Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday said that libel laws should be changed so that jurors have a "presumption of malice" against journalists who print inaccurate information based on anonymous sources.
While touting proposed new legislation that makes it easier to sue reporters, DeSantis argued that journalists simply use anonymous sources to "smear" people, despite the fact that some of the most important pieces of investigative journalism, including the Washington Post's Watergate reporting, relied on such sources.
"The question is, if you bring a suit, how can you show that it was malicious?" DeSantis asked rhetorically. "And I think that it was anonymous could be a presumption that that's the case. I don't think it's going to make much of a difference in terms of free speech, I do think it may cause some people to may not to put out things that are false that are smearing somebody's reputation."
DeSantis went on to claim that the current standard for suing journalists is "impossible to meet," although that is not the case given that many legal experts have said that Dominion Voting Systems has a strong legal case against Fox News after finding text messages showing that the network knowingly aired false statements about its voting machines.
IN OTHER NEWS: Trump slams people who 'tell us to be peaceful' while protesting his potential arrest
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Members of the House Freedom Caucus sought to punish House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) after the debt ceiling was raised.
At least ten caucus members on Tuesday opposed a vote to clear the way for debate on gas stove regulations.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) confirmed that members had voted against allowing debate as retribution for a bill that raised the nation's debt limit.
"Today, we took down the rule because we're frustrated at the way this place is operating," Gaetz told reporters.
Republicans held the 5-minute vote open for 50 minutes while leaders tried to change members' minds. Ultimately, the rule was voted down, and the House was gaveled into recess.
Republican members of the California Assembly walked off the floor on Monday after a Pride month celebration hosted by the house included members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, The San Francisco Chronicle reports. The group calls itself an order of queer and trans nuns.
The Sisters (also called the Order of Perpetual Indulgence) is an LGBTQ advocacy group that uses street performances to satirize issues of sex, gender and morality and raises money for charitable causes.
The Chronicle reports that as the GOP lawmakers headed for the exit doors, Sister Roma, an iconic San Francisco drag queen, blew kisses toward them and was hailed with a standing ovation on the Assembly floor.
The California Catholic Conference was among some of the religious groups that had joined Republican lawmakers in urging Democrats to disinvite the Sisters to the event. They argued that it was an “anti-Christian” group that derides religion, especially Catholicism.
Roma told reporters that the right-wing fueled protests over the group's appearance at the Pride event reflected the national rise of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.
“They’re trying to other us, they’re trying to dehumanize us, they’re attempting to criminalize us and then eventually be free to eradicate us,” Roma said.
“There are people who would just like to pretend like we don’t exist when the fact is queer and trans people have always been here and we will always be here.”
Republican James Gallagher, the Assembly’s Minority Leader, led the walkout.
The Chronicle reported that “Outside the Capitol, a few hundred people joined in a prayer vigil to oppose the Pride Month ceremony because it featured a member of the order of drag nuns. The group prayed for the ‘salvation’ of the sisters.”
“I recognize that the Sisters have done charitable work in the community,” Gallagher said in a statement obtained by The Chronicle.
“But their vulgar mockery of our Christian faith is extremely insulting and disrespectful. We cannot condone this.”
Assembly member Scott Weiner, a San Francisco Democrat who earlier this year formed an exploratory committee to run for the congressional seat currently held by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, nominated Roma to be honored at the event.
Wiener, who is gay, noted the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have a long history of philanthropic work. The order was founded in San Francisco in 1979 largely to help the LGBTQ community as the HIV/AIDS epidemic killed tens of thousands of people.“I’m so proud of Sister Roma and her work in the community,” Wiener said.
“I’m proud of California for standing strong to support LGBTQ people as our community is under assault.”
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were at the center of a controversy last month over the Los Angeles Dodgers decision to disinvite the group from appearing at its June 16 Pride Night, a decision the team later reversed.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis requested — and the Federal Election Commission granted — more time for the newly minted presidential candidate to reveal details about his personal finances.
“We are requesting an extension to file Governor DeSantis' financial disclosure until July 1, 2023. The Governor has a financial disclosure due to the Florida Commission on Ethics on July 1, 2023 and the additional time will help ensure accuracy and consistency,” said a letter from Charlie Spies of Dickinson Wright PLLC, who is counsel for the governor and the DeSantis for President campaign.
Lisa J. Stevenson, acting general counsel at the FEC, granted him a 17-day extension through July 1, according to a June 6 letter.
At least as of last year, DeSantis wasn't known for his wealth — more so, his relative lack of it, especially when compared to his main presidential campaign foil, billionaire former President Donald Trump.
In 2022, DeSantis’ net worth was less than $319,000. He still had student loan debt, and he didn’t own property, according to Insider, citing Florida disclosure records.
Any spike in DeSantis’ wealth during the past year, when his national profile increased significantly as he breezed through a pricey re-election campaign and weighed whether to run for president amid fights with Walt Disney Co., would be notable.
DeSantis and Trump are two among a dozen candidates who have entered the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, which is expected to grow today with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s announcement of his candidacy.
RELATED ARTICLE: Trump again pushes back deadline to reveal his finances
DeSantis joins several other members of a growing field of presidential candidates who requested extensions to file public financial disclosures, including Trump, environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and author Marianne Williamson, according to a Raw Story analysis of FEC records.
President Joe Biden, who announced his reelection campaign last month, submitted his disclosure report, and Republican candidate Nikki Haley also filed her disclosure on time, revealing the millions of dollars she earns from speaking engagements, consulting fees and revenue from her own company.
Such disclosures require presidential candidates to reveal details about their income, assets, stock trades, royalties, debts and certain contractual agreements, such as book deals with publishing houses.
DeSantis announced his presidential candidacy on May 15 and officially filed registration paperwork with the FEC on May 24. DeSantis initially had 30 days to file a public financial disclosure report with the federal government.
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