In New York, the former opinion editor for The New York Times made a heartfelt apology to Sarah Palin, expressing regret over a 2017 editorial that she claims harmed her reputation. During his testimony, James Bennet admitted to making an error by wrongly stating that Palin’s political action committee played a role in creating a violent atmosphere before a 2011 shooting in Arizona that left a Congress member gravely injured.
The New York Times acknowledged the inaccuracies in the editorial and promptly issued a correction, labeling the mistake as unintentional. Bennet became visibly emotional on the stand, apologizing to Palin, the former governor of Alaska and Republican vice-presidential candidate. While apologizing, Bennet became tearful, emphasizing that the error weighed heavily on him. A lawyer offered him tissues as he continued his testimony in the defamation trial.
“I did, and I do apologize to Governor Palin for this mistake,” Bennet affirmed. Judge Jed S. Rakoff, after a break, commented on what he described as Bennet’s “heartfelt” and “moving” apology directed toward Palin.
However, Palin appeared unimpressed by the sentiment, dismissing the apology when she exited the courtroom. She questioned the timing of the error and its rapid correction, remarking on the years that had elapsed since then. Avoiding further comments, Palin soon departed in a vehicle headed for the airport.
Bennet and The New York Times now face a renewed legal challenge from Palin, who first sued in 2017, alleging defamation. Although a jury initially ruled against Palin’s claims in February 2022, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan later reinstated the case, citing trial errors.
Palin seeks unspecified damages, alleging the editorial significantly impacted her career as a political commentator. The editorial was published in the wake of a shooting incident involving U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise during a congressional baseball practice. In it, The Times claimed Palin’s committee contributed to a hostile climate by sharing a map marking electoral districts with crosshairs over certain Democratic figures, including former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords who was seriously injured in the Arizona shooting.
The subsequent correction made by The New York Times clarified that there was no connection between political rhetoric and the 2011 violence and acknowledged inaccuracies in describing the circulated map.