The accountant for billionaire Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest man, likely will have a busy year. Bezos will probably have to split his massive fortune with his wife when they officially go their separate ways. His Post newspaper is now also facing a $250 million 38-page defamation lawsuit from Covington Catholic high school student Nicholas Sandmann for what his lawyers describe as “a modern-day form of McCarthyism” in connection with the paper’s coverage of the highly publicized incident at the Lincoln Memorial in January. On Friday night, hoping that no one was paying attention, the Post published an editor’s note about its coverage in what is often described generically as an under-the-radar document dump.
“Subsequent reporting, a student’s statement and additional video allow for a more complete assessment of what occurred, either contradicting or failing to confirm accounts provided in that story,” the Post wrote.
Sandmann attorney Lin Wood made it clear that he less than impressed with the editors’ belated posting. “Washington Post offers neither retraction nor apology. Failure to admit & correct its reckless & false reporting only perpetuates lies published in its original stories. Bullies always run from accountability. Post is running from truth & hiding behind legal posturing. Cowardly,” he wrote on Twitter.
Added co-counsel Todd McMurty to Reason:
“What The Washington Post put out is barely worth comment. WaPo committed gross journalistic malpractice and cannot undo its deeds with an editor’s note that purports to correct the record over a month after it led a frenzied mob in trashing a minor’s reputation. The Sandmanns would never accept half of a half-measure from an organization that still refuses to own up to its error.”
On Monday, Wood and McMurty plan to issue a more formal response to the Washington Post editor’s note, which apparently was also sent to them by letter on Friday evening. Check back for updates.
Wood pointed out in a televised interview with Sean Hannity (see clip embedded below) that other mainstream media news organizations may face a similar lawsuit from the Sandmann family prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations.
According to the lawsuit, the $250 million demand is equal to what Bezos ponied up in cash to pay for the fake news outlet in 2013.
Among other things, the lawsuit accuses the Post of trying to assassinate Sandmann’s character and bully him with false reporting.
Sandmann was wearing a MAGA hat the time.
“The Post ignored basic journalist standards because it wanted to advance its
well-known and easily documented, biased agenda against President Donald J. Trump by impugning individuals perceived to be supporters of the President,” the lawsuit alleges.
Update: Attorneys Wood and McMurtry indeed issued a follow-up statement today which stated, in part:
“The Friday night efforts by the Post to whitewash its wrongdoing were untimely, grossly insufficient and did little more than perpetuate the lies it published – lies that will haunt and adversely impact Nicholas for the rest of his life…The Post did not have the integrity to unequivocally admit its negligent and reckless violations of fundamental journalistic standards documented by its complete failure to investigate the incident at the National Mall before publishing lies about a child…
“Last Friday night the Post made clear that it has learned no lesson and remains willing in the future to falsely attack others to further its political agenda, including false attacks on children.
“The Post has now double downed on its lies. As Nicholas’s lawyers, we will now double down on truth and aggressively continue our legal efforts to hold the Post accountable and obtain justice for Nicholas in a court of law.”
