When A Politician Says 'Fake News' And A Newspaper Threatens To Sue Back
"A news outlet publishes a story that a Republican politician dismisses as "fake news."
Sounds familiar, right?"
"But in this case, there's a twist. The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel in Colorado is accusing state Sen. Ray Scott of defamation and threatening to sue. If filed, legal experts said it would be the first suit of its kind, potentially setting a legal definition for what is considered fake news and what is not."
"The dispute began with an opinion column in the newspaper supporting a bill that would give journalists and others greater access to public records. Scott, who represents Grand Junction and serves as assistant majority leader in the state Senate, postponed a hearing and vote on the bill."
"The column urged him to move it forward. 'We call on our own Sen. Scott to announce a new committee hearing date and move this bill forward.'"