Source: Fox News
Summary
A coalition of press freedom groups accused Maryland Gov. Wes Moore of retaliating against news outlets, including The Baltimore Sun and Sinclair-affiliated outlets, by subjecting their inquiries to additional legal review. The groups cited a defamation lawsuit filed by David Smith, owner of The Baltimore Sun, against Moore. Moore has previously criticized Trump for restricting press access. His office denied the allegations, stating that agencies continue to respond to reporters. The groups argued that journalists should not face different treatment based on their outlet’s ownership. Moore’s office said the legal review was standard due diligence.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Press freedom groups accuse a governor of treating journalists differently.
The governor has criticized another leader for similar actions.
Legal review is called due diligence, not a blackout.
Accusations of hypocrisy echo through the process.
Author: Evan Null
Press Freedom Groups Accuse Governor of Retaliation
A coalition of press freedom organizations has accused Maryland Gov. Wes Moore of retaliating against news outlets, including The Baltimore Sun and Sinclair-affiliated outlets. The groups claim that the Moore administration subjected routine inquiries from these outlets to additional legal review. This comes amid a defamation lawsuit filed by David Smith, owner of The Baltimore Sun, against Moore. The press groups argue that journalists should not face different treatment based on their outlet’s ownership.
Moore’s Office Denies Allegations
Moore’s office strongly disputed the allegations, stating that reporters continue to receive responses from state agencies despite the additional legal scrutiny. Ammar Moussa, Moore’s senior press secretary, said the legal review was standard due diligence. He emphasized that agencies have answered dozens of questions from Sinclair outlets in the last week. The governor’s office denied any blanket refusal to engage with the media.
Comparison to Trump’s Press Restrictions
The press freedom groups compared Moore’s actions to the Trump administration’s restrictions on certain White House reporters. They argued that journalists should not be treated differently based on their outlet’s ownership. The groups criticized Moore for condemning Trump’s press restrictions while engaging in similar actions himself. They called on Moore to instruct state agencies to stop any unlawful retaliation against news outlets.
Dispute Traces Back to Defamation Lawsuit
The dispute began with a defamation lawsuit filed by David Smith against Moore in July. Smith accused the governor of making false and damaging statements about him during a television interview. Moore has accused Smith’s media holdings of advancing a political agenda aligned with Trump. Smith maintains that the governor’s remarks crossed the line into defamation. The lawsuit was filed by Smith personally, not the news organizations whose reporters have faced additional legal review.
Coalition Calls for Transparency
The coalition of press freedom groups urged Moore to instruct all Maryland agencies to treat Smith’s lawsuit as a personal matter. They asked him to cease any unlawful retaliation against news outlets he personally dislikes. The groups emphasized that government agencies should not use a personal lawsuit as a pretext to stonewall reporters. They argued that Moore’s conduct appeared similar to Trump’s, despite his public criticism of the former president’s press restrictions.
