Republican senator's Jack Smith perjury accusation collapses at hearing after 'Hawks game' mix-up

From the Newshound archive · first published 29 September 2026 · last updated 30 September 2026.

Jack Smith's testimony that he would bring the same charges regardless of party came as Republican senators accused his team of sweeping up communications from nearly 50 journalists via subpoenas on 87 White House…

Senator Eric Schmitt's dramatic bid to catch former Special Counsel Jack Smith lying about coordinating with Fulton County DA Fani Willis backfired spectacularly when Smith revealed the text messages placing him "in Atlanta" for a "Hawks game" referred to a women's college basketball match between Maryland and Iowa — not the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. The collapse was caught on camera, with fellow Republican Senator Katie Britt's wide-eyed, horrified expression going viral within minutes. Schmitt doubled down the following day when confronted over the blunder, refusing to concede the accusation had fallen apart.

Britt's stunned reaction was described online as 'the moment her soul left her body' and quickly turned into a meme.

Journalist Matt Fuller wrote that Britt, a former congressional staffer, 'knew she was watching a mythical staff f–k up' of intern-cautionary-tale proportions.

Smith appeared before the Senate to defend his investigations into President Trump, with Schmitt's failed gotcha overshadowing the entire hearing.

The IndependentSenator behind viral Jack Smith gotcha blunder doubles down when confronted over error The IndependentKatie Britt’s reaction says it all as Jack Smith gotcha moment goes up in flames NY PostSen. Katie Britt’s ‘look of utter horror’ as GOP colleague’s perjury accusation unravels during Jack Smith hearing goes viral Al JazeeraJack Smith defends investigations into Trump during tense US Senate hearing - Al Jazeera

Read today's full feed at The Newshound →