Senator Marsha Blackburn sues Jack Smith over phone record subpoenas from Trump investigation
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) filed a lawsuit against former Special Counsel Jack Smith and the Justice Department on September 30, 2026, over Smith's subpoena of her phone records during his investigation into Donald Trump. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, alleges violations of the speech or debate clause, the First Amendment, and the Fourth Amendment, and challenges the legality of Smith's appointment as special counsel. Smith defended the subpoenas during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, stating lawmakers were not investigation targets and the records were sought as corroborating evidence.
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Divergence score
This event sits in the top 19% of divergence this week. 5 outlets covered it, splitting into 5 framing camps across 2 bias groups.
5 camps
2 bias groups
The spectrum · how 5 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
New York Times
The Federalist
Washington Examiner
NY Post
Newsmax
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
New York Times
Senator Marsha Blackburn Sues Over Jack Smith's Subpoena During Trump Inquiry
constitutional legal question · neutral
The Federalist
Blackburn Takes Jack Smith's 'Unlawful' Phone Record Seizure To Court
government abuse of power · negative
First to report
- Newsmaxfirst
- Washington Examiner+24 min
- The Federalist+42 min
- New York Times+1.4 h
- NY Post+15.4 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
Headlines that changed · the same article, re-listed with a new headline
Newsmax · 2026-10-01 10:29 UTC
Blackburn Sues Jack Smith Over Subpoena of Cell Records - Newsmax
Newsmax · 2026-10-01 11:11 UTC
Blackburn Sues Jack Smith Over Subpoena of Cell Records - newsmax.com
Newsmax · 2026-10-01 14:47 UTC
Blackburn Sues Jack Smith Over Subpoena of Cell Records - Newsmax
Newsmax · 2026-10-01 15:33 UTC
Blackburn Sues Jack Smith Over Subpoena of Cell Records - newsmax.com
The split, in one line
The Federalist and Examiner frame Smith's actions as one of the worst abuses of government power and an unlawful seizure, while the Times frames the suit as raising a novel and contested constitutional issue on the speech or debate clause.
How each outlet covered it
Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
THE LEFT
“Senator Marsha Blackburn Sues Over Jack Smith's Subpoena During Trump Inquiry”T New York Times LEFT
33LOW DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“Sen. Marsha Blackburn sues ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith, says he illegally obtained her phone records”NYP NY Post RIGHT
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 5 outlets put it
LEFT1
TNew York Times Senator Marsha Blackburn Sues Over Jack Smith's Subpoena During Trump Inquiry 8d ago RIGHT4
FThe Federalist Blackburn Takes Jack Smith's 'Unlawful' Phone Record Seizure To Court 8d ago WEWashington Examiner Marsha Blackburn sues Jack Smith over her seized phone records during Arctic Frost investigation 8d ago NYPNY Post Sen. Marsha Blackburn sues ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith, says he illegally obtained her phone records 8d ago NMNewsmax Blackburn Sues Jack Smith Over Subpoena of Cell Records - Newsmax 8d ago 9 tracked claims across 5 outlets
Fact ledger
All9Claimed3Corroborated6
1/5
Claimed
Smith withheld from the presiding judge that the subpoena sought records of a sitting U.S. Senator
Corroborated
Disputed
8 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger