Klobuchar says Schmitt's accusation and dirtbag remark deserve an apology
Amy KlobucharU.S. Senator, member of the Senate Judiciary Committee
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.
Responding 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.
“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”
Reporting
Reporting
Other statements by Amy Klobuchar in this case
- Klobuchar says people should have their facts straight before calling someone a dirtbagSame day: Challenged the characterization
Where this statement fits
Did Jack Smith Attend the Warriors-Hawks Game Eric Schmitt Asked About?
At a September 29, 2026 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on his conduct as special counsel, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) asked former special counsel Jack Smith, "Did you go to an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks on February 3rd, 2024?" Schmitt described the date as the day after Fani Willis and Nathan Wade "announced their affair," displayed a poster of text messages he described as coming from Smith's team, and said, "I think you've already perjured yourself." Smith said he definitely did not go to a Hawks game and had no recollection of going to Atlanta. He later said that, if the poster referred to the correct game, he recalled attending a University of Maryland basketball game where Caitlin Clark was playing around that time, and that the date could be checked. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said Schmitt had the teams wrong and, at the end of her questioning time, that the accusation deserved an apology. Schmitt said "I stand by that statement" without specifying which statement, and told NBC News after the hearing that whether Smith perjured himself would be "up to a prosecutor to determine." The dispute is whether Smith attended the game Schmitt named.
Source and context
Reporting
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.
Reporting
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.
Before the quotation
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 quotation
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.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Klobuchar explicitly criticizes Schmitt's conduct in making the accusation, calling for an apology rather than simply noting the factual error.
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- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Eric Schmitt
More from this case
Read the full caseDurbin asks Grassley to apologize to Smith
“apologize to Mr. Smith on behalf of the Committee for the unacceptable personal attacks and false accusations of perjury”Read statement
Schmitt tells NBC News it is "up to a prosecutor to determine" whether Smith perjured himself
“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.”Read statement
Schmitt defends the poster of text messages and says "I stand by that statement"
“I presented him with text messages about him wanting to meet with people that could have obviously been related to the prosecution that was coordinated with his office in Atlanta. ... I stand by that statement.”Read statement
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- Klobuchar says Schmitt's accusation and dirtbag remark deserve an apology
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The Dispute Index. "Klobuchar says Schmitt's accusation and dirtbag remark deserve an apology". First published: 2026-09-29. Last updated: 2026-09-29. https://disputeindex.com/events/3293-at-the-end-of-her-questioning-time-klobuchar