A news brief published in the July 26 and July 27 editions of the Fort Collins Coloradoan quoted U.S. Rep Lamar Smith's (R-TX) criticism of congressional Democrats without including a Democratic response. The brief reported that “Colorado Rep. Marilyn Musgrave joined her fellow House Republicans on Wednesday in introducing more than a dozen bills that would help law enforcement officials combat violent crime, prevent terrorism and protect children from sexual predators.” It later quoted Smith as saying, “While Democrats waste time holding hearings on personnel matters, Republicans are working hard to make Americans safer by strengthening laws against violent crime.”

Before quoting Smith's criticism of House Democrats, the brief reported that Musgrave and the other Republicans introduced their legislation “the same day that the Democratic-controlled House Judiciary Committee issued contempt citations to two White House aides for refusing to cooperate in the investigation into the firing of nine U.S. attorneys.” The brief later reported that the House Judiciary Committee “cited White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten and former counsel Harriet Miers for refusing to hand over documents and appear before the committee to answer questions.” Smith is ranking member of the Judiciary Committee.

In addition to quoting Smith's accusation that the Democrats were “wast[ing] time” on “personnel matters,” the news brief published in the Coloradoan also quoted Smith's statement that "[i]t's time for Democrats to stop playing partisan politics and start working to protect the American people." The brief failed to include a comment from a Democratic member of the Judiciary Committee or any other Democratic representative regarding Smith's assertions or the legislation that had been introduced.