Local TV station orders reporters to counter 'Big Lie' by naming GOPers who 'should be held accountable'

A Pennsylvania television news organization has ordered its reporters, correspondents and staff to take unusual steps to counter the "Big Lie" about the 2020 election that has been fueled by former President Donald Trump and some Republican lawmakers.

In a memo released last week, WITF explained why Republican lawmakers were being publicly named for their role in perpetuating the false belief that the election was "stolen" from Trump.

"WITF believes elected officials who supported the election-fraud lie through their actions should be held accountable, and we believe consistently presenting the facts that reveal the lie will play a part in diminishing its power over those who believed and supported it," the memo said. "In stories on-air and online we will identify those U.S. representatives or state legislators to hold them accountable for their actions."

The memo offered specific examples of how lawmakers will be descibed.

• “(name), who voted against certifying Pennsylvania's election results for President Biden despite no evidence to support election-fraud claims…"
  
• “(name), who signed a letter asking members of Congress to delay certifying Pennsylvania's electoral votes despite no evidence that would call those results into question…"
  
• “(name), who supported Donald Trump's 2020 election-fraud lie by signing a letter urging members of Congress to object to Pennsylvania's electoral votes going to Joe Biden…"

The station went on to name the Republican lawmakers who would be subject to the new rule. The list includes lawmakers at the state and federal level.

Pennsylvania Representatives John Joyce, Fred Keller, Mike Kelly, Dan Meuser, Scott Perry, Guy Reschenthaler, Glenn Thompson and Lloyd Smucker are all subject to the rule, the station said.

WITF went on to explain that Republican election challenges were different from objections that Democrats made in 2005 and 2017.

Read the entire memo here.