A new investigation is raising questions about Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett’s (D-TX) long-promoted account of her upbringing, challenging the disadvantaged background she has described throughout her political career.
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson traveled to Crockett’s current hometown of Houston, Texas, where he claimed she has been “code-switching” — shifting her speech and demeanor — to present a persona that contrasts sharply with what he described as her privileged childhood.
Johnson reported that Crockett was born and raised in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, in a setting he characterized as “Republican suburbs” marked by “mansions, country clubs, and private schools.”
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According to Johnson, this environment stood in stark contrast to the streetwise image Crockett has cultivated in recent years.
Central to Johnson’s report was Crockett’s enrollment at St. Mary Country Day School, a private institution in St. Louis.
Johnson described it as “one of the most prestigious institutions in the entire country” and “one of the most expensive.”
The annual tuition at St. Mary’s is currently listed at $35,000.
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The school’s facilities include Olympic-sized tennis courts, swimming pools, and lacrosse fields.
While attending St. Mary’s, Crockett participated in extracurricular programs such as music, where Johnson said she learned to play the clarinet.
The academic rigor and opportunities at the school, Johnson noted, positioned students for admission to elite colleges.
Crockett went on to attend Rhodes College, a private liberal arts college with a current annual tuition of $74,000.
She later earned her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, a move that placed her in the region she would ultimately represent in Congress.
Johnson claimed that during this period, Crockett’s public persona began to shift.
In his video report, he alleged that “it wasn’t always that Jasmine used to talk like a hoodrat,” showing older footage of Crockett speaking without the linguistic style she is now known for using in public appearances.
Today, Crockett is polling in the high single digits among early Democratic contenders for the 2028 presidential race.
Johnson argued that her personal story, far from being an example of overcoming systemic barriers, represents “the true definition of obscene American privilege.”
Jasmine Crockett built her entire political brand on being a “Ghetto Girl from the Hood”
But is that true? No. It’s a big lie.
I travelled to Jasmine Crockett’s actual hometown to investigate. She grew up waaaay better than you or I did.
Here’s where Crockett is really from… pic.twitter.com/fpN5QRrKHd
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 10, 2025
Beyond the debate over her biography, Crockett has faced criticism from former staffers.
One former aide alleged that “it is widely known that she’s not nice to staff and is just not a really dedicated member focused on constituents.”
Another individual familiar with her work habits claimed she is “focused almost exclusively on being an influencer, not a member of Congress.”
A third described her as “all diva, no wow.”
The scrutiny over Crockett’s background and work in Congress comes amid her rising national profile.
With her name appearing in early polling for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, questions about her past and political priorities are drawing increasing attention from both political opponents and the media.