Schmitt, a Missouri Republican, used the messages to suggest Smith attended an Atlanta Hawks basketball game and met with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Smith instead attended an Iowa Hawkeyes women’s game in Maryland. Senator Amy Klobuchar demanded an apology, telling Schmitt, “You have your teams wrong.” Schmitt continued to defend his questioning Wednesday, saying, “He has lied before to Congress.”
The episode has also put a planned White House move by Schmitt’s general counsel, Ethan Harper, in doubt, Politico reported. Harper, who held up the board behind Schmitt during the questioning, had been expected to join the White House staff secretary’s office next week.