The New York Times is facing a threatened shareholder lawsuit over its coverage of several politically charged stories, including the Senate bid of former Democratic candidate Graham Platner and reporting on Israel. The National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) has warned it will sue unless the newspaper provides records within a week, alleging that the company's directors failed to adequately oversee the paper's editorial standards and corrections practices.
The demand cites specific instances, including a June 4 article about Platner, a May opinion essay by Nicholas Kristof concerning allegations of sexual abuse in Israeli detention, and other coverage of Israel-related political stories. NCPPR argues these instances demonstrate a pattern of inconsistent editorial standards.
The June 4 article on Platner faced criticism for what some perceived as downplaying allegations against the candidate. The report described relationships with former girlfriends as "unsettling" and "reckless," and included an allegation from Lyndsey Fifield that Platner had twisted her arm and locked her in a room. The article noted that the authors "could not corroborate" all accusations. Jenny Racicot later alleged in a Politico interview that Platner sexually assaulted her in 2021, an accusation Platner denies. Platner, who won Maine's Democratic Senate primary, suspended his campaign days later and formally withdrew from the race.
Kristof's May opinion essay focused on allegations of sexual abuse involving Palestinian detainees held by Israeli forces. This essay drew strong criticism from the Israeli government, which called it a "blood libel" and announced plans for a defamation lawsuit. The New York Times stood by the column, stating it had been fact-checked and that Kristof's reporting was supported by on-the-record interviews and corroborating material.
NCPPR contends that conflicting public statements from the Times' leadership regarding these stories raise questions about board oversight. Opinion editor Kathleen Kingsbury defended Kristof's piece after stating editors found "no errors," while executive editor Joe Kahn later commented that the newsroom "wouldn't have done that exact piece." The Times has rejected NCPPR's allegations, with a spokesperson calling the demand "a clear attempt to chill First Amendment-protected journalism."