MAGA senator throws tantrum after epic gaffe in Jack Smith hearing: ‘Quote me on it!'

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) was hounded by reporters Tuesday after his “gotcha” moment targeting former special counsel Jack Smith fell apart in a Senate hearing — and responded by accusing Smith of being a liar.

Smith was testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee about his investigations into President Donald Trump when Schmitt falsely accused Smith of meeting with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis at a basketball game in Atlanta in early 2024, sharing images of texts he argued to be proof of his claim.

Smith admitted to attending a basketball game around that time — but noted it was in Maryland, not Georgia, leaving critics to suspect Schmitt had confused the Atlanta Hawks with the Iowa Hawkeyes.

“Do you think it's possible you had your information wrong?” Schmitt was asked in the hallway after the hearing.

Schmitt, who during the hearing suggested Smith had perjured himself by denying having attended the basketball game in Atlanta, dodged the question by paraphrasing what he had asked Smith.

Reporters continued to press Schmitt, asking him if it was still his position that Smith had, in fact, attended the basketball game in Atlanta.

“There was one game that night at 7:30 that tipped off when he was in Atlanta, so I asked him if he was in Atlanta that night, and he said he wasn't,” Schmitt said.

When reminded that Smith said he had been “at a game in Maryland,” Schmitt responded, “Correct, that's what he said. I asked him if he was in Atlanta, he said he was in Maryland. He's lied before!

“The texts were related to him being at a basketball game that night. I asked him if he was in Atlanta — he said he was not in Atlanta. Jack Smith has lied before, he tried to jail the president of the United States. I have no sympathy for Jack Smith, he's a total dirtbag — quote me on it!”