Personal Biography Claims Checklist for Political Journalism

Record the exact wording, when it was said, and where (rally, TV hit, social post) to preserve context and enable precise sourcing in scripts and captions.

Tag the claim as net worth, education, inheritance, business record, or award so your query terms, sources, and newsroom routing match the domain.

Open the most recent internal memo or CMS research card for this subject to avoid duplicating work and to spot what has changed.

Email and text the press contact asking for documents that substantiate the claim, include a time deadline, and note you will publish what is in the record.

Pre-write phrasings like 'records show,' 'according to filings,' or 'no evidence provided' to keep chyrons and toss lines accurate under pressure.

Maintain a short list of unverified elements to avoid silent assumptions creeping into copy and to frame uncertainty on air or in print.

Download the latest OGE 278e or equivalent candidate disclosure from the official repository and note the filing date and any amendments.

If the subject is tied to public companies or SPACs, review 10-Ks, 10-Qs, 8-Ks, S-1s, and Schedule 13D/13G for ownership, valuations, and risk factors.

Use state databases like Delaware and New York to confirm entity status, officers, registered agents, and historical name changes.

Query county recorder and assessor sites (e.g., ACRIS in NYC) for deeds, mortgages, and assessed values tied to the subject or their entities.

Use PACER and state court portals to identify lawsuits, judgments, and bankruptcies that speak to the business record or personal liabilities.

Match names with DOB, addresses, or entity affiliations to avoid mixing records from similarly named individuals or companies.

Clarify whether the claim refers to net worth, annual income, revenue, cash on hand, or assets under management, then build the correct model.

List assets with ranges, subtract liabilities, and note any valuation floors or caps to show why exact net worth figures are inherently imprecise.

Compare claimed valuations to recent sales comps, cap rates, tax assessments, or independent appraisals when available, and disclose methodology.

Use cap tables, partnership agreements, or filings to determine how much the subject actually owns and whether the stake is encumbered.

Search UCC filings, mortgages, and judgments to account for debt that reduces effective net worth or limits access to assets.

Document asset sales, special dividends, margin loans, or collateralized borrowing that affect cash position versus paper wealth.

Mark the as-of date for every number and avoid stale valuations; specify whether amounts are nominal or inflation-adjusted.

Contact the registrar or use approved verification services that comply with FERPA to confirm degree type, major, and conferral date.

Use the U.S. Department of Education database to confirm the school was accredited in the claimed years and by which body.

Review commencement programs, honor rolls, and archived student newspapers to validate claims of 'with honors' or top-of-class finishes.

Search the awarding body's official recipient database or press releases and request confirmation when databases are incomplete.

Clearly label honorary degrees and note any revocations or institutional statements clarifying the nature of the honor.

Ask professional organizations for member rosters or press notices to check claims of fellowship status or elite society memberships.

Map entity formations, mergers, dissolutions, and key executive roles using state filings and archived company pages to prevent cherry-picking.

Identify where the subject licensed a name to third parties versus directly owned and operated a business to avoid inflating achievements.

Note dismissals, settlements, judgments, and appeals to contextualize volume of lawsuits against actual findings or liabilities.

Search NLRB, DOL, OSHA, and state AG releases for violations or consent decrees tied to the subject's companies.

Review county probate dockets, wills, and inventory filings where public; supplement with contemporaneous obituaries and tax notices.

Use local development authority records and city council minutes to document tax breaks or grants cited as business achievements.

Search mechanics' liens and civil cases to assess patterns of nonpayment or disputes that inform the business track record.

In your CMS, attach the URL or docket number for each sentence that makes a factual claim to speed legal review and future updates.

Verify units, date, and rounding rules on lower-thirds and infographics; include 'as of' dates and specify estimates or ranges.

Add a short sidebar or footnote that explains how you calculated net worth or verified degrees so audiences and editors can replicate it.

Log the time and content of your request for evidence or response and include any materials provided with their provenance.

Ensure social videos, charts, and images include alt text or captions that cite the source and reflect uncertainty where applicable.

Set a correction note template and identify who signs off on updates so fixes are fast if new documents surface after airing.