Republican Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno was hit with some nasty tricks during the final days of the primary election. Ohioans will go to the polls on March 19 to decide whether Moreno, endorsed by Trump, Mike Lee, Ted Cruz and J.D. Vance, will prevail over Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose or state Sen. Matt Dolan. The race has tightened to the point that even Democrats are starting to interfere. But one attack was particularly slimy: Moreno signed up to Adult Friend Finder in 2008, looking for the company of newborn men.
It’s not true. The founder of Adult Friend Finder said that when analyzing the data, even though Moreno’s email address was used, it appeared to be prank-like activity. It was indeed a joke, as the former intern had already admitted. The Associated Press reported the story, but even its communications director admitted he had nothing to support the story, leaving the news outlet vulnerable to a massive lawsuit. Jonathan Turley he wrote whether Moreno will file a lawsuit and reach the discovery phase; Embarrassment can be redirected to AP. Who wants some scalps? I do:
Pressed by Breitbart News, Lauren Easton, AP’s communications director, admitted Saturday that she did not have the “geolocation data” mentioned in the previous two articles, but stood by the reports nonetheless. This suggested that the “geolocation data” merely indicated that it essentially came from the same zip code. Critics countered that the operate of the term suggested that the AP had data showing an account created using a specific IP address, an Internet Protocol address that can be associated with a specific location. Moreover, after the news about the intern being hired, there was little to support the bombshell article published just before the election.
AP disputes intern’s claims. Moreno provided very detailed information and a statement from former intern Dan Ricci, who said he created the account “as a youthful prank.” The statement admitted that “I am completely embarrassed by the bad prank I played on my friend and former boss, Bernie Moreno, almost two decades ago.” But the AP said it “cannot independently corroborate Ricci’s testimony and he did not immediately respond to messages left for him at multiple phone numbers provided to him. He donated $6,599 to Moreno’s campaign last year, according to campaign finance records.
I understand the AP would like to communicate directly with Ricci. I also receive suggestions that Ricci may simply be a supporter covering for the candidate. However, I do not understand the basis for publishing an article in featherlight of opposing evidence without more than a loose claim about “geolocation data”. What is particularly suspicious is that the entry was written sixteen years ago and appeared only a few days before the elections.
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Moreno reportedly hired Charles Harder, one of the lawyers who handled lawsuits against Gawker before the publication shut down.
The lawsuit may raise some intriguing questions as the AP covered the intern’s refusal and alleged admission. One could argue that the rest is his opinion on the newsworthiness of the allegation. The issue is whether, given Moreno’s status as a public figure, the AP meets the criteria for “actual malice” for defamation in the form of knowingly publishing false claims or doing so with reckless disregard for the truth. If Moreno sues AP and gains access to the information, it could prove to be a costly and embarrassing case for the company.
Do it, Morena. Destroy them.
