India, Oct. 1 -- Missouri Republican Eric Schmitt is facing intense political scrutiny and public ridicule after defending a highly publicised gaffe made while interrogating former special counsel Jack Smith on Capitol Hill. During a contentious four-hour Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, the US senator attempted to spring a perjury trap regarding the prosecutor's whereabouts, only to discover his own investigative team had confused two completely different basketball teams.

Despite the rapid collapse of his primary accusation, the lawmaker has steadfastly refused to apologise for the error or for hurling subsequent insults at the key witness.

How Did The Gaffe Unfold During The Hearing?

The dramatic confrontation erupted ...