{"id":2170773,"date":"2026-09-29T23:10:40","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T20:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2170773"},"modified":"2026-09-29T23:10:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T20:10:40","slug":"sen-eric-schmitt-says-botched-gotcha-moment-in-jack-smith-hearing-wasnt-embarassing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2170773","title":{"rendered":"Sen. Eric Schmitt Says Botched &#8216;Gotcha&#8217; Moment in Jack Smith Hearing Wasn&#8217;t Embarassing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/71\/16by9\/2026\/09\/29\/7133007f4dab44069a28f6207047810d_xl.png&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"article article--permalink article--sponsor-internal sponsor-tmz-in-dc\">\n<header class=\"article__header\">\n<h2 class=\"article__header--headline-fragments\"><span class=\"article__header--hf1 text-uppercase h3\">Sen. Eric Schmitt<\/span><span class=\"article__header--hf2 text-uppercase h1\">Jack Smith Hawks Mix-Up Wasn&#8217;t Embarassing &#8230;<\/span><span class=\"article__header--hf3 text-titlecase h2\">I Just Ask Questions!!!<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"social-media-container\" role=\"region\">\n<ul class=\"social social--sm\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"media-swipe\">Exclusive<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"social-item\">\n<li class=\"social-item\">\n<li class=\"social-item\"><\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tmz.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"google-preferred-btn js-track-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"google-preferred-btn__icon\" src=\"https:\/\/static.tmz.com\/tmz-web\/img\/article\/google-icon.svg\" alt=\"Google\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"google-preferred-btn__title\">Add TMZ on Google<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"byline\">By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/pages\/about\/\">TMZ Staff<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"date-wrapper\">\n                                                                        Published <time class=\"published-datetime\" datetime=\"2026-09-29T16:10:40-07:00\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/sitemaps\/article\/202609\"><br \/>\n                September 29, 2026<br \/>\n                <\/a><br \/>\n                            4:10 PM PDT<\/time><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article__blocks clearfix\">\n<section id=\"cb-67dbd4429c396d5e2688791c2858f808\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-video-block canvas-video-block-permalink canvas-video-block--default  canvas-block-is-first \">\n<div class=\"video-block\">\n<div class=\"ratio ratio-16x9\">\n<div id=\"video-player-4e457117-4b5d-4114-bfa5-bae9f318196f-263793196-image-holder\" class=\"ratio ratio-item video-block__image-holder\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/be\/16by9\/2026\/09\/29\/be98dd52011f437d9726cb07aa61bab0_md.png\" alt=\"092926 eric schmidt kal\" width=\"728\" height=\"410\" class=\"img-fluid\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer id=\"video-player-4e457117-4b5d-4114-bfa5-bae9f318196f-263793196-footer\" class=\"media-footer video-block__media-footer\"><span class=\"media-launch-text video-block__media-launch-text\">DOUBLING DOWN<\/span><\/footer>\n<div class=\"video-block__media-info\">\n<div class=\"video-block__media-permalink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/watch\/eric-schmidt-addresses-jack-smith-questioning-09-29-2026\/\">Video: Sen. Eric Schmitt Defends Botched \u2018Gotcha\u2019 Moment During Jack Smith Hearing<\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"media-credit video-block__media-credit\">TMZ DC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-7c8ada244cc6acf09e78e2cb8c9d2fcc\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;permalink&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;text_block&quot;}\">\n<p>Senator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/people\/eric-schmitt\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Eric Schmitt<\/strong><\/a>&#8216;s standing behind his line of questioning in the <strong>Jack Smith<\/strong> hearing &#8230; even though it seems his &#8220;gotcha&#8221; moment totally backfired.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-cfb6f3874daa5dbfe1480dacbb28b97f\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;permalink&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;text_block&quot;}\">\n<p>Here&#8217;s the deal &#8230; during a Senate hearing Tuesday morning, Senator Schmitt asked former Special Counsel Smith if he went to an Atlanta Hawks game on February 3, 2024.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-9be11d5e3f51d18ae5000040615612b3\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-video-block canvas-video-block-permalink canvas-video-block--default  \">\n<div class=\"video-block\">\n<div class=\"ratio ratio-16x9\">\n<div id=\"video-player-41454dda-35a9-4461-a039-ac58cab0dbb9-1261549084-image-holder\" class=\"ratio ratio-item video-block__image-holder\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/67\/16by9\/2026\/09\/29\/6721353d19bb4bfab8b497d91f6c2010_md.png\" alt=\"092926_eric_schmitt_jack_smith_kal\" width=\"728\" height=\"410\" class=\"img-fluid\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<footer id=\"video-player-41454dda-35a9-4461-a039-ac58cab0dbb9-1261549084-footer\" class=\"media-footer video-block__media-footer\"><span class=\"media-launch-text video-block__media-launch-text\">BLINDSIDED BY EVIDENCE?<\/span><\/footer>\n<div class=\"video-block__media-info\">\n<div class=\"video-block__media-permalink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/watch\/eric-schmidt-questions-jack-smith-over-attending-hawkeyes-game-09-29-2026\/\">Video: Sen. Eric Schmitt Confuses Atlanta Hawks Game for Caitlin Clark\u2019s Iowa Game in Jack Smith Hearing<\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"media-credit video-block__media-credit\">C-SPAN<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-2d51327064727ff2940f4b6d022b6ac0\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;permalink&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;text_block&quot;}\">\n<p>Smith told him no and seemed totally puzzled &#8230; and Sen. Schmitt seemed to gloat a bit &#8212; claiming at one point that the dude might&#8217;ve just perjured himself and insisting they had text messages about him going to a basketball game that night.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-a0a299fe77e0808fc1c4deba3399539c\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;permalink&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;text_block&quot;}\">\n<p>Unfortunately for the senator, Smith attended a basketball game &#8230; a college women&#8217;s game featuring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/people\/caitlin-clark\/\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Caitlin Clark<\/strong><\/a>&#8216;s Iowa Hawkeyes &#8212; not the Hawks.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-790209096e8c82af920086fb303d54b7\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;permalink&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;text_block&quot;}\">\n<p>Other senators called out Schmitt at the hearing after the mix-up &#8230; and said he should be embarassed. Well, he&#8217;s not.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-17db2b4503905a8254e662731432141a\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;permalink&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;text_block&quot;}\">\n<p>Charlie caught up with Schmitt shortly after the hearing &#8230; and he&#8217;s insisting he&#8217;s not embarrassed &#8212; claiming over and over again that he only asked if Jack was in Atlanta, and repeatedly claiming Smith is a liar.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-c464671a11930b4106dd63549acc42a0\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-image-block canvas-image-block-permalink canvas-image-block--default  \">\n<div class=\"image-block\"><a class=\"js-click-image js-track-link image-lightbox-preview\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:image-asset:image_jpg_20260510_0846a57535b2409eb2115c7ce2483eea\" data-container-ref=\"tmz:article:3f426180-9c3e-4c9a-8d72-2f05e35328ff\" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;permalink&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;image&quot;}\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/08\/4by3\/2026\/05\/10\/0846a57535b2409eb2115c7ce2483eea_md.jpg\" alt=\"caitlin clark getty 1\" width=\"728\" height=\"546\" class=\"img-fluid image-block__img-fluid img-aspect-auto\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"image-block__card-footer\"><span class=\"media-credit image-block__media-credit\">Getty<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-94dc2cd6d22ae34bf7f1fd080b3cd0ae\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;permalink&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;text_block&quot;}\">\n<p>He repeats that Smith was at a basketball game &#8230; and people should question if he really went to the one he says. When Charlie mentions there are pics of him there, Schmitt gets a little exasperated.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-58a0139d5905db4457892641ff1cf264\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  canvas-block-is-last \" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;permalink&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;text_block&quot;}\">\n<p>Schmitt keeps telling Charlie the only NBA game that night was in Atlanta, so that&#8217;s why he asked &#8230; but he might want to double-check the schedule.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<ul class=\"social social--permalink\">\n<li class=\"social__item social__item--3items\"><a class=\"btn social__btn social__btn--facebook js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/09\/29\/eric-schmitt-says-gotcha-moment-was-not-embarrassing\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:3f426180-9c3e-4c9a-8d72-2f05e35328ff\" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;main&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;facebook-footer&quot;,&quot;pos&quot;:1}\"><br \/>\n                Share<span class=\"social__hide-sm\"> on Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"social__item social__item--3items\"><a class=\"btn social__btn social__btn--x js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/09\/29\/eric-schmitt-says-gotcha-moment-was-not-embarrassing\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:3f426180-9c3e-4c9a-8d72-2f05e35328ff\" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;main&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;twitter-footer&quot;,&quot;pos&quot;:2}\"><br \/>\n                Share<span class=\"social__hide-sm\"> on X<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"social__item social__item--3items\"><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"related-articles\">\n<header class=\"card-section-header related-articles__card-section-header\">\n<h3 class=\"card-section-title related-articles__card-section-title\">\n              Related articles<br \/>\n            <\/h3>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"row related-articles__row\">\n<div class=\"col related-articles__col\">\n<article class=\"related-articles__card\"><a class=\"related-articles__card-link js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/08\/06\/senator-eric-schmitt-says-president-trump-doesnt-cheat-at-golf\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:3f426180-9c3e-4c9a-8d72-2f05e35328ff\" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;main&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;related-article&quot;,&quot;pos&quot;:1}\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"related-articles__card-img ratio\">\n<div class=\"ratio-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/ba\/16by9\/2026\/08\/06\/ba9b40ba36fd47d7b2161a8f8f1558fe_xs.png\" alt=\"080626 trump golf primary\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"img-fluid\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"related-articles__card-body\">\n<h4 class=\"related-articles__card-title\">\n                        Senator Eric Schmitt Swears President Trump Doesn&#8217;t Cheat at Golf<br \/>\n                      <\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col related-articles__col\">\n<article class=\"related-articles__card\"><a class=\"related-articles__card-link js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/09\/17\/judge-judy-wants-lindsay-clancy-retrial\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:3f426180-9c3e-4c9a-8d72-2f05e35328ff\" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;main&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;related-article&quot;,&quot;pos&quot;:2}\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"related-articles__card-img ratio\">\n<div class=\"ratio-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/67\/16by9\/2026\/09\/17\/67829f9e14ab4da9b94b2f444fc7dee1_xs.png\" alt=\"091726 judy prim\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"img-fluid\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"related-articles__card-body\">\n<h4 class=\"related-articles__card-title\">\n                        Judge Judy Says There&#8217;s Danger in Not Retrying Lindsay Clancy For Murder<br \/>\n                      <\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col related-articles__col\">\n<article class=\"related-articles__card\"><a class=\"related-articles__card-link js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/09\/05\/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-dishes-on-fetility-treatments\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:3f426180-9c3e-4c9a-8d72-2f05e35328ff\" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;main&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;related-article&quot;,&quot;pos&quot;:3}\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"related-articles__card-img ratio\">\n<div class=\"ratio-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/59\/16by9\/2026\/09\/04\/59c4dd431e9c49ab9109d8d19df76eb3_xs.png\" alt=\"090426 aoc primary\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"img-fluid\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"related-articles__card-body\">\n<h4 class=\"related-articles__card-title\">\n                        AOC Explains Why She&#8217;s Sharing Egg Retrieval Journey Online<br \/>\n                      <\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col related-articles__col\">\n<article class=\"related-articles__card\"><a class=\"related-articles__card-link js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/09\/03\/brian-mast-talks-about-his-prosthetic-legs-at-airport\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:3f426180-9c3e-4c9a-8d72-2f05e35328ff\" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;main&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;related-article&quot;,&quot;pos&quot;:4}\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"related-articles__card-img ratio\">\n<div class=\"ratio-item\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/02\/16by9\/2026\/09\/03\/0286034bf6a44aa7a17c17e233c2dc3d_xs.png\" alt=\"brian mast primary\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"img-fluid\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"related-articles__card-body\">\n<h4 class=\"related-articles__card-title\">\n                        Rep. Brian Mast Says TSA Can&#8217;t Keep Their Hands Off His Metal Legs At Airport<br \/>\n                      <\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"tag-cloud\">\n<ul class=\"tag-cloud__list-group\"><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/people\/eric-schmitt\/\" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;main&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;tag-cloud&quot;,&quot;pos&quot;:1}\"><br \/>\n                Eric Schmitt<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/people\/caitlin-clark\/\" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;main&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;tag-cloud&quot;,&quot;pos&quot;:2}\"><br \/>\n                Caitlin Clark<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/categories\/tmz-dc\/\" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;main&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;tag-cloud&quot;,&quot;pos&quot;:3}\"><br \/>\n                TMZ DC<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/categories\/politix\/\" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;main&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;tag-cloud&quot;,&quot;pos&quot;:4}\"><br \/>\n                Politics<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/categories\/exclusive\/\" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;main&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;tag-cloud&quot;,&quot;pos&quot;:5}\"><br \/>\n                Exclusive<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/categories\/feuds\/\" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;main&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;tag-cloud&quot;,&quot;pos&quot;:6}\"><br \/>\n                Feuds<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/categories\/news\/\" data-context=\"{&quot;section&quot;:&quot;main&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;tag-cloud&quot;,&quot;pos&quot;:7}\"><br \/>\n                News<br \/>\n              <\/a><\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/09\/29\/eric-schmitt-says-gotcha-moment-was-not-embarrassing\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/71\/16by9\/2026\/09\/29\/7133007f4dab44069a28f6207047810d_xl.png&#8221;] Sen. Eric SchmittJack Smith Hawks Mix-Up Wasn&#8217;t Embarassing &#8230;I Just Ask Questions!!! Exclusive Add TMZ on Google By TMZ Staff Published September 29, 2026 4:10 PM PDT DOUBLING DOWN Video: Sen. Eric Schmitt Defends Botched \u2018Gotcha\u2019 Moment During Jack Smith Hearing TMZ DC Senator Eric Schmitt&#8216;s standing behind his line of questioning [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,77],"class_list":["post-2170773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tmz-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2170773","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2170773"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2170773\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2170773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2170773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2170773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}