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A video of Alabama Republican Senator Katie Britt showing visible shock during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing went viral on social media. In the hearing, Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt mistakenly accused special counsel Jack Smith of perjury over a trip to an Atlanta Hawks game, confusing it with an Iowa women's basketball team event. As Smith corrected him, footage showed Britt’s expression changing from disbelief to concern. Journalists and online commentators highlighted Britt’s reaction as indicative of the perceived embarrassment caused by Schmitt’s mistake.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-30,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Tuesday, former special counsel Jack Smith testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee chaired by Senator Chuck Grassley to defend his two criminal investigations into President Donald Trump. Republicans accuse Smith of abusing authority and politically targeting Republicans, while Democrats support him for standing up against Trump's alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and mishandling classified documents. The hearing, titled "Oversight of Jack Smith’s Abuse of Authority and the Targeting of Republicans," also involves scrutiny over subpoenas issued by Smith's office, which were aimed at disrupting certification of Joe Biden's victory in 2020, ultimately leading to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Smith has insisted his decisions were made without political bias and said he would not be silenced despite threats from Trump's Justice Department.
Written for “Jack Smith Testifies Before Senate” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 34 other(s) covering the same event.
A video of Alabama Republican Senator Katie Britt looking visibly stunned during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing circulated on social media after her colleague, Senator Eric Schmitt, stumbled in his questioning of former special counsel Jack Smith.
asserted
colleague → look → Smith
Schmitt, a Missouri Republican, attempted to corner Smith over an alleged 2024 trip to an Atlanta Hawks basketball game, suggesting the trip pointed to coordination with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in the prosecution of Donald Trump.
asserted
trip → attempt → Trump
During the exchange, Schmitt accused Smith of committing perjury.
asserted
Schmitt → accuse → perjury
“You will go down as a total dirtbag,” Schmitt said.
asserted
Schmitt → go → dirtbag
Smith corrected him, pointing out that Schmitt had mistaken the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks for the Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team.
“I recall going to a University of Maryland basketball game where Caitlin Clark was playing right around that time, and the Marshal Service was there with me,” Smith said.
asserted
Smith → correct → me
“You can check if that was the exact date.
asserted
that → check → ?
It was Maryland playing Iowa — I think February of 2024.”
asserted
I → play → 2024
Following the exchange, Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar criticized Schmitt’s aggressive line of questioning.
asserted
Klobuchar → follow → questioning
“I think people should have their facts straight before they accuse someone of being a dirtbag,” Klobuchar said.
asserted
Klobuchar → think → someone
Klobuchar again criticized Schmitt at the end of her questioning of Smith, who led the federal investigations into Donald Trump's actions surrounding the January 6 Capitol attack and his handling of classified documents.
asserted
who → criticize → documents
Footage from MS NOW captured Britt sitting next to Schmitt as the exchange unfolded.
asserted
exchange → capture → Schmitt
The camera slowly zoomed in on the Alabama senator as her expression shifted from open-mouthed disbelief to a visible gulp while Smith corrected her colleague.
asserted
Smith → zoom → colleague
Journalists and commentators quickly reacted to Britt’s reaction online.
asserted
Journalists → react → reaction
MS NOW Director of Congress Matt Fuller posted on X that Britt, a former congressional staffer, “knew she was watching a mythical staff f--k up.”
asserted
staff → post → --
“The type of f**k up that interns will hear about as a cautionary tale on their first day of work on June 1, 2047,” Fuller wrote.
asserted
Fuller → hear → June
Other online observers, too, weighed in on the footage.
asserted
observers → weigh → footage
“Can someone please set this slow pan-in to the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme?” Matthew Chapman posted on X.
User Adam Cochran wrote, “Even other GOP Senator’s are dumbfounded at Schmitt’s stupidity!”
And Brandon Moor commented on the platform that Britt looked “like she had just seen a ghost, and immediately wanted to throw up.”
asserted
she → set → ghost
The Independent has contacted Britt’s office for comment.
asserted
Independent → contact → comment
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