Former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin sued The New York Times in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday over an editorial this month suggesting that she incited the shooting of Rep. Gabby Giffords in 2011.
The lawsuit alleged that the editorial, which the Times eventually corrected, was defamatory, and that the paper never published a "full and fair retraction" or a public apology.
"When it comes to Mrs. Palin, The Times is willing to operate with a purposeful avoidance of the truth — marked by a deliberate decision not to acknowledge facts confirming the falsity of its charges against Mrs. Palin," the lawsuit said.
The editorial denounced political violence in the wake of the shooting of Republican Rep. Steve Scalise. It referenced the Giffords (D-Ariz.) shooting and a map Palin's political action committee had used showing crosshairs over her congressional district and others.
The Times editorial said the "link to political incitement was clear," but, in fact, no link was ever established between the Palin map and the shooting.
The lawsuit seeks unstated damages. In response, a Times spokeswoman said, "We have not seen the claim yet but will defend against any claim vigorously."