A U.S. Senator tried to nail a special counsel for perjury on Tuesday, but it turns out the real bombshell involved Caitlin Clark and a serious basketball mix-up. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. attorney Jack Smith, who spent more than two years as a Department of Justice special counsel investigating then-former president Donald Trump, found himself caught in a bizarre basketball-related line of questioning from U.S. senator Eric Schmitt that went viral.
When “Hawks” Means Hawkeyes, And Senators Get Confused
The whole wild ride started when Senator Schmitt, in an attempt to link Smith to a separate investigation by Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis, claimed he had texts proving Smith was in Atlanta in early February 2024. “What would you say if I had a series of text messages from your team that said you were in Atlanta at a Warriors-Hawks game on Feb. 3, 2024, the day after Willis and [former special prosecutor Nathan Wade] announced their affair?” Schmitt pressed Smith. Smith, understandably confused, flat-out denied being at an Atlanta Hawks game. The twist? Those “Hawks” texts weren’t about the NBA’s Atlanta squad at all. They were actually talking about the Iowa Hawkeyes. That’s right, a high-stakes Senate hearing got derailed by a college basketball reference. Smith, clearly vexed, finally remembered he *was* at a “Hawkeyes” game in Maryland.
Clark Dropped 38 Points, And A Senator Admitted Defeat
So, what game *did* Jack Smith actually attend? It was indeed a “Hawks” game on Feb. 3, 2024, but it was the Iowa Hawkeyes playing Maryland on the road in College Park. Once Smith reviewed the evidence, the lightbulb went off, and he recalled being at the Iowa-Maryland matchup that day. After the whole snafu, Senator Schmitt, representing Missouri, accepted that Smith is a “Caitlin Clark fan.” Schmitt even said, “That’s what these hearings are for. You ask questions, you get answers. You know, Jack Smith has perjured himself before, but if he says he’s at the game, maybe he’s a Caitlin Clark fan. We’ll accept that.” And if Smith wanted to see Clark at her best, he got a show! Then a senior for the Hawkeyes, Clark absolutely exploded for 38 points and dished out 12 assists in a 93-85 road win over Maryland. Iowa jumped out to a 14-point lead by halftime and held strong against a late push by the Terrapins. Internet sleuths even dug up broadcast proof of Smith chilling in Section 109, Row 1, during a replay of Clark’s first 3-pointer from that game. Talk about a courtside seat to history, even if it led to a Senate mix-up!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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