The activist media is none too happy with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Indeed, ever since he destroyed Terry McAuliffe in the gubernatorial race last November, he has been in their crosshairs. This isn’t a surprise given his vocal opposition to progressive attempts to inject far-leftist ideology into the classroom. But now, the press is suing him because he refuses to turn over emails sent to a tip line his office established where parents can report on problematic teachings being infused in their children’s schools.
The Washington Times reported that a group of activist media outlets filed a lawsuit on Wednesday alleging Youngkin is withholding public records by refusing to provide them with the emails sent to the tip line.
From the report:
The news organizations, which include The Associated Press, each filed requests for records related to the tip line Youngkin established shortly after taking office in January. The lawsuit filed in Richmond Circuit Court says the requests were denied based on the administration’s contention that the emails are “working papers and correspondence” of the governor’s office and thus not required to be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act.
The lawsuit asks the court to order Youngkin’s office to turn over the records.
Chuck Tobin, the attorney representing the activist media outlets, said: “It just makes no sense and it’s inconsistent with the whole idea of public records law that the government set up a secret informant line to help it make policy but then doesn’t share the information with us.”
The tip line is part of Youngkin’s efforts to fulfill his promise of giving parents more influence over the material that schools are teaching their children. It allowed them to inform the state if educators were incorporating elements of Critical Race Theory (CRT) or far-left progressive ideas on sexuality and gender identity into their lessons.
Shortly after taking office, Youngkin appeared on a conservative radio station and encouraged parents to send an email when there are “any instances where they feel that their fundamental rights are being violated, where their children are not being respected, where there are inherently divisive practices in their schools.”
The activist press is arguing in their lawsuit that emails sent to the tip line “are not correspondence of the governor’s office and do not qualify to be withheld under the working papers exemption,” according to The Washington Times. “E-mails sent to the Tip Line … are public records under FOIA, are not exempt from disclosure, and should be disclosed,” the lawsuit insists.
However, the governor’s office countered, stressing that the emails are not considered public information.
“When a constituent writes to the Governor he treats that communication as confidential and would not share the contents with the public. There is an expectation of privacy that he takes very seriously,” spokesperson Macauley Porter explained.
The outlets filing the lawsuit include The Associated Press, Axios Media, CNN, the Daily Dot, Gannett Satellite Information Network, Gray Media Group, National Public Radio, NBC Universal Media, Tegna, Scripps Media, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Tribune Publishing Co., and WP Company.
I’m not one to mince words, so I’ll just say it: The only reason these activist media outlets want these emails is so they can expose the individuals who wrote in. Does that sound too cynical? It shouldn’t, given what we have seen these organizations pull over the past five years.
Remember when CNN threatened to dox an individual who created a pro-Trump meme that mocked the network? After a video showing former President Donald Trump beating up a man with the CNN logo superimposed on his head during a WWE event went viral, the outlet tracked him down and said they reserved the right to reveal his identity if he was not sufficiently apologetic.
Media activists from the network also harassed an elderly woman who ran a Facebook page that shared a pro-Trump event believed to have been organized by Russian agents.
A Florida woman who ran a Trump supporters page that unwittingly promoted a Russian-coordinated event on Facebook says she doesn’t believe that she was influenced by Kremlin-linked trolls https://t.co/DmgDRFRwyn pic.twitter.com/OAz5julCyA
— CNN (@CNN) February 21, 2018
But even more recently, the Washington Post and Reuters followed the lead of Canadian media, which revealed the names of people who donated to the Freedom Convoy in an attempt to shame them. The American outlets did the same for people supporting the movement from the United States.
Given their conduct over the past few years, it is easy to see why they so desperately want to force Youngkin to turn over the emails. They wish to use their platforms to target those who dare to speak out against issues in the state’s schools.
Is it possible that their intentions aren’t what I’m saying? Perhaps they just want to report on the matter without exposing anyone, right?
Sure it’s possible.
Just like it’s possible that I have some prime beachfront property in Idaho to sell you for a steal of a price.
These days, we can’t trust that the press simply wants to report the news. They are no longer journalistic outfits – they are activists using their platforms to propagandize and shame those who do not fall in line. There is a reason we call them the enemy of the people. We would do well to remember that.
