7 Press Groups Accuse Wes Moore of Retaliating Against Sinclair, Sun Reporters
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 15
7 Press Groups Accuse Wes Moore of Retaliating Against Sinclair, Sun Reporters
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 15
Summary
An Oct. 13 letter from seven press freedom and civil liberties groups says Maryland agencies are routing routine questions from Sinclair-affiliated outlets and The Baltimore Sun to legal review, amounting to retaliation.
The extra scrutiny followed a July defamation suit by Sinclair executive chairman David Smith, and agencies explicitly cited that litigation in written responses to reporters.
Moore's office rejected the accusation, saying there is "no blanket refusal to engage" and that agencies answered dozens of questions from Sinclair outlets in the past week while legal counsel reviewed inquiries.
The coalition argued Smith sued Moore personally, not the news outlets, and said journalists should not face different treatment because of an ownership dispute.
The clash sharpens a hypocrisy charge against Moore, who recently condemned Trump's White House bans on CNN, MS NOW and Politico as unconstitutional retaliation against disfavored media.