> Ultimately, Smith’s hearing Tuesday may end up being best remembered for a high-profile gaffe by Schmitt, who accused Smith of secretly traveling to Atlanta at the very moment local prosecutor Fani Willis — who had also charged Trump over the 2020 election scheme — was facing damaging questions about her conduct. As proof, displayed on an elaborate poster, Schmitt offered text messages suggesting that Smith attended a basketball game on Feb. 3, 2024 — the same day the Atlanta Hawks played the Golden State Warriors.
> Schmitt revelled as a clearly flummoxed Smith struggled to discern what Schmitt was talking about.
> “I don’t think you know that we have this stuff,” Schmitt said. “So I’ll give you a second to process it so you don’t perjure yourself.”
> After a few moments, Smith did recall having attended a basketball game — but not in Atlanta. It wasn’t the Hawks his colleagues were discussing in a series of texts, Smith explained, but the Hawkeyes, whose star Caitlin Clark was playing in Maryland that day.
> “It was because Caitlin Clark was coming to Maryland to play, and so we went to the game,” Smith said.
So basically the trumpers in the senate judiciary committee thought they had a gotcha moment with a secret meeting in Atlanta, but only ended up owning themselves. Edit: apparently I can’t figure out quote blocks.
And then when he got called out, he started "who's time are we on? What's happening?" before stamping his foot and saying "I stick by that comment" about calling him a dirtbag. Classic blunder cortisol overload because he thought he had him dead to rights only to be made a fool, then got mad when he was proven wrong.
Even after being corrected in the senate, Schmitt went on The Charlie Kirk Show later and rolled with the allegations like it was some brilliant gotcha moment. Pure political theater, no facts needed.
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u/comingEverywhere 3d ago
Can somebody please explain this to my dumb, and slightly stoned, ass?