Baltimore Sun owner sues Maryland governor over Epstein, Trump claims

David D. Smith claims Maryland Governor Wes Moore falsely claimed Smith said the Baltimore Sun’s goal is “to do Donald Trump’s work.”ANNAPOLIS, Md. (CN) — The owner of the Baltimore Sun filed suit against Maryland Governor Wes Moore Friday, claiming Moore defamed him and falsely said he was affiliated with Jeffrey Epstein.Businessman David D. Smith says in a 12-page lawsuit that Moore defamed him in June when he appeared on the MS NOW television program “The Weeknight.” Smith accuses the Democratic governor of falsely claiming Smith said “the job of the Sun is to do Donald Trump’s work” and that he bought the Baltimore Sun “to do Donald Trump’s work and to spread his message.”Moore also added that Smith “is a person who was … invested in by Jeffrey Epstein,” Smith said in his suit.Moore didn’t identify a source for any of these comments during the show, Smith says, and has declined to apologize or recant his comments. The newspaper owner claims the association with Epstein — a convicted sexual predator — has damaged his reputation and exposed him to public contempt.“The statement associated Smith with Jeffrey Epstein in a manner reasonably calculated to damage Smith’s personal and professional reputation,” he says in the suit. “Smith has never had any personal relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Smith has never knowingly conducted business with Jeffrey Epstein. Smith has never knowingly entered into any investment arrangement with Jeffrey Epstein.”In the suit, Smith says Moore provided substantiation for the Epstein claim through his attorney: Epstein owned publicly traded Sinclair Broadcast Group stock in 2002 and 2013. Smith has been executive chairman of the media giant since 1990, and previously served as president and CEO.The shares owned were 0.063% of the company’s Class A stock at the time, Smith claims, and didn’t create a personal or financial relationship.“There is no evidence that Epstein personally directed, approved, or participated in any decision to acquire or sell Sinclair stock,” Smith says, adding that “Moore’s statement was not a fair summary of the public records.”Investment firms that Epstein controlled purchased shares from Sinclair, according to records released by the U.S. Department of Justice.Smith adds he has never said the purpose of the Baltimore Sun is to do Trump’s work, and that Moore falsely repeated his comments as Smith’s own words.In 2018, The Guardian reported that Smith recalled a conversation with Trump during his 2016 campaign where he said “we are here to deliver your message.” He acquired majority ownership of the Baltimore Sun in 2024.The comments were concerning Sinclair, Smith says, not the Sun.“Moore’s statements conveyed the false impression that Smith had publicly acknowledged that The Baltimore Sun was being used to advance Donald Trump’s political interests and agenda rather than to operate as an independent news organization,” Smith says. “Moore’s statements attacked Smith’s integrity, credibility, and professional reputation as a newspaper owner.”Moore was sued in his individual capacity, not in his governmental capacity as governor. Smith will have to prove that Moore acted with actual malice to reach success in his civil suit, an additional requirement for defamation claims against a public figure.Smith also asserts that he is not a public figure, and says he didn’t voluntarily involve himself in controversy around Epstein. Smith claims Moore both defamed him and framed him in a false light.Representatives for the governor’s office and for Moore did not reply to requests for comment.Smith previously threatened to sue Moore after the MS NOW interview, sending Moore and his communications staff a letter at the end of June asking for an apology, retraction and correction, and directing Moore to preserve any documents tying Smith to Epstein.The suit comes in the wake of a contentious relationship between the Sun and Moore.In April, Politico reported Smith had issued a mandate for the Sun to “expose fraud and misdeeds among Democratic politicians in the state” and was involved in the paper’s investigation into Moore. Later that month, the governor accused Smith of currying favor with Trump and said he has turned the paper into “right-wing tribble.”The publication brought on a team to delve into Moore’s military service and college records, ultimately concluding that he was a well-respected soldier who incorrectly remembered or mischaracterized details about his service.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads