OK - yes, Sarah Palin v. NYT trial plods along @SDNYLIVE, with James Bennet still on the witness stand. Inner City Press is covering the trial innercitypress.com/sdnytrial4pali… and will intermittently live tweet, thread below
https://twitter.com/innercitypress/status/1490009705422495749
Q: Mr. Bennet, why did you think this editorial should be about gun control?
James Bennet: It was the hypothesis of the board that access to firearms increases the possibility of this type of incident.
Q: Here, Bob Semple said, We should definitely shoot for piece
James Bennet: It was the hypothesis of the board that access to firearms increases the possibility of this type of incident.
Q: Here, Bob Semple said, We should definitely shoot for piece
James Bennet: My intention was to raise a question, not to assert it as a matter of fact. I can't prove that this rhetoric leads to this violence.
Q: You wrote, Hard to imagine that Bernie [Sanders] is guilty of anything like that. Why?
James Bennet: I hadn't heard
Q: You wrote, Hard to imagine that Bernie [Sanders] is guilty of anything like that. Why?
James Bennet: I hadn't heard
James Bennet: Incite requires an object, as a verb.
Judge Rakoff: What did you mean by "e.g. in the run up to the Gabby Giffords shooting"?
James Bennet: I don't know.
[Thread will continue...]
Judge Rakoff: What did you mean by "e.g. in the run up to the Gabby Giffords shooting"?
James Bennet: I don't know.
[Thread will continue...]
James Bennet *still* on the stand.
Q: You wrote, We made an error of fact in the piece but it doesn't invalidate the argument we made in it. Why did you write that?
James Bennet: Uh, Uh... I didn't know that Sarah Palin had responded to the piece.
Q: You wrote, We made an error of fact in the piece but it doesn't invalidate the argument we made in it. Why did you write that?
James Bennet: Uh, Uh... I didn't know that Sarah Palin had responded to the piece.
Q: Let's turn to Oliver Darcy, CNN's media reporter. What's a media reporter?
James Bennet: It's what he says he is.
Q: Did you think your answer was part of the record?
James Bennet: I was as accurate as I could be.
James Bennet: It's what he says he is.
Q: Did you think your answer was part of the record?
James Bennet: I was as accurate as I could be.
Q: Are you still working at the Times?
James Bennet: No.
Q: Since you left, have you reached out to Governor Palin to apologize?
James Bennet: No.
James Bennet: No.
Q: Since you left, have you reached out to Governor Palin to apologize?
James Bennet: No.
Judge Rakoff: Sounds like we'll wrap up the evidence tomorrow, late tomorrow. So, closing arguments on Friday, 2 hour each side. The jury might begin to deliberate on Friday.
Inner City Press will stay on the case.
Inner City Press will stay on the case.
And we're back --
Ross Douthat: So I sent James [Bennet] tweets by liberals who were raising issues about the editorial, for example Chris Hayes.
Q: And do you --
NYT lawyer: Objection! To the introduction as well!
Ross Douthat: So I sent James [Bennet] tweets by liberals who were raising issues about the editorial, for example Chris Hayes.
Q: And do you --
NYT lawyer: Objection! To the introduction as well!
Judge Rakoff: There are hearsay problems. But give it your best shot.
Ross Douthat: You are showing me a tweet from Jonathan Chait. I am 90 to 95% sure it's the one I sent.
Judge Rakoff: You say that as a statistician?
Douthat: There are many tweets in the world.
Ross Douthat: You are showing me a tweet from Jonathan Chait. I am 90 to 95% sure it's the one I sent.
Judge Rakoff: You say that as a statistician?
Douthat: There are many tweets in the world.
Judge Rakoff: There are statements in here by Mr. Chait. But he is not here to be questioned. It's called hearsay. But Mr. Chait's tweet was shown [95% sure] to Mr. Bennet. So for that limited purpose it comes in.
NYT: Same objection.
Judge Rakoff: Same ruling.
NYT: Same objection.
Judge Rakoff: Same ruling.
Q: Did Mr. Bennet ever tell you what to write about?
Ross Douthat: Not to my knowledge.
[Reflexive legalese? A person would know, right?]
Ross Douthat: Not to my knowledge.
[Reflexive legalese? A person would know, right?]
Q: What's this?
Ross Douthat: My column comparing Donald Trump to various figures from Roman history....
No further questions.
Ross Douthat: My column comparing Donald Trump to various figures from Roman history....
No further questions.
Judge Rakoff: Re-direct.
Q: Are you aware of any politics in the life of Loughner?
NYT lawyer: Objection.
Judge Rakoff: I don't see how this will come in.
Q: In Tucson shooting, did you become aware of any politic--
NYT Lawyer: Objection!
Sustained. Now... Palin.
Q: Are you aware of any politics in the life of Loughner?
NYT lawyer: Objection.
Judge Rakoff: I don't see how this will come in.
Q: In Tucson shooting, did you become aware of any politic--
NYT Lawyer: Objection!
Sustained. Now... Palin.
Sarah Palin, questioned by her lawyer, in NYT case:
Q: How long have you lived in Wasilla?
Palin: Since 2d grade. Forever. I have two girls in Texas, one in Scotsdale.
Judge Rakoff: You have five children and only 8 grandchild? This sounds like diminishing returns
Q: How long have you lived in Wasilla?
Palin: Since 2d grade. Forever. I have two girls in Texas, one in Scotsdale.
Judge Rakoff: You have five children and only 8 grandchild? This sounds like diminishing returns
Q: When did you first get involved in public service?
Palin: I ran for city council, on private property rights issue. They were trying to annex in people who didn't want to be annex in. I wanted to be a voice for both sides
Palin: I ran for city council, on private property rights issue. They were trying to annex in people who didn't want to be annex in. I wanted to be a voice for both sides
Palin: I saw I had to be top dog. So I ran for mayor and was elected and re-elected, serving six years.
Q: Were you running against established politicians?
Palin: Always. Then in 2002 I ran for Lt-Gov and lost, and learned. I became Oil and Gas Commissioner.
Q: Were you running against established politicians?
Palin: Always. Then in 2002 I ran for Lt-Gov and lost, and learned. I became Oil and Gas Commissioner.
Palin: Then I ran for governor, to clean up the crony capitalism. In 2009 I was tapped to run for Vice President, by John McCain. I was asked to meet with him the next day in Arizona. I was honored and excited.
Palin: I don't think they were prepared for me. But it was an amazing experience.
Judge Rakoff: We will end for the day.
[Jury leaves]
Ms. Palin, you may step down. Tomorrow I'll give you the final draft jury charge.
Adjourned.
Judge Rakoff: We will end for the day.
[Jury leaves]
Ms. Palin, you may step down. Tomorrow I'll give you the final draft jury charge.
Adjourned.
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