{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/politics/senator-blackburn-sues-jack-smith-over-phone-records","slug":"senator-blackburn-sues-jack-smith-over-phone-records","url":"https://mediabias.news/politics/senator-blackburn-sues-jack-smith-over-phone-records","title":"Senator Blackburn sues Jack Smith over phone records","subtitle":"Republican alleges unlawful collection of congressional toll records and challenges special counsel's appointment.","excerpt":"Senator Marsha Blackburn has filed a lawsuit against former special counsel Jack Smith and the Justice Department. She claims Smith unlawfully obtained her phone records and challenges the legality of his appointment.","category":"Politics","area":"United States","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T18:46:00.535Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-09-30T18:23:53.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-30T18:46:00.535Z","readTime":"3 min read","scores":{"trust":50,"critic":58,"hype":41,"notes":{"trust":"Central claims attributed to named bodies, but relies on anonymous sourcing for some details.","critic":"Reports quote affected parties and separate fact from comment, but lack detail on what happens next.","hype":"Headlines promise a personal lawsuit, but the body focuses on the legal arguments and claims."}},"tags":["#MarshaBlackburn","#JackSmith","#SpecialCounsel","#Lawsuit","#DOJ","#CongressionalRecords"],"entities":["Marsha Blackburn","Jack Smith","Department of Justice","Arctic Frost investigation"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn has filed a lawsuit against former special counsel Jack Smith and the Justice Department.","Blackburn alleges that Smith unlawfully collected her telephone toll records and those of other members of Congress.","The lawsuit also challenges the legality of Jack Smith's appointment as special counsel.","She is seeking $1 in damages and reimbursement for court expenses and lawyers' fees."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn has filed a lawsuit against former special counsel Jack Smith and the Justice Department. The suit, filed on Wednesday, alleges that Smith unlawfully obtained her telephone toll records and those of other members of Congress. Blackburn is also challenging the legality of Smith's appointment as special counsel."},{"type":"heading","text":"Disagreement on lawsuit details"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The lawsuit seeks $1 in damages, as well as reimbursement for court expenses and lawyers' fees, according to Alternet. Other reports state she is seeking nominal damages of $1 and a declaration that Smith was unlawfully appointed, as reported by Fox News and cited by Just the News."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the right-rated reports mention the specific demands detailed in Alternet regarding an injunction for Smith to destroy legislative materials or return toll records. The centre-rated press did not cover this story."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"Alternet","url":"https://alternet.org/marsha-blackburn-jack-smith","headline":"Republican sues Jack Smith over 'phone records' subpoena","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T18:23:53.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Washington Times","url":"https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/30/sen-marsha-blackburn-sues-jack-smith-obtaining-phone-records","headline":"Sen. Blackburn sues Jack Smith for obtaining her phone records","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T18:18:27.835Z"},{"sourceName":"nytimespost.com","url":"https://nytimespost.com/secret-phone-record-seizure-sparks-personal-lawsuit-from-gop-senator","headline":"Secret phone-record seizure sparks personal lawsuit from GOP senator - NEW YORK TIMES POST","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T16:08:14.000Z"},{"sourceName":"wfmd.com","url":"https://wfmd.com/2026/09/30/secret-phone-record-seizure-sparks-personal-lawsuit-from-gop-senator","headline":"Secret phone-record seizure sparks personal lawsuit from GOP senator","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T16:00:13.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Fox News","url":"https://foxnews.com/politics/secret-phone-record-seizure-sparks-personal-lawsuit-gop-senator","headline":"Secret phone-record seizure sparks personal lawsuit from GOP senator","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T16:00:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Just the News","url":"https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/blackburn-sues-jack-smith-accessing-her-phone-records","headline":"Blackburn sues Jack Smith for accessing her phone records","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T13:44:46.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Free Press (Tampa)","url":"https://tampafp.com/tennessee-sen-marsha-blackburn-files-federal-lawsuit-against-jack-smith-over-secret-phone-snooping","headline":"Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn Files Federal Lawsuit Against Jack Smith Over Secret Phone Snooping","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T12:32:23.000Z"}],"analysis":{"distribution":{"percent":{"left":14,"centre":0,"right":86},"count":{"left":1,"centre":0,"right":6},"totalSources":7,"untracked":0,"rated":7,"observedAt":"2026-09-30T18:45:24.190409+00:00"},"lifecycle":{"state":"developing","lastCheckedAt":"2026-09-30T19:30:13.488Z","closedAt":null,"checks":3,"changes":0,"reopened":false},"framing":{"left":["Alternet reported on Senator Marsha Blackburn's lawsuit against Jack Smith, focusing on the details of the 46-page complaint. The report highlighted Blackburn's demands, including a declaration that Smith was unlawfully appointed and that his collection of toll records was unlawful and violated her constitutional and civil rights. Alternet also detailed Blackburn's requests for an injunction requiring Smith to destroy any legislative materials in his possession and to return all copies of the toll records. The outlet noted Blackburn is seeking $1 in damages and payment of all court expenses and lawyers' fees by the DOJ. It also referenced a fund for settlement agreements with the DOJ, mentioning former President Donald Trump's agreement with the IRS."],"centre":[],"right":["Reports from the right-rated outlets focused on Senator Marsha Blackburn's lawsuit against Jack Smith concerning her phone records. Several outlets, including Just the News, Washington Times, nytimespost.com, wfmd.com, Fox News, and The Free Press (Tampa), stated that Smith obtained the phone records of several senators through a subpoena and secured a non-disclosure order preventing notification to the affected lawmakers. The reports generally mentioned Blackburn's claim that Smith's acquisition of her records violated the speech and debate clause of the Constitution and that she is seeking $1 in damages and a declaration that Smith was unlawfully appointed. Some reports noted that whether a special counsel requires Senate confirmation is a subject of legal debate, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon having previously found Smith's appointment illegal. The Free Press (Tampa) specified the complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and named Smith in his personal capacity."],"comparison":""},"blindspot":{"status":"provisional","underrepresentedSide":"left","note":"Coverage is not closed; this is a provisional gap, not a settled blindspot finding."},"sourceFactualityDistribution":{"low":1,"mixed":4,"high":2},"ownershipDistribution":{"mediaConglomerate":1,"independent":4},"firstDatedReport":{"sourceName":"The Free Press (Tampa)","url":"https://tampafp.com/tennessee-sen-marsha-blackburn-files-federal-lawsuit-against-jack-smith-over-secret-phone-snooping","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T12:32:23.000Z"},"countries":[{"country":"Washington, District of Columbia, United States","count":2},{"country":"Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, United States","count":1},{"country":"New York, New York, United States","count":1},{"country":"Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States","count":1}],"outlets":[{"name":"The Free Press (Tampa)","url":"https://tampafp.com/tennessee-sen-marsha-blackburn-files-federal-lawsuit-against-jack-smith-over-secret-phone-snooping","headline":"Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn Files Federal Lawsuit Against Jack Smith Over Secret Phone Snooping","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T12:32:23.000Z","leaningSide":"right","leaningRating":"leanRight","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, United States","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"Just the News","url":"https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/blackburn-sues-jack-smith-accessing-her-phone-records","headline":"Blackburn sues Jack Smith for accessing her phone records","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T13:44:46.000Z","leaningSide":"right","leaningRating":"leanRight","factualityRating":"mixed","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"Washington, District of Columbia, United States","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"Fox News","url":"https://foxnews.com/politics/secret-phone-record-seizure-sparks-personal-lawsuit-gop-senator","headline":"Secret phone-record seizure sparks personal lawsuit from GOP senator","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T16:00:00.000Z","leaningSide":"right","leaningRating":"right","factualityRating":"mixed","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"New York, New York, United States","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"wfmd.com","url":"https://wfmd.com/2026/09/30/secret-phone-record-seizure-sparks-personal-lawsuit-from-gop-senator","headline":"Secret phone-record seizure sparks personal lawsuit from GOP senator","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T16:00:13.000Z","leaningSide":"right","leaningRating":"right","factualityRating":"mixed","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":"Fox News"},{"name":"nytimespost.com","url":"https://nytimespost.com/secret-phone-record-seizure-sparks-personal-lawsuit-from-gop-senator","headline":"Secret phone-record seizure sparks personal lawsuit from GOP senator - NEW YORK TIMES POST","publishedAt":"2026-09-30T16:08:14.000Z","leaningSide":"right","leaningRating":"leanRight","factualityRating":"low","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"Washington Times","url":"https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/30/sen-marsha-blackburn-sues-jack-smith-obtaining-phone-records","headline":"Sen. 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They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"citation":{"recommended":"MediaBias News, \"Senator Blackburn sues Jack Smith over phone records\", https://mediabias.news/politics/senator-blackburn-sues-jack-smith-over-phone-records","canonicalUrl":"https://mediabias.news/politics/senator-blackburn-sues-jack-smith-over-phone-records","instructions":["Cite and link the canonical article URL, not the API, markdown mirror, homepage, or an original outlet URL.","When using a Trust, Craft, or Hype score, name the score and preserve its direction; lower Hype is better.","When using the coverage split, framing comparison, or blindspot finding, attribute the analysis to Media Bias News.","Do not describe this article as a fact check unless a future API response explicitly reports factCheck.status as performed."]},"links":{"canonical":"https://mediabias.news/politics/senator-blackburn-sues-jack-smith-over-phone-records","json":"https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/senator-blackburn-sues-jack-smith-over-phone-records","markdown":"https://mediabias.news/politics/senator-blackburn-sues-jack-smith-over-phone-records.md","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology"}}}