With the general election looming so close in the future, there is seemingly a new story for any ideology that goes viral almost daily. Yesterday, that story consisted of the accusations levied against Donald Trump (by multiple women) concerning sexual harassment. Trump’s attorneys immediately did what any privileged entity does (Scientology, anyone?), and threatened legal action against the New York Times for sharing the stories of the victims, which they claimed as false and libel.
Then, the Times responded with an extremely eloquently written letter from their Vice President and Assistant General Counsel David McCraw, which states (among other things):
“There is a larger and much more important point here. The women quoted in our story spoke out on an issue of national importance – indeed, an issue that Mr. Trump himself discussed with the whole nation watching during Sunday night’s presidential debate. Our reporters diligently worked to confirm the women’s accounts. They provided readers with Mr. Trump’s response, including his forceful denial of the women’s reports. It would have been a disservice not just to our readers but to democracy itself to silence their voices. We did what the law allows: We published newsworthy information about a subject of deep public concern. If Mr. Trump disagrees, if he believes that American citizens had no right to hear what these women had to say and that the law of this country forces us and those who would dare to criticize him to stand silent or be punished, we welcome the opportunity to have a court set him straight.”
To read the full letter, click here.
Furthermore, however, as if that wasn’t interesting enough, there is a local component to this particular viral sensation: David McCraw was born and raised right here in central Illinois in nearby Monticello, where he graduated high school in 1972.
From one Monticello grad to another, David has truly made our town, and central Illinois, proud for his thoughtful yet biting response to the truly confusing cacophony that is the Trump campaign. Plus it’s always cool when central Illinois is nationally relevant, right?
h/t my parents Ann Boswell and Keddy Hutson, who alerted me to this local connection.