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PolitiFact Wisconsin: Claims that got a 'Pants on Fire' rating

Posted at 7:24 PM, May 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-18 20:26:36-04

Politicians say a lot of things but it's not every day their words end up with PolitiFact Wisconsin's worst rating.

Republican Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner is the senior House member from Wisconsin, but a long shot opponent suggests not much has been accomplished.     

"Tom Palzewicz says that Jim Sensenbrenner has quote lead on only one bill, the Patriot Act during 40 years in Congress," said Tom Kertscher with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Palzewicz's team admits they erred with this tweet and PolitiFact Wisconsin agrees. 

"What we found is that Sensenbrenner has actually sponsored 500 bills or amendments," said Kertscher, "during his 40 years including the Patriot Act."

This claim was rated Pants on Fire. 

GOP US Senate candidate Leah Vukmir attacked Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin on her no vote for Gina Haspel as President Trump's choice to head the CIA. 

"Leah Vukmir says that Tammy Baldwin is more worried about the mastermind of 9/11 than she is about the president's nominee to be Director of the CIA," said Kertscher. 

PolitiFact Wisconsin says she was referring to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. 

But there's a big part missing from Vukmir's reference.  

"Vukmir provided no evidence that links Khali Mohammad to Senator Baldwin," said Kerscher. "All she provided us was an article that said Mohammad wanted to testify to the Senate intelligence committee about the nominee."

This claim was rated Pants on Fire.