NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin testified Monday at a defamation trial that an editorial about gun control in The New York Times in 2017 was devastating and 鈥渒icked the oomph鈥� out of her.
The former Republican candidate for vice president whose college degree is in journalism answered questions in Manhattan federal court at a trial of her libel claims against the newspaper. She seeks unspecified damages.
鈥淭his was the gamechanger,鈥� Palin said of the effect on her life after the newspaper in June 2017 published the editorial that became the subject of her lawsuit. 鈥淚 felt defenseless. It just kicked the oomph right out of you.鈥�
The editorial was written after U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, was wounded when opened fire on a congressional baseball team practice in Washington.
In , the Times wrote that before the 2011 mass shooting in Arizona that severely wounded former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords and killed six others, Palin鈥檚 political action committee had contributed to an atmosphere of violence by circulating a map of electoral districts that put Giffords and 19 other Democrats under stylized crosshairs.
In a correction published less than a day later, the Times said the editorial had 鈥渋ncorrectly stated that a link existed between political rhetoric and the 2011 shooting鈥� and had 鈥渋ncorrectly described鈥� the map.
But Palin said the correction didn鈥檛 name her or restore her reputation, leaving it hard to overcome 鈥渨hen the loudest voice in the room, the most credible, biggest publication, was making things up about me.鈥�
She said she received death threats.
鈥淚t got scarier. It got worse,鈥� Palin said.
On cross-examination, a lawyer for the Times elicited from Palin that she still has millions of social media followers, is a best selling author and remains welcome to speak at events sponsored by Republican organizations.
Palin told reporters afterward that she was 鈥渢hankful for the opportunity鈥� to testify and that she is confident the jury will decide in her favor. She said she left court 鈥渂elieving that there's still justice in the world鈥� and "believing still that the press will be held accountable."
Last week, former Times editorial page editor James Bennet cried as he apologized to Palin from the witness stand, saying he 鈥渂lew it鈥� when he inserted the incorrect information in the editorial.
He said he was 鈥渞eally upset, and I still am, obviously.鈥�
In February 2022, a jury found against Palin鈥檚 libel claims, but the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan last year revived the case, citing errors made by the trial judge, including by dismissing the case while the last jury was deliberating.
After testimony concluded on Monday, lawyers asked Judge Jed S. Rakoff to make rulings in their favor as a matter of law rather than leaving everything for the jury to decide after closing arguments Tuesday. The judge rejected the requests.
鈥淚 think the 2nd Circuit has sent a message to this court that this is a case for the jury,鈥� Rakoff said.
Larry Neumeister And Michael R. Sisak, The Associated Press
