspiracy. Smith, under oath, flatly denied being in Atlanta, clarifying that he was actually at a women's college basketball game between Maryland and Iowa, roughly 550 miles away.

The exchange quickly unraveled when Klobuchar, who was presiding, stepped in to correct the record. Schmitt abruptly ended his questioning, but not before calling Smith a 'dirtbag' and accusing him of potential perjury.

Klobuchar explains the 'Hawks' mix-up

Speaking on CNN after the hearing, Klobuchar revealed the likely source of Schmitt's confusion: Iowans commonly refer to the University of Iowa's Hawkeyes as 'the Hawks' for short.

'And then, sure enough, Jack Smith said that he'd been at an Iowa-Maryland game and he went to see Caitlin Clark,' Klobuchar said. 'My lesson from all of it is: Don't ask questions when you don't know the answer. Don't have hearings.'

Smith, the former special counsel who oversaw two federal cases against Trump, attended the game to watch Iowa star Caitlin Clark, a fact that undercut Schmitt's entire premise.

Schmitt defends his questioning, but facts don't add up

Schmitt, 51, has not apologized for the error. Instead, he attempted to laugh it off in a separate CNN appearance.

'Who knew Jack Smith was a Caitlin Clark fan?' Schmitt said. 'Listen, we had information he was at a basketball game. There was only one NBA game that night at 7:30 tip-off, which was why I asked him if he was in Atlanta. He answered the question. So that's what these hearings are for.'

However, Schmitt's defense crumbles under scrutiny. Records show that six NBA games were played on February 4, 2024, not just one. His claim that there was a single game that night is factually incorrect.

Klobuchar demands an apology

Klobuchar was unsparing in her criticism of Schmitt's conduct, arguing that his botched line of questioning reflects a broader problem within the MAGA movement's approach to oversight.

'He accused Jack Smith of perjury in the moment and said don't perjure yourself. And then he ended his questions by calling him a dirtbag,' Klobuchar told CNN. 'My point was, don't call someone a dirtbag when you don't have your own facts right.'

She went further, suggesting that Republicans are chasing conspiracy theories instead of focusing on substantive issues.

'You are trying in your kind of MAGA conspiracy world to come up with this crazy thing that he was in a city that he wasn't in, that he was at a game, and he had the wrong league and the wrong state and the wrong city,' she said. 'That is the problem about right now with what's going on in this Donald Trump world.'

Klobuchar also pointed to what she sees as a distraction from more pressing matters, including Trump's pardons of individuals convicted of assaulting police officers on January 6, 2021.

What does this mean for Iowa?

For Iowa readers, this exchange hits close to home. The Hawkeyes' basketball program, led by Caitlin Clark, has been a source of statewide pride. The idea that a U.S. Senator confused the Iowa Hawkeyes with the Atlanta Hawks is both embarrassing and revealing, highlighting how out of touch some Washington figures can be with the heartland.

Schmitt's office did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Frequently asked questions about the Schmitt-Klobuchar clash

Did Jack Smith commit perjury during the hearing?

No. Smith testified under oath that he attended a Maryland-Iowa women's basketball game, not an Atlanta Hawks game. His testimony was accurate, and no evidence has emerged to suggest otherwise.

Was Eric Schmitt's claim about the NBA schedule correct?

No. Schmitt claimed there was only one NBA game on February 4, 2024, but records show six games were played that night. His factual basis for the questioning was flawed.

Has Eric Schmitt apologized for the error?

No. Schmitt has defended his line of questioning and has not apologized to Smith or corrected the record.