Press Freedom Groups Accuse Maryland Governor of Retaliating Against Reporters
A coalition of press freedom organizations sent a letter accusing Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's administration of subjecting ordinary questions from Sinclair outlets and The Baltimore Sun to additional legal review. The groups said the scrutiny followed a defamation lawsuit against Moore by Sinclair's executive chairman, David Smith. Moore has previously criticized President Trump for restricting journalists' White House access.
On Oct. 13, the Freedom of the Press Foundation and six other journalism and civil liberties groups issued a letter accusing Gov. Wes Moore’s administration of routing even ordinary reporter questions from Sinclair outlets and The Baltimore Sun through extra legal review.
The scrutiny followed a defamation suit against Moore by David Smith, Sinclair’s executive chairman and The Sun’s majority owner. State agencies cited that litigation when telling Sinclair reporters their questions needed counsel review. Moore’s office denied any blanket refusal, saying agencies answered dozens of Sinclair questions in a recent week.
This dispute could affect how Maryland reporters seek information from state agencies, potentially slowing responses and complicating coverage. Residents may receive less timely news about government actions if routine inquiries face added legal review. It may also intensify scrutiny of Gov. Wes Moore’s record on press freedom, especially given his criticism of federal restrictions. The outcome could influence how other state officials handle media requests tied to litigation involving outlet owners.