Commentary

Moore Threatens To Sue Alabama Media, Too

The Moore, the merrier! The besieged Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore is doubling down on the libel front with yet more threats to sue news media for reporting on his past transgressions with women.

This time the honoree is the Alabama Media Group, publisher of The Birmingham News and statewide news portal AL.com, which has already issued a defiant response.

Moore has attacked the publisher for reporting allegations of sexual misconduct brought against him by a number of women, including some who have accused the far-right candidate of sexual contact when they were underage.

Among other aspersions, Moore claims the publisher is motivated by political consideration and a desire to profit from the “mob mentality.”

According to the Alabama Media Group, lawyers representing Moore and his Foundation for Moral Law sent the publisher a letter stating: “Your client has engaged in making false reports and/or careless reporting,” including the allegations of sexual misconduct as well as reporting on Moore’s compensation arrangements with his foundation.

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In response, Alabama Media Group posted a statement repeating that it “stands by its reporting” and vowing it “will not be silenced or slowed.”

Alabama Media Group vice-president of content Michelle Holmes explained the civic principles involved: “Roy Moore seeks election to the United States Senate. As such a public figure, he merits and can expect intense scrutiny by the electorate and the media on its behalf, including by Alabama Media Group, the state's largest media outlet.”

She concluded: “We stand behind our past reporting on Roy Moore, and vow to continue to doggedly pursue the truth on behalf of the people of Alabama. These threats will not silence us, and they will not slow us.”

In addition, Moore threatened to sue The Washington Post over its report, first published on Thursday of last week, that he engaged in sexual relations with girls as young as 14 years old.

Senate leader Mitch McConnell and several other GOP Senators have publicly called on Moore to withdraw, and McConnell has hinted that, if elected, Moore may be expelled from the Senate.

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