Key facts
- Florida Attorney General Ashley Uthmeier has sent a demand letter to The New York Times.
- The letter alleges "publicly documented failures" of The New York Times to apply its own editorial standards.
- Uthmeier specifically cited Nicholas Kristof's opinion column titled 'The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians.'
- The New York Times stated the demand letter is a "clear attempt to chill First Amendment-protected journalism."
- The Times will respond more fully in due course.
- Uthmeier is seeking records on how the board was briefed about the article and its fallout.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Uthmeier has sent a demand letter to The New York Times, seeking records related to the newspaper's editorial process and its handling of specific articles. Uthmeier alleges that the Times has failed to adhere to its own editorial standards, particularly in its opinion section, and has used it to publish factual assertions outside the newsroom's verification controls.
The letter specifically points to a May opinion column by Nicholas Kristof, titled "The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians," which drew criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who threatened a defamation lawsuit. Uthmeier is requesting documentation on whether and how the Times' board of directors was briefed on this article and its aftermath.
In response, Danielle Rhoades Ha, senior vice president for communications at The New York Times, stated that the demand letter, while framed as a corporate law request, is a "clear attempt to chill First Amendment-protected journalism." She added that the Times would respond more fully in due course.
Florida's action aligns with recent criticisms the Times has faced from conservative groups like the National Center for Public Policy Research and the National Jewish Advocacy Center. Uthmeier's office has previously targeted companies like Target over marketing decisions, arguing they negatively impacted investor returns. The Times defended Kristof's column, stating it underwent a rigorous vetting process with independent sources.
Uthmeier also seeks similar documents regarding the paper's response to other stories, including a June 4 report detailing allegations of volatile behavior by former Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner. The National Jewish Advocacy Center also cited this story, claiming the Times downplayed or ignored information about the candidate.