Appeals court revives Palin lawsuit over NYT editorial about Tucson mass shooting
A federal appeals court will let Sarah Palin sue The New York Times over an editorial that suggested a graphic put out by her PAC incited the 2011 Tucson mass shooting targeting then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
In a new ruling, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals said there was enough evidence to show a Times editorial writer knew there was no link between the graphic, which put targets over several congressional districts — including that of Giffords — and shooter Jared Loughner subsequently killing six and seriously wounding 13 others, including Giffords, in the parking lot of a Tucson-area Safeway on Jan. 8, 2011.
The decision does not mean the Times is guilty of libel. But it gives Palin, who was the 2008 vice presidential running mate of Arizona Sen. John McCain, a chance to argue her case to a jury.
The map circulated by SarahPAC superimposed the image of a crosshairs target over certain Democratic congressional districts, including Giffords’ Southern Arizona district. Judge John Walker, writing for the unanimous panel, said the graphic evoked images of violence in the views of many.
Read more: https://tucson.com/news/local/appeals-court-revives-palin-lawsuit-over-nyt-editorial-about-tucson/article_966ae1b6-1d09-5814-8fc7-7d00a2368f4e.html