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Idaho’s Spokesman-Review newspaper has been taken to court by one of the state’s top Republican leaders, who is seeking the name of an anonymous Internet commenter that she says libeled her via the publication’s website.
Tina Jacobson, chairman of the Kootenai County Republican Party Central Committee, sued "John Doe and/or Jane Doe" in Idaho's First Judicial District court in April. According to a copy of the complaint posted on the Spokeman-Review's website, the anonymous defendants represent a Spokesman-Review commenter dubbed "almostinnocentbystander."
The commenter, who posted on the newspaper's "Huckleberries Online" blog in February, accused Ms. Jacobson of stealing $10,000 in Republican committee funds. Ms. Jacobson’s complaint said the accusations are false.
Spokesman-Review blogger and columnist Dave Oliveria removed comments from "almostinnocentbystander" that referenced the accusations against Ms. Jacobson, and the commenter was banned from posting on the paper's website, according to a post from the paper in February. Ms. Jacobson's complaint said those actions showed the comments were "derogatory and...unsubstantiated."
The newspaper has not been named as a defendant in the lawsuit, but has been subpoenaed to reveal the commenter’s identity, as well as two others who responded to the post from “almostinnocentbystander.”
Lawyers for the newspaper argued in a hearing last week that commenters should be able to post anonymously online as part of their First Amendment rights, according to an Associated Press report.
Ms. Jacobson is seeking at least $10,000 in damages from "almostinnocentbystander."
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