Hawks? Hawkeyes? Schmitt in probing Smith mistakes basketball mascots

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., faced pushback during an exchange with former special counsel Jack Smith at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, with Schmitt appearing to mix up basketball teams tied to different cities. Schmitt questioned Smith about whether he attended an NBA game in Atlanta on Feb. 3, 2024, saying the home Hawks were playing the Golden State Warriors. Schmitt referenced potential text messages placing Smith in Atlanta around a Warriors–Hawks game on Feb. 2. Smith said he didn’t believe he had visited Atlanta for his role as special prosecutor and was sure he hadn’t attended an Atlanta Hawks game. Smith recalled attending a University of Iowa women’s game at the University of Maryland on Feb. 3, involving Caitlin Clark. Sen. Amy Klobuchar interjected that Iowa are the “Hawkeyes.”