Vicki Iseman Sues the New York Times
Washington lobbyist Vicki Iseman sued the New York Times for $27 million today. In a story the paper ran earlier this year, Iseman was linked romantically with presidential candidate John McCain in 1999.
The text of the suit is here (thank you Michael Calderone).
Iseman's defamatory complaint has two bullet points--that the Times story communicated that she had exploited a relationship with McCain "to obtain favorable legislative outcomes for her clients"--a violation of professional and ethical norms. The second point is the paper's portrayal of the nature of her relationship with McCain (as "illicit and inappropriate") while she conducted business for clients before the committee chaired by McCain.
The TImes says: "We fully stand behind the article. We continue to believe it to be true and accurate, and that we will prevail. As we said at the time, it was an important piece that raised questions about a presidential contender and the perception that he had been engaged in conflicts of interest."
Calderone reports Iseman's "said to have suffered mentally, emotionally, and in her health." He also notes that reporters at the Times "worked on the controversial lobbyist piece for months, and it was held up several times in the editorial process."
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Reader Comments
Times Suit
Think she’s making a mistake going after NYT and not letting this blow over (no pun intended). This is going to expose other rumors involving “Miss Vicky” …she has a rep as a “good time” lobbyist. Hear she made other politicians in DC… happy.
Downfall of NYT?
The NYT is close to failing, and that will be good news for American journalism. Sad to see this once-respected newspaper go the way of Dan Rather and other "journalists" by letting their liberal opinions so taint their news coverage that they will run anything, true or not, proven or not. I am old enough to have taken journalism classes that taught that "opinions go on the editorial page - facts go on the news pages." Too bad American journalism has lost that core value. I personally hope his lawsuit is so successful that it shuts down the NYT before the next election.
Like the article or not if the reporting of McCain advisers being worried about the perception of her involvement with McCain is true, then there are no false statements to sue for. Perhaps she should track down and sue the McCain advisers? However, I do have one fear. The story claims people involved in the campaign spoke with anonymity as a condition. If this is true and if the NYT is forced to prove this in trial, then they might get stuck between the need to stop a frivolous lawsuit and their ethical responsibility to protect their anonymous sources. If they don't protect those sources, then it would prevent future anonymous sources from talking to the press about potentially important issues. If they can't stop a frivolous lawsuit and settle it could lower their credibility
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