Spicer threatens legal action over AP report
Source: The Hill
Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer is threatening to take legal action against The Associated Press over a report from the wire service about an incident on his book tour.
Spicers attorney Michael Bowe said in a statement Saturday night that the AP recklessly republished a categorically false accusation about Sean Spicer.
The claim is a lie. Absent an immediate retraction, Mr. Spicer will take legal action Monday, Bowe said.
The AP report, published Saturday, documented an incident at Spicers book signing in Middletown, R.I., on Friday during which a black man claiming to be a former classmate of Spicers at Portsmouth Abbey School accused Spicer of using a racial slur.
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/media/399373-spicer-threatens-legal-action-over-ap-report-on-black-mans-allegation-he-used
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)LiberalFighter
(50,950 posts)He is not saying it didn't happen.
I wouldn't put it past Regnery Publishing to misdirect.
forgotmylogin
(7,530 posts)he would need to sue the person who made the "false" statement. AP factually reporting on a claim someone else made isn't a falsehood and not grounds for slander. I suspect he'll forget all about this if it dies down. Which is what he should do to keep it out of the news instead of poking his head up into the Trump whirlwind of crap.
It seems like most of the time the fundies are just happy for one of theirs to claim something they did isn't true and threaten litigation; it doesn't matter if they actually follow up.
bitterross
(4,066 posts)The AP simply reported what happened at a public event. They gave his publicist an opportunity to refute it and asked for comments from Spicer which were not forthcoming.
The AP did not weigh in one way or the other on the accusations.
Spicer is an idiot for the threats. His threats only give the story more weight and make it last longer in the news cycle. It would have been gone by now if he'd ignored it.
Julian Englis
(2,309 posts)His reputation might be improved by being known as a racist. Most people just thought he was a mealy-mouthed toady. At least if he's a racist, he has some beliefs. They may be evil beliefs but they are beliefs.
RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)matt819
(10,749 posts)Although trump has been involved in thousands of lawsuits, he just as often threatens lawsuits.
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,586 posts)Like his former boss, Spicy is all threats and no action.
RestoreAmerica2020
(3,435 posts)..lied to the American people everyday. Now he's worried about damage to his character.. unbelievable!
dem4decades
(11,297 posts)Sean is living in a glass house.
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)I don't think AP is responsible for investigating what someone claimed - just correctly reporting what was said.
Spicer is a complete idiot.
SunSeeker
(51,574 posts)Spicer admits the incident happened as the AP described it, he just thinks the AP should not have reported the incident. Because it makes hom look bad. If Spicer sues, the AP should counter sue for malicious prosecution and get their attorneys fees for this SLAPP suit.
RockRaven
(14,974 posts)Reporting that Person A said X about public figure B isn't defamatory so long as the fact that Person A said X is accurate.
If the accuracy of the accusation X impacted whether or not a defamation suit would succeed against a news entity reporting on it's existence, then President Obama would be a multi-billionaire from all of the lawsuits he won against every newspaper, TV network, and radio station in the country which reported upon the bogus "birther" claims of Trump and others. Every news outlet that ever mentioned that the Pizzagate accusation even existed would have lost their shirts to Hillary Clinton and Co.
This is empty bluster meant to distract from the accusation itself by making the controversy about the conflict between Spicer/journalists instead of Spicer/accuser. Remember, Spicer's audience is already primed to distrust/disagree with/reject news media, but they've had no priming re this one individual they've never heard of before.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,322 posts)Spicer's press briefings should therefore have been empty. Hell, they reported what he claimed even when they knew it was a lie.
SunSeeker
(51,574 posts)Sorry, Spicy. The facts were as reported. Your high school classmate said you called him an n-word. You admit that happened. Nothing "wreckless" about AP reporting on what happened at your public book signing.
gibraltar72
(7,506 posts)I hear it everywhere. I wouldn't myself say Sean is a racist. But many very smart people are saying it.
reACTIONary
(5,770 posts)CanonRay
(14,104 posts)they are all Puffer fish.
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)paleotn
(17,931 posts)Try again, spicy, you lying piece of filth.
Marcuse
(7,488 posts)dameatball
(7,398 posts)woundedkarma
(498 posts)And then Spicer can complain about lies.
And then the AP can show just what a freakin' liar Spicer is.
Over
And Over...
I suggest every single press briefing he did. Count 'em up. What a fun time that'll be!
2naSalit
(86,650 posts)tavernier
(12,392 posts)The reviews were terrible, so he needs a different hook.
7962
(11,841 posts)Or everyone should know never to hire THAT lawyer
Ptah
(33,032 posts)Doodley
(9,095 posts)In fact, he defended those lies. His job was funded by the taxpayer. He was a servant of the people, not Donald Trump, but he chose lies over the truth, a fascist over America. To now complain only about things he doesn't like being written about himself makes him look like a weasel.
sandensea
(21,639 posts)Me.
(35,454 posts)he needs to find some money somewhere
donkeypoofed
(2,187 posts)Oh wait,your book needs sales, badly. Even Spanky's tweet to buy your lyin' book only netted you 8 more pre-sales!! Whooooo,look at you go Sean ! Seriously, go away and go now.
Joe Bacon
(5,165 posts)Please!
Do it!
Then SNL can bring back Melissa and goof on your sorry sleazy ass again!
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)16 billion sarcasm here!
JohnnyRingo
(18,636 posts)As Trump's mouthpiece he spouted it daily.
No inauguration was bigger.. period.