AR272

An Assembly Resolution condemning President Trump for rhetoric used to criticize the press, including alleging treason.

Whereas, The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution grants members of the press protections from laws that abridge their freedom and ability to report the news; and

Whereas, In spite of this freedom, during the 2016 presidential campaign and since being elected President, Donald Trump has painted an image of the press as “the enemy of the people” and of news outlets reporting stories critical of the Trump Administration as “failing” or guilty of reporting “fake news”; and

Whereas, On June 15, 2019, the New York Times published an article on the United States’ deployment of malware into Russia’s electric power grid to interfere with hacks into the United States and to warn Russia against using interference such as that used during the 2016 U.S. presidential election; and

Whereas, The journalists who composed the story cleared the article with U.S. government officials to ensure the publication of the story would not harm national security; and

Whereas, President Trump commented that the article’s publication amounted to a “virtual act of treason”; and

Whereas, New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger wrote an editorial criticizing the President over the treason allegation and the use of incendiary language against the free press in general; and

Whereas, Earlier in 2019, Mr. Sulzberger spoke to President Trump on the impact of the President’s anti-media comments on journalists around the world, to which the President expressed concern over any backlash against the media that the remarks caused; and

Whereas, President Trump continues to spur anti-media rhetoric, including the comment claiming the New York Times committed treason despite his professed concern for the safety of the press; and

Whereas, Continued use of this rhetoric by President Trump has led to the filing of a lawsuit by PEN America, with plaintiffs arguing that the President’s remarks have led to a chill in what is reported by members of the media out of fear of retaliation by the government and that President Trump has violated the First Amendment rights of the press and of free speech as delineated in the U.S. Constitution; and

Whereas, The press is granted the freedom under the Constitution to publish articles with information on and criticism of the U.S. government and its leaders, including an article, cleared by U.S. officials, on government tactics used to protect the United States from international cyber-based interference; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The General Assembly condemns President Donald Trump

for his use of inflammatory rhetoric against the press, including a comment alleging that the New York Times committed treason by publishing an article on the U.S. deployment of malware into Russia’s electric power grid.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President of the United States and each member of Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

This resolution condemns President Donald Trump for employing inflammatory rhetoric when criticizing the press, including claiming the New York Times committed treason by publishing an article on the deployment of malware into Russia’s electric power grid to interfere with hacks into the United States and to warn Russia against using interference such as that used during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

The United States Constitution grants members of the press protections from laws that abridge their freedom and ability to report the news. In spite of this freedom, during the 2016 campaign for the presidency and since being elected President, Donald Trump has painted an image of the press as “the enemy of the people” and of news outlets reporting stories critical of the Trump Administration as “failing” or guilty of reporting “fake news.” The journalists who composed the New York Times article on the deployment of malware into Russia’s electric power grid cleared the story with U.S. government officials to ensure its publication would not create national security concerns. President Trump commented that the article’s publication amounted to a “virtual act of treason.” New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger responded to the treason claim in an editorial criticizing President Trump for the allegation and for his use of incendiary language against the free press in general. Earlier in 2019, Mr. Sulzberger spoke to President Trump on the impact of the President’s anti-media comments on journalists around the world, to which the President expressed concern over any backlash against the media that the remarks caused. In spite of any apprehension over a backlash against journalists, President Trump continues to spur anti-media rhetoric, including the comment claiming the New York Times committed treason.