(NEW YORK)— In Response to President-elect Donald Trump’s legal threats demanding $10 billion in damages from The New York Times and Penguin Random House for allegedly publishing “false and defamatory statements” about him, PEN America issued the following comments:
Tim Richardson, program director, Journalism and Disinformation at PEN America, said: “President-elect Donald Trump’s legal threats mark an ominous start to his transition to the White House, signaling his intent to escalate attacks on journalism and publishing. While The New York Times and Penguin Random House may have the resources to defend themselves against these clearly frivolous claims, smaller news outlets and publishers do not and may be forced to censor themselves rather than risk critical coverage of Trump. That is the point. These threats aren’t about stopping false reporting or even winning cases that are brought — they’re about intimidating journalists, writers, and publishers into self-censorship. The worrisome results will be less accountability for our elected leaders and a less informed public.”
PEN America noted the threats are part of a broader pattern by the President-elect targeting media organizations, including a lawsuit against CBS News, a Federal Election Commission complaint against The Washington Post, and the demand for a retraction from The Daily Beast from Trump’s campaign co-chief Chris LaCivita.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], (201) 247-5057