Promotion Uncertain for Aide of Senator Eric Schmitt Following Controversial Hearing

<figure><img alt="U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) looks on during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol" src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/5XCFOB6TPJHBHDDPYP6LSVIIOY.jpg?auth=fc81d9f4cd12bd1abc26a68b9ada221b16c061325294b5bcd66c202a9507ddd1&amp;smart=true&amp;width=4993&amp;height=2809" /><figcaption>Heather Diehl / Heather Diehl/Getty Images</figcaption></figure><p>Ethan Harper, the general counsel for Senator Eric Schmitt, may not proceed with a planned job transition to the White House following a contentious Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. During the hearing, Schmitt presented a poster that inaccurately accused Jack Smith of collusion with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.</p><p>The poster included text messages suggesting Smith attended an Atlanta Hawks game in February 2024; however, he was actually at a women’s basketball game featuring the Iowa Hawkeyes, as confirmed by multiple sources.</p><img alt="Ethan Harper (left) sits behind Eric Schmitt. / C-SPAN" height="1552" src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/IUFLLVYRHZALZI4MXC6BP54EAM.jpeg?auth=dc344dc89e5b327ce940fed9334627b67acdf462ed0c3da20f3ed08abc1db0a2&amp;smart=true&amp;width=2846&amp;height=1552" width="2846" /><p>Harper was expected to leave his position with Schmitt on Friday for a role in the White House Staff Secretary’s office, but that transition is now uncertain, according to three sources who spoke to Politico on the condition of anonymity.</p><p>Sources indicated that Harper’s promotion was confirmed prior to the Senate hearing, and there is no evidence he was directly responsible for the incident during the hearing.</p><img alt="Ethan Harper holds up a sign for Sen. Eric Schmitt. / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images" height="5118" src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/PTUIYQYFKRFSLBJSKNALC5RZZY.jpg?auth=930db10cdf383fba7db17f20b7003a49e7435df7dae72ea55e7815b4ddadbbca&amp;smart=true&amp;width=7674&amp;height=5118" width="7674" /><p>In the anticipated White House role, Harper would have managed the flow of documents to President Donald Trump.</p><p>The Daily Beast reached out to both the White House and Schmitt’s office for comments but did not receive an immediate response.</p><p>Harper has previously worked with Republican Senator Josh Hawley and served as Missouri’s solicitor general under D. John Sauer.</p><img alt="Ethan Harper (left) sits behind Eric Schmitt. / C-SPAN" height="1570" src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/FZSKUOM75NC4JHRX2MRHKBR4MM.jpeg?auth=62f77a56549748e406b50dc178f94d024b559e0d2ddc0be77ddb0a7b3598c856&amp;smart=true&amp;width=2866&amp;height=1570" width="2866" /><p>Following the Senate hearing, Senator Schmitt’s colleague Katie Britt was observed reacting to the incident, appearing surprised as the situation unfolded.</p><p>Fox News political analyst Brit Hume commented on the incident, stating that Schmitt “brought this on himself and deserves the obloquy.”</p><p>TMZ D.C. reporter Charlie Cotton questioned Schmitt about the mix-up during the hearing, to which Schmitt responded that it was “not a mistake,” expressing skepticism about Smith's attendance at the game.</p><p>Videos later confirmed that Smith was indeed present at the Hawkeyes game against the Maryland Terrapins in February 2024.</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/big-promotion-in-limbo-for-staffer-of-humiliated-maga-senator/">Read more at The Daily Beast.</a></p>