Re: False allegations regarding Rep. Lynn Westmoreland

The undersigned is counsel to Congressman Lynn Westmoreland. Today, your client, The Citizen, via the Web at www.thecitizen.com, published false and malicious statements under the blog headline, “Seabaugh-Westmoreland Code of Conduct.”

That publication alleged, among other outrageous falsehoods, that Congressman Lynn Westmoreland condoned and/or participated in acts of adultery, drunkenness with young girls on the Sabbath, lying and use of profanity.

Also today, representatives from the office of Representative Lynn Westmoreland contacted The Citizen to advise that this defamatory material was on its website and to exercise its moral — as well as legal — responsibility to monitor its site and prevent its use to defame or participate in gutter politics of the worst kind.

I am advised that rather than act as a responsible journalistic organization and remove libelous material from its Web site upon being made aware of its existence, The Citizen has decided that these statements would not be removed.

The Citizen is well aware that these statements on its Web site lack any factual merit and are designed to pervert the political process and mislead its readers into making false factual assumptions about Congressman Westmoreland’s behavior and character.

As you are well aware, The Citizen’s continued publications of these statements after having been placed on notice and provided with actual knowledge of their false and misleading nature may constitute libel.

Moreover, The Citizen’s continued publication of this false and misleading information, after having been put on notice of its falsity, also evidences a specific and malicious intent to injure and damage Representative Westmoreland’s reputation by continued repetition of a known falsehood.

Please be advised that we will take any and all actions necessary on Congressman Westmoreland’s behalf to rectify the harm that The Citizen has caused and to hold those at The Citizen responsible for their conduct. Please govern yourselves accordingly.

Stefan C. Passantino
Counsel to Congressman Lynn Westmoreland
McKenna, Long & Aldridge, attorneys at law
Atlanta, Ga.

Editor’s note: We inquired as to how the lawyer above was being paid: taxpayers’ funds, campaign contributions, or out of the congressman’s own pocket. The response from his press secretary was the following: “Absolutely no taxpayer dollars have been used.”

login to post comments