In a rarely seen action, The Beaver County Times today rescinded its endorsement of State Rep. Jaret Gibbons, saying he manufactured details about his opponent that he then attributed to their reporting.
“We cannot support a candidate who attributes information to us that we did not write,” said Times Executive Editor Lisa Micco.
The newspaper said it had planned to publish its endorsement this week, but pulled the endorsement and will now endorse challenger Aaron Bernstine.
The Times’ action comes days after another news outlet, The Beaver Countian, also cited Gibbons for manufacturing details about Bernstine and attributing them to the publication.
The Bernstine campaign Monday sent a cease-and-desist order to Comcast Inc., where the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee purchased advertising time, advising them of the falsity of the ads.
Gibbons told The Beaver Countian he had authorized the ad, but failed to disclose his role in the legally required disclaimer on the televised piece. Zach Wallen, attorney for the Bernstine campaign, called it “a wanton violoation of both Pennsylvania and federal law regarding political advertisement disclaimers.”
Bernstine today praised both The Beaver County Times and the Beaver Countian, “for playing exactly the watchdog role we count on from a free and independent press.”
Links to both The Beaver County Times and Beaver Countian coverage are attached.
Beaver County Times
http://www.timesonline.com/election/2016general/false-citations-in-tv-ad-lead-the-times-to-pull/article_1f5077e2-a148-11e6-a448-03e5307a85a4.html
Be the first to comment on "False Claims Lead Newspaper to Drop Gibbons Endorsement Paper says Gibbons Manufactured Details"