New York Times threatened with shareholder suit over Israel, Graham Platner coverage
The New York Times is facing a threatened shareholder lawsuit over its coverage of former Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, Israel and other politically charged stories.The National Center for Public Policy Research warned Tuesday that it will sue unless the newspaper turns over records within a week, alleging directors failed to oversee the Gray Lady’s editorial standards and corrections practices.The demand cites the Times’ June 4 article on Platner, a May opinion essay by Nicholas Kristof that included allegations of sexual abuse in Israeli detention and the paper’s coverage of Israel-related political stories as evidence of what it calls a broader pattern of inconsistent editorial standards.News of the threatened shareholder suit was first reported by the Washington Free Beacon.The June 4 Platner piece drew criticism from people who said the Times downplayed allegations against the far-left pol.The story described former girlfriends’ relationships with Platner as “unsettling” and “reckless.” It included allegations from Lyndsey Fifield saying Platner had twisted her arm behind her back and locked her in a room — but the authors said they “could not corroborate” all of the accusations, leaving some out, according to the suit.The controversy intensified a month later after Jenny Racicot — who had also spoken with Times reporters before the article was published — alleged in a Politico interview that Platner sexually assaulted her in 2021.According to Racicot, he allegedly entered her home uninvited and forced her to have sex despite her repeated objections.Platner has denied the accusation.Platner won Maine’s Democratic Senate primary but suspended his campaign days later.
He formally withdrew from the race last week.The shareholder demand also points to a May opinion column by Kristof that alleged Palestinian detainees were subject to sexual abuse by Israeli prison guards and soldiers.The essay drew fierce backlash from the ...