On Tuesday, Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) questioned former special counsel Jack Smith during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Schmitt’s line of inquiry aimed to establish whether Smith had attended a basketball game in Atlanta, which the Senator suggested could indicate coordination between Smith and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis regarding legal actions against Donald Trump.

The questioning became a point of confusion when Smith clarified that the game he attended featured Caitlin Clark in Maryland, rather than an NBA game in Georgia. The Washington Examiner reports that the mix-up occurred when Schmitt appeared to conflate different teams or locations, specifically referencing the "Hawks" or "Hawkeyes." The Hill notes that the exchange was significant enough to prompt a response from Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) during the proceedings.

While both outlets agree that the questioning was derailed by the confusion over the basketball game, they differ in their characterization of the event. The Hill focuses on the Senator’s attempt to link Smith to Fani Willis as the primary intent of the questioning. Conversely, the Washington Examiner emphasizes the specific details of the mix-up, highlighting Smith’s correction regarding Caitlin Clark and the location of the game. The incident highlights the ongoing scrutiny of the special counsel’s activities by Republican members of the committee.