Leahy seems to have dropped his complaint as it's now a dead link. However, you can still find it here.
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Now this is what I call playing hardball.
Michael Patrick Leahy, founder of “Top Conservatives On Twitter” and a tea party activist (and apparently a resident of Nashville) has filed suit in Williamson County against blogger Stephanie Grasmick and someone who Tweets by the nym “Duke St. Journal” for libel, invasion of privacy, and other complaints.
The suit identifies Grasmick as the former Deputy Press Secretary to Indiana Senator Evan Bayh and “Facebook friends with
Shauna Daly, Research Director at the Democratic National Committee and a known bare knuckles political operative known for digging up dirt on political opponents.
Oh, my.
You can read the complaint here, but it’s a doozy. Apparently Leahy is pissed that Grasmick uncovered information about Leahy’s own tax-paying habits (or apparent lack thereof), which I guess he’s denying since he’s filed this lawsuit saying it was libelous. Or maybe he’s suing just saying Grasmick only published the information to discredit Leahy and the Tea Party movement. Actually, I think the lawsuit alleges Grasmick is a DNC operative and he's suing in the hopes of making her inoperative, so to speak.
Anyway, Grasmick’s blog post got Leahy named Keith Olbermann’s “Worst Person In The World” on May 14, which he says is unfair since he’s just a private citizen and not a public figure like “Worst Person” runners-up Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly.
I was not aware one needed to be a public figure to get labeled WPITW. And I have to say, filing this lawsuit just might get Leahy ranked up there again. But I digress.
Here’s the offending Olbermann clip. Grasmick’s post says she obtained Leahy’s tax information
... by running a goddamned simple Nexis search on the internets ...
Leahy’s lawsuit states:
Specifically, Leahy has the right to know what resources Grasmick used to perform her Lexis/Nexis Search. Was it performed at work while Grasmick was employed as Assistant Editor of CIO Leadership Network, an Evanta Company within the DMG Media Media group of companies? Were computer resources of the Evanta Company and/or DMG World Media used ? Or was Grasmick provided a tip of inside information available only from an employee of the Federal Government that guided her to the information about Leahy she reported in her website on May 13, 2009?
Sounds like someone has gone on a fishing expedition. Just my opinion! Don’t sue me, bro! I’m not a “Democrat” Party operative (yes, the suit uses the word “Democrat” instead of “Democratic.”) Just a private citizen! With a blog!
K’thx’bai!
(h/t, Tbogg)
