Washington Post Writer Falls For Fake Congressman Twitter Account

Washington Post writer Jonathan Capehart fell for a fake congressional Twitter account Monday night, writing a story based on the hoax @RepJackKimble account (via New York Observer).

"Rep. Jack Kimble" is a fake Republican congressman from California's nonexistent 54th district.

Capehart wrote an article baesd on a tweet the account sent last week:

"Why have the wars cost so much under Obama? Check the budgets, Bush fought 2 wars without costing taxpayers a dime," the tweet read.

Capehart called that tweet a "stunning bit of fiscal ignorance," and went on to analyze the nation's budget and fiscal health.

Overnight, Capehart posted a correction:

[CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION, 1:22 a.m.: The Twitterer RepJackKimble cited below is not a real member of Congress. The budget deficits are real deficits.]

The Kimble account mocked the Washington Post for falling for its hoax.

"Washington Post unjustly attacks Congressman Kimble on war costs. Real journalists can read a budget," it tweeted.

"Yes, I got bamboozled by @repjackkimble but the point remains," Capehart tweeted.

Last week, the Post suspended sports columnist Mike Wise for carrying out a Twitter hoax of his own.