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🚨Clarence Thomas declares war on New York Times v. Sullivan, arguably THE landmark First Amendment ruling of the 20th Century, which strictly limits defamation lawsuits against public figures and officials. (The case at hand is about Bill Cosby.) supremecourt.gov/orders/courtor… 
I cannot overstate how stunning this is. Thomas would overturn a half-century of precedent to make it VASTLY easier for public figures, including government officials, to silence their critics through libel lawsuits. It would be the end of the First Amendment as we know it.
This assertion from Thomas is jaw-dropping—absolutely, demonstrably false. Before NYT v. Sullivan, states permitted public officials to shut down newspapers that criticized them through crippling libel lawsuits. Thomas is urging a return to sweeping censorship. Astonishing.
As @lpolgreen notes, Thomas' assault on NYT v. Sullivan would do precisely what Trump craves—strip media outlets of their First Amendment protections, permitting public officials to destroy them through libel lawsuits.
@lpolgreen Oh, and who took this case to SCOTUS? None other than Donald Trump's libel lawyer. The president must be very happy with Clarence Thomas today.
