Did Jack Smith Attend the Warriors-Hawks Game Eric Schmitt Asked About?
At a September 29 Senate hearing, Sen. Eric Schmitt asked Jack Smith whether he attended a February 2024 Atlanta Hawks game, in questions about Fani Willis. Smith said no and recalled a Maryland-Iowa game; Klobuchar said Schmitt had the teams wrong.
Claim in dispute
Sen. Eric Schmitt implied that Jack Smith attended a Golden State Warriors versus Atlanta Hawks NBA game in Atlanta on February 3, 2024, asking Smith whether he had gone to the game and displaying a poster of text messages he described as coming from Smith's team.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
This case is limited to one factual question: did Jack Smith attend the Golden State Warriors versus Atlanta Hawks game in Atlanta on February 3, 2024 that Sen. Eric Schmitt asked him about? It does not cover whether Smith's prosecutions of Donald Trump were proper, whether Smith targeted Republicans, or the wider claims made across the September 29, 2026 hearing, titled "Oversight of Jack Smith's Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans and Related Matters (opens in a new tab)," before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
In C-SPAN's clip of the exchange (opens in a new tab), Schmitt asks Smith, "Did you go to an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks on February 3rd, 2024?" and later tells him it was the day after Fani Willis and Nathan Wade "announced their affair." Smith answers "No," says he has no recollection of it, says he does not believe he was in Atlanta the next day, and adds, "I definitely did not go to a Hawks game. I'm sure of that." Asked whether he ever met Wade or Willis while special counsel, Smith says no. Schmitt then describes a series of text messages from Smith's team, displays a poster of them, says "I think you've already perjured yourself," and later says the messages concerned Smith wanting to meet with people connected to a prosecution Schmitt said was coordinated with an office in Atlanta. Klobuchar says the senators could not see what the poster said. As of September 29, 2026, we could not locate the text messages Schmitt displayed.
When Klobuchar asked that Smith be allowed to see the poster, Smith said that, if it referred to the correct game, he recalled going to "a University of Maryland basketball game where Caitlin Clark was playing right around that time," that it was Maryland playing Iowa in February 2024, and that the date could be checked. The only evidence we found that Smith attended a game that day is his own hedged testimony. Both games were played on the date Schmitt named: ESPN lists (opens in a new tab) Iowa's 93-85 win over Maryland at the Xfinity Center in College Park on February 3, 2024, and Basketball-Reference lists (opens in a new tab) a Warriors-Hawks game at State Farm Arena in Atlanta that day, which the Hawks won 141-134 in overtime.
Klobuchar asked whether the confusion could be over Iowa's Hawkeyes and, according to NBC News (opens in a new tab), said, "That might be the confusion over the names of the team." She later said people should have their facts straight before accusing someone of being a dirtbag and not get the teams wrong; Schmitt answered, "I stand by that statement," without saying which statement. At the end of her questioning time, Klobuchar said, according to NBC News and Raw Story (opens in a new tab), that for a senator to have false information and imply, based on a confusion about the name of a team, that Smith was in another city and involved in events in Georgia, and then call him a dirtbag, "is something that deserves an apology." Asked outside the hearing room whether he still thought Smith had perjured himself after learning the details of the game, Schmitt told NBC News, "We'll find out. That's going to be up to a prosecutor to determine. My job here today was to ask questions and get answers." As of the evening of September 29, 2026, we did not locate a statement from Schmitt or his office that addressed the team names.
People in this case
Eric SchmittDirectly involved
Amy KlobucharDirectly involved
Timeline
6 timeline entries on this page. Dates: February 3, 2024 to September 29, 2026
February 2024
1 event
Iowa beats Maryland in College Park while the Hawks host the Warriors in Atlanta
Incident
On February 3, 2024, Iowa beat Maryland 93-85 in a women's basketball game at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland, with Caitlin Clark scoring 38 points, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Golden State Warriors 141-134 in overtime at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Smith later told the Senate Judiciary Committee he recalled attending a Maryland game where Clark was playing around that time and said he did not go to a Hawks game.
[01]Iowa 93-85 Maryland (Feb 3, 2024) Final Score - ESPN
ESPN game page for the Iowa-Maryland women's basketball game played February 3, 2024 at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland.
Iowa 93-85 Maryland (Feb 3, 2024) Final Score - ESPNGame page: final score, venue and player statistics[02]Golden State Warriors at Atlanta Hawks Box Score, February 3, 2024
Basketball-Reference box score for the Warriors-Hawks NBA game played February 3, 2024 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Golden State Warriors at Atlanta Hawks Box Score, February 3, 2024Box score: date, arena and final score[03]Sen. Klobuchar Clashes with Sen. Schmitt After He Mistakenly Claims Jack Smith Attended NBA Game in Atlanta
Source excerpt
Did you go to an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks on February 3rd, 2024? ... I definitely did not go to a Hawks game. I'm sure of that. ... It was Maryland playing Iowa, I think, February of 2024. ... I think that people should have their facts straight before they accuse someone of being a dirtbag and not get the teams wrong. ... You had the teams wrong, sir.
C-SPAN video clip of the September 29, 2026 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at which Jack Smith testified. The clip covers Sen. Eric Schmitt's questions about Smith's attendance at a February 3, 2024 basketball game, Smith's denial and later clarification, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar's real-time correction. DI reviewed the audio directly to verify the exact wording of this exchange rather than relying on news paraphrase.
Sen. Klobuchar Clashes with Sen. Schmitt After He Mistakenly Claims Jack Smith Attended NBA Game in Atlanta · C-SPANClip runtime 0:00-7:11. Sen. Schmitt's opening question and the text-message poster exchange run from 0:00-1:35. Jack Smith's Maryland-Iowa clarification and Sen. Klobuchar's on-the-record correction run from approximately 5:20-7:11.
969 days between recorded events
September 2026
5 events
Schmitt asks Smith about a Warriors-Hawks game in Atlanta
Claim
Sen. Eric Schmitt asked Smith, "Did you go to an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks on February 3rd, 2024?" Smith said no and that he had no recollection of it. Schmitt then displayed a poster of text messages he described as coming from Smith's team and said, "I think you've already perjured yourself."
[03]Sen. Klobuchar Clashes with Sen. Schmitt After He Mistakenly Claims Jack Smith Attended NBA Game in Atlanta
Source excerpt
Did you go to an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks on February 3rd, 2024? ... I definitely did not go to a Hawks game. I'm sure of that. ... It was Maryland playing Iowa, I think, February of 2024. ... I think that people should have their facts straight before they accuse someone of being a dirtbag and not get the teams wrong. ... You had the teams wrong, sir.
C-SPAN video clip of the September 29, 2026 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at which Jack Smith testified. The clip covers Sen. Eric Schmitt's questions about Smith's attendance at a February 3, 2024 basketball game, Smith's denial and later clarification, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar's real-time correction. DI reviewed the audio directly to verify the exact wording of this exchange rather than relying on news paraphrase.
Sen. Klobuchar Clashes with Sen. Schmitt After He Mistakenly Claims Jack Smith Attended NBA Game in Atlanta · C-SPANClip runtime 0:00-7:11. Sen. Schmitt's opening question and the text-message poster exchange run from 0:00-1:35. Jack Smith's Maryland-Iowa clarification and Sen. Klobuchar's on-the-record correction run from approximately 5:20-7:11.Smith says he recalls a Maryland game where Caitlin Clark played
Claim
When Klobuchar asked that Smith be allowed to see the poster, Smith said that, if it referred to the correct game, he recalled attending a University of Maryland basketball game where Caitlin Clark was playing around that time, with the Marshals Service present, and said the date could be checked.
[03]Sen. Klobuchar Clashes with Sen. Schmitt After He Mistakenly Claims Jack Smith Attended NBA Game in Atlanta
Source excerpt
Did you go to an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks on February 3rd, 2024? ... I definitely did not go to a Hawks game. I'm sure of that. ... It was Maryland playing Iowa, I think, February of 2024. ... I think that people should have their facts straight before they accuse someone of being a dirtbag and not get the teams wrong. ... You had the teams wrong, sir.
C-SPAN video clip of the September 29, 2026 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at which Jack Smith testified. The clip covers Sen. Eric Schmitt's questions about Smith's attendance at a February 3, 2024 basketball game, Smith's denial and later clarification, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar's real-time correction. DI reviewed the audio directly to verify the exact wording of this exchange rather than relying on news paraphrase.
Sen. Klobuchar Clashes with Sen. Schmitt After He Mistakenly Claims Jack Smith Attended NBA Game in Atlanta · C-SPANClip runtime 0:00-7:11. Sen. Schmitt's opening question and the text-message poster exchange run from 0:00-1:35. Jack Smith's Maryland-Iowa clarification and Sen. Klobuchar's on-the-record correction run from approximately 5:20-7:11.Klobuchar says Schmitt had the teams wrong; Schmitt says he stands by a statement
Reaction
Sen. Amy Klobuchar said people should have their facts straight before accusing someone of being a dirtbag and not get the teams wrong. Schmitt responded, "I stand by that statement," without saying which statement.
[03]Sen. Klobuchar Clashes with Sen. Schmitt After He Mistakenly Claims Jack Smith Attended NBA Game in Atlanta
Source excerpt
Did you go to an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks on February 3rd, 2024? ... I definitely did not go to a Hawks game. I'm sure of that. ... It was Maryland playing Iowa, I think, February of 2024. ... I think that people should have their facts straight before they accuse someone of being a dirtbag and not get the teams wrong. ... You had the teams wrong, sir.
C-SPAN video clip of the September 29, 2026 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at which Jack Smith testified. The clip covers Sen. Eric Schmitt's questions about Smith's attendance at a February 3, 2024 basketball game, Smith's denial and later clarification, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar's real-time correction. DI reviewed the audio directly to verify the exact wording of this exchange rather than relying on news paraphrase.
Sen. Klobuchar Clashes with Sen. Schmitt After He Mistakenly Claims Jack Smith Attended NBA Game in Atlanta · C-SPANClip runtime 0:00-7:11. Sen. Schmitt's opening question and the text-message poster exchange run from 0:00-1:35. Jack Smith's Maryland-Iowa clarification and Sen. Klobuchar's on-the-record correction run from approximately 5:20-7:11.Klobuchar says the accusation deserved an apology
Reaction
At the end of her questioning time, Klobuchar said Iowa had played Maryland on February 3, 2024, and that for a senator to have false information and imply, based on a confusion about the name of a team, that Smith was involved in events in Georgia, and then call him a dirtbag, "is something that deserves an apology."
[04]Live updates: Jack Smith defends Trump investigations amid grilling from GOP senators
Source excerpt
We’ll find out. That’s going to be up to a prosecutor to determine. My job here today was to ask questions and get answers.
NBC News live blog entry reporting Schmitt's questions to Smith about the February 3, 2024 game, Klobuchar's closing remarks about the Iowa-Maryland game, and Schmitt's comments to NBC News outside the hearing room.
Live updates: Jack Smith defends Trump investigations amid grilling from GOP senators · NBC NewsLive blog entry on Sen. Eric Schmitt's exchange with Jack Smith, Sen. Amy Klobuchar's closing remarks and Schmitt's comments outside the hearing room[05]GOP senator buried in scorn as Jack Smith gotcha moment instantly falls apart
Source excerpt
The game was, in fact, in Maryland, Mr. Smith, and I would just say for a U.S. senator to have false information and imply, based on a confusion about the name of a team, which I knew, knowing my midwestern sports, and imply that you were in another city, that you were somehow involved that day in what was happening in Georgia and then call you a dirtbag is something that deserves an apology," Klobuchar added. "Thank you, Mr. Smith.
Raw Story reporting that quotes Sen. Klobuchar's closing remarks at the end of her questioning time, in which she confirmed the actual Iowa-Maryland game result and said the accusation deserved an apology.
GOP senator buried in scorn as Jack Smith gotcha moment instantly falls apart · Raw StoryParagraphs reporting Sen. Klobuchar's closing remarks as her questioning time endedSchmitt tells NBC News it is up to a prosecutor whether Smith perjured himself
Reaction
Asked outside the hearing room whether he still thought Smith had perjured himself after learning the details of the game, Schmitt told NBC News that it would be "up to a prosecutor to determine."
[04]Live updates: Jack Smith defends Trump investigations amid grilling from GOP senators
Source excerpt
We’ll find out. That’s going to be up to a prosecutor to determine. My job here today was to ask questions and get answers.
NBC News live blog entry reporting Schmitt's questions to Smith about the February 3, 2024 game, Klobuchar's closing remarks about the Iowa-Maryland game, and Schmitt's comments to NBC News outside the hearing room.
Live updates: Jack Smith defends Trump investigations amid grilling from GOP senators · NBC NewsLive blog entry on Sen. Eric Schmitt's exchange with Jack Smith, Sen. Amy Klobuchar's closing remarks and Schmitt's comments outside the hearing room
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Sen. Eric Schmitt implied that Jack Smith attended a Golden State Warriors versus Atlanta Hawks NBA game in Atlanta on February 3, 2024, asking Smith whether he had gone to the game and displaying a poster of text messages he described as coming from Smith's team.
Sources (1)
- Sen. Klobuchar Clashes with Sen. Schmitt After He Mistakenly Claims Jack Smith Attended NBA Game in Atlanta · C-SPANClip runtime 0:00-7:11. Sen. Schmitt's opening question and the text-message poster exchange run from 0:00-1:35. Jack Smith's Maryland-Iowa clarification and Sen. Klobuchar's on-the-record correction run from approximately 5:20-7:11.
Disputed claim
Sen. Eric Schmitt asserted that Jack Smith had already perjured himself, telling him, "I think you've already perjured yourself," after Smith said he did not go to a Hawks game.
Sources (1)
- Sen. Klobuchar Clashes with Sen. Schmitt After He Mistakenly Claims Jack Smith Attended NBA Game in Atlanta · C-SPANClip runtime 0:00-7:11. Sen. Schmitt's opening question and the text-message poster exchange run from 0:00-1:35. Jack Smith's Maryland-Iowa clarification and Sen. Klobuchar's on-the-record correction run from approximately 5:20-7:11.
Response record
Responses
Latest recorded positions: 4. Dates: September 29, 2026
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
1 response on this page
Amy KlobucharDirectly involved"And I would just say, for a U.S. senator to have false information and imply based on a confusion about the name of a team, which I knew, knowing my Midwestern sports, and imply that you were in another city, that you were somehow involved that day in what was happening in Georgia, and then call you a dirtbag is something that deserves an apology"
Open source (opens in a new tab)Live updates: Jack Smith defends Trump investigations amid grilling from GOP senators · NBC NewsLive blog entry on Sen. Eric Schmitt's exchange with Jack Smith, Sen. Amy Klobuchar's closing remarks and Schmitt's comments outside the hearing roomOpen source (opens in a new tab)GOP senator buried in scorn as Jack Smith gotcha moment instantly falls apart · Raw StoryParagraphs reporting Sen. Klobuchar's closing remarks as her questioning time endedCondemnedResponding to: Sen. Eric Schmitt implied that Jack Smith attended a Golden State Warriors versus Atlanta Hawks NBA game in Atlanta on February 3, 2024, asking Smith whether he had gone to the game and displaying a poster of text messages he described as coming from Smith's team.
Read more
At the end of her questioning time, Klobuchar said that for a senator to have false information and imply, based on a confusion about the name of a team, that Smith was in another city and involved in events in Georgia, and then call him a dirtbag, deserved an apology.
Role at the time: U.S. Senator, member of the Senate Judiciary Committee
Before the statement
Klobuchar told Smith, "We have confirmed that, in fact, you are right," and said Iowa had played Maryland on February 3, 2024 and won 93-85, with Caitlin Clark scoring over 30 points, according to NBC News.
After the statement
Klobuchar made the remarks as she wrapped up her questioning, NBC News reported. Asked outside the hearing room, Schmitt told NBC News it would be up to a prosecutor to determine whether Smith perjured himself.
Live updates: Jack Smith defends Trump investigations amid grilling from GOP senators · NBC NewsLive blog entry on Sen. Eric Schmitt's exchange with Jack Smith, Sen. Amy Klobuchar's closing remarks and Schmitt's comments outside the hearing roomGOP senator buried in scorn as Jack Smith gotcha moment instantly falls apart · Raw StoryParagraphs reporting Sen. Klobuchar's closing remarks as her questioning time endedWhy this label?
Klobuchar explicitly criticizes Schmitt's conduct in making the accusation, calling for an apology rather than simply noting the factual error.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(5)
Original video
Sen. Klobuchar Clashes with Sen. Schmitt After He Mistakenly Claims Jack Smith Attended NBA Game in Atlanta
Relevant passage: Clip runtime 0:00-7:11. Sen. Schmitt's opening question and the text-message poster exchange run from 0:00-1:35. Jack Smith's Maryland-Iowa clarification and Sen. Klobuchar's on-the-record correction run from approximately 5:20-7:11.
Excerpt
"Did you go to an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks on February 3rd, 2024? ... I definitely did not go to a Hawks game. I'm sure of that. ... It was Maryland playing Iowa, I think, February of 2024. ... I think that people should have their facts straight before they accuse someone of being a dirtbag and not get the teams wrong. ... You had the teams wrong, sir."
About this source
C-SPAN video clip of the September 29, 2026 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing at which Jack Smith testified. The clip covers Sen. Eric Schmitt's questions about Smith's attendance at a February 3, 2024 basketball game, Smith's denial and later clarification, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar's real-time correction. DI reviewed the audio directly to verify the exact wording of this exchange rather than relying on news paraphrase.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Golden State Warriors at Atlanta Hawks Box Score, February 3, 2024
Relevant passage: Box score: date, arena and final score
About this source
Basketball-Reference box score for the Warriors-Hawks NBA game played February 3, 2024 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Iowa 93-85 Maryland (Feb 3, 2024) Final Score - ESPN
Relevant passage: Game page: final score, venue and player statistics
About this source
ESPN game page for the Iowa-Maryland women's basketball game played February 3, 2024 at the Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Live updates: Jack Smith defends Trump investigations amid grilling from GOP senators
Relevant passage: Live blog entry on Sen. Eric Schmitt's exchange with Jack Smith, Sen. Amy Klobuchar's closing remarks and Schmitt's comments outside the hearing room
Excerpt
"We’ll find out. That’s going to be up to a prosecutor to determine. My job here today was to ask questions and get answers."
About this source
NBC News live blog entry reporting Schmitt's questions to Smith about the February 3, 2024 game, Klobuchar's closing remarks about the Iowa-Maryland game, and Schmitt's comments to NBC News outside the hearing room.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
GOP senator buried in scorn as Jack Smith gotcha moment instantly falls apart
Relevant passage: Paragraphs reporting Sen. Klobuchar's closing remarks as her questioning time ended
Excerpt
"The game was, in fact, in Maryland, Mr. Smith, and I would just say for a U.S. senator to have false information and imply, based on a confusion about the name of a team, which I knew, knowing my midwestern sports, and imply that you were in another city, that you were somehow involved that day in what was happening in Georgia and then call you a dirtbag is something that deserves an apology," Klobuchar added. "Thank you, Mr. Smith."
About this source
Raw Story reporting that quotes Sen. Klobuchar's closing remarks at the end of her questioning time, in which she confirmed the actual Iowa-Maryland game result and said the accusation deserved an apology.
- Author
- Travis Gettys
- Published
- Accessed