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Is Jon Stewart right that Congress often worked on Christmas?

Jon Stewart during Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" on Dec. 6, 2011 Jon Stewart during Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" on Dec. 6, 2011

Jon Stewart during Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" on Dec. 6, 2011

Bill Adair
By Bill Adair December 9, 2011

We don't usually check comedians, but a factual claim by Jon Stewart piqued our interest.

The Daily Show host said members of Congress in the 1700s and early 1800s often worked on Christmas. He cited a clip from the History Channel.

Really?

PolitiFact Rhode Island dug into the congressional attendance records and discovered Congress actually rarely met on Christmas.

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Is Jon Stewart right that Congress often worked on Christmas?