Lexicon of Politics: Day 43

hatchet job n. an instance of character assassination, malicious distortion, or excessively harsh criticism.

1980 Berlitz & Moore Roswell 47:
A "most unscrupulous journalist from San Francisco" who may have been paid off to do "the hatchet job" on Scully.

1999 New York Times (Oct. 24) 77:
After a long silence, he angrily declared it was a "hatchet job" on his book.

Also, hatchet man n. a loyal supporter who engages in hatchet jobs or similar activities on behalf of a particular candidate or cause.
oxford dictionary of american political slang