Washington — Perjury Claim Against Jack Smith Hits Wrong NBA Team

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., accused former special counsel Jack Smith of perjury during a Sept. 29, 2026, Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, but the team he cited in his question did not match the mixup that unraveled his line of attack, according to NBC News' account of the exchange, published Sept. 29, 2026.

What exact question did Schmitt ask Smith?

Schmitt asked Smith whether he attended "an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks on February 3, 2024," per NBC News' transcript of the hearing. Smith, appearing confused, asked "What city would that be in?" Schmitt answered, "Atlanta." Smith responded, "No."

Why did Schmitt tie the date to Fani Willis?

Schmitt linked Feb. 3, 2024, to Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis, telling Smith it was the day after Willis "came clean" about a romantic relationship with a prosecutor on her then-pending criminal case against President Donald Trump, according to NBC News. Schmitt pressed Smith again on whether he was in Atlanta the following day. Smith said, "I do not believe so," then added a firmer denial.

"I definitely did not go to a Hawks game. I'm sure of that." — Jack Smith, Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sept. 29, 2026

Which team's mixup undercuts the perjury claim?

NBC News' headline describes an "apparent Hawks/Hawkeyes mixup," indicating the underlying premise behind Schmitt's question conflated the Atlanta Hawks with the Iowa Hawkeyes. The network's report does not include a box score, ticket record, or travel log confirming any specific game Smith did or did not attend on Feb. 3, 2024. What NBC News documents is limited to the on-the-record hearing exchange itself.

By the numbers

Two dates anchor the exchange, both sourced to NBC News' Sept. 29, 2026, report: Feb. 3, 2024, is the date of the NBA matchup Schmitt asked Smith about, and Sept. 29, 2026, is the date of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing where the question was posed on the record.

What is the status of Smith's Trump investigations?

The hearing concerned what NBC News characterized as Smith's "now-scuttled investigations into President Donald Trump." NBC's report does not specify further procedural status of those investigations beyond that description, and no additional detail on their disposition appears in the sourced material.

What happens next on the perjury allegation?

NBC News' report does not indicate that Schmitt has filed a formal perjury referral or that the Justice Department has opened any related inquiry following the hearing. The exchange is preserved in NBC's video segment, titled "'A total dirtbag': GOP senator mistakenly accuses Smith of perjury over NBA game," and remains part of the committee's public record on Smith's investigations. No further congressional action on the specific allegation is documented in the available reporting.