Republican Senator’s Atlanta Conspiracy Theory Backfires in Heated Hearing

Senator Schmitt's false claims about Jack Smith's whereabouts spark backlash during congressional hearing.

September 30, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — A Republican senator’s attempt to challenge the credibility of a former special counsel collapsed during a tense congressional session on Tuesday, as his claims were quickly debunked by colleagues.

Senate member Eric Schmitt accused Jack Smith, the former special counsel, of perjury and called him a “dirtbag,” citing a conspiracy theory that suggested Smith had met with Georgia prosecutors at an NBA game in Atlanta. However, the evidence he presented was found to be misleading, with the event actually taking place in Maryland.

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During the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Schmitt attempted to use a poster board containing text messages to support his allegations, but the details were incorrect. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar corrected him, noting that the game in question involved the Iowa Hawkeyes, not the Hawks, and took place in College Park, Maryland. The exchange highlighted the broader political tensions surrounding Smith’s role in investigating former President Donald Trump.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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