Even Vice President Jefferson was investigated for violating the Act and had his mail intercepted, though no indictment was made. With very few exceptions, all those targeted by the Act were Republicans or opposed to Federalist policies, while Federalist newspapers were generally free to use hyperbole and invectives against Republicans—including, of course, Thomas Jefferson.119 Equally shameless was the fact that the Sedition Act was set to expire on March 3, 1801, which coincided with the inauguration of the next president and Congress. In other words, Federalists were not willing to become
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