Spicer threatens legal action over AP report

[Julian Englis]

Source: The Hill

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer is threatening to take legal action against The Associated Press over a report from the wire service about an incident on his book tour.

Spicer’s attorney Michael Bowe said in a statement Saturday night that the AP “recklessly republished a categorically false accusation about Sean Spicer.”

“The claim is a lie. Absent an immediate retraction, Mr. Spicer will take legal action Monday,” Bowe said.

The AP report, published Saturday, documented an incident at Spicer’s book signing in Middletown, R.I., on Friday during which a black man claiming to be a former classmate of Spicer’s at Portsmouth Abbey School accused Spicer of using a racial slur.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/media/399373-spicer-threatens-legal-action-over-ap-report-on-black-mans-allegation-he-used

[PoliticAverse]

1. The AP story seems pretty fair, even quoting Spicer's publicist:

Spicer “can’t recall any incident like this happening” and was “not sure if this was just a stunt this man was pulling,” Regnery Publishing publicist Lauren McCue said.

[LiberalFighter]

32. He can't recall?

He is not saying it didn't happen.

I wouldn't put it past Regnery Publishing to misdirect.

[forgotmylogin]

2. The only way he would have a slander case is if it's not true...but...

he would need to sue the person who made the "false" statement. AP factually reporting on a claim someone else made isn't a falsehood and not grounds for slander. I suspect he'll forget all about this if it dies down. Which is what he should do to keep it out of the news instead of poking his head up into the Trump whirlwind of crap.

It seems like most of the time the fundies are just happy for one of theirs to claim something they did isn't true and threaten litigation; it doesn't matter if they actually follow up.

[bitterross]

16. He has no case against the AP. They accurately reported an event.

The AP simply reported what happened at a public event. They gave his publicist an opportunity to refute it and asked for comments from Spicer which were not forthcoming.

The AP did not weigh in one way or the other on the accusations.

Spicer is an idiot for the threats. His threats only give the story more weight and make it last longer in the news cycle. It would have been gone by now if he'd ignored it.

[Julian Englis]

3. If Spicer won, he couldn't get damages--he's got no character to damage.

His reputation might be improved by being known as a racist. Most people just thought he was a mealy-mouthed toady. At least if he's a racist, he has some beliefs. They may be evil beliefs but they are beliefs.

[RhodeIslandOne]

4. You can bet this lawsuit never gets filed

[matt819]

7. He learned that from his former boss

Although trump has been involved in thousands of lawsuits, he just as often threatens lawsuits.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

22. My though exactly.

Like his former boss, Spicy is all threats and no action.

[RestoreAmerica2020]

31. He's picked up some nasty habits from his boss...he out right

..lied to the American people everyday. Now he's worried about damage to his character.. unbelievable!

[dem4decades]

5. Let Spicer sue. And then answer all the questions the attorneys ask hum.

Sean is living in a glass house.

[yallerdawg]

6. Reporting what was said at an incident.

I don't think AP is responsible for investigating what someone claimed - just correctly reporting what was said.

Spicer is a complete idiot.

[SunSeeker]

9. Exactly.

Spicer admits the incident happened as the AP described it, he just thinks the AP should not have reported the incident. Because it makes hom look bad. If Spicer sues, the AP should counter sue for malicious prosecution and get their attorneys fees for this SLAPP suit.

[RockRaven]

8. You can take MANY examples from Trump's own behavior to illustrate why Spicy's just blustering

Reporting that Person A said X about public figure B isn't defamatory so long as the fact that Person A said X is accurate.

If the accuracy of the accusation X impacted whether or not a defamation suit would succeed against a news entity reporting on it's existence, then President Obama would be a multi-billionaire from all of the lawsuits he won against every newspaper, TV network, and radio station in the country which reported upon the bogus "birther" claims of Trump and others. Every news outlet that ever mentioned that the Pizzagate accusation even existed would have lost their shirts to Hillary Clinton and Co.

This is empty bluster meant to distract from the accusation itself by making the controversy about the conflict between Spicer/journalists instead of Spicer/accuser. Remember, Spicer's audience is already primed to distrust/disagree with/reject news media, but they've had no priming re this one individual they've never heard of before.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. So Spicer says if the media can't verify what is claimed, they should not report the claim at all?

Spicer's press briefings should therefore have been empty. Hell, they reported what he claimed even when they knew it was a lie.

[SunSeeker]

11. K & R for exposure of how anti-facts Spicer is.

Sorry, Spicy. The facts were as reported. Your high school classmate said you called him an n-word. You admit that happened. Nothing "wreckless" about AP reporting on what happened at your public book signing.

[gibraltar72]

12. Many many people are saying this.

I hear it everywhere. I wouldn't myself say Sean is a racist. But many very smart people are saying it.

[reACTIONary]

25. +1 nm

[CanonRay]

13. Bluster, bluff, threaten

they are all Puffer fish.

[USALiberal]

14. Absence of malice. nt

[paleotn]

15. They reported the incident. The incident happened.

Try again, spicy, you lying piece of filth.

[Marcuse]

17. Never hire an attorney named Michael.

[dameatball]

18. Why would anyone not related to him buy his damn book??

[woundedkarma]

19. Oh I want this to go to court

And then Spicer can complain about lies.

And then the AP can show just what a freakin' liar Spicer is.

Over

And Over...

I suggest every single press briefing he did. Count 'em up. What a fun time that'll be!

[2naSalit]

20. Should have stayed under his rock....nt

[tavernier]

21. He's just drumming up attention for his book.

The reviews were terrible, so he needs a different hook.

[7962]

23. His lawyer should advise him of how the law works.

Or everyone should know never to hire THAT lawyer

[Ptah]

24. It was the bigliest book signing ever.

[Doodley]

26. Spicer didn't have the same outrage over lies about Hillary Clinton or Obama.

In fact, he defended those lies. His job was funded by the taxpayer. He was a servant of the people, not Donald Trump, but he chose lies over the truth, a fascist over America. To now complain only about things he doesn't like being written about himself makes him look like a weasel.

[sandensea]

27. This will be the biggest smackdown in judicial history -

PERIOD!

[Me.]

28. He Doesn't Have A Job, His Book Isn't Selling

he needs to find some money somewhere

[donkeypoofed]

29. Spicey, stop this; it'll only draw attention to it

Oh wait,your book needs sales, badly. Even Spanky's tweet to buy your lyin' book only netted you 8 more pre-sales!! Whooooo,look at you go Sean ! Seriously, go away and go now.

[Joe Bacon]

30. Please do it, Spicey!

Please!

Do it!

Then SNL can bring back Melissa and goof on your sorry sleazy ass again!

[SummerSnow]

33. I'm appalled. He would never use a racial slur, he's a Christian.

16 billion sarcasm here!

[JohnnyRingo]

34. Spicer knows fake news when he sees it

As Trump's mouthpiece he spouted it daily.

No inauguration was bigger.. period.

[KWR65]

35. I'LL HUFF AND I'LL PUFF..