Judge Tosses Gossip Writer’s Suit, Calls it a ‘Political Diatribe’

Trials & Litigation

Judge Tosses Gossip Writer’s Suit, Calls it a ‘Political Diatribe’

Posted Jun 18, 2008, 11:16 am CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss

A Manhattan judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a former gossip columnist for the New York Post that alleged Hillary and Bill Clinton conspired to ruin his reputation.

Judge Walter Tolub said the claims by writer Jared Paul Stern were “a political diatribe” that read like a Mickey Spillane novel, the New York Times reports. Tolub said the complaint failed to include details of specific words or actions that allegedly defamed Stern.

The suit had claimed the political power couple used their influence to get federal authorities to investigate allegations that Stern had asked Democratic fundraiser Ronald Burkle for a bribe to keep negative news out of the newspaper. No charges were filed. Stern claimed in the suit it was Burkle who mentioned a bribe and the bribe attempt failed, prompting the defendants to conspire to hurt his reputation.

Besides the Clintons, the suit named several other defendants, including Burkle and the Daily News, which “gleefully chronicl[ed] the scandal,” according to the Associated Press.

Comments

Report Abuse

Be the first to comment.

Commenting has expired on this post.

ABA Journal - Law News Now

Trials & Litigation