The Journal Inquirer is reporting that it has filed a federal election complaint against WWE, charging that the company founded by U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon is illegally abetting her campaign.
The complaint alleges that the Stamford-based wrestling and entertainment company violated federal election rules when it sent a letter to the JI accusing the newspaper of libel. The complaint was filed last week with the Federal Election Commission, according to a story by Journal Inquirer staff writer Don Michak published this morning.
Chris Powell, the newspaper’s managing editor, published a pair of columns this year that criticized McMahon, a multimillionaire whose “practical qualifications for office did not extend beyond her fantastic wealth, and that wealth derived from the business of violence, pornography, and general raunch.”
Several columnists and political observers contend that WWE’s only goal was to silence critics by stopping them from exercising their First Amendment rights.
In a press release this morning, WWE senior vice president Brian Flinn denies that.
“WWE is not attempting to prevent the media from exercising its First Amendment rights,” Flinn writes. “In fact, WWE itself makes a living by exercising those very same rights. Mr. Powell of the Journal Inquirer and anyone in the media are entitled to their opinion about Linda McMahon and any other politician. However, that does not give anyone the right to hide behind the First Amendment to recklessly disregard the facts and state that WWE is in ‘the business of pornography.’
“WWE considers this to have been written as a statement of fact and not opinion by Mr. Powell and the Journal Inquirer. First Amendment rights should not be confused with blatant disregard for the truth. It is ruthless and in some cases unlawful to disparage a company and its 700 employees with damaging misrepresentations. WWE is not and has never been in the business of pornography. Hopefully this will set the record straight once and for all,” Flinn said.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
3 Responses to WWE and The JI, Round Three
About Capitol Watch
The Hartford Courant’s Capitol Watch blog provides insightful and in-depth coverage of Connecticut politics... read more- -- ADVERTISEMENT --
NEW! CT Politics App.
Courant.com brings you the latest CT political news, blogs, tweets and photos, powered by the Hartford Courant and FOX CT.
Download it now:
- -- ADVERTISEMENT --
It seems to me these FEC complaints are a little to easy to file. It takes past the election to resolve and will tarnish McMahon in the interim.
Daniela, do you know if there is a penalty for someone who files a vicious and groundless complaint or is there no recourse for Linda?
Looks like another smear campaign by a liberal press that got caught distorting the truth…..Look what Dannel did to Floey in his ad’s, Look at Obama blaiming Mitt for his success…..Where did Bloomy get his multi millions? Where did Obama get his $9 Million? Rosa Deloro’s husband gets millions from his business. Doesn’t that make them RICH? Why no stories form the JI on them?
Fairness? seems to be missing!
Chris Powell is no liberal. He is a former Republican candidate for state Senate in the 4th district(Manchester-Glastonbury area), and is well-known for conservative commentary on many issues. The criticism of Mr. Powell is a bit uninformed. Spelling and use of punctuation questionable as well.