The New York Times claims that in the spring of 2010, Jed Hastings approached Capehart on a dating mission. Hastings is currently wed to Joe Solmonese, the former president of the Human Rights Campaign, which advocates for LGBT rights.
Hastings told the writer that Schmit, his sister-in-only-law’s relative, had recently moved to Washington. However, Capehart immediately brushed the idea aside because he was now seeing someone.
On the other side, Hastings persisted and contacted Capehart on Facebook six months later. Like every other journalist, the 54-year-old wanted a “picture” this time.
Once he noticed Schmit in the pictures and was satisfied with what he saw, the matchmaker introduced the two guys in a joint message. The Carleton College alumnus was impressed with Schmit’s command of English during their instant conversations, noting that he knew the difference between “your” and “you’re,” as well as “its” and “it’s.”
Schmit, however, was delighted to discover that the person he had seen on television was humble and affable.
