First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America

First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Congressman's office denies threatening blogger, but questions persist

According to the Daily Dot, the office of Congressman Mike Rogers (R-MI) denies threatening blogger Mike Masnick with a defamation claim.  See my last post for an explanation of why such a claim was not viable, even if it were threatened and the threat were carried out.

There are a few problems with the denial.  First, it identifies the reporter that Rogers' staff purportedly did not tell about the threat.  But, when Masnick went public with the threat, he didn't identify the reporter.  Basically, Rogers' office is saying "we didn't tell the guy you didn't name the thing you said we said."  That seems off.

Next, Rogers' office is basically saying that the reporter who told Masnick about the threat is a liar.  Maybe they will find themselves on the other side of a defamation claim now?

Finally, the reporter declined to comment to the Daily Dot, but pointed them in the direction of Rogers' chief of staff, who has not yet responded to the Daily Dot as of "late" this afternoon.  If the chief of staff confirms the threat was made then Rogers' office will have a carton of eggs on its proverbial face.

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